Do Before You Travel –part-2

Do Before You Travel –part-2

Be sure to get a passport as soon as possible. Passports are valid for 10 years, though some countries will not accept passports that will expire within a year. To get a passport.

While you probably want to book your accommodations well before you arrive, Usually take care of the more time-consuming tasks first, then turn attention to accommodations.

Generally look for alternative, budget-friendly options such as home stays, apartment rentals and camping grounds through sites like. Sometimes, if I can't find affordable, acceptable options ahead of time, I'll arrive without any at all and get help on the ground finding a place to stay. While my husband and I traveled around Asia, we would arrive without a place to stay and check into a guest house — basically, a nicer version of a hostel where you can get a private room for about $10 — and decide which city to visit next.

But the first two days in any new country are a transition period. For that time, I book two nights at a nice hotel so I can acclimate, sleep, and determine my next plan of action. Trust me, you don't want to worry about changing money, communicating in a foreign language, or finding accommodations while you're jet-lagged. Stretch your budget those first few days — it's worth it.

If you're like me, you probably already have a bucket list of travel destinations. That's great. But before I decide on a destination for a particular trip, I research the cost and weather using these tools:

Speaking of weather, I always put together a chart so I can see at a glance which months look best. For example, to prepare for a 48-week trip through Central and South America, I put together a chart listing the average temperature and average rainfall for each country I planned on visiting for each month of the year. Then I planned out our route to give us the best chance of hitting great weather. You don't want to visit the country of your dreams during a monsoon, only to discover you should have known it was the rainy season!

 I used to be a big fan of traveler's checks, but with debit cards they're almost extinct and expensive to exchange. In any case, I still bring some traveler's checks and US dollars in case of an emergency.

I also contact my bank and credit card companies to tell them the countries I plan to visit and ask about any possible fees for using my card in a foreign country. If there are a number of fees, then consider getting an international debit/credit card.

I love the saying "safety is no accident."

Before I leave, I always:

Enroll with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program for travel warnings and alerts

Scan two color copies of my passport and driver's license — and keep one copy in my backpack and one in my money belt

Email my parents and myself a copy of my passport, driver's license, credit card numbers, and international lost/stolen phone numbers, traveler's check numbers, and travel itinerary.

A little low-cost preparation ahead of time can save you major headaches abroad.