“The gladdest moment in human life, methinks, is a departure into unknown lands.” – Sir Richard Burton
Traveling to another country is perhaps one of the most exciting, thrilling, and enjoyable experiences. You get to indulge yourself in culture, food, art and customs that you are completely unfamiliar with.
But in some instances, these foreign travels can also become a nightmare, traumatic experience, and even fatal. You don’t want all those dangers to happen when you are outside of your country.
So, here are some reminders you need to have in mind when you are in another country:
Don’t forget to check your passport. If you’re a frequent traveler, be sure your passport hasn’t expired. Before getting an air ticket, check the expiration date on your passport. If you think it is soon to expire, then you better renew it pronto. Get it ahead of time since it may take time for it to be renewed. Newbies need not worry; you have ten-year validity.
Some countries need a visa to enter. If you are a Filipino visiting members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), there’s no need to have a visa (unless you stay for more than a month). But countries like the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and European countries need a visa. So, secure first before going to these countries.
A visa is normally a paper document that is fixed inside your passport. Generally, it is obtained from the embassies of a country; some are issued at the port of entry. Validity may range from days to months or even years.
Notify your bank before your travel. Since you will be using your credit cards when you are abroad, notify your bank or credit companies that you will be using your cards for a specific number of days. Doing so can help ensure they won’t shut down your cards while you are traveling due to suspicious activity.
In some instances, banks and credit companies will freeze a card if they detect purchases or transactions being made in another country. They usually do this to prevent credit card fraud.
Bring your camera, mobile phones, and batteries. A picture speaks a thousand words, so goes a familiar saying. Taking photos with your mobile phones is okay but if you want higher resolution pictures (especially when you zoom in at certain angles), you had better bring your camera.
