Planning for your Trip Abroad

Planning for your Trip Abroad Is planning for any trip really required? Well, the answer is No. You don’t need to plan in case your trip is casual and you have no qualms about time getting wasted in standing in queues, or some part of trip getting cancelled due to bad weather. Also, if you are highly flexible, like you are comfortable eating anything outside, do not mind if you went to see A, but ended up seeing B as you didn't plan it and A was closed, or you reached late as you didn't know what’s the best way to commute to A, then you don't need to plan. If you are not comfortable with any of the above, you like it or you don’t, you need to plan. It is important to plan in case you have a tight schedule; still you want to pack a huge itinerary with a lot of constraints like bad weather, means of transport, sight-seeing timings, availability of food as per your liking etc. Below are some tips to consider while planning for your international trip:            1.       If you are a vegetarian, always check your meal preference in flights. International         flights offer various types of meals for travelers like Asian Veg Meal, Hindu Meal, Jain           Meal etc. So, depending upon your sentiments or liking, check the airline’s website for           the available meals and book the one you would like. 2.       If you are a vegetarian and are in a foreign city, you may want to research on the Indian restaurants over there and pick the one nearest to you. You will be amazed to find a huge number of Indian restaurants in big cities abroad to ensure you do not miss Indian food and also get meals as per your preference. 3.       If you want to see more in less time, researching a bit on the means of transport like metro, trams, local buses and finding the best day pass for you would save you a lot of time standing in the queues. Almost all foreign cities offer various passes to suit your needs which are not only cheaper, but also save you a lot of time. You can also use one pass that works with different means of transport. 4.       Checking out the weather conditions at the place you are travelling to will ensure you are fully equipped to handle it and do not have to make cancellations at the last moment. You can adjust your itinerary based on the forecast and make the most of your time. Check out the accuweather app on your android and applestore. It is pretty handy. 5.       Different countries use different power sockets. So, do not make the mistake of assuming that your electronic devices will work there if you do not carry a universal power adaptor with you. This small device which has sockets for all major countries built in is one of the most important things you need to include in your travel kit. 6.       You might want to carry a small umbrella with you to safeguard you against unpredictable rains. 7.       Another small device which is worth carrying along is a portable weighing scale which you can hold in hand. It is extremely light weight and occupies very little space. It come in handy when you are not sure of your luggage weight before reaching the airport and do not want any last minute hurdles at check in counter for weight issues. Just check your luggage weight at your hotel and remove or re-arrange items accordingly. 8.       When travelling abroad, carrying a document containing all the important contacts like your airline local office number, your office contacts, your travel agent details, your hotel address and phone number, some phone numbers of local taxies etc. is very useful in case of emergencies. 9.       Your travel kit should include your passport, air tickets, travel insurance, copies of your visa and some foreign exchange. This kit should always be handy. 10.   Some countries allow food items in your luggage, however, some countries can be very strict like not allowing unsealed food packets or pickles etc. It does a great deal of help if you can check with someone living in the destination country who may guide as to what food items to take and what to avoid. 11.   Always plan your connecting flights so that there is enough time between the flights. This helps when your incoming flight gets delayed and you have to go through security checks for the connecting flight. Little planning can save you from missing any connecting flights and incurring additional costs to buy new tickets. 12.   Always ensure to check with your airline about the permitted hand baggage and check in baggage weight limits. Some airlines are lenient with the hand baggage, however, they can be pretty strict with the check in baggage. Many international airlines are strict about both hand and check in baggage weight limits. 13.   Check out International SIM options which might be handy when you are in a foreign country and need to speak to your family in your home country. Certain SIMs like GO SIM work in all the countries and you don’t need to worry about buying a separate SIM for every country. Other options include Matrix SIMs. Choose as per your budget. “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” As I quote the above line by Ernest Hemingway, I hope your next foreign trip will be a lot smoother and you will return with memories to cherish and share. Feliz Viaje!!!