Mark's Travel Journal

Image by Michael Gaida from Pixabay

When you’re planning the trip of a lifetime, there’s a lot to do before you go. You need to make sure you are prepared for your journey. Being prepared doesn’t even mean having your accommodation booked, you can do that as you go along, but there are some things you need to make sure you have sorted in advance.

Visas

Many  countries require visas for entry. While some can be acquired when you arrive in destination, others need to be sorted out before your trip. If you’re going somewhere where you need a visa, then it’s a good idea to sort it out before booking your flight or anything else. If your visa gets denied for some reason, you won’t have wasted money on non-refundable air travel or pre-paid hotels. 

Brush Up On Local Knowledge

When you have an idea of the countries you are going to visit, then it’s time to brush up on some local knowledge and customs. Find out if you need to have your knees and shoulders covered in certain cultural places. If you’re going to Japan then have a look on this website to see if you can learn a bit of the language. Make sure you know the laws of any country you are visiting and if there’s anything else you need to know about a particular place. Research how safe a country is and if there are any extra precautions you should take.

Book Your Flights

Once you have any visas sorted, then it’s time to book the flights or a round-the-world ticket. Prices will tend to increase the closer you get to your departure date. If you know which destinations you’re going to then use websites such as Skyscanner to compare flights. Once you have booked your flight, then you can look at your transfer options, from the airport to your accommodation.

Sort Some Accommodation

You don’t need to book the whole trip, but booking somewhere for the first couple of nights is a good idea. Check out Tripadvisor and Hostelworld as a start, and then you can ask people for recommendations as you travel around. 

Be Aware Of Any Vaccinations And Your Health

If you have any medical issues, you’ll want to speak to your doctor before you go anywhere. Go for a check-up and make sure that you are in good health before travelling. You also need to arrange for any required vaccinations. The NHS Fit for Travel website gives you all the information on what vaccinations are required for what country. Some vaccination courses can take as long as a month, so you need to get this sorted in advance.

Get Covered With Travel Insurance

Make sure you have proper travel insurance. If something goes wrong, you’ll be glad that you are insured – it could save you a lot of money. Add a sports coverage option for any activities you are planning. Make sure you read and understand the policy in full.

Have a safe and happy trip!