With summer approaching fast, many of you are most likely thinking about where you would like to take your families on vacation this year.
There are so many travel destinations to choose from, and while the place you choose to go is left up entirely to you, the steps you need to take to prepare for your vacation will remain the same regardless of where you eventually decide to go.
Here are the five steps you must follow to prepare for an overseas family vacation:
Step #1 – Confirm Your Passport and Visas Are Valid
Obviously everyone in your family will need a passport to travel overseas. As a golden rule, you want your passport to be valid for six months before the date you leave and six months after the date you return home. This is the best way to avoid any potential passport-related hassles at the airport.
Some countries will also require tourist visas while others won’t, so research that online for your particular country. In general, visas are not required if you are staying for less than thirty days, but still research that beforehand.
Step #2 – Have Money In The Right Currency
You’ll need money in the currency of the country you’re traveling to. You can use a money transfer service to convert your U.S. dollars into that currency and then send it to yourself overseas. The transaction should be completed in one to two business days, and you’ll likely have to pay a small percentage fee of 1-3% of the amount that you sent.
Step #3 – Get Vaccinations
While it’s entirely dependent on where you’re going, getting special vaccines for your family as a defense against possible diseases isn’t a bad idea. You can visit the CDC website, which will list out the potential health risks for each country and the proper medication/vaccines to take before visiting each one.
Step #4 – Apply For An International Driving Permit
If you don’t have this permit, you simply won’t be able to drive in another country because most will not recognize your driver’s license. The best places to obtain the international driver’s license will be either through the National Auto Club or the AAA. Research the driving laws of the country you plan on visiting as well.
Step #5 – Invest In Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is essentially a financial barrier against anything that could go wrong and cost you a lot of money, such as losing your luggage, being forced to return home early, or having a medical emergency that lands a member of your family in the hospital. Chances are good your health insurance policy won’t include international coverage (or if it does have such coverage, it will be limited), so buying travel insurance for your family would be wise.
Going On A Family Vacation
Family vacations require careful planning just like any other trip, and these steps are not ones that you can afford to overlook.
