Travel To Do List - Be A Smart Traveller
For first time travellers or those that have had awhile between trips, I have a list of to-do’s for you. Things that are either forgotten or can slip your mind prior to departing or even while travelling. It is important to be a smart traveller so you don’t loose out or be at risk of trouble.
So what are the top things that you must do to be a smart traveller?
Google scams for the place you are going so you are prepared. E.g. in Colombo, Sri Lanka tuk-tuk drivers will ask for crazy prices and will tell you there is a festival on only today but when you get there, nothing is going on.
Register with Smart Traveller before you leave your home www.smartraveller.gov.au in case of an emergency, someone knows where you are
Pack emergency cash in your bag. You never know when you may need to exchange it or even need it bargain with. I have used my emergency cash several times for when my traveller’s card had expired without realising, in Sri Lanka when none of the ATMs I tried accepted credit card, when the ATM was not working in Morocco, there is a daily limit as to how much money I could get out or the time in Malta the bank had put a block on my card as I never notified them that I would be using my card overseas. They were all stressful situations until I realised I had the emergency cash I could exchange.
Share your itinerary with family or friends - leave hotel addresses, copy of your passport, flight details etc with someone so you can be tracked down if needed
Sign up to a travel credit card - such as Citibank or Latitude 28 degrees. Do not use your home banking card. Research first on fees, conversion rates, and ATM fees.
Never travel without travel insurance - you may never know when you will need it. Never think that nothing will happen either before or whilst you are on your trip. My go to is 1Cover. They have been great the few times I have had to claim.
Double check you have everything before getting out of a taxi, before leaving the hotel room, when using a safe, even when you stand up always look back; it is so easy to leave behind your phone, headphones, passport, or have something drop down under the bed.
Purchase a waterproof cover for your passport. Saves the expense of getting a new passport if it gets wet.
Travel with a photocopy of your passport, credit card and photo id in your carry on and check in luggage. Take a photo and have it stored on your phone also or email it to yourself.
What are your top things on your travel to-do list in order to be best prepared for travelling? We would love it if you joined the conversation and left a comment below.