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Know Before You Go – Kayla Allen
I'm sort of a "fly by the seat of my pants" kind of girl. I've planned trips on a spur of the moment and figured out where I was going to stay and what I was going to do when I got there; and had a blast I might add. I do have to say however that the more I've traveled the more I've come to realize that a little research beforehand can go a long long way in making your trip as fun as you'd hoped it would be.
I would never go so far as to plan a trip down to the day-by-day, but weekly, and certainly making sure especially for international travel that all your proverbial ducks are in a row. Case in point, without a bit of research some unlucky north American travelers may soon find the doors to Canada and Mexico closed for them if they don't bring along their passports. Let that be a theoretical lesson to you non-planners!
Good Questions to Ask Yourself & Then Find the Answers To
* Do I need a Passport? From now on, if you're leaving the country, the answer will always be: YES. Here you may find additional information on travel documents.
* Will I need a Visa? This is very dependant on where, how long and what your going for. A good place to find the answer is here. Calling your destinations embassy is also a good way to settle this question. "How do I contact an embassy?" you ask yourself, by clicking here, that simple.
* Do I need any vaccines, antibiotics or other medications? Talk to a healthcare professional for this one.
* Is where I'm going safe? In today's world it's a very valid questions. Get the answers here, but don't stop there. Get first hand accounts from people who've been there. There are plenty of blog sites where you can find just what you're looking for, here's a couple, 1 and 2.
* How am I going to get there? Most likely the answer is: FLY, and with so many options for airfare, here are a few that may come in handy. A resource from AmeriSpan, here. Continental has provided me with good flights to both Costa Rica and Guatemala. Until my dying day I will remain a loyal fan of www.priceline.com so I always give them a try for good measure, making sure to use the "name your own price" option.
* What should I pack? Check the weather beforehand so you don't over or under-pack. Here area some great options regarding luggage.
* Where will I stay? Travel books offer some great options. If you're on a budget, the great thing about hostels is, they're cheap, so go to www.hostelworld.com.
If you're going to a country and don't speak the language, learn it! Want to kill two birds with one stone? Become worldly, learn the native language and stay with a native family. Communication and accommodation, two of the most difficult things about traveling, take care of them both at www.amerispan.com. AmeriSpan also has some great resources here.
* What about money? For conversion rates www.oanda.com is the place to go. For global ATM locations.
* What am I going to do once I get there? Travel books have some great ideas and two in particular that do a great job of detailing options, making sure you're not overlooking must see things and just giving a great overview of your selected destination...drum-roll please... Footprint and Lonely Planet guides top my list.
* Any more questions? No? Good, then leave the rest up to whim, serendipity and how long your money holds out.
If you do have more questions, get more answers here.
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