Traveling is truly one of my greatest passions. From the little boutique hotels, to learning the local traditions, the delicious food, the wonderful people, to the unforgettable scenery, it truly is a spectacular experience. I’ve traveled to quite a few countries over the last decade and have to say I’ve seen some beautiful places and I’ve also seen the impoverished areas. All in all, it makes me appreciate it that much more.

I used to travel quite frequently for business, domestically here in the U.S. That experience was chaos itself, so you can imagine what international travel is like. Getting to the airport 2 hours prior, for a domestic flight and up to 3-4 hours before a international flight, can be unappealing. The long lines, going through customs, double checking that you have your passport and tickets can be nerve racking. But for me, the thought of going somewhere new and exciting, trumps all those mishaps. I look forward to exploring a new city and all it has to offer.

I usually start pouring over material on the web that can be found on numerous sites about the country or city I’m planning to visit. My favorite is: travel blogs. This gives the reader a first hand experience as to what the writer has observed, learned, etc. From what attractions to visit, what food to try, what hotels or resorts to stay at, to taking any pre-cautionary measures while visiting that new place. Professional travel websites are helpful too, I just prefer a first person perspective. There have been times I have traveled to places and thought I was pretty well prepared and was not.

Just a few things to consider before you gallivant off in to the sunset on your dream vacation:

• Make sure your passport is up to date
• Check the weather report for that week before hand
• Packing the proper clothing for the climate
• Money conversion: if credit cards are accepted in most places, if you need to carry cash and how much
• Transportation costs
• Food Cost
• If you need any vaccinations, prior to visiting certain countries
• Your country’s closest embassy to where you are staying, if you run into trouble

Photo by Chris Galbraith on Unsplash