Trip Planning 

There are many things to consider when planning an international trip, whether it’s for business or pleasure, or a combination of the two.

Of course, the first thing to decide is the destination. If it is for business, then that choice may not be yours to make. You need to consider the following:

●    Documentation required

●    Mode of transport to get there

●    To and from destinations

●    Duration of travel

●    Accommodation

●    Suitable clothing

●    Moving around when there

●    Vaccinations and other medical considerations

●    Insurance and emergency cover

●    Life back home while away

Travel Documentation

In most cases, for international travel, you will need a passport. However, it may not always be as simple as that. Some countries require your passport to have at least 6 months left on it. If you live within the Eurozone and you are travelling within it, you don’t need a passport. Travel from the USA to Cancun in Mexico and US citizens can use a birth certificate or other recognized document in order to travel.

Travellers to Europe from the rest of the world may need a Schengen visa. This will allow free travel around Europe for business or pleasure for up to 90 days. However, do not assume that all countries within Europe are covered. For example, the Republic of Ireland is not within the Schengen zone and operates its own Irish visa process.

You need to check online for the relevant information as every country will have its own set of rules. If you get this wrong you will often not discover that until you arrive at your destination and discover that the officials there will not let you in.

Travelling from the UK to Australia? You need an Australian visa – it’s easy – you can apply online and get it there and then once you have paid the fee.

If you are from Taiwan and travelling to Dublin or Cork in the Republic of Ireland – you need to go to an Irish embassy and apply for an Irish visa.

I know this only too well as got both of those two incidents wrong in the past.

To fly or not to fly

That is the question? Sometimes, you don’t really get a choice. To get from some parts of the world to another can possibly be done overland or by boat, but the duration and inconvenience of that are not worth considering. If you have a fear of flying then it restricts your options. However, remember that flying is statistically one of the safest forms of transport.

If your mode of transport is to fly, you need to consider where you fly from and to. For many large cities, there are options. London, for example, has Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), City (LCY), Stanstead (STN), London Southend (SEN) and Luton (LTN) airports which all offer international flights.  New York City has three airports John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). You need to consider which airport to go from and to for the journey. Price may factor in your decisions. Getting to and from both airports should also factor in your decision.

You may get a cheaper flight to and from a combination of airports, but if you have to pay a lot to get yourself to or from those airports with alot of luggage it might just be best to pay the extra fare and fly out of an airport thats most convient to you.

You should also consider direct flights or multi stops, cost of long term parking vs Ride Share or Taxi.

Multi-stop flights vs direct

With a multi-stop flight you set off from your starting airport, stop off at another before going either on to your final destination or via yet another stop off. Some people will get on when you do but get off at one of these stopovers.  You may also have to change at one of these stopovers onto a different plane. Here is where things can go wrong. If your plane arrives late, you may have missed the connecting flight to the next destination. There may also be long waits between your arrival and subsequent take-off.

Getting a direct flight is usually much more preferable. If your destination is far away, more than 10 hours, you would normally need to stop to refuel. However, this would mean you arrive at the refuelling location, disembark, go through security check while the plane is being refuelled and get back on it, for safety reasons. It is a good chance to also stretch your legs.

Trip duration and accommodations?

Of course, considering how long to go away for, will depend on your situation. This will lead to decisions to make around luggage, what you will need while away. The weather may also factor into these decisions. If it’s hot or cold where you are or where you are going to, will mean decisions on travelling clothing and then day to day options. If you are going away for more than a couple of weeks, you may want to investigate laundry services. This may be a factor in choosing accommodation.

There is a huge amount of choice in where to stay in every city. Hotels, Bed and Breakfast or Airbnb, are a few choices that you now have at your disposal. Each has its merits and downsides. Travelling alone and staying for a long time in a hotel is convenient, but you usually have no cooking facilities and you may end up eating from the same menu every day unless you venture out.

Local travel

How do you plan to get around when you get there? Most large cities have a good public transport system. Often you can buy a weekly pass to get around which will help you to save money. However, these may not cover your needs and you may opt to hire a car. For some countries, your driving licence may not cover it. You need to investigate before your trip as to whether it does. Often you need to apply for an International Driving Permit which will usually last 1 year and allow you to drive. If you are hiring a car, the car hire company will advise on this.

Medical coverage 

The recent pandemic will have created a whole new set of rules around vaccinations. However, in some countries, you will be advised that you should get vaccinated for diseases like Yellow fever before a visit. You should also consider what would happen to you if you were involved in an accident or got ill. You need to check with your destination country or countries to find out. It is normally advisable to cover this with travel insurance. Also, take care of what that policy covers and what it doesn’t. Be sure to read the terms and conditions. If you are planning on embarking on any adventurous activities, make sure that you are covered if something happens.

When you are away

The final thing to say here is to consider your life back at home while you are away.

●    Do you have any deliveries expected? If you get a lot of junk mail and it builds up it tells intruders that you are away.

●    Do you have someone to help you deal with it?

●    How can you secure your home so that possible intruders don’t know that you are away?

●    If you live in a very cold climate and you turn off your heating, will the pipes freeze when you return?

●    Garden, plants and pets – need feeding and watering?

Department of State

Visiting the US Department of State is a great way to start to plan your trip abroad.

The customary level 1 through 4 advisories for specific countries on Travel.State.gov provide more detailed information about specific travel restrictions and conditions in individual countries.

“This will also provide U.S. citizens more detailed information about the current status in each country,” the department said. “We continue to recommend U.S. citizens exercise caution when traveling abroad due to the unpredictable nature of the pandemic.”

There is a lot to consider when planning an international trip. Hopefully, this gives some pointers and will help you to avoid any mishaps.