10 Ways to Prep for a Big Trip Abroad

You have booked your dream trip. But now what?

The time between booking a big trip and actually taking that trip can be nerve-wracking. It doesn’t have to be, though. Here are 10 simple things you can do to reduce your pre-trip anxiety and get excited all at once.

An important way to tamp down pre-trip stress is to get travel insurance with Trip Cancellation coverage. It’s a relief  to know that if you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason, you can get your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs back.

Things to do beforehand, for a safer trip.

Check out the latest on the destination from travel.state.gov

The State Department has a plethora of resources for travelers, from the STEP program (see below) to its travel advisories to the latest on COVID restrictions and requirements country-by-country.

A great first step for pre-travel precautions is to visit the State Department’s travel website, input the destination, and read up on everything from health requirements to cultural norms to the safe and unsafe parts of the country.

A great trip starts with being informed – and this is the best place for American travelers to get informed.

Enroll in STEP

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a collection of resources provided by the U.S. State Department and designed to help Americans travel safer and smarter wherever they go.

Travelers sign up for STEP on a per-trip basis. You just enter your destination(s) and supply some simple information, and you’re all set up. With STEP, travelers are notified of security changes and events, and other information that can help you avoid trouble on your trip.

STEP can also inform travlers of impending natural disasters and help with evacuation, if need be. Finally, STEP is one of the quickest ways to get travelers connected with the nearest embassy or consulate in case of emergency.

Phone prep

Not all phones work in all countries. Often all that’s needed is a new SIM card that enables international calling (though if the phone is “locked,” that may not be something you can do easily or cheaply).

However, some non-GSM phones simply will not work in some countries. You can check for compatibility here.

You really need to do your homework on this. If you’re planning on having your phone on your trip, the last thing you want to carry around on your vacation is a brick that looks exactly like your phone.

Get travel protection

International travel can be expensive and having additional help can come in handy when visiting another country. A travel protection plan with insurance coverages and travel assistance services is a must-have for any traveler these days. Whether you want extra protection in case you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason, need coverage for medical expenses in the event of an illness or injury during your trip or one of the other dozen coverages offered, you should start by getting a quote that's customized for your trip.

Make copies of important documents and find places for them

You should make sure someone back home has a copy of your passport, travel insurance plan, other insurance cards, and prescriptions – including eyeglasses prescriptions. You should also make another copy or two to spread around your luggage.

In addition, you should make sure you have contact information for:

• Generali travel assistance
• Embassies and consulates
• A medical provider back home who knows your health history
• Family and other contacts

You should know the hours when you can contact these resources, too. Generali travel assistance operates 24/7/365, but not everyone does, or on the same time zone.

Check out the destination’s cultural norms

What is considered proper dress? Are there special restrictions around religious sites? What about customs for greeting and speaking. Is “cat-calling” the norm at the destination – and what can you do about it?

Travel.state.gov is a great first stop, but you can get really in tune with your destination with cultural travel guides that give an in-depth view of the local customs. 

Understand the travel insurance claims process

Travelers buy travel insurance hoping they never have to use it. However, when a you need to utilize your travel insurance plan, you’ll want to know how to submit a claim for reimbursement.

It’s easy to find claim-submission information for Generali plans, it’s right here and it’s something important to do before departure.

Research available medical coverage

Before leaving on your trip, you should also ask yourself a couple of key questions: Do I know what to do if I have a medical emergency on my trip? Do I have medical insurance coverage at my destination? No one likes to think about these things, but they are a huge part of traveling safely, especially for post-pandemic travel.

For most travelers, it’s unlikely that normal health insurance will provide coverage outside of the United States. Have Medicare or Medicaid? You may not have coverage in another country. These days many countries require travelers to have medical coverage to enter. And you don’t want to get stuck with the medical costs – especially if you need emergency transportation. That’s why travel insurance with medical coverage is so important.

Medical emergencies are one of the top reasons for buying travel insurance. You should check before they leave:

• Are pre-existing conditions covered?
• Can I choose my medical facility?
• What if I have to be evacuated?

Again, no one likes thinking about these things, but the time to think about them is when it’s not an emergency. If you do it before you leave, you’ll travel with greater peace of mind. 

Collect receipts

When it’s six months out from a trip to Europe and you're buying a $200 tennis racket, you’re probably not thinking, “I really need to save the receipt for this in case it gets stolen while I’m traveling.” Nobody thinks like that. But if you want maximum reimbursement for lost or stolen items, especially with travel insurance, you’ll need a receipt.

Two hints:

• Gather expensive items before packing and try to find paper receipts for them. If the paper receipts are long gone, hope for tracking down online credit card receipts.
• Buy as many pre-trip items as possible with a travel credit card that provides replacement protection for lost/stolen items bought with the card. 

Make a packing list

It’s hard to stay safe without the stuff you need, and nothing gets you in the travel frame of mind like making a packing list. There are lots of great resources to help travelers put together a list, but sometimes the best way to pack is to go list-free, put everything needed for the trip on the bed, and start subtracting.

Two more quick notes on packing:

1. Roll, don’t fold.
2. Packing cubes are your best friend.

Anticipating travel can be a wonderful time – but it’s also a time to get organized and protected, so the trip is as safe as it is memorable. 

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