1. Make sure the country you are visiting is safe and there are no travel advisories restricting travel. You can check the State Department website for the most up to date listings. Travel advisories can be due to health concerns or political instability in the region.



2. Purchase health insurance to cover you in the country you plan to visit. It is more than likely that your current health plan (in your native country) will not cover you when you travel. Determine if you need only medical insurance or if you need trip cancellation benefits, evacuation benefits along with medical insurance.

3. Trip cancellation plans reimburse your trip costs if you have to cancel your trip for a covered reason. Some plans also provide medical insurance benefits. The plans usually have restrictions on coverage for pre existing condition and may require you to buy the plan within a specified number of days of making a deposit on the trip.

4. Pack all the medications you take on a regular basis. It is also good to carry a medical history report that lists your medical treatments, blood group, along with information of your physician. Make sure you include information of an emergency contact.

5. Base your itinerary on the advice of reputed travel guides and after consulting maps. Be realistic on how much you can cover during the trip. Sometimes people do not account for travel time and end up feeling rushed during the trip.

6. Try not to include too many activities in one day. Try to relax on the day you reach your destination. If you travel across several time zones be prepared for jetlag.

7. Organize your wallet such that you are only carrying the credit cards you plan on using on your trip. Inform your credit card company that you will be traveling overseas otherwise they could routinely reject any transaction made abroad. Use your credit card carefully to avoid fraud. Write down the phone numbers to contact in case you want to report your credit card lost or stolen.

8. Learning some basic sentences in the local language can help. Make sure you are aware of the local customs and practices so you do not insult anyone inadvertently. A translation guide may be a useful investment.

9. If you have a medical emergency contact the assist numbers for your insurance company to find doctors/hospitals you can visit. Your passport must always be in a secure spot. Carry several photocopies of it in your luggage. You can contact the consulate if you need emergency assistance.

10.Exercise good judgment while eating outside. Do not assume that the tap water is safe to drink. Try to avoid uncooked food like salads, juice to avoid falling sick.

Get ready to enjoy your next holiday abroad!