Planning a vacation is not always the most straightforward of tasks and finding ways to streamline the process is ideal. Following a good plan will help you ensure you’ve got everything you need to take with you out of Atlanta and reduce the stress of traveling significantly. There are a number of different things that you should plan early to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible for you. This article aims to provide you with a handy checklist, guiding you through many of the essential steps of planning a vacation abroad. 

Ensure You Have The Right Documentation

When traveling abroad, your first step after booking your flights and accommodation is to ensure that you’ve got all of the correct documents. Atlanta International Airport can be easy to navigate, assuming you have all the right documentation. Getting a new passport, for example, can take a significant amount of time. It can take between 8 and 11 weeks in the USA and will cost you extra if you want to expedite processing. 

Although even with this quicker option, you’re going to have to wait at least five weeks for your passport to arrive. It’s highly recommended to get this done way before these timeframes anyway, just in case anything happens that could delay it further. If you can’t get your passport in time for your vacation, then you won’t be going. There are many documents you might need when traveling abroad, so make sure you’ve got everything you need before you leave. 

Consider Medical Requirements

As well as travel documents, you’ll also need to ensure that you’ve got all the right vaccinations required for visiting your destination. Research the country you’re planning to visit to check which vaccines they suggest you get as well as those that are compulsory, as not every vaccination is required.

However, certain countries can be hotspots for some very nasty diseases and viruses that can put you at serious risk. It’s worth speaking to your physician if you’re concerned about this, as they’ll be able to put your mind at ease and advise you on the right course of action. 

Get Some Travel Insurance

As well as travel documents and vaccinations, it’s worthwhile getting yourself travel insurance to help cover you in the event of any illness or injuries during your trip. It could be very costly to receive treatment abroad without insurance, similar to having none back home. 

Not only can you get travel insurance to help you pay for health issues, but you can also get insurance to cover the loss or damage of valuable items. Theft and damage of items that you treasure can really put a downer on your vacation, so to avoid this disappointment, having insurance will give you at least some peace of mind.

Arrange Airport Transport Or Parking

Sorting out transportation to the airport is an often overlooked step in this process too. If you’re considering getting a taxi, for example, you’ll want to make sure it’s booked well in advance so that there’s no risk in you failing to get one on the day. You should then double-check with the taxi company the day before so that you can be certain they’ll be sending someone to pick you up. The best option would really be to drive to the airport, if possible, as then you are in control of timings and don’t have to put your trust in another driver. 

Airport parking will, of course, cost you. But there are ways in which you can drop those prices slightly using Atlanta International Airport parking vouchers, for example. There are official airport parking spaces and private parking options, so do your research to find the best one for you. Whatever transport options you choose, it’s imperative that you arrange this well before you travel to save you as much time as possible.

Create A Packing List

Failing to pack the right things or forgetting something important is a very common issue that happens to people traveling abroad, whether you’ve forgotten essential items like power adapters and phone chargers, or something more serious like your medication or wallet, for example. 

Creating a list of everything you need and then checking those items off once they’re packed is a great way to ensure nothing is left behind. As well as these essential items, it will help you to make sure you’ve got all of the clothes you want to bring as well as luxuries to make your vacation that little bit better.

Organize Your Banking And Cash

While it’s not always a bit problem today, especially if you’re using a global, digital bank, it’s worth informing your bank that you’ll be traveling abroad. If you decide to use your bank card in a different country and your bank assumes you’re still back in the US, you might find that those withdrawals get rejected, and your card could even be blocked until you speak to your bank. 

If you then find that you can’t get in touch with your bank, you might find yourself unable to pay for important things during your vacation. In events like this, or if you were to lose your bank card, having some spare cash with you can also be useful. Cash will generally be accepted everywhere, compared to cards, and so will be useful in those situations.

Plan Your Travel Days

Another useful this to do is to not only plan out the fun things you intend to do on your vacation but to also plan out your travel days as well, both there and back again. When traveling abroad, it’s important to stick to a tight schedule, so there is no risk of you missing your plane or other transportation. 

It might seem like an excessive decision to follow a schedule like this. Still, the added stress to your day that you’d otherwise experience isn’t conducive to a pleasant and relaxing vacation. Include time in your plans to allow you to take a break and get something to eat before your flights, too, and consider setting reminders on your phone to prompt you to assess your plan regularly.