This article contains a simple list that I use to make sure I’m fully prepared to travel, especially for long periods. In its simplest form, my list is as follows:
- Money
- Insurance
- Visas
- Vaccinations
- Documents
- Electronics
- Bookings
- Permits
- Packing
- Loose ends
1. Travel Money
It’s pretty hard to travel without any money. I mean, it’s totally possible if you volunteer, hitchhike between projects, dumpster dive or busk for food, but at the same time it’s nice to have some cash to play with, or for emergencies. As such, always make sure that the cards and/or accounts you’ll be using overseas are topped up. As we’ve discussed there are plenty of options available to the traveler to ensure that they are getting a good deal on currency conversion rates and other fees. A few days before I leave I’ll transfer some money from my primary account to the card that I’ll be using to withdraw money from overseas ATMs.
In addition, you should always:
- Call your bank to tell them you’re going overseas. This way if you do use your main card to withdraw cash directly from your bank account, they won’t freeze your account due to suspicious overseas withdrawals.
- Get some US dollars. If you’re travelling to countries that require visas to be purchased on arrival, many require you to buy them in USD. USD is also the most widely convertible currency in the world, so having a few notes on hand is always a good idea. Somewhere between $50 and $100 usually does the trick.
- Have a backup card or two. I mainly use my Qantas Cash traveler’s card for withdrawals and purchases, and I keep it in my money belt or wallet. However, I also have a card that is directly linked to my bank account which I keep in my main backpack. By doing this you can ensure that you will always have access to money, even if your backpack, money belt or wallet is stolen. Some travelers may have an additional card that they keep in their day pack, further improving their security.
- If you prefer to convert cash into local currency rather than withdraw funds from ATMs, ensure that you ask around at accommodations or through any local hosts of yours to find a reputable money changer. Always ask if they charge a commission, and shop around for the best rates. In addition, ensure that you carry a widely convertible currency (e.g. US dollars) and keep it safe in your money belt and in other safe pockets in your backpack(s).
2. Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a point of contentious debate between many backpackers but for me, it’s a no-brainer. You should definitely get travel insurance! The number of stories that I have heard from travelers of massive insurance claims due to bad luck, near death, explosive digestion and its attendant medical attention, and more are astronomical. Travel insurance is often cheaper than health insurance (for Australians at least) over long periods, so if you’re away for an entire year and freeze or cancel your health insurance, you can actually save money and receive a potentially higher level of care, as travel insurance can pay out huge amounts for medical costs if you need it. Also, if you are a frequent traveler but return home often, there are many plans available where you can be insured for multiple trips, usually over a one-year period. These policies only allow you a set number of days per trip, however (usually 30, 45 or 60) so ensure you pick the right one.
I always add a little provision for cancellation into my policy, in case of cancelled flights and the like. Also, insurance for riding scooters (mopeds) and for participating in winter sports need to be declared as well and will add to your total cost, so ensure you specify these with your insurer. It also pays to shop around when booking insurance, as prices change regularly. A comparison tool such as Compare Travel Insurance can be useful in this case, and most countries have an equivalent comparison website.
Check what insurance is available if you pay for your flights on your credit/debit card. Purchasing flights on certain cards often provides you with the option for complimentary insurance. Also, you almost always have to purchase your insurance before the start date of your trip as most policies aren’t available for purchase once you’ve left the country.
3. Travel Visas
Visas are stamps, stickers or forms that are put into your passport before or upon entering a country. Many countries don’t require visas for Australian travelers and indeed we have one of the most flexible passports in the world (ninth, apparently). Likewise, if you’re from almost any ‘developed’ country, typically you won’t need a visa for most countries, or you can obtain a visa on arrival.
Some visas are free, and some cost money. Usually this fee will need to be paid in advance, either at the country’s embassy or at the border, in which case it’s a good idea to have some US dollars on hand. I always check if I need a visa before I head to a new country, even if I’ve been there before, as rules and fees can change regularly without warning. A simple Google search along the lines of ‘country name visa nationality passport’, with country name being the name of the country you’re visiting and nationality being the nationality of your passport will usually suffice to inform you of what you need.
If the visa is required in advance, allow plenty of time to get it from the country’s embassy before your trip. Ensure that you have the visa inside your passport and a printed receipt on hand when you approach immigration at the border. If you require a visa on arrival and it costs money, double-check the cost in the lead-up to your border crossing and ensure you have it on hand when you approach the immigration desk. Some visas, such as the Sri Lankan visa, are processed entirely online, and you just need to present a printed email receipt at the immigration desk.
Whatever type of visa you require, make sure you’ve done all the necessary legwork before you arrive. There’s not much worse than being turned around at the border.
4. Travel Vaccinations
Like travel insurance, vaccinations are another thing that many backpackers forego, either through the perceived risk to health from the vaccination or for cost reasons. For me, vaccinations are essential. I’ve met travelers who have contracted malaria, yellow fever and viral hepatitis. Their immediate and ongoing health has suffered considerably due to this, but it could have been avoided if they had been vaccinated. The tiny amount of toxins that exist within vaccines will have far less (or no) effect on your body compared to the damage that contracting a disease will do, not to mention feeling like crap, having to cancel your trip and having to spend money on medical bills, potentially for the rest of your life.
In Australia, some vaccinations cost money whether you are insured or not, while others, such as the influenza vaccination, are available for free if you have health insurance. Even without insurance the influenza shot can be administered for as little as $8, and many workplaces offer it for free as well. Ask your GP before you go travelling about which vaccinations are required and where you can get them cheaply or for free. Many traveler friends of mine are from countries where vaccinations are fully covered under their public health program. If this is the case in your country, then go and get some free vaccinations! In any event, book in early as some vaccinations need several jabs over a series of weeks or months to take effect.
5. Travel Documents
The following is a simple checklist for all the documents that you may require, and are a good idea to have on hand when you’re on a backpacking adventure. I usually keep them all together in a small waterproof pouch or dry-bag.
- Passport
- Photocopies of passport
- Driver’s license or ID
- Photocopies of driver’s license or ID
- Travel insurance card and/or information
- Vaccination record
- Photocopies of bank cards
- Printed itinerary/flight/train/bus/boat tickets (if any)
- Printed visa receipts
- Photocopy of birth certificate
- Required park or hiking permits
- International driver’s licence (if required)
- At least four spare passport photos
6. Travel Electronics
For a more adventurous experience, I sometimes prefer to travel without electronics. That being said, I usually have at least a simple mobile phone and a universal travel adapter in my backpack in case of emergencies. In addition, I usually carry an e-reader to avoid the need to carry heavy books around.
Some people travel with laptops or tablets, as they may be doing freelance work while abroad, running a blog, editing photos or simply find the format easier for browsing, reading, watching movies or booking accommodation/transport. I only travel with a laptop or tablet if I need to pick up a bit of online work or feel like doing some serious writing while I’m away. An exhaustive list for the fully teched-up backpacker would look like this:
- Smartphone
- Tablet or laptop
- External hard drive or USB flash drive
- E-reader
- Camera
- Spare camera batteries
- Memory cards
- Charging cables
- Lenses, filters, tripod and other camera accessories
- Solar or mains-charged travel power bank
- Universal travel adapter
- Headphones
For me, this would be a lot to carry around, and would add significant weight to my pack. If you’re planning on mostly travelling in cities this wouldn’t be a big deal, but if I’m out in the wilderness or camping I don’t want to be weighed down by excessive electronics. However, some travelers, photographers in particular, are passionate about technology and so travelling with the extra gear is well worth it. The amount of tech you lug around depends on your preferences and what you enjoy doing while travelling.
An extra note on mobile phones: International roaming is convenient and serves as a handy way to make an occasional call or SMS to friends and family back home, but is usually very expensive compared to local rates, and you can quickly run up large bills. Give your provider a call before you leave to check if international roaming is enabled/disabled for your service, and how much it will cost you to use your phone overseas.
Buying a local prepaid SIM at your destination is generally a much more economical option if you’re planning on using your phone a lot, particularly for data. Just make sure your phone is unlocked, or the local SIM card may not work. To check if your phone is unlocked, you can put in a friend’s SIM from a different carrier or country and try to make a call, or just check with your provider or local phone store.
Data is generally very expensive when roaming overseas with an Australian service. Those stories you’ve heard about people running up $1000-plus bills are true. Check if your carrier has international data packs you can purchase to reduce the rate. If in doubt, make sure you disable data roaming on your phone to avoid large bills. Purchasing a local SIM or using free hotspots at hostels or restaurants are great options for internet access whilst overseas.
7. Travel Bookings
If you do plan on booking a few things before you head off on a backpacking adventure, ensure that you are fully aware of what the first few bookings actually are. This may sound silly, but I’ve met travelers who have booked hostels for their first destination weeks in advance, forgotten about it, and double booked for the same dates at a different place.
Whether you’re planning on staying in hostels, camping or couch surfing, make sure that you’re aware of the location of the first place you’ll be staying, and when. Some immigration forms require you to write down an address for that country, which can be the address of the first place you plan on staying. Print out or write down the address of your hostel or host’s place and have it on hand to prepare for this.
For transport pre-bookings the same rules apply. If you’ve booked trains, buses or boats in your destination country make sure that you have your itinerary and tickets on hand. These days, electronic tickets on a smartphone will usually suffice, but there are some exceptions so be sure to print them if required.
8. Travel Permits
If you’re planning on going trekking or visiting wilderness areas, some remote parts of the world, conservation areas and national parks require special permits to visit. Do some research before you leave home on the requirements around these. Most permits can be booked very easily in the country itself and processed in under a day. However, some permits may be subject to a waiting list, excess fees, extra processing time and so forth. As such it pays to plan ahead and book permits like these in advance if possible.
9. Travel Packing
Packing is a super exciting part of going on an adventure, as it makes the whole experience more tangible. Once your bag is packed, it’s almost time to go! The best piece of advice I can give about packing a backpack is to do an initial pack, and then get rid of a third to half of what’s in your bag. Packing light makes a travel experience so much better. Lugging around a massive, heavy pack makes transport harder, takes up more room in a train/tent/hostel dorm and means that you have more to lose all at once if you lose your backpack or have it stolen.
10. Travel Loose Ends
Before a trip of any length there will always be some loose ends to tie up. If you’re going to be travelling indefinitely, it may be a good idea to sell or donate most of your stuff, or put it in storage. Freezing or redirecting important mail may be necessary too, and can be achieved by sending a few simple emails.
Catching up with dear friends you know you won’t be seeing for some time, doing some extra training if you’re planning on hiking a lot, test-pitching your new tent so you know it like the back of your hand, all of these little things make leaving far easier. I usually write a list of these things about a month before I go. Of course, if I’m going for a far more spontaneous trip, it’s easiest to just walk out the door.
