International trips always come with a checklist of items to complete before departure. Here is the list I’ve been working through the past couple of months as my trip to Southeast Asia approaches.
- Passport
- Visas
- Travel Vaccinations
- Travel Insurance
- Travel Accessories
Booking an international flight will require your passport credentials and typically an expiration date of at least 6 months validity passed the time of entry. If you do not have a passport make sure to apply several months before your trip as it can be a lengthy process. You can apply for a passport at your local postal office.
If your destination country requires a Visa upon entry this is the next application you should obtain. Most countries in Asia require a Visa. China has the most expensive and strict Visa requirements ($140) while Vietnam is a close second. All others are fairly cheap ($20-$60), can be attained at the airport, and grant around 60 days of access to the country. To apply for a Chinese Visa you will need to fill out the documents found on the Chinese Embassy website and deliver them to the nearest U.S. Embassy. I found the Chinese Embassy website to be too confusing and the nearest U.S. Embassy in Houston too far to hand deliver, so I used the agency services of Passports & Visas for a fee of $100. These agents will send you the documents that need filled out along with instructions on what else needs sent to the U.S. Embassy to complete your Visa application. The Visa package for China required my passport, a passport photo, a copy of my passport photo page, copy of my driver’s license, copy of my flight and hotel itinerary, and a completed application form. My Visa was ready in about a week; however, this can also turn into a lengthy process so be sure to apply several months before departure.
Enough with the legal documents and on to the fun part: travel vaccinations! While no vaccinations are currently required for entry into Southeast Asia at the time, there is a lengthy list of recommended shots. The most common are Tetanus, Typhoid, and Hepatitis A and/or B. Schedule an appointment with your local health department to get these as well as a list of various other shots and travel medications you may want for your travels. I was current on Tetanus, so I only had to get Typhoid and Hepatitis B which landed me a bill of about $140.
Travel Insurance is the last ”snoozer” of an item to cover. Some may choose to forgo travel insurance as it is not a necessity; however, long-term travel to a foreign country may lead to situations you wish you had insured such as flight cancellations, lost baggage, stolen items, medical emergencies, and even emergency evacuation and repatriation. I recommend World Nomads or Travel Guard. I decided to use World Nomads. The site was easy to navigate and had simple plans that cover all that could ever go wrong abroad. I chose the 3-month Explorer plan, which costs about $295.
On to the actual fun part: Travel Accessories! A few key items found their way on to my list as I started trip planning. You may want to consider building these items into your must-buy list as well. My most important purchase in this arena was choosing a backpack for the trip. I wanted a waterproof pack that would hold all things needed for 3 months in Southeast Asia yet small enough to qualify as a carry on. Yeah, good luck to you too. I also wanted side-zipper access for easy entry into the pack instead of the traditional top entry where you have to dump the entire bag to reach the bottom. I found that most 35-40 Liter packs fit the carry-on criteria for American Airlines (my measuring standard). I decided on Cabela’s Elias 40-Liter Backpack for $150. To aid in packing 3 months into a 40-liter backpack I purchased packing cubes. If you have a top entry backpack The Pack is known to be a lifesaver. As a photo fanatic I knew a camera or new iPhone would also be needed to ensure I had quality pictures to document my trip! An iPad or tablet may also be handy for photo storage as well as ease with web browsing for accommodations, flights, and social media updates. Finally, a few necessities are important to remember such as an Outlet Converter, a travel-sized First Aid Kit, prescriptions, and if traveling to Southeast Asia Deet-based insect repellant!
**Reminder: A few days before departure call your credit card companies to alert them of your travel plans in order to prevent a fraud-freeze on your account. Also, to avoid a hefty phone bill upon return, set up an international phone plan with your carrier if you’d like to use your phone outside of wifi areas (wifi usage is free).**
