A Traveler’s Ultimate Guide – A Checklist for Travelers

Airlines are announcing a huge demand on traveling this year and airports are expecting big passengers’ traffic.Thus, you need to plan your travel wisely this year, and study well: where to go? When to go? Which airline to use? What tools you need? And what are the required documents?In our blog, we’re sharing an ultimate guide of all the things that you need to consider for your next trip.

1- Choose your destination

You won’t go very far in your vacation without deciding on a destination, right? Are you looking for a relaxing destination? Mountains views? Beach? Snow?
you need to know what you’re looking for to choose the right destination. One more thing that we advise you to consider when choosing your destination is that:

You will see many Ads for different tourism locations, don’t focus only on Ads and promotions!

Think outside the box and do your own research of other touristic locations too.

Here are the top 5 Travel destinations:

• Bali, Indonesia: You’ll find beaches, volcanoes, Komodo dragons, and jungles sheltering elephants, orangutans, and tigers. It’s paradise. It’s likely you’ve seen an image of Bali on social media at least once in the past seven days.
• New Orleans: The bustling city is worth the journey, noted for its street music, celebratory mood, and mixing pot of French, African, and American traditions. NOLA is a city full of surprises around every corner and should be on everyone’s bucket list.
• Marrakesh, Morocco: Mosques, palaces, and beautiful gardens abound in this historic walled city. Because of the color of the brick walls that encircle the city, it is known as The Red City. The medina has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The Maldives: More than 1,000 coral islands make up this tropical country in the Indian Ocean. With white-sand beaches, underwater villas, restaurants, and dazzling blue seas, it is home to some of the world’s most opulent hotel resorts.
• Dubai, UAE: Dubai, the high-flying capital of the United Arab Emirates, is one of the most opulent cities you’ll ever see. Enjoy watching the highest tower in the world (Burj Khalifah)

2- Plan your budget

When it comes to preparing a vacation budget, there is a lot to think about, and it can be intimidating at first.

What are the best websites to utilize for travel cost calculators?

1. Trip Cost
2. Trip Math
3. Travel Tipy

While creating a travel budget, you need to separate expenses into 3 categories:

• Preparation expenses
• Actual vacation expenses
• Emergency funds

Preparation expenses

All the money you will need to spend before you go for your trip is included in your preparation expenses. The following are some examples of what will be covered by your preparation costs:

Passport and visa

These fees will vary widely depending on where you reside and where you plan to travel, so do your research and budget for your passport and any necessary visas.

Travel insurance

Although travel insurance is not necessary, it is always a good idea. especially if you will be traveling for an extended period. If you’re going to be gone for more than a week, I strongly advise you to get health insurance.

When you travel abroad, you never know what could happen. You could stumble on a rock during your trip or drink contaminated water. There are many low-cost options that can be accessed.

Unexpected events might arise, and they can be particularly distressing when traveling overseas. That is why it is critical to get travel insurance. There are two types of travel insurance to choose from:

• Insurance for medical expenses
• Insurance for trip cancellations

A copy of your travel insurance certificate should be always carried with you. Insurance companies frequently supply a printer-friendly card or summary with emergency contact information that you should always keep with you, or you may utilize their mobile app to have all the necessary information at your fingertips.

Flight Ticket

Check the prices of different airlines and choose what best suits your budget and timing.

Luggage/travel gear

This is a broad category, and what you need will be entirely dependent on what you already have and what you consider vital. Suitcases, backpacks, money belts, cameras, foreign phone plans, activity-specific gear (such as hiking boots, sleeping bags, and so on), neck pillows, and anything else you need to make your life easier or more fun when traveling, falls into this category.

3- Actual vacation expenses

The next category will look like this:

Accommodations

Where will you be sleeping, you’ll have plenty of possibilities to minimize this cost to a minimum through labor exchange. Otherwise, this will be one of your most significant costs. While planning, look into real rates for your specific dates and locations, as they might vary substantially depending on the time of year and other factors.

Food and drink

When doing your research, you may find a lot of useful information about how much you should budget for this, depending on your trip. When arranging your meal budget, as well as whether your accommodations provide complimentary meals.

Tour/Activities

Making a list of all the activities and tours you want to do while on vacation, as well as how much they cost, is the best approach to prepare for this.

Transportation

Consider the transportation expenses and study the costs of Metros, Trains, Rented cars, taxis, busses, yachts & boats….

Emergency funds

Finally, there are Emergency Reserve Funds. This is money you’ll have on hand but set aside in case of an emergency, such as stolen or lost credit cards.

I propose maintaining emergency funds in cash, divided into two to three separate stashes, and kept in different locations during your trip.

The reality is that unexpected expenses arise more frequently than not, and you should always have a contingency plan in place! I recommend setting aside enough money for a couple of days’ worth of meals and lodging, as well as an emergency plane ticket home if you need to leave early.

4- Check the needed documents

Depending on which nation you are visiting and what your objective is for visiting, you may require a special visa and any other important travel documents should be packed before leaving the house

Passport, Travel Visa, and National ID Card

you should always have an official identity document with you. Multiple papers, such as your passport, and national ID card.

Your passport must have at least 3 months of validity on the day you leave your holiday destination

Passport requirements for non-EU destinations vary and can require as much as 6 months of validity – check the FCDO travel advice and the entry requirements page for the country you are visiting.

 What are the requirements for a visa?

Each country has its own vis application requirements. Make sure to check with your destination country’s appropriate government website to find out. Requirements typically include filling out the visa application form, providing your passport for stamping if required, a photograph, and additional documents such as your flight itinerary, hotel booking, or letter of invitation.

When you need a visa depends on where you would like to go. If your home country has a visa agreement with the country to which you intend to travel, then you likely will not need to apply for a visa. However, if your home country does not have a visa agreement with your intended destination, then you must apply for a visa before traveling.

Check here to find out where you can travel visa-free with your passport

5- Stay Connected by Activating the Roaming or Getting a SIM Card

You will want either a SIM card to use in the country you are traveling or purchase a global package through your provider.

If you travel in a foreign country with a SIM card from your home country, you will be doing what network providers call roaming. Since the network providers in your home country most likely aren’t present in other countries.

While some networks providers may have special deals in place with their counterparts in foreign countries which let you roam for free or at a large discount, this is not very common and, in most cases, you will have to pay roaming fees if you want to make calls, send a text or use data while abroad

6- Pack your Clothes Wisely

If you’re traveling on a long vacation, you’re more likely to encounter a variety of weather conditions. Preparing for anything is a solid rule of thumb.

In milder areas, though, you’ll still need some cold-weather apparel. Once the sun sets, many places experience a dramatic temperature shift. Also, if you’ll be spending a lot of time indoors, the air conditioning could be on full blast.

You should be prepared for rain in every environment. If you are caught in a storm, it can ruin your travel plans and disrupt your entire vacation, but with the right equipment, you can keep traveling.

To decide what to wear, you need to know the temperature.

7- Remember to pack your electronic devices

• Portable charger

Less than an inch thick, the power bank is the perfect accessory to take with you on shore excursions to eliminate the worry of a drained battery.

• Universal Travel Adapter

If you travel a lot, you will know what a pain it is rummaging through your adapters trying to find the right one for the next country.

• Go pro

The GoPro is our adventure camera. This is one camera you want to have with you when you travel

• Tiny steam iron

especially for people who are on business trips. It’s lightweight and consumes very less space.

• Portable internet device

You obviously want to post stories on Instagram and Facebook therefore having a portable internet device handy is a must.

• Headphones

it’s a common electronic gadget everyone carries while traveling. Headphones are one of the coolest elements to carry on your vacation.

•  hairdryer

A hairdryer is a hairstyling kit essential as it is effective in keeping your hair moisturized even after a thorough blow-drying. You need to pack a blow dryer that isn’t too heavy

8- Never forget your medication

Don’t forget any medicine you might require; it’s easy to take it for granted because it’s always accessible at home, but you might find that you can’t acquire replacement tablets or other medications once you get to your destination. If you don’t take your medications every day, bring more than you think you’ll need because you could run out or lose a supply.

Supplies to prevent illness or injury

• Hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol) or antibacterial hand wipes
• Insect repellent
• Cold and Flu tablets
• Pain relief medicine such as paracetamol or aspirin.
• Sunscreen (with UVA and UVB protection)
• Plane dizziness medicines
• Sunglasses and hat
• Earplugs

9- Prepare for leaving

Don’t forget to lock the door in order not to be robbed during your vacation, water the plants, take out the garbage, and turn off all electronic items to avoid overspending.

Safety and Security tips

• Protect your ATM PIN
• Keep cash in multiple locations
• Whenever possible, travel with someone else
• Create a “mugger wallet” with small amount of local currency
• Leave Credit cards, documents, and cash in safe place
• Check phone numbers of the country for emergency, police, and hospitals

What are the useful applications that people should download?

For people who travel frequently, parts of the trip-taking process can still be complicated. Whether you are trying to stay calm during a turbulent flight or just need assistance converting currency rates, here are some essential travel apps to help you through your journey.

airssist (IOS-Free | Android-Free)

For your next travel, avoid endless queues and sail smoothly through the airport. airssist app will connect you with a selection of airport concierge services worldwide. Enhance your airport experience by booking Airport Meet and Greet for your next arrival, departure, or transit flight, from your airssist app.

This will help you skip the queues at the airports, Fast-Track your passage and enjoy a luxurious trip at the airport.

TripIt (iOS- Free | Android-Free)

TripIt automatically tracks your confirmation emails for flight itineraries, hotel or Airbnb bookings, car rentals, restaurant reservations, and any event tickets you might buy. Also, you can populate those travel plans into a little itinerary that you can view in one place. It is packed with features that will keep you informed about COVID-19 requirements while you travel. You may also get information about mask requirements, cancellations, refunds, credits, and airline limitations.

Uber (iOS- Free | Android- Free)

For transportation, check well known international companies like Uber, or similar trusted providers in your destination.

Google Maps (iOS -Free | Android – Free)

Google Maps is a consumer application and web mapping platform developed by Google. Satellite images, aerial photos, street maps, 360° interactive panoramic views of streets, real-time traffic conditions, and route planning for walking, driving, biking, flying, and taking public transportation are all available.

Xe currency (iOS – Free | Android – Free)

Before your trip, just add the currency of the country you are traveling to into your list on the app. Then when you land all, you must do is plug in the price you want to convert to U.S dollars or otherwise, and the app will spit out a rate equivalent in mere seconds.

You may use the app to view rate conversions even when you’re not connected to the internet if you stored the necessary currency in the app when connected to the internet.

PackPoint (iOS – Free | Android – Free)

PackPoint generates a personalized list of things you’ll need for your next vacation. Simply enter your location, trip dates, length of stay, and any activities you intend to undertake there, and the app will generate a personalized packing list for you depending on your needs and weather conditions. Your packing list may also be shared with other travelers.

Tips for exchanging currency while traveling

When going abroad, make sure to get the most out of your money by learning more about international currency conversion.

Make sure you understand all of the advantages and disadvantages of each currency conversion option before you go so you don’t have to deal with any unexpected costs after your trip. The simplest method of money exchange isn’t necessarily the best.

Your payment methods:

1- Exchange money to the country currency from Airport Kiosks and Foreign Exchange Desks:

airport kiosks can charge up to 20% in fees and have a much lower exchange rate compared to banks and private exchange companies. Exchanging currency at the airport should be avoided at all costs and saved only for emergencies

2- Credit Cards

Check to see whether your credit card will work worldwide before using it in another country. If so, look into any potential costs that may apply while you’re away. Currency exchange costs, transaction fees, and service charges on cash advances are all possible expenses. Credit card firms, on average, acquire the best rates and can provide you with an exchange rate that is close to the official rate.

 3- Debit Cards

Foreign transaction fees and overseas ATM fees may be charged by debit cards. Only use debit cards to make cash withdrawals. If there are any issues with a debit card transaction, your account will be debited right away, and the erroneous charge will take anywhere from a few days to over a week to be resolved.

4- Foreign Currency Cards

Prepaid foreign currency cards work like credit or debit cards. They come preloaded with a certain amount of money that is subtracted when the passenger uses it. Many fees and limitations, including as withdrawal and inactivity fees, as well as withdrawal minimums and limits, may apply.

Ways to Avoid Foreign Exchange Fees

When converting currencies, foreign exchange costs may seem unavoidable, but these methods may help you avoid paying large fees.

local banks

Exchanging money at a local bank is not only more convenient, but also less expensive than doing it at an airport or a hotel. They also tend to give decent exchange rates.

No to Cash Advances

When you use your credit card as an ATM card, you’ll have to pay a cash advance charge on top of the cash advance APR (Annual Percentage Rate), which may add up to a lot of money.

Enjoy Your Trip with airssist Airport Concierge Services

Once you are all packed, the best part of trip is here – heading off to enjoy yourself, airssist can help to make your trip go as smoothly as possible at the airport.

Meet and greet, Fast Track, VIP terminal, airport greeter experience  and airport transportation & in- City Limo transfer service from airssist will make your trip more smoothly and easier.

Our customers will skip long queues and will experience a very special welcome and smooth airport passage. We can ensure Meet and Greet services at more than 700 airports around the world. Book now

Note: Please note that the information on this page is generic & subject to change due to fluctuations in airport services. Kindly confirm service availability with our team, as offerings may vary daily.