5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Leaving the Country

Traveling has always been an exciting adventure for me. While I do most of my traveling in the United States. Traveling overseas can be eye opening, mesmerizing, jaw dropping, and very interesting. The first trip I took out of the country was the most memorable and exciting. However, without asking myself these five simple question beforehand, it could have been an unpleasant trip.

“Unknowingly being disrespectful is the worst form of disrespect.” - Rebekah A. Lion

There are several crucial questions that a traveler must ask themselves before they sulitify their plans.

1. Do I need to get any shots before I go? If so, How long before I go do I need to get them?

Each country is like its own like peachtree dish, collecting and growing their own bacteria and virus'. People native to the country, usually have been vaccinated against these types of bacteria and virus'. However, as a new person coming into a country, you will not have the same anti-bodies as these people. Due to this, it is recommended that when traveling to some areas, people get vaccinated for certain things.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a Travel's Health website. On this site it allows you to pick the country in which you plan on traveling to. Once you pick the country, a page pops up. On this page there is information about what to watch for while there (updates as well), what travelers get vaccinated for, ways to behave in order to maintain your health, a packing list, and what to do after you return from your trip. Theses are all very important and useful tips.

2. What are the laws?

Some laws are universal such as no stealing, no littering, and no drinking and driving. However, the consequences may be more severe in some countries as compared to others. Even so, in some areas, there are laws that your home country may not have. For example, wearing heels in ancient Greek sites are banned. Along with food and drinks. In Barbados, it is considered rude and impolite to wear camouflage.

3. What is the exchange rate?

Although this is a very easy question to answer, it is also very important. You don't want to go to a country and not be able to do anything because you underestimated how much money you needed to do all the activities you wanted to do. However, to answer the question you simply google "exchange rate (your currency) to (country traveling to)". For example if I were traveling to Japan, I would look up "exchange rate USD to yen".

4. Where am I going to stay?

This is one of the first questions asked. Throughout the last five years, a lot of websites have become popular including Airbnb, Vrbo, and HomeAway. Theses are all great sites to visit if you would like to rent a home/ apartment. However, if you would like to go the more traditional route, trivago, Expedia, and KAYAK just to name a few.

5. How will I get around?

This question refers to not only the language spoken but also how will you physically be getting from one place to another. If you are going to a country were you native language is not spoken, I would recommend learning the basics. Such as, "hello", "please", "thank you", most importantly "do you speak (your native language)?". This will help you to navigate within the country and also show the residents that you made an attempt to learn. You can also use hand gestures, point and carry the address you want to go to. Most importantly be polite and nice.

You may also want to look up the most common way tourist travel within that country. U.S News provides a travel guide.On the site you can pick the country you are traveling to and see the things to do, hotels to stay at, when to visit, places to eat, and how to get around.