International Travel Tips

I’ve been doing a lot of travel recently, so I wanted to share some of things I’ve learned (many times the hard way) that make international travel easier. You should try to get as much information about the country you are visiting, but this list of tips should give you some good starting points that are relevant for most any destination.

A great source for safety information on foreign countries is the CIA World Factbook and the US Travel Advisory site.

1. Take Copies - Having a copy of your drivers license and
   the first page of your passport are very handy in getting your visa or
   vehicle permits.  They also serve as backup if your wallet and passport
   are stolen.
2. Understand the Law - Make sure you understand the laws at
   your destination.  There have been many cases of U.S. citizens thrown
   into Mexican prisons because they had a firearm in their
   vehicle–something quite common in the U.S. but a very big legal
   violation if it is found by the Mexican border officials. 
3. Know the Altitude - When planning your trip be sure to take
   the altitude into consideration.  If you are going from a place that is
   800 feet above sea level to a place that is 8,000 feet above sea level,
   you’ll need to give your body some time to adjust to the thinner air.
4. Get an International Drivers License - This is something you
   can get from AAA even if you aren’t a member.  It costs about $10 for
   the license plus the cost of your photo.  Basically an international
   license just says you are a licensed driver in the U.S. and it does so
   in about 15 different languages.  In many places your U.S. license is
   valid by itself, but some countries will keep your license if you have
   a driving violation.  Sometimes this is used as a threat to extract a
   bribe.  If you give your international drivers license out and someone
   decides to keep it, you’ll still have your regular state issued license.
5. Power Adapters - Make sure you know what it takes to use any electronics or laptops at your destination.
6. Cell Phone Rates - If you are taking your cell phone, make
   sure you understand ahead of time how you will be charged for
   international usage. You also may need to have your carrier turn on
   international access in order for the phone to work.  In many countries
   you can get a local SIM card that will work in your phone for placing
   local calls at a much less expensive rate.
7. Emergency Numbers - You should make sure that you have
   numbers for the U.S. consulate or embassy at your destination.  Also
   make sure your friends and family know when they should expect to hear
   from you and give them the emergency numbers just in case you disappear.
8. Credit Cards - Make sure you call your credit card company
   and let them know you plan to be out of the country.  Otherwise they
   may shut down your card thinking it has been stolen.  Also be aware
   that some stores process cards differently, so it is possible that your
   card might be rejected.  Make sure you have other means of payment
   available.
9. Addresses - Make sure you have your destination address
   written down in the local language.  This can make it much easier to
   communicate with a taxi driver who speaks another language.