As much as planning a trip abroad is an exciting and enjoyable experience, it also requires meticulous planning and caution. Many times, in the excitement of booking flight tickets and hotels, travelers ignore such small basic things, which spoil the fun of their entire trip once they reach abroad. On the soil of another country, the language, currency, culture and legal rules are completely different from those in India. A small documentary deficiency or ignoring local rules can get you detained at the airport or make you a victim of heavy financial penalty. If you are also preparing to travel abroad, then understand these 10 golden tips thoroughly before flying, so that your international travel can become safe, stress-free and memorable. Check Passport 6 Months Validity and Blank Page The most primary and mandatory rule for international flights is the validity of the passport. Most of the countries in the world (like Thailand, UAE, Singapore, European Schengen countries etc.) have a mandatory condition that the expiry date of your passport should be at least 6 months after the return date of travel. If the passport has 5 months or less validity left, the airline staff at the Indian airport itself will refuse to give you the boarding pass. Additionally, the passport must have at least 2 to 3 blank pages for immigration stamping and visa stickers. Never skip comprehensive travel insurance. While traveling abroad, people often do not take travel insurance to save money, which can prove to be the biggest financial mistake. In America, Europe or Gulf countries, the cost of a normal medical emergency or hospital for one day runs into lakhs of rupees. A comprehensive travel insurance policy provides financial protection cover worth lakhs of rupees in case of emergencies like medical emergency, hospitalization, flight cancellation, lost baggage and passport loss. In many countries (e.g. the Schengen Zone) a minimum insurance of 30,000 Euro is mandatory for visa. Forex Cards vs Cash: Adopt a Smart Ratio of 70:30 Relying only on Indian credit or debit cards when abroad can prove costly as they attract hefty forex markup charges of 3.5% to 5% and dynamic currency conversion (DCC) charges. Multi-currency forex card: Get a card with zero-forex markup from a bank or recognized fintech companies before you travel. In this, the local currency is already locked-in, due to which there is no loss due to exchange rate fluctuations. Cash Reserve: Always keep about 25 to 30 percent of the total budget in cash (US dollars or local currency), as cards are not accepted at street vendors, small taxi drivers or public restrooms. It is more economical to exchange currency from authorized money exchangers in the city rather than at the airport. Pre-arrangement of e-SIM or International Roaming When you move to a new country, there is an immediate need for high-speed internet data to book a cab, view Google Maps and keep in touch with family. Local SIM or e-SIM: If your smartphone supports e-SIM, download an e-SIM for the destination country from India itself from trusted services like Airalo or Nomad. Risks of Airport Wi-Fi: Do not rely completely on airport public Wi-Fi, as in many countries there is a requirement of SMS OTP which is not available due to roaming restrictions on the Indian number. Universal Travel Adapter for Electronic Gadgets Type-D and Type-C plug sockets are commonly used in India, while Type-G in UK, Type-A/B in US and Type-C/F sockets are prevalent in Europe. Many travelers reach the hotel and find that their Indian charger does not fit in the wall socket. So always carry a good quality universal travel adapter (with multiple USB and Type-C ports) in your hand luggage. Also, always carry a power bank of up to 20,000 mAh in cabin baggage; Keeping it in check-in luggage is strictly prohibited under international aviation rules. Check the laws and cultural etiquette of the destination country Every country has its own strict social and legal rules, ignoring which can prove costly: Restrictions on medicines: Many common Indian medicines (like cough syrups containing codeine, tramadol or sleeping pills) are banned under the narcotics category in countries like UAE, Japan and Singapore. Always take essential medicines in limited quantities along with the doctor's original prescription. Local laws: In Singapore, chewing or spitting gum is a crime, in Thailand, insulting the royal family can send you to jail, and in the Gulf countries, wearing indecent clothing or taking photographs in public is punishable. Before leaving, definitely study the guidelines of the destination country. Digital and Physical Backup Copies of Important Documents Keep backups ready in case of passport or visa loss at any time during travel: Digital Storage: Keep clear PDF copies of the first and last pages of passport, valid visas, flight tickets, hotel vouchers and Covid/vaccination certificates in your email, Google Drive or DigiLocker. Physical Xerox: Keep at least two photocopies of all these documents separately in your main check-in bag and hand bag. Note the contact details of the Indian Embassy: In case of any international crisis, loss of passport, legal hurdle or natural disaster, your biggest support is the Indian Embassy or High Commission located in that country. Pre-save the emergency phone number, email ID and full address of the Indian Embassy in the country you are visiting in your diary and offline notes on your phone. Hotel location and public transport connectivity: Due to the lure of cheap hotels, people often book rooms in the outskirts, 20-25 kilometers away from the main center of the city or the metro station. The result is that huge expenses are incurred on taxis and time is wasted in commuting. Always choose a hotel which is within walking distance of a metro station, tram or bus terminal. Tourist day passes (Metro Tourist Pass) are available in most European and Asian cities, which reduce transportation costs by up to 70%. The right balance of weather forecast and packing Check the 7-day weather forecast of the destination city 3 days before the date of travel. In European countries, there can be sudden rain and cold even in summer, while in desert countries the nights are cold. On that note, carry layering clothing, comfortable walking shoes and a light waterproof windcheater. Remember that foreign cities are best explored on foot, so sneakers with good grip instead of heels or uncomfortable shoes will make your trip pleasant.
