Before visiting somewhere new

As I was preparing for my first trip to Jerusalem, I realized there were some essential preparations I had to make. Traveling styles vary widely, but whether you are a planner or a more spontaneous traveler, there is always some level of preparation you need to do before taking a trip. This is especially true if you are traveling to a new country or traveling for the first time. There are daily things we take for granted when traveling within our own country, wherever that is, that change when we cross borders. The more prepared you can be with these basics, the smoother your trip will go!

The first things you want to look into when planning to go abroad are the essentials. These can take some time to resolve, so it’s best to investigate them right away and not to leave them until the last minute.

You will find beautiful spring flowers all over Jerusalem; these were at St. Peter in Gallicantu

Documents

If you are traveling outside your country for the first time you’ll need a passport, which could take a long time to process. Better to apply early than have to pay expedition fees, and save yourself the worry if it will come on time. If you already have a passport, be sure to check that there will be at least six months validity left at the end of your trip before it will expire. Even if your trip is planned to end before the expiration date, you will likely not be permitted to travel. Research to see if you will need a visa to visit any of your destinations. Depending on which country issues your passport, you may need to apply in advance, pay for a visa on arrival at the airport, or be able to travel with no visa. To find the entry requirements of a country based on your citizenship, head to the foreign ministry website of your country and search for their travel abroad section, which should have all the information regarding visa and/or entry requirements, permitted length of stay, and a myriad of other information about traveling to the country.

Inoculations

Before traveling to a foreign country, you may need to receive some vaccinations or inoculations. In some case, for example with yellow fever, you may also need to have the vaccination certificate if you are traveling to or have recently traveled to a country affected by it. You can find any health entry requirements based on your home citizenship by going to the foreign ministry website of your country and going to their travel abroad section to find the country you would like to travel to. The CDC also has a good amount of advice about required and recommended inoculations and other health information to know about countries around the world, and can be useful to help you prepare.

Money

You will want to check the terms on your credit card to ensure that you won’t incur any fees when making foreign purchases. You could even be hit with them before you leave while making your reservations. These fees can add up, so it may be worth investing in a card without them. Most cards connected to airlines have no travel fees, and you earn miles when spending. Win-win.

You will also want to alert credit card and debit card companies that you will be traveling abroad so that you won’t risk your card being frozen.

When it comes to cash, I usually prefer withdrawing local currency from an ATM upon arrival at the airport. Check again for any fee your bank may charge, but with some money exchanges you risk losing a chunk of the fee to a commission. Sometimes I will exchange a small amount if there’s no ATM just to get me into the city and settled at my accommodation.

It is also important to have an understanding of the local currency. I like to make a chart relating the local currency to my own, for example 400x = 40y, so I know I can divide the local currency by ten, for example, to get the amount in my currency. Tipping culture varies widely around the world, and so it’s important that you research and understand to whom and how much to tip so that everyone comes out with a fair exchange.

The Garden of Gethsemane

Technology

You will also want to inquire to your cell phone company about rates abroad, or any special roaming settings or plan you have to activate to ensure continuous service upon arrival in a new country. Depending on the country, foreign rates could be reasonable or absurd. I have been able to buy pay-as-you-go SIM cards in many destinations, whether at the airport or at a local shop, to use for shorter time periods at a very low cost. With the app maps.me, you can download a map of the city you are going to before you leave your home country, just to ensure you will at least know where you are going in case your phone doesn’t work or you can’t find a SIM at the airport.

The type of outlet used in your destination will likely vary from the one attached to your electronics, and you will need a plug adapter. I bought a small multi-country adapter years ago which is an option I would recommend. While plug adapters are generally easy-to-find, you don’t want to waste precious time on your vacation looking for one. I was recently gifted a portable charger, which may be useful to you as well. When you are traveling you will probably be using your phone much more than usual, for maps and taking photos, so your battery may drain faster. Having a portable charger with you will save any hassle.

Communication

No one expects you to speak their language fluently, but I have found it makes a big difference in your friendly factor if you at least try to say a few words. Learning hello/please/thank you is a good place to start. If you are going to a country where bargaining is the norm, learning the numbers and key phrases like “too high,” will serve you well. If you have dietary needs or allergies, it is important that you learn how to say that, or write it out on a piece of paper/take a photo from Google translator to ensure there are no mixups.

Transportation

I strongly recommend knowing how you will get from the airport to your accommodation ahead of time. Whether it’s pre-booking a shuttle, taking a taxi, or using public transportation, you want to make this part of your journey as easy as possible. After a long flight, and with all your bags, you will just want to get to your accommodation and relax.

The Dead Sea, a popular day trip from Jerusalem

Pack Light

You aren’t going to Mars (yet), and so you don’t need to bring everything you own with you. Remember, the people who live in your destination have everything they need, and you will likely be able to find anything you may happen to need as well. Keep in mind that in some countries, elevators aren’t standard. Can you carry your suitcase up the stairs? Can you get all of your bags on and off a train? Depending on your travel style, that’s just something to consider. And of course, you’ll want to leave room for souvenirs!

Planning

If you are going on a trip, especially if you only have a few days in a city, it is very important that you look ahead and plan out what you really want to see or do. For example, you may only have three days to visit a city, and the museum you want to see is closed one of those days. Then you know you have to schedule it for a different day. Many museums in larger cities are also now requiring pre-booked timed-entrance tickets, some which sell out far in advance. Once you know you are traveling, look into what you want to see so that you can plan accordingly and not miss out. You will also want to look at a map of the city, and group your activities/restaurants/points of interest together. In big cities, it’s more convenient to see everything in one neighborhood at once instead of zipping back and forth all over the city.

Be Flexible

Ultimately, things won’t all go to plan. Count on it. But being prepared will help things go smoother.

Note: All of these photos are from my recent trip, my first time visiting Jerusalem. The header image is the panoramic view of Jerusalem from the roof of Hurva Synagogue.