There is a Chinese proverb that says; 百闻不如一见 (in simplified Pinyin; bǎi wén bùrú yī jiàn). Literally it means hearing something a hundred times is not as good as seeing it once. These days we say; seeing is believing!
Another factor that contributed positively to this heightened travelling habits is the internet. In this internet age, all information and resources can be easily obtained at hand with much ease. Therefore, both the service providers (transport operators, travel agents down to money changers) and the end users (traveler) benefited much from this source.
Now, with almost everyone ready to embark on the next trip, what should one look out for in the most essentials of travelling?
Planning, in any situation one has to plan ahead. The thought of travelling is exciting. The experience will be rewarding. However we also heard of how horrible what a trip can turn out to be. To benefit fully from a travel it makes sense to make some planning before leaping off for the destination. The rewards of a well planned trip before travel is often well worth it, the experience gained will go down a long way in one’s memory lane. Planning can be very daunting as well. There are many things to think of, and all these have to be done conjuring up what are to be expected from the trip. Yes, it’s building castle in the air!
Have you gone sleepless the night before the trip? The anxiety of getting to fly and “the castle” that was built while planning just didn’t want to go away in your mind? Before we even try to squeeze everything into the luggage, here’s a list that may help to sort out what are the required bare essentials.
Passport
The very first thing that comes to mind when you start planning your trip is the passport. It may sound obvious but as you can’t go anywhere without it, it’s the first chore to go through! Most countries require at least 6 months validity period on your passport. And if you are travelling with young children, ensure that they have their latest photographs taken and passport updated if their first passport photos were taken when they were few months old. You wouldn’t know how much the little ones have grown and their facial features changed, and you may agree that they do look different at times, what the immigration authorities would think then?…….don’t pass on your passport, check as early as possible!
The Visa
Travelling to and around the world comes with certain restrictions. Before the travel, it’s important to find out what these restrictions are. Some countries will require you to get a visa before travel and these should be applied for early for as early as 3 months in advance before travelling. Also, one needs to be very clear about the itineraries, as to what the travel schedule takes you. Multiple re-entry permits will have to be arranged if returning to the same country again is in the itinerary. Every visa application is different, but you can find the information you need at specific government websites, the travel agency can also be contacted for advice.
Health Matters
You need to be fit enough to trek through say, the tropical forests in Malaysia, the temperate Mongolian grassland, the Inca trail to Machu Picchu in Peru or speed off on a safari in Kenya, so your health has to be a big consideration. It’s important that you visit the doctor before you travel. If you travel anywhere and going places it is necessary to get a few jabs before you leap off for the trip. And if there is any medical condition, it’s better to get the doctor consulted early. A reminder, some countries will have different regulations on certain medications so it’s worth checking can and can’t be taken into the destination before you go. Prevention goes a long way, get jabbed!
Travel Insurance
Don’t leave home without it; travel insurance! It is essentially important whether you’re travelling budget or luxury. The cost of a medical treatment overseas can be mind-blowing. It can be devastating in the case of an emergency. With the right travel insurance, you’ll be covered and have a total peace of mind, and that is adding value to the trip experience. There are many insurance packages in the market, and one should choose an appropriate package and duly insured. How much cover you’ll need depends on what the trip entails. Very simple, if your trip involves some challenging activities as compared to a standard normal tour around the cities, then opt for a higher coverage. Not sure, get insured!
Language & Culture
Different cultures are one of the many aspects of travelling that makes it interesting and exciting. However, there are certain do’s and dont’s that you should observed when abroad. For example if you are in Thailand, don’t try using your feet to step on the currency note in trying to retrieve it if it happens to slip away, why? Take a closer look and it is not difficult that you will find the portray of their beloved King printed on it! It’s out of respect. While in Rome, do as the Romans do. Language barriers rank top when come to travelling make difficult, especially if one is travelling alone. It is always good to catch up a few standard daily used words and phrases prior to the trip. It’ll be much easier to interact with the locals and make your trip even more pleasant and enjoyable if you can understand a little of their lingo. There are tons of language courses out there and some simple conversational phrases of languages can be found on the internet, some are free of charge!
Cash & credit card
Firstly, it is crucial to have enough cash to last the whole trip. However, it is also recommended that one should not bring too much cash while on the roads. Preferably you should have a credit card in case for emergency use. Both cash and credit card complement each other throughout the whole trip. It really depends on what you want to do and where you are heading. In today’s travelling make easy about in any countries, it has been so much at ease in using those credit cards which are readily accepted. Cash comes in handy when you are dealing with some off the roads events. You wouldn’t want to miss the chance to get yourself a beautifully and elegantly carved handmade souvenir offered by some roadside vendors that deal on a cash basis. No cash no talk!
Luggage
Each of us has a different travelling requirements, as in male and female pack their bag differently. So what one needs is different from another. You have to check the weather of the destination that you are going to. This is probably the most important information as it basically dictates what you are going to pack into the luggage, most of it will be clothing. Travelling to a temperate region is relatively lighter than the colder winter region. At least you don’t need to pack those huge jacket and winter clothing. The lighter you travel the better it is!
Travel alerts & warning
The world changes constantly. Just as you would like to check out the weather conditions of the destination you are getting to, it is also necessary to read the paper and news broadcast and even advisable to log on to the relevant internet websites to get some briefings of the political and social happenings at destination country. So in the months leading up to the trip, it is recommended to be alert to news about the travel destination and on the lookout for any travel warnings. Most governmental websites would have links to the relevant information. The Embassy does provide direct information and some airlines even have warning alerts put up to their websites.
It’s worth planning ahead to travel! In any situation if we fail to plan, we may experience unpleasant incidents during the trip. And in a foreign land matters are not as easily settled as we would wished back in our homeland.
