You’re Going Abroad, 7 Things to Do Right Now

— -- For anyone going abroad this summer or fall, good for you. There are lots of deals out there and if you haven’t purchased tickets yet, get moving. We’re seeing nice prices for flights to Ireland, the Scandinavian countries and even Paris.

If this is your first international trip or you don’t travel abroad often, check out these tips. It’s actually a checklist of seven things you should be doing right now, or at least thinking about.

1. Check your passport

Go to the U.S. State Department’s passport section at Travel.State.Gov to find passport and visa requirements for countries around the world. Already own a passport? That’s not always enough; some countries insist passports remain valid six months (or longer) after you return home from your trip. If you don’t have a passport or need an extension, there are online forms on the State site. Cost of an adult U.S. passport is $110 and processing time is about six weeks but you can cut that in half with expedited service for an additional $60.

2. Plan to carry-on

Even if you’ll be traveling 10 days or two weeks in Europe, you can fit what you need in a carry-on (I know, I’ve done it!). This isn’t about saving money because checked bags on most international flights are free; this is about not having the start of a trip ruined if the airline loses your luggage. True, this is rare, but a carry-on also comes in handy for bus or train travel between countries. Smaller bags are easier to store and maneuver and, yes, many come with wheels.

3. Check the electronics situation

Contact your service provider well in advance to see whether hey have country-specific or continental phone plans for calls, texts and internet service (most do). If you don’t do this ahead of time, you could be hit with charges that’ll dwarf the Eiffel Tower. Don’t throw away your money on roaming charges.

4. Buy a plug adapter and know your voltage

This is about the small gizmo that allows you to fit a U.S. double-pronged plug into (for example) a U.K. three-pronged outlet. They can be had for less than five bucks. Forgetting to buy one isn’t the worst mistake because most hotels have plenty left behind by forgetful guests but why take a chance on low batteries?

As for voltage, European travel expert Rick Steves notes that this is less and less of a problem for U.S. travelers because modern appliances like hair dryers are usually either dual voltage or switch back and forth between U.S. and European voltage.

Some old appliances will need a voltage adapter, though, as my wife found out when she blew up her curlers. You could buy a voltage adapter (under $20) but it might be easier to use appliances in your hotel room or borrow a dryer from the front desk or even buy a cheap appliance at your destination.

5. Add some contacts

Go back to Travel.State.Gov and look up embassies and-or consulates for your vacation spots and add the numbers to your phone (This is very handy in case of lost or stolen passports). And while there, sign up for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program); it’s free and allows you to receive any important advisories from the local embassy about safety conditions and more. It also allows a U.S. representative to contact you during an emergency situation and allow friends and families to get in touch if they have an emergency you need to know about.

6. Check the money situation

Contact a live person at the number on your credit card to learn about using the card in a foreign country: Are you limited to certain ATMs for cash for the lowest fees? What about transaction fees for using the card in restaurants or shops? Would you be better off taking out a new card? Only you can answer this question by asking questions now.

7. Learn something about your destination

You don’t have to devour thick guidebooks or learn a new language but a simple online search to learn the words for “please” and “thank you” will earn you points in your host country. Don’t stop there; learn tipping customs, public transport options and safety dos and don’ts. Practical info like this is readily available online, in bookstores and (again) on Travel.State.Gov. Now make a list of attractions you’d like to see and put together a rough itinerary.

Final thought: Real-life is not rainbows and unicorns 24/7 and no matter where you travel or how well you’ve planned, problems can arise. Solution: Roll with them. Be patient. Enjoy the different cultures and people. Above all have fun!

Any opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author.