The excitement of travelling overseas can sometimes override important factors such as planning your trip in depth (and not just googling a few things either), being thorough about having the right documents, especially a good but cheap travel insurance. It’s something that you can’t do without. As we all know, you can’t plan for the unexpected, but you can at least be insured while you’re traveling. We can all learn from other people’s mistakes. In this article you will learn what some of these mistakes are, and what you can do to avoid them.

Not making copies of important documents

If your documents are stolen or misplaced in any way, there’s often a lot of red tape and pain to go through, which can be unnecessary when you know the solution. It is much easier to keep a hard copy of your documents (in case of loss or theft) as it speeds up the process of identifying yourself. Keep copies of all your documents in a safe place.

Over packing

Think about what you do need to take with you, and eliminate everything that is unnecessary. For instance, take a minimum amount of clothing with you. There will be countless opportunities to buy extra clothing, at very affordable prices, when you reach your destination. Leave room inyour suitcase for gifts and souvenirs.

Running out of money

No matter how long you stay, always budget for the time you are away. You can either budget per day or per week, depending how long you are staying. Work out how much you will need for the time you are away, and don’t go over that amount. One of the best ways to do this is to get your bank to transfer a certain amount every week from your savings account to your cheque account.

Having all your money in one place

By having your money hidden in different spots, it won’t hurt you as much if you lose your wallet or have money stolen.

Not being aware of the hidden foreign charges on your credit card

Contact your bank to ask about the foreign charges that you will be paying when you purchase an item from overseas. Also be aware that when you are paying for something in your own currency, you could also be paying for foreign charges.

Not having insurance

It is very important to buy travel insurance before you travel overseas. There is a long list of reasons why you should have some form of insurance. We have all read the horror stories of the modern day traveler getting sick overseas, and requiring immediate treatment. It’s not a situation that you or your family want to be in. For a few dollars more, it’s better to be safe than sorry. It’s not just getting sick overseas that could worry us, but also includes losing money or baggage, and flight delays and cancellations. Always make sure your insurance is one of the first items to be packed.