Preparing for any vacation can be daunting. Add a hectic work schedule, family/social commitments, and the general unpredictability of life into the mix and trip preparation can easily turn into a dreaded task. International travel generally requires more advanced planning than domestic travel. In this post, I will provide a list of 3 important things for the U.S. traveler to consider before heading abroad.

(1) Visa Requirements

Although I began traveling outside of North America 23 years ago, I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t consider other countries’ visa requirements until 2006, when I started planning a solo trip to Greece! Before 2006, I traveled abroad with college groups and friends without ever hearing the word “visa” uttered. Once I decided to visit Greece by myself, I googled everything I could regarding the country and somehow stumbled upon the visa information I needed through the U.S. Department of State’s website. It turns out that my 9-day sojourn in Greece was well within the 90-day visa-free period of travel the country accords U.S. citizens, but I was relieved that I had taken the time to check before boarding my plane. Presently, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs maintains an incredibly useful international travel website that contains visa information, among other things: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html. One of the many great features of this website is the “Country Information” section under the “International Travel” tab, which informs prospective U.S. travelers of whether they need to obtain a visa to enter/exit their destination of choice, and it also provides information on local laws, safety and security, and health considerations, etc. for each country of the world. The U.S. Department of State’s international travel website is my first stop for visa information during my overseas pre-trip planning phase. Make it yours too!

(2) Vaccination Requirements

Infectious diseases exist everywhere. You owe it to yourself to research which diseases plague your destination of choice and proactively arm yourself against infection before you travel. Before I entered Peru in 1997, I visited a Columbus, Ohio health clinic to determine which vaccinations were required and recommended for my multi-week stay in the country. I received shots for Tetanus, Hepatitis A, and Typhoid, in addition to an anti-malarial drug prescription, none of which prevented me from falling victim to a pernicious intestinal condition commonly contracted by unwary travelers in many regions of the world, but at least I didn’t contract Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, or Malaria! Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) maintains a website that contains travel health information for over 200 destinations: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/. I’ve found the following tabs to be particularly informative: “Destinations”, “Find a Clinic”, and “Travel Advice and Resources”. Given the long lead time for some vaccinations to take effect and the serial dose distribution requirements of other vaccines, the CDC recommends that you get vaccinated at least one month before you leave for your trip. For Chicago residents, I would recommend visiting Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group’s Travel Medicine office: https://www.nm.org/locations/streeterville-travel-medicine?utm_source=yext&utm_medium=gmb%20location&utm_campaign=online%20listings. I utilized the office’s services from 2008-2010, and was pleased with the high level of service and illness prevention information I received during my office visits.  Maintaining good health during a trip can only enhance your travel experience. Schedule an appointment with your travel health provider before you embark on your journey!

(3) Bank/Credit Card Company Considerations

In my early days of international travel, I engaged in cash-only transactions with foreign merchants. Back then, I’d estimate the amount of money I’d need during a trip, make a pre-trip withdrawal, and exchange currency while abroad. In 2002, I decided to go shopping in Barbados with my travel companions and realized that I was running low on cash. Naturally, I looked for an ATM and found one displaying a VISA logo so I assumed I’d be able to withdraw the amount of cash I needed. Well, “assumed” is the operative word….I tried unsuccessfully to withdraw funds from my bank account. After the second time I tried to access my account, the bank denied my ATM transaction and locked me out of my account. I called my bank to find out why I couldn’t access my funds. I learned that my Credit Union required customers traveling overseas to obtain a special international ATM pin code prior to departure. Had I called the bank before my trip to inform them that I would be traveling overseas, I would have learned of the international ATM pin code requirement. For security reasons, the bank refused to provide me with the pin code over the phone and continued to deny me access to my account. Consequently, I couldn’t even use my bank card to process credit transactions. I guess they weren’t satisfied with my attempted proof of identity over the phone! Fortunately, one of my friends loaned me some extra cash for the remainder of my trip. Since my international ATM snafu in 2002, I haven’t left the U.S. without first contacting my bank/credit card companies to notify them of my travel dates and learn of any peculiar rules affecting my ability to access my accounts while abroad. It was during such pre-trip calls that I found out about foreign transaction fees that some banks and credit card companies charge. In my experience, the fees amount to a 2-3% charge on each foreign purchase, but you should confirm your exact fees with your bank/credit card company. Depending on your spending habits, a 2-3% charge per foreign transaction can certainly add up and is not entirely insubstantial. If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to avoid financial surprises. I would recommend not only knowing exactly what your bank and credit card foreign transaction fees are before departing, but also carrying cash in U.S. currency and local currency for emergencies and purchases from merchants who only accept cash payments.

Bottom line: While there are plenty of things to consider and complete before traveling internationally, at the very least, before you travel, you should take the time to: (1) check visa requirements to ensure that you can gain entry into your destination of choice; (2) obtain required and recommended vaccinations to decrease your likelihood of contracting local diseases; and (3) contact your bank/credit card companies to learn of potential foreign transaction fees and minimize your chances of losing access to your account(s).

Need help planning your next vacation? Contact me at theknowledgeabletourist@gmail.com!