Going away on holiday? These are 7 important things to do before you takeoff!
Many overseas destinations have become more and more popular with the rise of travel influencers on Instagram and Tik Tok. Many of us dream of visiting this ancient and diverse stretch of land when the sun shines and the waters sparkle. Whether you are planning to visit the cobbled streets of Rome, or enjoy the sparkling waters of Rarotonga, there are things every traveller should do before take off, to make sure the trip runs smoothly and that you come back with a full heart and camera roll.
Here are our top 7 tips and things to consider before you fly.
1. Invest in Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is one of those things that when you need it, you want to have it on hand. You don’t want to have to face foreign medical bills if you get hurt, nor do you want to have to pay to replace all your belongings if your luggages gets lost in transit. Your trip is an investment into your happiness and you don’t want to run the risk of losing all the money you have spent on flights, accommodation, and activities if something happened that stopped you from going.
Top Reasons to Get Travel Insurance
2. Prepare your House Electricals for your Absence
Before you head out the door, make sure appliances are turned off. Clean out your fridge of anything that might go bad. Turn off your washing machine, coffee machine, lamps, TV and anything else that doesn’t need to be on. Be sure to turn it off at the wall. This will help prevent standby mode from sucking up your power and unnecessarily contributing to your power bill.
3. Grab Noise Cancelling Headphones
You don’t want to be sitting on a plane, forced to listen to a crying baby, or just the constant drone of the engine. Noise cancelling headphones can be a life saver for travelling, both in the airports, aeroplanes, and when you are in your destination. You may be using buses and trains to get from one city to another, and noise cancelling headphones can ensure you tune out the noise, and get some peace so you can rest enroute.
Shop Noise Cancelling Headphones
4. Choose your Luggage Wisely
Your destination may not have the smoothest of footpaths. Many places have cobblestone streets, uneven sidewalks, and some even have lots of stairs to climb to get to your accommodation. It’s important you have a quality suitcase or backpack to store your belongings and minimise the hassle of moving it around as much as possible.
5. Check Roaming Rates
Each mobile phone provider in New Zealand will offer different roaming options and rates depending on where you are going. It is important to take note of this. Roaming rates can add up and be a costly part of your trip, especially if you are going somewhere for several weeks. You can opt to use a local sim card, or e-sim – if your phone is compatible – to avoid costly roaming rates and still remain connected to local cellular services.
6. Tell your Bank
It is important to notify your bank of your travel plans before you go. Let them know your travel dates and the countries you are visiting. They will keep this on your file so that when you tap your card for the first time at your destination, your bank will know that this isn’t strange activity. You don’t want your bank to suddenly lock your credit card or debit card when you are trying to enjoy your first sunset dinner in Thailand!
Also consider whether you are going to be using your visa debit or credit card, or whether you’ll grab a travel card to make purchases, such as Revolut. Compare the transaction and conversion charges of different options to make sure you get the best rate possible.
7. Save Extra Money by Comparing
You can make extra savings for your trip by comparing your bills. Compare your broadband, power, mobile, and finance bills to find a better deal for your household utilities. By comparing regularly, and making the switch to a better plan, you can save hundreds of dollars over a year and you can put those savings towards your travels!