For those complicated, once-in-a-lifetime trips, you might consider using a travel agent to plan your time abroad.
With access to hidden deals and professional experience weeding out any needless costs, a travel agent might save you big in the long-run.
If you choose the DIY planning route, there are several travel hacks to keep in mind to save your sanity and your wallet:
Lodging options today include so much more than just your conventional hotels and resorts. Travelers can rent out private rooms and homes, stay a night in a medieval castle, or even claim a spot on someone's couch. How do you know where to begin your accommodation search?
Start with the type of trip you're planning, and your destination. From there, outline your options and decide which fits best with your preferences and budget.
For example, if you're planning a luxury trip where you plan to relax, a hotel or resort will provide the amenities and privacy you might be craving.
For the more adventurous trip, hostels, Airbnbs, and homesharing experiences will provide you with local flair, and will most likely save your budget as well.
Here are a couple resources to get you started:
From flights between destinations, to how you plan to get around once you're there, you have much to consider when it comes to transportation.
Research the options available in the city you're visiting, and decide which works best with your travel style and budget.
While visiting an unknown city or country, where you might not even speak the language, safety should be a top priority.
Research your destination before you leave, and come up with a solid plan:
Communicating abroad ranges from being able to reach loved ones back home to speaking with locals in whatever city you're visiting.
Some points to consider:
Passports, visas, permits–before you set out on your international quest, be sure you know what types of travel documentation you need for the countries you're visiting.
It's also a good idea to carry backup copies of all of your documentation in case anything is lost or stolen.
Make front-and-back copies of your passport, credit card, and other documents, and save them to a cloud storage system like Google Docs or Dropbox, where you can access them from any web-enabled device if needed.
A few helpful resources:
(Yes, you should.)
Did you know many domestic health insurance plans don't cover you once you leave your home country?
If you're planning an international getaway, an unexpected illness or injury abroad could cost you more than you think without adequate coverage.
Learn more about travel medical insurance coverage here.
Many travel medical insurance policies will include travel assistance services in addition to the medical benefits.
For example, an Atlas Travel policy features the following travel benefits:
For more details, see the Atlas Travel series webpage.
Natural disasters, political unrest, and terrorist attacks can occur regardless of when or where you travel.
A travel medical insurance policy can provide coverage for situations like these:
To learn more about the coverage limits and exclusions, click here.
While your international plane ticket alone could cost up to $1,000, in many cases, a travel medical insurance plan could cost you as little as $1 a day. That's it!
Your individual policy price will vary depending on several different factors, but a hospital bill abroad while uninsured could be far more expensive than your travel medical insurance quote.
Read more about how the costs are calculated here.
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