How to . . . Plan a trip abroad

A little research ahead of time can prevent headaches during the trip

During a trip to Greece, Jennifer Catto found herself in a taxi whose driver stopped mid-street, refusing to go any farther. “He said the car wouldn’t work anymore,” recalled the senior editor for Travelocity.

Turns out, it wasn’t so much the car that was the issue as the foreign passengers in the back seat.

“He just wanted to see what he could get away with,” she said. “But if you put up a bit of a fight and stand up for yourself, sometimes that’s all it takes.”

Catto and other frequent overseas travelers are familiar with bribes and tourist surcharges, crazy local customs and common traveling pitfalls. But for those who haven’t been abroad in years — or ever — the idea of planning a foreign trip can be a bit overwhelming.

Obtaining documents, getting up to speed on security measures put in place since 9/11, and learning a bit about a foreign culture and language can sometimes be enough to make you want to stay closer to home.

Below, we’ve put together a guide to take you through the oft-confusing process and some resources where you can find more information. Use it to carefully plan your next trip, then step outside your comfort zone and get a glimpse of what life outside the U.S. can teach you.

As globalization gains speed, Americans will find themselves at a disadvantage if the only world they know is the one within U.S. borders.

Research, research, research

• Go to the library, the bookstore, online. Read everything you can get your hands on about the place you want to visit. Find out what the climate and altitude is like at your destination. What local celebrations or national festivals might hamper (or enhance) your travels?

• If you want to go abroad, but aren’t quite sure where, think about what you like to do and what your budget is, then use that as a basis for choosing a destination.

Do you prefer the beach or the mountains?

Are you looking for a luxury vacation or a gritty, get-to-the-heart-of-the-local-culture experience?

Do you want to visit several countries or just one?

Are you more comfortable with structured, escorted tours or time to wander on your own?

• Seek out people who have traveled to the place you plan to go and ask for their advice on what to avoid, where to go, and what to see and do.

Get your documents in order

• Visit the U.S. State Department’s Web site to find out what papers you’ll need to enter the country you’re visiting. If you don’t have a passport, plan to apply for one at least three months before your departure date. January through July are peak passport processing months.

• At the end of this year, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will go into effect, requiring travelers to show a passport for all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda. On Jan. 1, 2008, the requirement will be extended to include land border crossings.

• If you’re traveling to a Third World country, educate yourself about vaccination requirements for entry and plan to get the shots you need and the paperwork to show you’ve been immunized.

• Make copies of prescriptions for medicine you’ll be taking along. If it’s something unusual, be sure to get a letter from your doctor authorizing your possession of the drug to avoid trouble at the border.

• Photocopy everything (front and back). This includes entry documents, vaccination certificates, itineraries, credit cards, traveler’s checks, flight and hotel information. Take one copy with you and leave another set with a trusted friend or family member at home who can fax them to you in an emergency.

Make reservations

Once again, go online to research going rates for airfare and lodging before you buy. Compare prices at nearby airports and consider traveling midweek for better rates. Planning your trip during your destination’s off-season (or during a shoulder season) can also snag you a better deal.

If you don’t mind doing your own legwork and feel comfortable booking online, go for it. Otherwise, use a travel agent to get exactly what you want with the least amount of hassle.

Catto said international travel packages are relatively new to the scene but can score travelers deep discounts. If you’re a spontaneous type who can just pick up and go, check out last-minute deals offered by many travel Web sites.

“The best place to cut costs is in your overhead, not once you’re on the ground,” she said. “You don’t want to be in a position where you can’t afford a $12 museum admission because you spent too much on airfare.”

Communication

If you can’t live without your cell phone, you’re in luck. Some airports will let you rent an international cell phone for your trip. While that might be awfully convenient for some, Catto advises you read the fine print before signing up.

“There may be a lot of hidden costs and roaming fees that can really add up,” she said. “You might be better off buying a $20 phone card or using a pay phone.”

Still, the Internet has made its way to most corners of the globe, so the cheapest and most efficient way to keep in touch with folks back home is by e-mail.

Money matters

The key here is to mix it up. Carry one credit card. Get a few traveler’s checks. Order some of the local currency from a bank before you leave. “We always recommend not putting all your eggs in one basket,” says Michele Strickhouser, travel services coordinator with AAA Southern Pennsylvania.

• Plan to arrive with a bit of the local currency in your pocket so you can get from the airport to your final destination without hassles. The last thing you need at the end of a long flight is to spend time searching for a bank when all you want to do is relax and get acclimated.

• Avoid currency exchanges in airports and tourist hot spots if possible. You’re likely to get a better rate at a bank or by using a credit card.

• Find out whether you’ll be responsible for international surcharges if you use your ATM card abroad.

Travel insurance, transportation

• Strickhouser recommends travel insurance to most of her clients. “If you’re spending several thousand dollars on a trip, it’s a very good investment,” she said.

Be sure to read the fine print and understand what is — and isn’t — covered by any policy you purchase. Check with your U.S. health and car insurance companies to see if they extend coverage overseas and what that coverage will be.

• Find out whether you’ll really need to rent a car at your destination. In many countries, public transportation and taxi service is cheaper and more convenient than in parts of the United States. When hailing a taxi, learn how to spot official government-monitored ones, which are held to higher standards and likely to be more accustomed to tourist traffic.

If you do plan to drive, be sure you have an international driver’s license and understand the rules of the road in that country — whether or not the local drivers follow them.

Packing

There are a million reasons to travel light, but tighter airline baggage rules put in place after 9/11 now make this an absolute necessity.

• Check whether some items you plan to pack might be easily available at your destination. On the flip side, if you can’t live without a certain brand of shampoo or type of film, bring it with you. While globalization has done its part to bring Western conveniences to all corners of the world, there are still places where you won’t be able to find a Wal-Mart.

• Choose clothing based on local customs and weather, as well as the type of activities you plan to do. If you’re going to spend much of the trip on the beach or jungle, you probably don’t need dress slacks and makeup.

• If you can’t replace it or live without it, leave it at home. Pickpockets are more common in other countries. Airlines have been known to lose a piece of luggage now and then. Simply the distraction of being in unfamiliar surroundings can make it easier to leave something behind or let down your guard.

• Buy and use TSA-approved luggage locks. They’ll keep sticky fingers away from your suitcase while allowing security personnel to easily open and re-secure your luggage if they need to.

• Tag all bags with your name and phone number or e-mail address, but flip it downward or use a luggage tag with a flap to protect your personal information. If you must include an address, put down a business address to guard against identity theft.

Once you’re there

• Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs. Once you’re outside the United States, you’re subject to the justice system of the country you’re in.

• Be careful when and where you pull out the camera. In some countries, people may become suspicious or even upset when you photograph them — or certain government buildings — without first asking permission.

• Observe how the locals dress and try to copy that as closely as you can.

• Learn and use a few key phrases in the local language. Your accent will probably still identify you as a tourist, but at least you won’t be an obnoxious one.

Catto said the most important thing to keep in mind once you’re at your destination is to be flexible.

“A lot of times people have this great romanticized idea of what their trip is going to be like. But then you get there and the train isn’t running on time and the museum you want to visit is closed for some random reason. If you have a good attitude about it and take it in stride, you’ll find what might be endearing about a (a particular) culture. Besides, you can never see everything.”

U.S. TRAVEL ABROAD

Ron Erdmann, a research analyst with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Travel & Tourism Industries, said international travel has been increasing in recent years.

“When 9/11 happened, people got very skittish and sort of stopped traveling,” he said. “Then the war (in Iraq) made people nervous, so we got hit for three straight years in a row.” He said the increase in travel from 2003 to 2004 shows things are getting back to normal. “My guess is that when 2005 (statistics) come out, we’ll see it was another good year.”

Number of Americans who traveled abroad:

2000 — 26,853,000

2001 — 25,249,000

2002 — 23,397,000

2003 — 24,452,000

2004 — 27,351,000

TIPS AND TRICKS

• Set your watch to your destination time as soon as you board the plane. This will give your mind time to adjust to a different time zone, even if your body doesn’t.

• Pack an empty duffel bag to carry souvenirs home. You don’t want to nix a great purchase just because your suitcase is stuffed to the max.

• E-mail yourself a list of friends and family members’ e-mail addresses. Most Internet cafes charge by how long you’re using the computer, so being able to cut and paste will save you some time (and money).