International Travel Lessons Learned
You can read this section and think that it’s full common-sense stuff, and that’s cool, but I’m mostly writing it because we ignored common sense, trusted the system, and got burned for it. This section is a reminder for us, and you can use it too if you like.
International packing
When packing for an international trip, you have to assume that something, and usually several somethings are going to go awry. People who travel a lot will give you tidbits, here’s the ones we’ve heard and had to live through:
Always have 3 days’ worth of essentials like outfits and personal hygiene apparel that aren’t easy to replace as well as all of your medication for the trip in your carry-on. If you use a river style dry bag then it’ll help save space and double as a dirty laundry bag on the trip.
Don’t forget that the hotel has stuff like tooth brushes and tooth paste and other basic hygiene products they’ll give you on request. Also, baggage claim service desks sometimes have emergency toiletry kits that they can hand out if asked for.
Don’t check stuff that you absolutely need in the first day or two, like printed tour information, reservation information, directions. Don’t count on having WiFi if you’re not paying for a cell plan.
Check to see what your cell carrier charges to active service for a day at a time, many of them have a pay by the day plan, it might be worth it in a pinch.
We sometimes split up our clothes among both bags rather than packing a his and hers bag. This doesn’t help if both bags get lost, but if it’s just one, then it’ll be piece of mind while waiting for the other one to show up.
Don’t throw those bag tags away until the end of the trip, something may have been lost or stolen and those tags might be all the airlines will accept.
Buy TSA locks. No one is saying that baggage handlers are going to steal your stuff, but zippers get loose, stuff falls out. Some cruises require you to leave your bags outside a hotel or stateroom and they are there for anyone to pick through. Also, sometimes it’s nice to have the option to store your bags at a train station while you wander the town, TSA locks offer piece of mind for that scenario as well.
If you get travel insurance, keep the policy handy and know when the deadlines are to make a claim. If you have to make a claim with an airline then know the deadline with them as well. Keep all of your receipts if you think you might be able to claim costs for hotels, rental cars, replacement toiletries, etc. Check the dates of coverage as well. If you add time before or after your trip, then that could move your flights outside of the coverage dates.
Apple Airtags are starting to become a must for travelers. The tags themselves ping off of other apple devices to provide location info and you only need Wi-Fi to track your bags, which most airports have for free now.
Getting Around Town
Getting around can be daunting and sometimes it’s just easier to get a cab or ride share, but mass transit systems, in cities that have them, can be much more affordable.
Download offline maps that include transit instructions if you aren’t getting a cell plan that works in that area. This is really helpful for walking too.
Ask the hotel for maps, sometimes they even have self-guided tour maps that highlight the major sights of the area.
Google Translate has offline language packs and an option that allows you to hold your smart phone camera up to a sign and it’ll translate it, it’s hit and miss, but usually you can get a feel for what it’s saying.
Research light rail, buses, ferries, rideshare, taxis, and private car options before you go. Not all options are available, some customs are a little different, and schedules are always very important to know. Most public transit system kiosks have the ability to change languages, so don’t mutter through a language you don’t know (I’m looking at you too McDonald’s kiosk).