Down to Earth Tips to Better Prepare for International Travel
Last edited on February 2026
                                 
   

As of May 2026 I have traveled to 117 UN-recognized independent countries across all seven continents. There is thrill and

amazement in travel, but there are also challenges that come with exploring the world.

Throughout my travels, I learned a thing or two of what works and what not so much. I would like to share with you what I learned.

Below is a list of tips that I have compiled based on my personal experience as well as from other people I came across as I traveled.

Is not an exhaustive list, but it covers areas that I have found to be potential sources of complications and stress on the road.
Please note that these tips are primarily intended for North American travelers.

A point of distinction: when I say 'traveling,' I am referring to experiences that go beyond mere vacations or holidays.
While tourists and vacationers often seek to escape their daily lives by relaxing at resorts or beaches, while travelers are motivated by a desire to explore other cultures, histories, archaeologies, geographies, and peoples - the world!

Please note that the content on this site is frequently updated and presented with brevity, using minimal verbiage to convey the maximum amount of information.

Are you inflicted with wanderlust? keep reading...


About cruising

Cruising has quite a few advantages. Having one “hotel room” for the duration of your trip is one of them. Fine cousine is available on most cruises. The comfort and vacation type atmosphere help you relax and escape the stress of life.

Also, certain destinations are much more easily explored that way rather than flying, and on land. Think of the Caribbean and the South Pacific countries. Or West Africa’s countries, which may be accessible by land, but not very suited for land travel. 

For us, it's touring on land that allows for a more extensive exploration of the countries and destinations we visit. These tips are primarily geared toward people like us who mainly travel by air/land.

 

Having said that, if you are an avid cruiser or an aspiring one, check those links:

https://www.cruisecritic.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@tipsfortravellers

https://www.youtube.com/@TheTravelScouts
Where to go?
The world is vast. The possibilities - endless. How do you start? We like to check Hillman’s Wonders which give us inspiration. Check also Earth Trekkekers and Atlas Obscura for ideas.

I also subscribe to numerous RSS feeds (blogs and YouTube video channels) which from time to time give me ideas about possible travel destinations.

Another good resource are travel tour companies that list destinations with descriptions and a lot more information – like Gate1Travel, OAT, Odysseys Unlimited, Road Scholar and others.
How to start?
The first decision you have to make is “do I travel on my own or with a group”?

There is no simple answer. At some destinations like many in Europe, it’s easier to be on your own, in others like Bhutan, Galapagos and Antarctica you virtually must join a group. Others, you may do either, but the complexity and execution may be difficult on your own.
A leading consumer advocate and money expert, Clark Howard  an article on
How to choose travel company. Good information, check it out.

How to search for flights?
Traveling with a group most of the time solves that question – they normally include the flights in the package.

If you still want to control your flights or are traveling on your own, try Google Flights. While it does not include some major airlines, like Southwest, Air China, China Eastern it is a metasearch engine that uses a Global Distribution System (GDS) to tap into the flight inventory offered by almost every airline in the world. Also check ITA Software, owned by Google.

Furthermore, it separates the round trip tickets searches to individual flights, so you may find even cheaper way to travel if possible. They offer many more tools, too many to mention.

When you find an itinerary you like, it will direct you to the airline's site
.
When you search for prices on airline site as a group of 2 people or more, search for one person before you book as a group.
The airlines use "bucket" prices and if you are the last in the cheapest fare bucket, they would charge the next, pricier bucket rates for the whole group. At times that may amount to hundreds of dollars in difference.

While most of the other search engines like Kayak.com, Skyscanner, Momondo or Cheapoair.com do not have as broad access as Google Flights to the GDS, check them out just to have another angle of what's available. At times those tickets may look better - cheaper- but they are sold by small, obscure travel agencies. Always compare those itineraries and prices with the airline's website.

For discounted business class tickets check the following Business class consolidator or Premium-Flights at discount

Regardless of how you find the best flights for your trip, do not use links to some online travel agencies. Buy the tickets directly from airlines, or your own trusted travel agent.

Those online resellers are nowhere to be found if there is a problem, and the airline you are supposed to fly on may not be able/willing to help.

Once you get your tickets or e-tickets, check everything for accuracy, particularly the spelling of your name. You have 24 hours (in the US) to cancel or make changes.
Airlines may deny boarding with a misspelled name. Your name must be identical to the one on your passport.


Layovers
If the flight you are contemplating is not a non-stop, do not schedule one with less than two hours layover: a delay in your first leg may have you miss your connecting flight.
For a connection at a big airport hub, schedule a layover of two and a half at the minimum, on small regional airports, one and a half hours may work for you.

One important clarification: people often confuse the two terms Direct flight and Non-Stop flight. "Direct" means that the flight goes to the destination using one flight number, but may land anywhere en route, either to refuel or pick up passengers. "Non-stop" means no stops on the way.

Finding a hotel:
Here again Google comes to the rescue. Start with https://www.google.com/travel/hotels You can search by city, specific hotel, specific area (ie.near airport) etc. You will get a comprehensive list of links with all the information at your fingertips. Check also Trivago, hotels.com, Kayak, expedia or a similar hotel aggregator to search for deals. Once you select one, check whether the hotel offers a similar price. Hotels prefer to sell directly and may offer you an upgrade.

It happened to me that a hotel and its photos online looked great, only to find out that the actual property left a lot to be desired... To reduce the risk of that happening to you, go to a reputable tour company's website, check which hotels they use, and select among those. Their reputation depends on providing a good experience to their customers. They investigate, research and inspect their hotel selection and offer as good hotels as available in the area. I always had a good experience using this tactic. Check Gate1, OAT, SmarTours and others.

If you are looking for a package of hotels, flights and car rentals, check sites like Expedia, which can offer you a better deal.


Preparation for the trip
Create a packing list and checklist. A master packing list should include everything you may need on the road. It will simplify your decisions on what to take with you, so you don't have to worry every time you travel. Sample Packing list
A well-thought checklist will provide you with a plan on what to do right after booking, a week before departure, the day before and in the morning of.
A sample checklist can be found here.

Checked luggage tips:
To simplify life and to have a better chance of recovering your checked-in luggage if it's lost, take a picture of the suitcase as well as pictures of its content.
If it's never found or destroyed, the pictures of the contents will help your claim with the airline or the insurance company.

Before heading to the airport, make sure to remove any luggage tags or stickers from your previous trips. You don't want to confuse the luggage handlers...

To easier identify your luggage on the carousel, place a colorful sticker on both sides. The attached name tags may get separated en route, but the stickers will stay glued on.

In today's airport chaos, your luggage may be somewhere within the compound of the airport, yet not accessible to you.

You can use small electronic devices like AirTag for iPhone users or SmartTags from Samsung and Tile for Android users.

When you place them in your suitcase, their location will be visible on your phone (works with Bluetooth). All are available on Amazon.com.

Pack an extra set of clothes for a day or two in your carry-on bag, just in case your checked-in luggage is lost or delayed.

If traveling with a spouse or a friend, carry a day or two of clothing in each other's suitcase.
Carry-on Luggage Size Chart for 64 Major Airlines [Dimensions, Sizes & More]
https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/airlines/carry-on-luggage-size-chart/

Carry with you a light luggage scale to easily control the weight of your suitcases and carry-ons. It will assist you in avoiding overweight charges.


Going through TSA security
Do not place individual items, like cameras, phones, wallets, glasses, keys, jewelry, etc. in the boxes provided.
Use a multi-pocket vest, lady's purse with a zipper or any other garment that has a large zipped pocket for secure storage.
Place that secured vest/purse with all your valuables in the bin.
Those loose valuable items left in the boxes are prone to be forgotten or worse – stolen.

Download the MyTSA app for valuable information on what you can and can’t bring into the plane. For android phones, you can find it here


Aircraft Seating:
Seat Guru offers aircraft seating info on pretty much all the flights including recommendations and warnings. Use the site when you are picking seats on the aircraft.
Another aircraft seating resource is AeroLOPA.

Travel Insurance:
Many US health insurance companies and programs do not include coverage when traveling internationally. Travel Insurance companies provide that kind of coverage along with many additional features.
Check these articles about travel insurance from Forbes, ThePointsGuy blog.

As a result of the recent Covid-19 pandemic, many countries require visitors to have travel insurance, one that includes Covid-19 specific coverage language. If needed, make sure it's specifically included.

Whatever coverage you get, make sure the Emergency Medical and Evacuation coverage is sufficient and is primary and not secondary.

Your credit card may offer travel insurance. Even if it does, you may want to supplement with customised coverage that addresses your needs. Check the comparison sites below.

Insuremytrip.com
Squaremouth.com
https://www.travelinsurance.com/
tripinsurancestore.com


Download and install on your phone the Airline App of the one or more of the airlines you will be flying on. The airlines "push" notifications on those apps about last-minute changes. They also allow you access to their entertainment system on the plane

Check-in online within 24 hours before the flight and save time when checking in. You will have a better seat selection by checking in early. Some airlines charge you to check in at the airport.
When handing over your checked-in luggage, make sure the tag they place on it is to the airport you are heading to. If they make a mistake, your luggage may end up in Sweden instead of Switzerland…

Passport and Documents:
Check your passport for the expiration date and make sure it will remain valid for at least 6 months after you return home from your trip.

Make sure you have at least 2 to 3 empty pages in it – those are the requirements of many countries you may travel to.

Make sure to have paper copies of all your travel documents – passports, boarding passes, credit/debit cards (including non-toll-free numbers if you call from abroad), hotel reservations, eTickets, Travel Insurance, and documents particular to your trip. Also, keep all those copies in the cloud by either emailing them to urself, or uploading to Google Drive, iDrive and similar.
Leave a physical copy of your passport at home, with someone you trust, just in case everything else fails

Notify your banks of your travel plans so they will not block your cards in foreign countries. The notification requirements change from time to time so make sure to check with your bank. Don’t forget to notify the post office to hold your mail too.


Credit/debit cards and Foreign Currency
Many banks charge their customers a foreign transaction/conversion fee when used abroad. Find a bank that does not, and open a checking account with a debit card as well as a credit card with them. CapitalOne is a bank I know that qualifies. Clark Howard, a consumer oriented podcast creator, published a list of "Best Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2022" If you travel enough, taking the time to find one will pay for itself in no time…

Do not exchange money in advance in the US, just bring a minimal amount of US dollars, and get the local currency from a BANK ATM. Private (non-bank) ATMs in the airport or stores will charge extra fees. Better yet, get a bank account which reimburses you for charges made by the local foreign banks- Charles Schab is one of those banks.

One exception known to me is Argentina. The exchange rate available in the bank is far less then you legally can get at exchange offices around the cities. At the time of our visit, for1 US Dollar in the bank/ATM you recived 188 Argentinian Pesos, versus 370 at private money changers. For the current "blue " rate check https://bluedollar.net/. If you know of other anomalies like Argentina, please drop me a line at traveltips@emailreuven.com

When using a credit card and are given the option to charge in local currency or US dollars, ALWAYS select a local currency for a better exchange rate. In certain ATMs in Europe you will be offered the local bank's exchange rate. ALWAYS refuse! Your home country bank will have a much better exchange rate.

Download an app on your smartphone to assist you in calculating the rate of exchange between the US dollar and local currency. I use All Currency Converter Pro on my Android phone, but you can find it or similar for iPhone in their app store and on the Android Play store...

Lounge access
If you travel many times a year, consider a credit card that provides access to the lounges in most airports. Those cards are not cheap but pay for themselves quickly and make you feel like a human in the airport’s Zoo… Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of them. That card also does not charge foreign transaction/conversion fees.

Global Entry and Mobile Passport
Global Entry provides streamlined passport control upon return to the US. At times you are out before the luggage carousel starts running... It costs $100 for 5 years and includes TSA PreCheck - easier and faster TSA control before departure.  Check here Global Entry.
The CBP (Customs and Border Protection) also offers Mobile Passport - an app you download to your mobile phone. It's free and using it expedites your re-entry to the US.

Global Entry is offered to people who qualify as Trusted Travelers under the TSA programs.

Several premium credit cards  - like Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X and American Express - will pay the $100 fee every five years.


If you don’t speak the local language, download Google Translate languages to your smartphone. If you have a layover in another country on the way to your destination, download their language too. Extremely useful.

Download maps from Google for your destination to be able to have access to maps offline.

Adapters for local electric outlets:
Find out which electric adapter you need for the country you are traveling to.

You will need them to charge your phones, cameras and other gadgets. Order more than one.

In today’s world having reliable and safe internet access is a must.

Get a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service if you intend to use Wi-Fi in public places. Without it, a hacker can get access to your phone and get all your user names and password, steal your money and identity.

VPN encrypts the transmitted data and prevents bad actors from stealing. Check the following articles for guidance or do a Google search
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/best-vpn/
https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-vpn

Mobile phone service
Unless your mobile carrier offers free data roaming in most of the world countries, consider getting a local SIM card if you stay for a week or more in one country. Just make sure you have an unlocked cell phone,
In European Union, roaming is included so if you buy a SIM card in Spain (for example) you can use it in all the 27 contries of EU.

Google Pixel phones have dual SIM – eSIM and physical SIM slot: you can use your US SIM and a local SIM card at the same time.
iPhones have Dual eSIMs.
Several US wireless service providers offer international data without roaming charges or any extra daily/weekly charges. Check T-Mobile and Google Fi. There may be other companies as well.
Google Voice (GV) service offers a free US phone number, which you can use for texting and free local calls. They also provide inexpensive international call service.

For free phone calls download and use the What’s App and make sure to people you want to call have it too.
Facebook Messenger can be used for free phone calls.

Find out from which foreign service provider to buy at Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki

You can purchase eSIM cards in advance from companies like Airalo, Dent, MobiMatter, RedteaGO or Holafly

Bring with you a fully charged “Brick” or a Power Bank to charge your phone when no electric socket is available (on the bus or airplane)

Travel restrictions and requirements
Various countries may require a visa, Covid vaccination, Covid test before entry, Travel insurance, border control documents etc.

Check with Sherpa for the most updated requirements. They have the requirement info for vrtually all the countries and update them daily.

If you are not traveling with a group and are staying for a while at your destination, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
provided by the US Department of State.

Check the various countries' restrictions on some medications that are not allowed. Japan does not allow Tylenol Cold in. Who knew...? Bring printed Rx prescriptions for the medications you use. Some countries are strict and require them.


Your Safety,  Security and well-being
Drink plenty of water on the plane, particularly on long flights. The air in the aircraft is very dry, and you can easily get dehydrated and suffer unpleasant consequences.

When you stay in a city which you plan on exploring, leave your passport and other documents that you will not need with you in the hotel's vault, as pickpocketing in large metropolitan areas is a big problem.
Many hotels impose various fees on guests who smoke in the hotel rooms - at times fraudulently. If you see warnings at check-in time about smoking, have your room certified as "clean" at checkout.

Before departure, check how safe is it to drink tap water at your destination. If it's not recommended, do not eat cut fruits or salads as you can not be assured that in preparation no tap water was used. Either way, for drinking use only bottled water.
 Check this article titled "A Complete List Of Countries Where You Can And Can’t Drink The Tap Water When You Travel"

If you are a senior traveler the following site "A Luxury Travel Blog" has some great extra tips for seniors, not only those traveling to South America
9 top tips for senior travelers wishing to experience South America

When traveling to countries known for high altitude, get a prescription from your doctor for High Altitude pills. Bring them with you, just in case...

When charging your phone in the airport or any other public charging station, use only the charger that plugs into an AC power outlet . Never use an USB charging station as identity thieves are known to load malware onto public USB charging stations to maliciously access electronic devices while they are being charged. If for some reason the USB way of charging is your only option, purchase beforehand  USB Data Blocker from Amazon or any other vendor. That will prevent any malicious data moving from/to your phone.

Do not be too specific about your travel plans on social media, like Facebook or Instagram. It's a road map and calendar for professional burglars
Getting around in your destination country:
Download the Uber app and create an account. In countries where Uber is not available, check Grab or ask around for a local TAXI app, for finding a secure ride.

Lifehacker published an article titled Best Rideshare Apps to Use When Traveling Internationally It lists ride-shares in different regions of the world.
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I also maintain a page with various useful travel links, primarily for my own use, but available to anyone interested.

For questions, comments and suggestions, drop a note to traveltips@emailreuven.com