You’ve made the big decision and worked with a travel advisor to create your perfect dream vacation abroad.  You’re caught up in the excitement and day dreams of what is to come.  And you deserve this! It’s all a part of the magic of travel.  

But please do not forget to take these tips into consideration before you go~

• Check your passport expiration, check your passport expiration, check your passport expiration! Yes, we said it three times – triple check it! 10 years (or 5 years for minors) can go by faster than we’d all like to believe.  You do not want to look at your passport last minute and realize it has either expired, or is expiring within the country’s designated passport validity criteria.
• Make sure you know how long your passport… has to be valid for to the specific country you are visiting.  Each country has different criteria for passport expiration dates.  Many require your passport to be valid for AT LEAST six months after the date you are entering their country.  You can use this link www.travel.state.gov to reference the requirements for your travel.
• Travel with the right credit card– many cards can incur foreign transaction fees, and these can VERY quickly add up.  You do not want to come home all full of amazing memories to a credit card statement that’s full of unanticipated fees…  
• US Dollars: If given the option when making a purchase to charge the item in US Dollars $$ or the local foreign currency chose the local currency.  This way you will be getting the best exchange rate of the day, and not the exchange rate at that moment in time.
• There is no Clear or Pre-Check😳 like in the states.  Be prepared to remove liquids, laptops and tablets to place in a designated bin for security.  Pack spare clear ziplock bags for toiletries, even if you had Clear and TSA Pre-Check back in the states.
• Invest in a decent power adapter or converter, it’s worth it! Knowing the difference between a power adapter and power converter is IMPORTANT! An adapter only acts as a device to change the power plug configuration to that of the country you are visiting, while a converter changes the voltage your device draws to match that of the local power output. This is key if your traveling with a hair dryer. Some converters can be bulky, chintzy, and take up valuable room, so we recommend comparing and contrasting a few options.

When in doubt we are here to help 🫶 Don’t get stuck with hidden travel fees or unexpected circumstances that a certified travel advisor will advise you of.

We know how important vacations are to you.  From the excitement and anticipation before you leave to the memorable experiences you have with friends and family, we are with you the whole way.  Whether you have a bucket list ready or PTO you want to figure out how to use, we invite you to schedule a call with us to get the planning started.