Whether you’re backpacking with friends or solo-travelling, here is an easy checklist to make sure you’re all set for your travels!
As I prepare for my trip to Bali in a few weeks’ time, I’ve found that there is a growing list of things to stay on top of to make sure that I am all set to take off, from vaccinations to insurance and travel agendas… So, to try and make your life easier, I’ve compiled a list of everything to help other students and young travellers like yourself! This list isn’t inclusive of everything and will vary from country to country so make sure to check the Travel Aware website for the area/s you’ll be visiting to make sure you’re fully prepared!
I’ve found myself in certain situations where travel insurance has saved me thousands of pounds. While it is always something you hope to never have to actually use, ensuring you get the right travel insurance that covers you entirely for the duration of your trip and for all your planned activities. Here are some questions to ask yourself to make sure you’re getting the right travel insurance for you:
For me, I knew that I wanted to do some diving and get my PADI qualification and that is normally needed as an addition to ‘basic’ insurance under activities. Things like sky diving and bungee jumping can also be included in these additional packages but it’s a good practice to look through what is covered anyway, as things you might not think about like riding a motorbike, swimming from boat trips and other sports will also be potentially not covered on the cheaper insurance options.
The duration of your trip will affect the price, but it is important to make sure the policy covers the full extent and doesn’t cut off any days either side. For example, I’m flying back and due to arrive just gone midnight but, even though it’s only 40 minutes into the day, and my flights will have departed the day before, it is important to make sure you get full cover to the time you arrive back in the UK.
Insurance to Europe is normally significantly cheaper due to proximity and varying factors affecting risk, but sometimes if you are planning on just travelling to one country for a shorter period, single trip insurance could be the right choice. However, if you are planning a more flexible trip and have plans to hit multiple destinations backpacker insurance could be something to look into. Even within this, there are options for different areas of the world you might be travelling to which can affect policy price. In my search for insurance, I’ve noticed Thailand is often in the final category alongside the USA, Canada and Mexico. So, if that’s somewhere you are considering, make sure to click the right option that includes it.
It is important to make sure that if you are travelling with a wider group that you are all insured. That doesn’t mean you all have to book and pay together or even go with the same company, but it does mean that if someone had to drop out for whatever reason the rest of you aren’t liable and the insurance can help with covering costs that come as a result of this.
As students I know how tempting it can be to just see the cheapest option for something and go with it. In this case, make sure that the option you choose actually: covers you for what you’d like to do, is from a reputable company (you can use Defaqto ratings with anything 4 stars or above offering good quality), or even something you’ve used before or is an addition to insurance you already pay. There is also normally an option to add it on to flights which can save some hassle just make sure again it covers you for everything you have planned to do!
Overall, it is highly recommended that you book your travel insurance as soon as possible after you book your holiday to make sure you’re protected!
Depending on your nationality and the country you end up travelling to will depend on the visa you need. If you are a citizen of the UK, some countries in Southeast Asia only require a passport; however, it is extremely important to check before you go. In some cases, it can be easier to apply for an E-Visa online before you go to save you hassle at the airport. However, for some destinations, a VoA (Visit Visa) can be offered - but again this is something you should confirm before you go. For my trip to Bali, I used the same company my friend had recently used to get an E-visa in advance called the Indonesian Tourist Visa C1/ 211A. If you are using a third party, make sure to do research into the company to make sure it is reliable. It is also important to note that, for these, they typically take 7-10 working days to go through (but express options are available for a higher price) so make sure you sort this far enough in advance. For lots of visas you will also need a flight out before the visa is due to expire, make sure you get this before you take off!
It’s always useful to have some cash wherever you go but that might not be possible before you take off. Most airports will have ATMs if you are heading somewhere remote and not sure when you’ll have access to a cash point again. Another good thing to get in advance of the trip is an international card so that you can spend abroad and not have the excess bank fees. Each card and company will have different limits for spending and withdrawals so make sure to check these too. I sometimes find as well that ATMs will charge a fee to take money out regardless of the withdrawal size, so I take out larger amounts less frequently.
International Driving Permit: It is important to know that an International Driving permit is only a form that allows your current license to be recognise in 150 different countries worldwide. Some travellers assume that a UK car license is also valid to use mopeds/motorbikes abroad. Most countries require you to either have a motorcycle license issued from that country OR an IDP that states you have a valid motorbike license. You also need to make sure you have your IDP AND your regular license on you for inspections. This is important as if you rent a moped for your trip and get caught on one without a license there can be fines or in some cases prison time.
Medications and Forms: For some medications you will need written forms from medical professionals or inform the airline you are travelling with. Check what is allowed if flying through Dubai and for your destination country as it varies from place to place. As a general rule for any medication, it is advised to keep in the original packaging with all information leaflets too to avoid longer hold ups.
Passport: Make sure that your passport is valid and that it doesn’t expire before the end of your trip. When booking a visa in advance, most of this will be checked then and at the airport too but you want to be certain that this won’t stop your trip.
While every country will be different, there are some things you can think about or plan in advance to make the first few days of your trip run smoothly:
Overall, there will probably always be something more you can do but try not to over-stress yourself out once you’ve got the basics like travel insurance, important forms and other essentials to your trip. If you haven’t travelled in this region before I can guarantee that you’ll have plenty of opportunities to learn more about different cultures, meet new people and gain life-long memories.
Stay safe and happy travels!