Travelling abroad without being prepared is rarely a smart move. You’re only inviting trouble, whether it’s hidden costs, getting lost, missing flights, or falling victim to scams. Doesn’t sound like the experience of a lifetime.
What things should you prepare? There are quite a few. Beyond booking flights and accommodation, we recommend setting up a few key digital tools. These should help your travels run more smoothly from start to finish.
Fee-Free Money Accounts
Many traditional banks charge you for withdrawing cash or spending money abroad. Every time you top up your cash reserves or buy dinner, you could be paying more than you need to. That’s not a nice hit to your travel fund.
The solution is fee-free current accounts. Some modern, online-only banks offer accounts and cards that don’t charge you for purchases or withdrawals abroad. Banks like Starling and Monzo are easy to set up and manage through user-friendly apps. They could also save you a nice chunk of change to spend on your trip.
Accessible Maps
Getting lost is no fun – especially if you’re late for your next tour or just wanting to settle in at your accommodation. A reliable map platform is essential for a fulfilling and more relaxed travel experience.
Apps like Google Maps and Maps.me are highly rated for their offline capabilities. You can save maps of certain cities or regions to use when you don’t have an internet connection. This is invaluable if you’re going off the beaten path or travelling without an eSIM.
A Cybersecurity Toolkit
There are the obvious physical risks of travelling, but don’t ignore cybersecurity. Your devices are probably more vulnerable than you are in specific environments.
Use unique passwords and multi-factor authentication to secure your devices before you leave. This step could be the difference between a stolen phone and compromised email, bank, and social media accounts. Avoid using public USB charging ports while you’re away, too. These can leave your devices exposed to ‘juice jacking’ and dangerous malware.
The ultimate travel tool for cybersecurity is a VPN. With your online connection secured and encrypted, you won’t have to worry about the risks of using unknown Wi-Fi networks. A VPN reroutes your online activity through a remote server, shielding your devices and data in the process. See if you find any good Black Friday VPN deals to save some money on a subscription.
Calendars, Notes, and Reminders
Remembering all the bookings, dates, times, and things to do on your travels isn’t easy, but the task is certainly more straightforward with the right apps.
Add all your bookings to a calendar on your phone. Keep your itinerary in note form so it’s easy to follow and review if needed. Also, set any reminders you need to make sure you don’t forget something important, like sorting out your next travel visa. You’ll be glad you did.
Travel Smart on Your Next Trip
Don’t leave anything to chance on your travels. Getting the right tools and apps sorted before you leave should help you handle the challenges with less hassle and stress. A little preparation goes a long way.
