Overseas travel is undoubtedly exciting, but travel during the pandemic has become such that it now requires a great deal of preparation. And it’s never easy, as starting from budget to planning your itinerary, a first-time international traveller has a lot to decide before taking the flight. Here are a few tips for travelling abroad the first time, helping you decide on the course of action. Read on…

Pandemic is not yet over

Are you travelling abroad for the first time during the COVID pandemic? First, you need to understand that the pandemic is not yet over, and therefore, you have every reason to postpone your trip to a later date. Yet, if you are bitten by a travel bug, first check out whether the travel destination in question is moderately or severely affected by COVID.  Follow all the COVID travel protocols before you step out of your home.

Check your Passport:

This is the most important thing when you’re travelling internationally for the first time. Check the expiry date, as many countries mandate your passport to be valid for at least six months. Don’t wait for the deadline to knock at the doors; it is recommended to renew your passport. 

Choose your destination

This is the first and foremost step before you even begin planning for the trip. Selecting your travel destination has a lot to do with the budget. The idea is to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, and partake in the frills and thrills travel has to offer. Check if you need to make reservations or book tickets beforehand, and plan night trips or rent a cab or taxi if required. Use Google Map for real-time navigation and travel apps to make your life easier, especially if you have paid for things upfront.

Know the Visa Requirements

You should be fully aware of the visa entry process of the tourist destination you’re planning to visit. Don’t think you can do this at the last minute because when it comes to visa processing, each country and nationality will differ in various aspects. For the same reason, besides others, you will face some delay in getting your visa.

Managing time

If you have just 1-2 weeks to travel around, then you can plan your trip based on your priorities. You can either Google, read travel blogs or best reach your travel operator or agency, and tailor your travel itinerary that match your schedule. On the contrary, if you have time in excess of 2 weeks or maybe even a whole month, then you’ll have to work it out on a different level according to your travel plans and budget. Time management is definitely an art. Maybe, you can call it even Science; as such, it is a tricky and complex process.

Ask the weatherman

This may seem quite obvious. Yes, it is. But as a first-time international traveller, you must be able to figure out the season and current weather condition of the place you’re travelling to. There are many travel apps that are fairly accurate in terms of weather prediction. Nevertheless, local weather reports will help you plan your travel suitably.