*THIS IS A SPONSORED POST: PORTIONS OF THIS POST CONTAIN SPONSORED LINKS BUT ALL WRITING AND OPINIONS ARE MY OWN*
How to prepare for international travel – whether it’s planning for your honeymoon or visiting a place that you’ve never been, traveling internationally can be quite the process these days, ESPECIALLY during a pandemic. While COVID stays among us, so does having the urge to go out and live your life. I wanted to put together a few tips and tricks that I like to do before traveling overseas. I’ve gathered quite the knowledge over the past few years on learning how to maneuver my way through modern day traveling. We’ll discuss: figuring out how to find the best places, how to travel during a pandemic, and making sure you can leave the country with a peace of mind.
Research, Research, Research
This might be a given, but Jared and I always do extensive research when traveling to an area we are unfamiliar with. I like to read hundreds of blogs, research photos/locations on Instagram/TikTok, and watch a handful of YouTube videos. I always Google the place we are traveling to before even booking anything, and a lot of the time I’ll end up finding some hidden gems, good food spots, and even nice places to stay, that other people have discovered and written about. We like to try to really get to know the area that we are going to before we even arrive, that way I can make sure that wherever we are going is going to be fun and safe.
Check ALL COVID Requirements
The biggest advice I can give is making sure you are researching the place you want to go and figuring out all of the current travel restrictions because it’s different every place you go. You absolutely want to make sure you have all the documents you need and give yourself enough time to get it all done before traveling. Most places require you to get a negative PCR test, one to three days before the flight. Be sure you book an appointment as early as you can schedule because these slots can fill up fast. You should also be sure the turnaround time from the lab is quick, otherwise there is a chance you won’t be able to board your flight. Some places may require full vaccination and a negative test before entering, so just do your research and be sure to call if you have any questions.
You also want to make sure you figure out all the things you need to do to get back into the country. This includes getting in your test appointments booked in whatever country you are staying for your travels home. It’s a CDC requirement to have a negative COVID test to get back into the US. Most places you travel to, especially if you’re staying at an all-inclusive, usually provide complimentary testing. However, (you know we love our Airbnb’s) so if you plan to do this, you may have to figure out where to schedule a test on your own. Usually most places are super helpful and tell you where to go. When we were in Turks and Caicos, a PCR test was $185 per person. Luckily, they had changed it while we were there to a rapid test for reentry into the USA, which only ended up being $60. You’ll want to figure this into your costs and travel plans as well. Be sure to keep up to date with COVID restrictions EVEN AFTER BOOKING YOUR TRIP, because everything is constantly changing.
Get Travel Insurance
I highly HIGHLY recommend getting travel insurance. Most places and airlines require this if you are traveling internationally. Even if you are not traveling internationally, I still recommend getting it. (God forbid if you did test positive before a trip and had to cancel, you’re still covered and get a refund for your flights.) Most of the time you can purchase this right at the end of when you are checking out for your flights. They ask if you want to add on “travel insurance”. This is so if you do test positive for COVID on your way home, they cover a good chunk of costs for your extended stay to quarantine, and rescheduling of flights home, etc. It’s usually not too expensive either depending on where you’re going. Beware the borders are opening and closing all the time so you want to be sure you are prepared and covered if this were to happen before a big trip.
Book Reservations Ahead
I cannot stress this enough, but due to COVID, things get pretty booked, pretty fast. If you are planning a trip in the near future (international or not) I highly recommend booking all of your dinner reservations, tours, and whatever else, weeks ahead of time because everything is super crazy right now. This will ensure your plans are set in place and that way you don’t have to stress and scramble to try and find a place to eat for the night. Trust me, it’s NOT FUN.
Apply For Global Entry
We actually finally just applied for this! Global Entry is a program of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service that allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to receive expedited clearance upon arrival into the United States. This will seriously help you out in the long run because getting back into the county especially during COVID can be wild. We have had two situations where we almost missed our flights back home because the line for customs can take FOREVER. If you plan on traveling a lot in the near future, I would totally look into that and do it sooner than later because it is definitely a long process. (We’ve been waiting months for our interview appointment.) But I do believe it is worth it because it will make coming back into the country a breeze, and absolutely less stressful.
Make Sure Everything Back Home Is Secure
Lastly, one more way to prepare for your travels, is to have peace of mind while you’re out exploring the world. Make sure your home and belongings are secured and protected back at home. If you’re like me and you’re already ready to escape the cold, it’s important to know that everything back home is secure while away from your home so you’re able to relax and enjoy your vacation. Tech Services of New Jersey is an excellent way to be sure your home and valuables are safe while you’re traveling the world.
New Jersey Alarm Companies specializes in burglar alarm systems, fire alarm systems, alarm monitoring, access control systems, and camera systems. You can easily get notifications and alerts to your phone if anything goes wrong so you are able to handle the situation quickly. These security systems can include motion sensors, and 24/7 monitoring that will alert authorities which allows everyone to feel safe at night – traveling or not. They are a reliable company who have professional and expertise in security systems for your home.
Traveling outside the US can be quite a process these days, especially during a pandemic. Like my Dad likes to say, “if you’re not always prepared, you’re never prepared”. That has stuck with me my whole life, and hopefully it will now with you too. Always be prepared for your travels and take the right steps and precautions before leaving home. I hope these tips helped to get you to get ready for your next travels. If you have any other questions, feel free to send me a DM!
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With Love,
Taylor Onze
TAYLOR ONZE 