Passports! There are many things to remember as you start planning, but the #1 item on every to-do list should be to obtain your passport as soon as you start thinking about traveling outside the U.S. The best source for up to date information is the U.S. Department of State. The process is fairly straight forward: complete an application, collect some documentation, obtain photos, pay a fee, and submit the application. If you are a first time applicant, you will need to apply in persona at a passport acceptance facility (find one near you here). The documentation you will be required to submit will depend on the type of application you are filing (first, renewal, children’s, passport card, etc). In all cases, you will need proof of your U.S. citizenship, photo ID and appropriate passport photos. Our recommendation is to review the requirements here and then go to your nearest drugstore to purchase (typically, photos are $10 for two). You’ll also be responsible for a fee to obtain you passport – the typical passport book for an adult is $110 currently. Once you obtain a passport, it should be good for 10 years (children’s passports are good for 5). You will most definitely want to plan ahead for this step – you can always check processing times here; though we recommend applying at least six months prior to your expected trip. 

Visa Stamps! We recommend planning ahead of time for your passport because your next step is to look at the entry requirements for the country you will visit. U.S. citizens are fortunate and can benefit from a reciprocal agreement many nations have signed called the Visa Waiver Program. Essentially, U.S. citizens can get an ‘airport’ visa for most European countries (38 total). In addition, most countries located near the U.S. (think Mexico, Bahamas, and Caribbean) also have much lighter requirements for American citizens entering their countries. You may need to register your travel (like Canadian visits) but otherwise just need to have a passport and pay a small fee ($20 or less usually). For some international destinations, you may actually need to apply for a visa stamp to enter that country. The best thing to do is visit the website of the country you plan to visit. So, for example, if you are planning a visit to one of our Koh Samui villas, you will want to go to the Thai Consul General’s (in the U.S.) website and look at the requirements, procedure, and fee for a tourist visa. Depending on your planned travel destination, you may be able to apply for a visa stamp via mail or you may need to appear at the Consulate to present yourself. Cities that commonly host Consulates are: Washington DC, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. There are also services you can pay to facilitate this process – we recommend checking with our villa specialists before employing these services to protect yourself and your investment. The processing time for each visa stamp will vary, which is why we recommend planning ahead of time – remember, if you have multiple stops on your trip,  you may need to go through this process multiple times.

Do your reaserch. Just like traveling within the U.S., you should always do a bit of research about your destination and popular attractions. With international destinations, you may also want to look at things like currency, language, safety, travel restrictions, etc. We do recommend you register your travel with the State Department’s Smart Traveler Program. This is a free service for U.S. citizens enabling them to receive information about changes in conditions in your destination country (think natural disaster or travel warning), help the U.S. Embassy contact you should your family need to or in the case of emergency (again, think natural disaster, civil unrest or family emergency).

Safety. Whether you are a single girl traveling alone, mom with kids, or family man, you definitely want to research the area and safety concerns. Just like every U.S. city, every destination has good parts and less than desirable parts. Just like U.S. cities, once you are there, trust your gut; if you don’t feel safe, go back to the last place you did. Generally, tourist destinations are safe from violent crime, but may attract small crime like pickpocketing. Just be observant, just as you are in the U.S.

Small things like safeguarding your money are smart also. Consider taking only one credit card with you. Make a copy of the front/back of your card and stash it somewhere safe (in your home or perhaps office). That way, if your card is stolen, you have the pertinent information to contact the credit card company for help. Speaking of credit card company, you’ll want to notify each card company (of the cards you take) that you are planning a trip internationally. This will help keep your card from being flagged for fraud. The key is to avoid being flagged if you are the one having the time of your life using your card! While you are contacting companies, contact your cell phone carrier to notify them of your travels and also consider an international data/text plan. WiFi is common in some countries but not others – if you want to be connected, data is a smart choice. Another good idea is to stash a copy of your passport ID page as well – if your passport is lost or stolen, it will help assist the U.S. Consulate abroad in getting an emergency replacement. When you are traveling, either use your villa safe or stash your cash/cards in separate places to avoid keeping everything in easy to access places. We definitely recommend using our villa safes to protect yourself and your valuables.

Language & Currency. Finally, do yourself a huge favor. If the language is not English and the U.S. dollar is not commonly accepted, then prepare yourself in advance. Invest in a pocket dictionary and download a translation app on your smart phone. Some of the apps have features that actually translate labels or signs when you use your camera! For currency, check your bank’s rates before you leave for your vacation. While airports have currency exchanges, the rates at the airport are often significantly higher than your private bank. You may also be able to pull cash out of ATMs at a much lower rate than the exchange. If you are using credit cards, check with the credit company to review their transaction fees for international purchases – be aware you may be charged a percentage per transaction.

There is so much more advice to give and only so much space to write. If this is your first time abroad, feel free to talk with our villa specialists. Not only do we want to find your perfect get-away villa, we want you to enjoy the entire process stressfree!