🌍 Travel Tips for International Travelers 🌍
This is a comprehensive list of essential travel tips. We also recommend that travelers check the particular requirements associated with their destination and/or retreat location.
1. 📄 Check Passport & Visa Requirements
Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates. Verify if a visa or eTA is required for your destination.
2. 💉 Health & Vaccinations
Check for required or recommended vaccines. Carry essential medications and a basic travel health kit.
And speaking of health, we strongly support consistent physical exercise that cultivates aerobic capacity, strength, and flexibility.
3. 💸 Money & Cards
Inform your bank of travel plans. Carry a mix of credit/debit cards and some local currency. Avoid airport exchange rates.
4. 📱 Phone & Connectivity
Enable international roaming, or buy a local SIM/eSIM or travel Wi-Fi device for cheaper data. Please note that international roaming can be costly, so the local SIM or eSIM option is normally recommended. We use the eSIM offered by Saily. Saily offers $5 off of your first purchase if you use our referral code: LARRYE9856. We also highly recommend obtaining the free messaging and telephone app called “WhatsApp”, which is used worldwide. We find it essential when traveling internationally. You can learn more at this link: https://www.whatsapp.com
5. 🌐 Offline Access
Download offline maps, translation apps, and e-tickets before arriving, especially in regions with poor connectivity.
6. 🧳 Pack Smart
Pack light, weather-appropriate clothes. Include universal power adapter, copies of documents, and essential toiletries. We find that ‘packing cubes’ help to condense the volume of packed items, although this should not be at the expense of increasing the weight of packed items. Bring a hat and sunscreen. Aim to travel light, which will increase your ease and mobility.
7. 🛂 Secure Your Documents
Keep physical and digital copies of passport, visa, insurance, and itinerary. Use a money belt or secure travel wallet.
8. 🚇 Local Transport
Research how public transport works, or download local ride-sharing apps (e.g., Uber, Bolt, etc.).
9. 🌐 Learn Key Local Phrases
Learn a few basic local language phrases — greetings, thank you, directions — or use a translation app. We like DeepL: https://www.deepl.com/en/translator
Practice mindful communication: Listen and respond to the people you meet with attention, care, and kindness.
10. ⚠️ Stay Aware & Insured
Buy travel insurance (health, baggage, trip cancellation). Be aware of local laws, customs, and emergency contacts.
Quick Tips
✅ Before You Go
Passport valid for 6+ months
Apply for visa or eTA (if required)
Book flights and accommodation
Purchase travel insurance (medical + trip protection)
Inform your bank/credit card company of travel dates
Check entry requirements (vaccines, COVID rules, etc.)
💊 Health & Safety
Pack prescription meds with copies of prescriptions
Bring a basic travel health kit (band-aids, painkillers, etc.)
Get any recommended vaccinations
💳 Money & Essentials
Bring credit/debit cards (with low foreign fees)
Carry local currency (small bills)
Make digital and paper copies of passport, visa, insurance
Download essential travel apps:
Google Maps (offline)
Google Translate or DeepL
Airline app + travel itinerary
Currency converter
📱 Connectivity
Buy or activate international SIM / eSIM
Bring universal power adapter & charger
Set up WhatsApp / Signal / local messaging app
🧳 Packing Checklist
Weather-appropriate clothing
Light jacket or layers
Comfortable shoes
Toiletries in travel-sized containers
Reusable water bottle
Travel towel (optional)
Sunglasses / sunscreen / hat
🛂 At the Airport
Arrive early (2–3 hrs before international flight)
Keep passport + documents easily accessible
Confirm gate, boarding time, and luggage tags
🗺️ Upon Arrival
Know your accommodation address
Have local transport info or app ready
Learn a few basic local phrases (hello, thank you, help)
Stay aware of local laws & customs