Make sure you have a signed and valid passport and/or visas, if required.
Plan accordingly: passport processing times have increased.
Be sure to fill in your passport’s emergency information page.
Make two copies of your passport identification page. Leave one with friends or relatives, and carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport.
Health and Safety
Find out about disease outbreaks and how to protect yourself when traveling outside the U.S. from the Centers for Disease Control.
Check the health conditions, security information, and the location of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country you’re visiting through the State Department’s Country Information Pages.
If you take prescription medication, have your prescription refilled and take an extra supply in the original containers with you. Carry all vital medicines in your carry-on luggage.
Carry a list of blood type, allergies, or any special medical conditions. Medical alert bracelets are a good idea.
Financial Safety
Check with your medical insurance carrier about coverage protection for out-of-country travel. To be sure you are properly insured for your trip, consider travel insurance.
Avoid cancellation penalties. All of our tour operators have strict cancellation policies. You could lose 100% of your prepaid trip costs should you cancel close to the departure date. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to purchase trip protection insurance.
Take only the credit cards and personal identification you’ll need. Carry a driver’s license or state-issued ID card. These documents can help identify you if your passport is lost or stolen; keep them in a secure location.
Make a copy of your credit card and travelers check numbers and the telephone numbers needed to report a theft. Keep this information in a location separate from the documents themselves.
Don’t carry excessive amounts of cash.
Notify your credit card companies, ATM/debit card banks and cell phone providers that you will be traveling abroad. Inquire whether or not their services are available to use internationally and if there are any fees.
To avoid being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous clothes and expensive jewelry.
Familiarize yourself with international currency values and conversions, so that you can make informed purchases abroad. Visit the Travelers Currency Cheat Sheet.
Tag your luggage properly to help it reach its final destination. Don’t pack valuables in your checked luggage.
Be ready to describe the contents of your bags, especially any electronics. At many international airports, security and customer service staff will ask you questions about your luggage.
Don’t leave your luggage unattended and don’t accept packages from strangers.
While waiting for customs or security screenings, don’t exchange items between bags.
Be alert at security checkpoints.
To help combat jet lag, drink lots of water during your flight. Some authorities recommend drinking one cup for each hour of the flight.