“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” -St. Augustine

There are a lot of considerations which need to be taken care of prior to going away on a trip. If it is a short trip you obviously need to worry less about your day to day affairs but for longer extended trips there is more that needs to be taken care off lest you return home to an eviction notice and unpaid bill reminders.

For some, planning a trip is half the fun while others wish that someone else could take care of it for them. So for those who fall into the latter group I have assembled together a checklist of the things that I’ve had to deal with in planning an overseas trip.

1. Organizing Your Visa’s If Needed

Visas can be a bureaucratic mind field. It can be costly and take days for it to get organized. So it is wise to know before you leave whether or not your intended country you wish to visit requires a visa upon entry.

I know for me I won’t be needing any visas for my visit to Hong Kong, Europe and the USA but this could be different depending on which country of origin you come from. I will also be staying in each place for no longer than 2 months which satisfies their requirements. If you are traveling it is wise to check the countries visa conditions just to be sure. You can find out more information from your travel agent or contact the countries embassy or consulate.

2. Getting Immunized

Getting health shots is something many travelers simply ignore or neglect to do prior to their trip. I know I have traveled overseas without getting immunized before and I came back fine without any problems. But it’s a risk I probably wouldn’t want to take again. The sooner you get your rounds of immunizations started the better, so it is wise that once you have booked your tickets you should make a visit to your local GP and discuss your immunization needs relevant to where you are intending on go.

There are many private health clinics which specialize on providing travel health advice. Personally I think they are overpriced and aren’t worth going to considering they have a vested interest in selling you vaccinations whether or not you really need them. Your family doctor is more than capable of helping you out with your immunizations and they will most likely give you better advice as they have your medical history.

The good thing is that many of the shots you need will last you a very long time and others will just be boosters to supplant what you had taken in your childhood days.

3. Organize Travel Insurance

It goes without saying that getting travel insurance is a wise investment to take out on your health and well being. The trip of a lifetime could turn into a journey to hell without adequate insurance. Cancellations, lost luggage, accidents and illnesses can all ruin your dre Read more