If you’re reading this, then congratulations! You’ve finally done what you needed to do to make your dream travel adventure a reality! Just remember that getting to this point isn’t the whole ballgame. There’s still preparation to be done. If you want to ensure that your travel adventure is fun, comfortable, and safe, check out this short checklist of essential reminders before you take off.
1. Download Offline Maps
You won’t always have a WiFi connection or a mobile signal to access the internet and check Google Maps. Thankfully, there are a bunch of apps that can allow you to download area maps and view them offline. HERE WeGo is one such app to consider. You might remember this app from when it was called HERE Maps. It’s one of the most efficient tools for familiarizing yourself with strange locations so you can find that specialty coffee shop, hidden bus station, or whatever else you may be looking for. Just download a map of your destination and you won’t have to worry about an internet connection once you’re “out in the wild”.
2. Always Carry Your Travel Insurance Contact Info
This seems like common sense, but unfortunately, most travelers rarely do it. Really, you should treat your travel insurance info the same way you treat your passport. Store both in the cloud, always keep a laminated photocopy of these documents near you, and ensure that you always have some way of contacting your insurer – especially in the event that you’re going to get up to any potentially dangerous activities.
3. There’s a Reddit For That
Travel guidebooks are fun and useful, and you should always read them end-to-end. However, if the info in your guidebooks sounds outdated, it’s because it may well be. Don’t worry – when it comes to travel, there’s a reddit for that. Specifically, r/travel is the site to see for updated and essential travel information, posted either by locals or by people who have been to the destination they’re talking about. Checking out this reddit is a good way to kill travel myths and confirm any relevant information about your destination, whether during preparation or when you’re actually on the ground.
4. Prepare Multiple Payment Options
When you’re traveling to multiple destinations, it’s not always easy to keep track of your budget and maintain an ample supply of the local currency. This is where alternate payment options can come in handy. Per some Irish gaming resources with experience catering to millions of travelers in Europe each year, debit or credit cards remain some of the most commonly used non-cash payment methods in the world for everyday purchases. These sites can actually be a nice gauge on such things given their volume of activity, looking into the information more closely it becomes clear that VISA and MasterCard are two of the most widely accepted specific cards for retailers, hotels, restaurants, and digital gaming providers. PayPal is also starting to become more commonly used and recognized throughout the world. It can be very handy for travelers. Basically, you have options, but you should always research them in advance, as well as carry some cash, to be as prepared as possible.
5. Collapsible/Folding Water Bottles Are Your Best Friends
There’s a reason why Adventure Catcher lists collapsible silicon water bottles at the top of our 15 Best Travel Items for $15 or Less. Any veteran traveler can tell you that staying hydrated is essential to remaining healthy and comfortable in strange places, and having your own space-saving water container is typically the cheapest way to do this. Refilling your bottle with clean, potable drinking water typically costs less than a dollar, while brand new water bottles tend to cost three-to-five times that most anywhere you go. Also, as a bonus, carrying your own bottle helps to reduce plastic waste in the world!
