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Marwan Tamim
Dr. Amira
EL 117
4 April 2016

Steps Needed to Travel Overseas

Good travel is the result of good planning .Most overseas destinations require only a few
weeks of preparation but some trips require months of planning depending on visa and
immunization requirements. An individuals trip will go a lot smoother if he/she follows these
three steps.
The first step to take before you travel anywhere is to do research on where you are
going, the flight times, and the airlines prices. Actually, buying a good guidebook and a reliable
map of the area you are visiting can save you a headache. It is not a good idea to get lost in an
alien country, danger might be lurking. It is essential to have a good idea about the basic customs
of the country you are visiting to know what is and is not acceptable. Locals will highly
appreciate if u try to speak to them in their own language no matter how bad your grammar and
pronunciation is. Therefore, try as much as you can to learn some of the basic phrases instead of
asking rudely Do you speak English.
Secondly, it is equally important to plan out your itinerary well .For example some cities
like Paris or London might need a week or more if you want to have a full experience. It is vital
to check that your travel documents are all up to date and have no issues whatsoever. Many
people neglect looking into the vaccine requirements for the country they are visiting. Thus,
you should definitely make an appointment with your doctor to have this take care off. In
addition ,you should have a clear vision on where you are going to stay. Housing choices are

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largely a matter of budget, comfort and convenience. If you are rich then by all means, find
yourself a nice hotel and relax. Otherwise, you can always consider sharing a hostel or even
better; explore online communities like Couchsurfing.com, AirBnB or WWOOF.org.
Furthermore, if you are travelling within city limits, try biking, renting a car or public
transportation but if u are going around from city to city, you should take a train.
Finally, you should put into consideration that packing effectively can save time and
make you a lot happier on you trip because you have everything you need with you. Make a list
of what you are taking with you and organize it into columns, that should ease the packing
process a bit. Travel writer Rick Steves says You cant travel happy, heavy and cheap .Pick
too.. It is never a good idea to carry so much as eventually it will weigh you down not to
mention that you will have to pay more to carry more around. On top of that, you dont actually
need to carry so many basic toiletries .Nearly every country will have basics like toothpaste,
deodorant and soap.
It is obvious now that preparing to travel overseas can be a lengthy process. Research,
itinerary planning and effective packing are all solid requirements if you want to have a
headache-free trip. I highly advise you to pay attention to every detail regarding the steps
mentioned I promise you that at the end of trip, youll be more than thankful that you prepared
well. Always prepare for you never know what is right around the corner.