The wanderlust traveler aspires to get away as far as possible while planning a trip which often means journeying abroad. Those with itchy feet, always find the time to embark on a voyage of discovery despite their hectic lifestyle. And if you’re visiting a popular tourist spot or destination, then mapping out the specifics of your itinerary is a breeze.

But what if you’ve never set foot outside your country and the exotic locale you intend to visit is situated on a different continent? It does not bear to emphasize that planning every aspect of an overseas journey perfectly can be challenging, especially if you’ve never been abroad. Even seasoned vacationers and globetrotters have a trying time ensuring selecting a destination, creating a budget, and booking flights, and accommodations.

There are so many things you need to take care of before you can set off for your first international voyage. Then again there are issues that you can only deal with by confronting them head-ons like language barrier and cultural shock. Nevertheless, you can effectively manage the key aspects related to overseas travel in advance to make sure your passage is trouble-free with the following tips.

First and Foremost Choose a Destination

When it comes to choosing a destination in a foreign land, you’ll be simply spoilt for choice. Every nation on the face of this earth, big or small, has places that can qualify for being labelled as tourist hotspots or exotic destinations. Since that’ll be your first foreign jaunt, you’ll want to select a destination with a rich history and culture and quite out of the ordinary.

If you research online using the keyword “top 100 exotic destinations” you’ll be flabbergasted by the sheer variety of locations the search engine throws up. You’ll have a hard time picking a destination as one locale is as striking as the next one. To get around this problem, you should make a list of say the top 10 or top 15 tourist spots.

You can narrow down the list further to 5-6 destinations by checking off the locales against some standardized parameters like your preferable must-do activities and climatic conditions. The idea is to zero in and direct attention to a place that syncs with your travelling tastes, needs, and preferences.

Next Work Out a Budget

Once you’ve decided on an international destination, you should next focus on creating a budget for your peace of mind. After all the last you’d want is to find yourself that you’re running out of cash while you’re getting ready to dine in a restaurant. Yes, you’ll need to do some homework to prepare a budget that might help you to spend money very prudently.

Having a budget ensures that you’ve adequate cash for settling your transactions which in turn minimizes your need to use credit cards. When abroad, exchange cash only and only when the value of your currency is more compared to the local currency. Additionally, steer clear of exchanging cash at airport counters and booths and with illegal dealers.

To say last but not least, consider the following expense heads while preparing your travel budget:-

• Shopping
• Local transportation
• Flights
• Meals
• Accommodation
• Out-of-pocket costs

Carry Out Exhaustive Research On Your Planned Itinerary

A good proportion of travelers and holidaymakers do not have a clear conception of the meaning of the word ‘itinerary’. Putting things in perspective, an itinerary refers to a “detailed plan for a journey, especially a list of places to visit or plan of travel” according to dictionary.com. Wikipedia defines a travel itinerary as a “schedule of events relating to planned travel, generally including destinations to be visited at specific times and means of transportation to move between those destinations”.

For instance, a long-distance trip undertaken through an automobile and a business travel plan are both types of travel itineraries. Having a meticulously planned travel itinerary almost guarantees that you’ll be able to take pleasure in your trip without any hiccups. Understandably chalking an itinerary particularly when you’re going abroad can be remarkably intimidating.

You can take advantage of the following guidelines so that you’ve it somewhat easier in preparing your itinerary:-

• Make a list of all your scheduled stops and map them
• Collect vital and relevant information about your trip
• Keep the collected information or data about your travel in an organized manner
• Develop a database of your tour and keep multiple hard copies of the same

Keep All Your Travel Documents Ready

Make a list of all important travel documents you need and have a folder or dossier to keep them safe. You must have the following documents and their transcripts in one place before you’re ready to travel:-

• Flight tickets
• Hotel reservation receipts
• Passport (with visa)
• International driving permit (IDP)
• Travel receipts
• Travel maps
• Medical prescriptions or health certificates
• Tax payment vouchers

You must ensure that your passport remains valid for at least 6 months during travel, and the same goes for a visa.

Book Accommodations, Transportation, and Flights Well in Advance

You should book accommodation, transportation, and flights at least 5-6 months before the actual date of the journey. Making reservations well in advance not only ensures that your preferences are confirmed but also lets you make the most of fantastic deals and offers. You can check out irresistible offers and coupons on the EaseMyTrip website for hotel, flight, and transportation bookings.   

Pack Like a Pro and Get Ready to Discover Unbeaten Paths

Now that you’re nearly through with planning your first international itinerary, you’re just left with one final task-packing your bags. You should pack light which is synonymous with packing like a pro; after all, you should be enjoying instead of towing suitcases. Nevertheless, packing light does not mean that you should leave out the essentials.

Make a list of essentials that you must pack including but not limited to a passport, smartphone, mobile charger, SD cards, medicines, and first-aid kit. Make the most of your spare time by researching better overseas travel deals that you’ll find aplenty at EaseMyTrip.com.