International Travel for Beginners, Pros, and Everyone in Between

By Blake DuBose and Mike DuBose
April 19, 2013

Traveling abroad enriches the mind, body, and soul, but it requires careful preparation. Here are some tips we learned through traveling more than 1 million actual flight miles!

Getting a passport: Complete an application (processing takes about ten weeks) at the closest major post office. If you already have a passport, double check its expiration date well in advance of your trip. You can contact the US embassy for a replacement if you lose your passport while abroad. Visit http://travel.state.gov/passport for more detailed passport information. The State Department also offers the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to help U.S. citizens who are traveling in foreign countries in the event of an emergency. Consider joining STEP and the US Customs Global Entry program (www.globalentry.gov). Members of the latter can use TSA domestic “fast lanes,” and traveling through US Customs only takes about ten minutes instead of hours!

Documentation: We create a manila folder with planning documents (important e-mails, flight and hotel documents, copies of key items like passports, birth certificates, etc.). If you have an international-ready smartphone, download the app for the airline and record both its 1-800 and international numbers in your travel folder and cell phone.

Where and when? It’s easiest to stay in one city and take tours to nearby places. Italy is our favorite country to visit due to its beautiful sights and friendly people. Generally, the most economical months for international travel are September through May. Winter is cheapest.

Choosing a flight: Book a direct flight. If you must make connecting flights, give yourself a reasonable layover. International flights are usually on time and board one hour before leaving, shutting the doors earlier than domestic flights. However, you don’t actually need to arrive 3 hours early (as many airlines recommend) unless you are leaving from a major hub like Atlanta. Print boarding passes in advance and keep them on hand.

Buying tickets: Airlines typically announce flights 330 days in advance, and the earlier you make a reservation, the cheaper the price. Traveling on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday yields the lowest fares, and the best times to book a flight are the weekend and Tuesday between 12:00 and 3:00 PM. Flight prices vary significantly based on where you originate, so price your trips from a few different international airports. Discount travel sites may have low prices, but their customer service is usually not as good.

Seating: You can choose business class (with larger, padded seats, private bathrooms, higher quality food, more attentive service, and the ability to be first on and off the plane) or coach (which is cheaper but offers less personal space). Visit www.seatguru.com to find the best seats, locating yourself as far toward the front of the plane as possible so you can exit earlier and reach customs faster. Some airlines now offer a hybrid of first class and coach called “EconoComfort Class,” which situates you in front of the engines (where it is quieter) and provides more leg room, free alcohol, and better food.

Parking: Once you park, place the ticket on the dash, put car keys into your carry-on, and take a picture of your location. Blake learned this the hard way after putting his keys in his checked bag—which was then lost!

Staying healthy: According to the CDC, you’re most likely to get sick from people two seats in front, behind, or beside you. Try the following precautions:
•    Coat your nostrils with Vaseline.
•    Clean hands frequently with alcohol-based sanitizer.
•    Clean your seat and all surroundings with alcohol.
•    Open your air vent fully (after wiping it down).
•    Ask to change seats if you are sitting near a sick person.
•    Take an 81 Mg baby aspirin and stretch frequently to prevent blood clots.

Jetlag: Jetlag can result in fatigue, sleep and digestive problems, headaches, and irritability. To fight jetlag, we recommend staying hydrated, sleeping on the plane, and taking it easy on your first day at your destination. Don’t over-structure!

Hotels: Hotel websites can be misleading, so check Frommer’s guidebooks and Tripadvisor.com for centrally located, consistently well-rated options. Always carry a hotel business card with your room number written on it. Beds are smaller and harder in European hotels, rooms and showers are smaller, and many older hotels won’t let you control your room’s thermostat. Also, Europe is on a 220 volt electrical system, so bring a conversion kit. Stay at a hotel near the airport the night before leaving to simplify your departure. Review all hotel bills carefully for surprises.

Currency: Before leaving home, contact your bank and credit card companies to inform them of your trip. Obtain about $700 in your destination country’s currency at the departing airport’s international concourse, using cash, not credit cards to avoid high fees (21%). Bring a few personal checks also. Most large international cities have many ATMs with an English-language option. Many US debit cards will work at them (check with your bank); however, you may be charged a 1% processing fee. Ensure that both your bank and the foreign ATM’s bank are members of the Global ATM Alliance. Make international purchases primarily with credit cards. However, many cards charge a 3% currency conversion fee (we use Chase Sapphire MasterCard and Platinum American Express, which don’t). Research fees on all cards before using them in another country.

Phone calls and e-mail: Contact your carrier to activate international calling. Calls and data are expensive, so turn off the phone (or at least any functions that use the Internet) until you can access free Wi-Fi. Most carriers will rent you an international-ready cell phone, but we recommend buying international long distance calling cards, which only cost only 5-10 cents per minute. (Note: if you use a calling card at a public telephone, 30 extra minutes will be deducted from your balance. Also, most cards will only work in the country where they are purchased.) Seek out Internet cafes for reasonably-priced e-mail access.

Insurance: Some medical insurance, including Medicare, does not cover you when traveling internationally (but Mike’s Aetna plan did). If you are retired military, TriCare covers you in NATO countries, but it can be complicated. You can also buy supplemental coverage. Scott Moseley of Irmo Insurance Agency said that most homeowners’ insurance policies will cover theft while in foreign countries. Consult your insurance agent for various policy details.  We recommend that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance covering medical emergencies, baggage loss, trip cancellations, and/or automobile accidents. Frommer’s has a good outline of some policies and reputable vendors.

Train travel: Eurail tickets are honored in most of the 24 European Union countries. Buy tickets online a few months in advance, and they will be mailed to you with a route map. Coach tickets are cheaper, but we recommend first class. Once you find the ticket counter at the train station, grab a number from one of the machines and wait to be served. Then, find your train number, its destination, and the track number (these change frequently) on the electronic scheduling signs. Departure times, which are listed military-style, may not be posted until 15-20 minutes beforehand. If you are traveling within the country, stand in the domestic line, not international. Once on the train, store your bags where you can see them to avoid theft. The conductor will come through the car to stamp your ticket. Write in the date of your travel and the people who are accompanying you; otherwise, you could be fined. When you reach your destination, reserve a ticket for your next ride. However, due to competitive airline rates, it is sometimes cheaper to fly between cities!

Driving: Don’t plan on renting a car in any large city—parking is horrendous and people drive like it is their last day on earth!  If you do, secure plenty of insurance.

Bus travel: Europe has a decent (but disorganized) bus system that can be an inexpensive way to see the countryside. Purchase tickets at the bus station’s ticket counter, then stand in line at a designated bus stall.

Double-decker buses: In most big cities, you can buy inexpensive double-decker open-air tour bus tickets. You listen to an English audio guide as the buses make stops at major landmarks and can hop on and off anytime you want.

Guided tours: The Wall Street Journal recommends LocalGuiding.com, PrivateGuide.com, and Viator.com for finding tours. TripAdvisor.com and Google can help, too. We prefer guides that accept credit cards since you have to make deposits. Always ask for references from US-based customers. AAA also provides members with travel planning support (like tour recommendations), and hotel and airline travel partners can help book travel packages and rental cars.

Shopping: Almost all merchants will haggle with you. Europe has a 20% value added tax (VAT), but if you spend over $200 on one item, you can complete a form at the retailer to obtain a refund at the airport.

Dining: Service customs are different than in the US. For example, you will have to ask for your check, and 10% is considered a good tip. If you eat at a cafe that offers inside and outside service, the prices will be higher outside. Most restaurants have English menus, or you can use a translator smartphone app (most Europeans speak English, though, so this will probably not be an issue). European coffee is strong and artificial sweeteners are limited. Bottled water comes carbonated (“with gas”) or flat, and you won’t receive ice with drinks unless you ask. Foreign countries lack public bathrooms, so buy a drink at a cafe to use theirs. Grocery stores tend to be smaller and harder to find.

Crime: Pickpockets and thieves are your greatest threat, especially near airports, trains, and bus stations. Place valuables in your room safe and hide money in a concealed pouch under your clothing.

The bottom line: By carefully planning international trips, you can reduce stress and promote fun! For a very detailed version of this article, visit duboseweb.com/international. Be sure to read our corresponding article, The Art of Packing, at duboseweb.com/packing. Bon voyage!

Blake DuBose graduated from Newberry College School of Business and is president of DuBose Web Group. View our published articles at www.duboseweb.com.

Mike DuBose has been in business since 1981, authored The Art of Building a Great Business, and is a field instructor with USC’s graduate school. He is the servant owner of three debt-free corporations, including Columbia Conference Center, Research Associates, and The Evaluation Group. Visit his nonprofit website www.mikedubose.com.

Katie Beck serves as Director of Communications for the DuBose family of companies. She graduated from the USC School of Journalism and Honors College. 

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