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International Travel Hacks

As a parent, the one thing I have learned time and time again is that life happens. And it can come at you quickly if you’re not looking for it.

Babies get sick. People run red lights and car crashes happen. Flights get delayed and canceled. Pickpockets walk away with your wallet in foreign countries, leaving you strapped for cash and your ID to get back home. Airlines lose your luggage.

Bad things happen –  even on vacation.

And as a parent, I have learned a few hard-earned lessons over my years of child wrangling. Lesson numero uno comes from the Boy Scouts:

Always Be Prepared.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I’m hyper-vigilant when preparing for trips. I try to think ahead and anticipate what I might need, just in case. (Side note – ask me sometime to show you my “Mama Traveling Purse”. I ain’t kidding when I tell you I come ready for anything.)

Over the years, I’ve developed an international travel checklist of things that are absolutely essential to make sure I can travel anywhere across the globe, and still keep myself and my belongings safe. For me – I need to be able to:

1. Get in contact with emergency services/ my friends & family in the event of an emergency
2. Ensure that I keep my personal belongings with me when I’m out of my hotel room and traveling
3. Make sure I can get to where I’m going in the foreign country I’m visiting
4. Make sure I am able to leave the foreign country and continue to travel when my trip is up. And because I am not a betting woman, I also need to know I have a safety net to catch me if I need it.

These are my eight best international travel tips to help you be prepared for whatever life throws at you. If you enjoy this post, I would love if you shared it with your family and friends who love to travel! Or, you can Pin me so everyone can share these tips!

8 Tips For A Hassle-Free International Vacation

International Travel Tip #1. International Travel Insurance

As I said at the start of this post, life happens. It’s easy to be like Pollyanna, and hope that nothing bad will come of your dream vacation. Until it does.

Travel insurance is more than just medical insurance while you’re traveling. I shared in this earlier post that I had an unexpected surgery two days before a long-scheduled family trip. Less than 48 hours before we had planned to leave, I had my gallbladder taken out. Had we not purchased travel insurance before my surgery, we would have been out of thousands of dollars in tickets to theme parks, airline tickets, hotels, rental car, and deposits for sightseeing tours.

When you travel, especially international travel, travel insurance is a MUST.

From replacing lost luggage to refunding your entire trip if you have to cancel, travel insurance covers a lot of financial bases. When you look at traveling more as an investment you’re making, you will start to understand why protecting your investment is so necessary.

When I started looking for travel insurance, I shopped around a few different companies. After comparing prices on quotes and coverage provided, one company stood out heads above the rest: RoamRight.

The thing I was most impressed by RoamRight was the type of things they covered. From their website:

• Trip Cancellation, with the possible option to upgrade to Cancel For Any Reason or Cancel For Work Reasons coverage
• Trip Interruption, Trip Delay, and Missed Connection
• Baggage Protection
• Emergency Accident and Sickness
• Evacuation and Repatriation of Mortal Remains
• Hazardous Sports Coverage
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment
• Rental Car Collision Coverage

RoamRight has you covered.

They offer trip protection style plans. These plans act as a financial safety net to reimburse you for non-refundable fees or lost luggage replacement.  Normally, you would have to pay out-of-pocket if you didn’t have travel insurance.

And, of course, they offer medical insurance coverage. Because there’s nothing like wondering if your insurance will be accepted in a country where you don’t speak the language.

In summary, if you take nothing else away from this list – take this point to heart. Travel Insurance: Don’t Leave Home Without It!

International Travel Tip #2. Portable Chargers

I don’t know about y’all, but I can barely remember life before technology. How in the world did I survive without Google? How did I navigate any new town without Google Maps? I actually am old enough to remember the answers to that (the library and paper maps), but today’s technology is the backbone of most of our daily lives.

The force responsible for driving this technology when I’m on the road is my cell phone. Or as I’ve named mine “Ida the iPhone“. I would be lost (literally just as much as metaphorically) without Ida. She navigates me to new cities. She translates foreign menus. Ida is my road trip wingman.

Obviously, in order for Ida to keep my life running smoothly, she needs to be powered up. And while on a normal day at home she can make it a full day on just the charge she got from being plugged in while I slept, when I’m traveling – that overnight charge usually won’t even last until lunch. Obviously being without my phone in a foreign country is less than ideal, so I need to keep Ida juiced up.

I personally would like to find the inventor of the portable charger and hug his/her neck.  They know the struggle is real, and are just here to make life better for all of us.

I have tried many, many chargers. Some were adequate. They got the job done, in other words. But the chargers themselves needed to be recharged frequently. Some of the chargers weren’t strong enough to give me a full charge in a reasonable amount of time. And some just didn’t charge my electronics at all.

I just about resigned myself to a life of unreliable phone chargers, when one day I found this little beauty. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Anker 20100mAh Portable Charger, your new best friend.

The Anker 20100mAh Portable Charger is superior, in my opinion, for several reasons. 

• Weighs only 12.5 oz, which is almost nothing. However, it charges the iPhone 7 almost seven times, the Galaxy S6 five times or the iPad mini 4 twice.
• With a 2 amp charger, the Anker 20100mAh recharges itself in just 10 hours. Other phone chargers (generally 1 amp) may take up to 20 hours. 

A portable phone charger that doesn’t need to be recharged frequently, and one that can be charged up quickly while you sleep – that’s basically my shortlist for my portable charger needs and this one meets both marks. It’s a little more pricey than others at $80 (It’s on sale right now for $42! Run! Don’t walk! Get you this charger!), but this is a case of you get what you pay for. Anker offers a no hassle 18-month warranty, which in my book makes it worth every penny. And if you purchase through Amazon, you won’t even need to keep your receipt as Amazon does that for you!

No matter which one you choose, don’t leave for your trip without a portable charger. Also, make sure you have one for every phone/tablet/camera you’re taking (unless your charger is a dual charger like the Anker).  You will thank me later.

International Travel Tip #3. Personal Hotspot

You managed to remember your portable chargers. Congrats! Now how are you going to use your cell phones, and especially your cellular data, on the go? Friend, what you need is a personal hotspot.

You can buy one before you go, or rent one after you’ve arrived. I prefer to have mine with me when I get there so I don’t have to attempt to figure out where to rent them in a country that I don’t speak the language.

Whichever way you choose to get one, you will need to get a SIM card for it once you’ve arrived at your final destination. Both the SIM card and the personal hotspot can be found at local cell phone stores. You can usually find a SIM card kiosk at most airports. In cities, cell phone stores are very prevalent and not difficult to find. The airport concierge can point you in the right direction.

Once you have the SIM card you are all set! Most personal hotspots can be charged with your personal charger as well, so you can get more bang for your buck. You never have to worry about being out of touch again!

International Travel Tip #4. RFID Blocking Wallet

My next suggestion is actually an item that I use daily.

Let me introduce you to my favorite RFID Blocking Wallet. For those who don’t know, RFID stands for radio-frequency identification.

The RFID waves are used to electromagnetically transfer information. There are some credit cards, passports, and driver’s licenses that have these RFID chips embedded within them. An electro-pickpocket can get the information from these cards by simply standing close to someone who has them. The thief only has to have an RFID receiver in their pocket or bag, stand close enough to someone with a card that has a chip in it, and they can transfer all the information from that card. While you’re unaware of it happening, they can steal all of your information without even opening your bag.

There is a very simple solution to prevent this from happening. Get an RFID Blocking Wallet.  Lining the wallet is specially made material that blocks the RFID transmission. It’s really that simple to keep your info safe.

I like this one a lot because it is slim, well made, and comes in 24 colors. It holds all my cards and cash and zips shut so I don’t have to worry about them falling out.

This tip is a simple and super affordable way to protect your identification and financial information. The bonus is it’s a set it and forget it tip. Not make me remember to do something every day? Yes, ma’am! I’ll take it!

International Travel Tip #5. Slash-proof Bag/Backpack

I know that I’m not alone, in that when I’m sightseeing I prefer to carry either a cross body bag or a backpack. For both comfort and fashion, they are the way to go.

However, backpacks are easily robbed without you even being aware. And purses aren’t much safer. There is a technique now where thieves slash your purse/bag open. They either slash the bottom of the bag and rob it from that entrance, or they slash it off your arm entirely and run with it. Either way, you lose your bag and all of its belongings. That makes a lovely trip go downhill very quickly.

Thankfully, today’s bag designers have come up with new technologies in material designs that make your bags “slash-proof”.

These bags come in lots of different styles – from cross body purses, to back backs, to drawstring packs. I would recommend getting one for every member of your family to use as their carry-on/sight-seeing bag. Airports and tourist hot spots are where most travel robberies happen, so it makes sense to carry your bag where it’s needed most. They look just like any other bag, so you won’t have to worry about your “too cool for you” teens turning their noses up at it.

International Travel Tip #6. Offline Maps/Apps

No matter the best-laid plans, sometimes stuff happens. Maybe you left the personal hotspot at the hotel and have no wi-fi? You still will need a way to navigate around the city, but how can you while being offline?

Google to the rescue! Google Maps will actually let you download some city’s maps to your phone. From there you will be able to access them, even offline! This is very handy for when you first land in a new city and need to find a cell phone store to get a SIM card for your personal hotspot. Or, if you only have one personal hotspot and your family decides to split into different groups for the day.

Another app I highly recommend is Citymapper. Citymapper lets you not only navigate to where you’re going, but it also has bus lines and train info for some cities. This is super helpful for figuring out which train to take when you’re in a new city. Citymapper will even tell you which platform to go to for your train. You can even download all your trip info such as routes and bus schedules right to your phone, so it is easy to find quickly.

I’m a giant fan of Citymapper. I’ve used the app in London several times. It made navigating the Tube so much easier on my own the first time. You can also launch Citymapper on your desktop/laptop before you go on your trip and download all your info to your phone from there. It is a very versatile service that is intuitively designed with users in mind.

You could always take the easy, non-tech way out here and just buy a city map. But – and this is a biggie for me – it’s one more thing to keep up with. I know you mamas feel me on this one. I prefer to not carry something if there is an easier way available to replace it. Offline maps > paper maps any day.

International Travel Tip #7. Have Paper Copies

This tip comes from my days of being a Secret Squirrel’s wife.

Back when Tommy had a job that we aren’t allowed to discuss, I was given tips to protect myself in the event of a dangerous situation abroad. The one tip that was driven home to me over and over was do not leave for a trip without a hard copy of all your travel documents back home in a safe place.

You need to make a copy of your passport and Driver’s License/State ID, and either give them to someone you trust or put them in an easily accessible place in your home. Don’t hide these – they need to be found by anyone you ask to look for them. I also take an extra set to keep in my suitcase.

Should you lose your IDs having a paper copy on hand might expedite you getting a new ID at the Embassy.  Along with copies of your identifications, you also need to include an itinerary of your flights and hotels information. In the event of an emergency that requires your notification, this information is invaluable.

This is a tip that too many of us forget about when we travel. It only takes five minutes to make your copies and itineraries. The peace of mind they can bring is worth the effort. Do yourself and your loved ones a favor, and don’t forget this important tip!

International Travel Tip #8. Where’s The Embassy?

Lastly, this is a tip no one wants to think they will ever need. But, in the event that you should need it, you will be so grateful that you took the time to prepare.

Before you leave, find out where your closest embassy is located. Get the address and phone number. Be sure to save the information on your phone, and having a hard copy for you and someone back home isn’t a bad idea either.  If you can, download an offline map of the city you’re visiting, and drop a pin on the embassy. This will make finding it easy in times of stress when you can’t think straight.

The embassy is located in the country’s capital city. If you aren’t anywhere near the capital, look for the closest consulate (think of it as the Embassy Lite). These are usually in larger cities.

The embassy (and consulates) serves many functions. Just a short list of what they do includes:

• Replace a lost or stolen passport, once identity has been verified
• Contact your family, friends, or employers back home
• Help find lost, missing [or presumed missing] travelers
• Help you obtain medical care and recommend local medical facilities
• Provide information on local English-speaking doctors, as well as their training and specialties
• Help you transfer funds or receive funds from home
• Provide assistance for a death overseas, including notification to family, and returning the remains to the United States
• Provide emergency help, if you’re the victim of crime
• Provide information about the local criminal justice process
• Visit you in jail if you’re arrested, and advise you of your rights under local law
• Provide sources for local English-speaking attorneys and their areas of legal specialty
• Register overseas births to American parents
• Notarize documents and supply governmental forms

It is important to note that as much as the Embassy and Consulates can help you with, there is plenty that they cannot help you with. This includes:

• They cannot cash checks [including Travelers Checks]
• They cannot supply you with funds or hand out money, even if you’ve been the victim of a crime
• They cannot pay physicians, hospitals, or medical expenses
• They cannot help American citizens arrested for committing a crime
• They cannot get you out of jail, or have your charges reduced
• They cannot give you legal advice, or serve as your attorney
• They cannot serve as interpreters or translators
• They cannot pay legal or other fees
• They cannot take you on a tour of the embassy or consulate

If you don’t have computer access overseas but have an emergency or need help, you can reach someone at the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs by calling internationally: 00-1-202-501-4444. Keep this number in your phone.

Lastly, before you go, please take a minute to register with the Department of State STEP Program. From their website:

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Benefits of Enrolling in STEP:

• Receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country, helping you make informed decisions about your travel plans.

• Help the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency.

• Help family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency.

Even if you don’t remember to locate the nearest embassy/consulate before you go, please don’t skip this important tip. Having up to the minute information about natural disasters or civil unrest is the difference between life and death. In my opinion, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Vacations are meant to be fun and relaxing. No one ever plans a getaway and expects to end up in the hospital, or without money and identification. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent theft and to make sure help is there when you need it. These tips for hassle-free travel will make your trip stress free – which is the point, isn’t it?

Question for you: Am I the only one who spends days before a trip thinking of every possible scenario and packing accordingly? Just me or nah? Even if I’m alone in this, I guarantee you that if you and I were ever stranded in some foreign city together, you would be super happy that I brought my Mama Traveling Purse. It’s like Hermione’s Bag. You have no idea how much I can hold in there. Maybe someday I’ll do a post on my Traveling Purse. If you’d like to see what I got in my bag, let me know in the comments!

Thanks for stopping by! I would be so grateful if you shared me! Maybe this will help?