Before you leave home, make sure your cellphone has the ability for you to call home from all the places you will be visiting.
It’s also a good idea to know your calling rates before you go, or purchase a a short-term international roaming plan through your carrier. Further, if your phone has Internet capabilities, be sure you know the international data rates, as well. You don’t want to return home to a phone bill that costs as much as your trip!
One the most important — and overlooked — things to do before traveling abroad is to check into your medical insurance coverage.
Call your insurance company to see if you and your family are covered overseas. This is especially important for destinations where disease and illness is more common, or for trips where a lot of physical activity occurs. If your medical insurance doesn’t extend internationally, consider purchasing supplemental insurance for the time you’re abroad.
Also, before leaving home, write down all your insurance information and carry it with you at all times. It’s also a good idea to make copies for any family member traveling with you. Finally, consider providing copies for family or friends staying at home … in case of emergency.
Whenever traveling internationally, it’s important — for obvious reasons — to know how to ask where the bathroom is.
Make sure to do some research before starting a trip to a foreign land. Even if the country speaks the same language, it’s important to know customs so as not to make an unpleasant remark.
One trick that can be used with many phrases is to keep a cheat sheet in your pocket with the translations. This way you can look quickly without having to flip through a book, and pair words together.
A little planing can save a lot of frustration — and a big mess!
If you chose to use a cybercafe in India, be prepared to hand over your passport and give your home address — some cybercafes will even fingerprint you!
Criminals in India have abused cybercafe computers, prompting strict regulations for India’s cybercafes. The extra layer of red tape is just not worth the trouble — besides, many cybercafe computers are infected with viruses, and that’s NOT the kind of souvenir you want to send home to friends and family.
Instead, consider bringing your own computer and using your hotel’s Internet access. Alternatively, just unplug!
And the tip? Respect. Seems simple enough.
But showing respect for a foreign country is a skill many Americans have yet to master. If you are embarking on a business trip, respect for foreign culture is imperative. Should I shake hands or bow? Should I eat with my fork in my left or right hand? Noticing simple rules of conduct can make or break your experience as a foreigner.
When in doubt, keep your voice down, offer a soft smile to all, and learn the words for ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.