Wanderlust 101: Prepping For Travel

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If you’ve got those itchy feet once again, it’s only right that you should consider scratching them to set off on a wanderlust adventure. While you might have been more than happy reaching for your backpack, grabbing your passport and catching the first flight you spotted when you were younger, nowadays you are keen to take a more measured approach to your travel.                                                                                                                                                     
With the world seemingly opening up to travelers, it is now easier than ever to reach the farthest corners of the planet. You need to consider where you want to go, what you want to see and what you want to achieve when out and about. Depending on the length of time you have for your jaunt, you might want to think about immersing yourself in a culture for an extended period of time, you might fancy squeezing in as many sights as possible during a fortnight, or you might have a year to embark on the journey of a lifetime. However long you have for your trip overseas, it’s vital that you prepare and plan to ensure that you get the most out of your time away from home. Take a look at these essential things to prep to ensure that your wanderlust adventures are everything you dreamed of.

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Paperwork

Yawn! Yes, paperwork has to be the most boring aspect of trip preparation. However, don’t put the time in prior to boarding your flight, and your trip overseas could fail at the first hurdle. It’s vital that you have all of your documentation in order. For many countries across the globe, you need to apply for a visa prior to travel. Don’t leave it until the last minute and check all of the requirements you need to meet to ensure a visa is viable.

Sometimes you will need to have a skeleton itinerary available for consulate staff to see. At the very least you may need to show copies of your hotel reservations and flight schedule. It’s good practice to have these copies available in any case, so that you can pack them in your backpack should you need them when abroad.

Ensure that your passport is in date and that you have travel insurance. While you may feel invincible, it only takes one undercooked piece of meat or one slip when skiing to cause you a major ailment that will require insurance coverage.

Learn The Lingo

If you are heading to a far flung exotic destination where the population speaks a different language, it’s only courteous and respectful to learn a little bit of the lingo. While English is widely spoken across the globe, it’s arrogant for you to expect a person to speak your language when you are visiting. Heading to Mexico? Why not take a course of private Spanish lessons to help you learn basic greetings, important phrases, and vocabulary that you might need while you’re away.  

People love nothing more than hearing a visitor to their country trying to order a meal in their native tongue rather than simply shouting in English in the hope that saying something louder in a different language makes it easier to understand. Learning a language can be ridiculous amounts of fun and if you opt for the private tutor led sessions, the chances are that you’ll be able to learn an awful lot in a short period of time; ideal for when you’re traveling and need to learn the lingo fast.

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Backpack

While many people swear by wheel on luggage, a backpack can be the most flexible luggage choice for a traveler. Even if you are heading abroad for a good few months, don’t opt for anything larger than forty liters - there’s no point. You will have to wash your clothes along the way so just take enough for a week’s worth of outfits. Some people go with even less and can manage more than adequately. For ease, ensure that you select a backpack that is front loading. This saves you opening your backpack, only to rifle through goodness knows how much gear before you reach your headphones at the very bottom of your bag. Front loaders are more like suitcases and save a lot of hassle. Keep it under forty liters, and you can have simple carry on luggage meaning it’ll save you the hassle of checking anything in. Bliss!

Venturing overseas for a small break or a trip of a lifetime deserves the prep it needs to ensure that you enjoy your travels to their fullest. Prep for your wanderlust adventure and you could have a truly life affirming experience.

 

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