You should ask yourself five questions to avoid being caught on a trip without the items, resources, or support you need.
The idea of forgetting something important when we go on a trip is worrying? Nothing more normal. No one wants to get caught without the right items, resources or support.
Before leaving, ask yourself the following five questions.
- Have you notified your credit card company of your trip?
To protect their customers from fraud, credit card companies monitor suspicious activity. Thus, when you plan to use your credit card abroad, it is your responsibility to inform the company that issues the card of your travels to prevent them from having reason to believe that your information has been stolen and decide to freeze your account.
“Avoid problems by calling before you go,” says Heather Greenwood Davis, travel columnist and editor. “There have been times when I’ve forgotten to phone and haven’t had any glitches, but there have been other times when, for example, late-night hotel check-in turned into a nightmare because the credit card transaction would not go through.”
“For my next trip, I also plan to notify my bank to avoid trouble with ATMs.”
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- Have you placed any essential items in your luggage that may be difficult to find?
“Nobody likes to travel in a congested way, especially on a long trip, but ask your medical professionals what you should bring,” says Heather Greenwood Davis. In less medically advanced countries, over-the-counter products as standard as painkillers and stomachache products can be hard to find. Therefore, the golden rule is to bring all the products essential to your well-being.
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- Have you seen a doctor who specializes in travel medicine?
Seeing a doctor specialising in travel medicine is essential in your planning process, and you should not make an appointment at the last minute. “Your family doctor shouldn’t be the last person to see before you leave,” says Heather Greenwood Davis. You will need to get vaccinated or take medication several weeks in advance for some destinations. Don’t wait until the very last minute before you leave. You don’t want to put your health at risk.”
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- Have you told your family where you are going?
Leave a copy of your itinerary with a reliable family member or friend – including the times and numbers of each flight and the addresses of the places where you will be staying.
“Sometimes people overthink about the great adventure they are about to experience and forget to take the necessary steps to ensure that activities at home run smoothly,” says Ms Greenwood Davis. But even if you plan to be away for a short time, it’s important that someone at home knows exactly where you are and has the authority to make decisions on your behalf.
Leave a copy of your complete itinerary and your contact details with a member of your entourage. Also, leave a copy of your passport and essential documents, including your health insurance provider’s contact information, so they can quickly send you the information you need if you have any difficulties.
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- Have you checked whether your travel insurance covers you sufficiently?
Many credit card companies offer basic travel insurance, but be aware of all policy specifics to ensure you have comprehensive coverage.
“We’re lucky in Canada because access to health care services is as easy as seeing a doctor or dialling 9-1-1,” says Greenwood Davis. In the United States, I had experienced situations where care was easy to obtain but turned out to be a nightmare when it came time to pay. I was not sure that I could trust professionals’ diagnoses in other countries. It is essential to know precisely what your travel insurance covers.
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