The festive season is just around the corner and everyone is looking for an opportunity to spend time away from his or her regular schedule. The tourism and hotel industry is gearing up to cater for the diverse needs of guests drawn from the local and international market. Those who have a larger budget are looking forward to spend their holiday in a foreign country. If you are in a part of the world where winter is fast approaching, you could be searching for better weather abroad. If you are planning to travel abroad, it is important to consider the following things before departing:
· Your passport
If you have already found a destination, cheap plane tickets and a nice accommodation, it is important to check whether you have your passport. Check the expiry date because you will need a valid passport for a minimum of 6 months after the departure date. This will give you the opportunity to renew your passport immediately. If you do not need a new passport, you can proceed to book your holiday.
· Travel & home insurance
Insurance is recommended when you are planning to travel abroad. This will save you a lot of problems during and after the holiday. Travel insurance will ensure safety on the road or air and ensures you are adequately compensated in the event that something wrong happens while you are vacationing. Home insurance will help to keep your home safe against damage and burglary. It is important to buy insurance once you have all the details pertaining to your holiday destination.
· Vaccinations
It is important to find out whether you will need any vaccinations to visit a particular country. Depending on the destination, it is important to consider having several inoculations. You need to be careful to have your vaccination the earliest time possible once you decide your destination. Some of the jabs need to be given in several stages, with one or two weeks between each of the doses.
· Secure your home
It is the goal of every vacationer to have a memorable holiday and to return to a secure home. You do not want to be interrupted during your vacation with a call from your neighbors or the police informing you your home has been burgled or damaged. Therefore, it is important to ensure all the doors and windows are locked up properly. If you have a trusted neighbor, you may consider letting them know you will be away for several weeks. This will help them keep an eye on your property.
· Enough money
It is important to have sufficient local currency when you are abroad. If you have plans of carrying your debit or credit card, find out from your bank the policy on withdrawing cash in that country. This will keep off surprises with the processing charges.
