Our BEST International TRAVEL TIPS!

Some of our BEST International Travel Tips for planning your next vacation!

Hey friends! As we gear up for some international travel ourselves soon, so many people have been asking questions about HOW do we plan these trips ourselves, without a travel agent – and so many more questions! I wanted to share a few quick tips & helpful items that can hopefully help YOU as you plan a last minute summer getaway!

Items to BUY that we rely on soooooo much:

1. Travel Handheld steamer! We travel using THIS STEAMER, and we LOVE it so much! Most importantly, it has DUAL VOLTAGE which is perfect for worldwide travel! Bonus points because it’s so compact, with having an adjustable head that can be straight up for easy packing, and heats up fast! We swore by this steamer when we traveled to Italy last year, and we will bring it with us again to Scotland! Our clothes get so wrinkled from travel, and international airbnbs/hotels don’t provide irons always. So we literally use this every single day when we travel!!!
2. Packing cubes! I’m just now learning to truly take advantage of packing cubes, and they helped so much last year when we traveled in Italy & Spain for 17 days! I ordered THESE cubes, and they worked great!!! I also ROLL my clothes before putting them into these!
3. Travel outlet converter! This is an easy mistake to forget to bring internationally! I like THIS one, because it works for MULTIPLE types of outlets worldwide – not just one! Our converter for England is different than the one we’ll need in Scotland – so this converter is awesome because it allows for BOTH! Plus it has 3 USB, 2 USB-C, and a normal outlet!! Perfect for charging a phone, watch, and more all at once! 

Things to DO in advance!

1. Join a facebook group for the country / place you’re traveling to! I do this sometimes BEFORE I even book a flight – because there’s such a wealth of knowledge from firsthand experience in these groups!!! I always find one with LOTS of members, (the one I joined for Scotland has 300,000 members!) because there’s even more useful info in it! Pro tip: use the magnifying glass icon with a search bar in the group to “search” keywords for any questions you have! Most likely your question has been answered already, and SO MUCH good info for you to browse!
2. Get some CASH from your bank in advance! Most countries widely accept credit cards now… However, it’s great to go to your bank to “order” some currency to use when you arrive for tipping, small local stores that accept only cash, or for backup “just in case!” We always order currency, and just make sure to use it up on the last day of our trip if we have any leftover!
3. Make sure your passport is VALID!!! I bet you didn’t know THIS: The ‘Six-Month Rule’ stipulates that your passport should have at least six monthsof validity remaining from the date of your entry or departure to or from the international destination. If your passport expiration date is sooner than six months from your date of arrival, you may not be admitted. So double check!!!
4. Check to see if you need an International DRIVER’S license in the country you’re traveling to! (Even for 4-wheelers!) Some countries require this to rent a car, and it’s super easy to get one at your local AAA Travel Shop! It’s a relatively quick process, and only costs about $25 if you’re a AAA member!
5. Download maps on your phone in ADVANCE, so you have access to them without wifi or service. That way, you’re not stuck internationally without your directions!!
6. Book an international phone plan! We have Verizon, and they try to suggest a $10/day pass. Instead, book a monthly phone plan for way cheaper – and just remember to cancel it after your trip!

Hope these travel tips are helpful!!!! I would love to get a comment from you below about anything you tried and loved, OR even some travel tips for us!!! Share the knowledge 🙂 HAPPY TRAVELING!!