Believe it or not, there are cheap ways for students to travel. In fact, there are cheap ways for everyone to travel! With a little flexibility and a bit of know-how, you’ll be able to save money traveling like it’s nobody’s business. Sadly, none of these tips will get you traveling for free, but they will definitely help you cut costs where it counts so this article will help you to know the easy routes to travel abroad.
Before embarking on international travel, it’s important to check the required documentation for your destination. Some countries and territories require visitors to have specific papers in order to pass through immigration. These policies do differ depending on the country of your choice, but you should follow all the standard requirements though most destinations will require visitors to have similar paperwork to enter.
Having all your documents in order avoids you from being refused entry at border control should be the sole aim of any person wishing to travel abroad.
Read Also: How do I apply for a Student Visa in the US?
Get a Valid Passport
The first thing anyone should think of doing when trying to travel abroad is to get a passport in advance as it could often be a lengthy procedure. It is advisable to get your passport before you book a flight to where ever you intend on. Well, some international flights require that you enter your passport number when booking or during online check-in, so it’s best to just have it first before you start booking anything.
Your passport is not even only used at the checkpoints or at the airport but also at some hotels. Many hotels are required to take a scan of your passport identification page while some even use the passport as collateral during your stay at their hotel to ensure that you pay up your hotel bills.
In most countries, it is a requirement are always with their passport but that is not really very safe. It is recommended to make copies of the photo page of your passport, in case it is lost or stolen because truth be told there are always pickpockets everywhere so it is advisable to have a paper copy instead which should be with you all the time instead of the real copy but where the real copy is required of you, ask for permission to go get it from your safe spot.
Always travel with a copy, and keep it separate from your original passport copy for safety purposes.
Visa
It is interesting to note that not all countries in the world make use of visas before entry. you can enter with just passports but some require visas before your entry. A visa is a document issued by the country or countries you are visiting, which grants you the permissions you need to travel there for a certain number of days. It will be in your interest to find out if the country or countries you are aspiring to visit requires a visa or not as you book your trip over there.
For most of Europe, the U.K., and many countries in Asia and Latin America, U.S. passport holders can travel without a visa or receive one on arrival. If you do need a visa though and you show up for your flight without it you won’t be allowed to board the plane which will obviously be a major bummer and a huge loss of your hard-earned money on your part.
The most common and convenient way to apply for a visa is through an online visa provider if this service is available in the country of your choice.
Read Also: Can I Study In Canada With A Second Class Lower?
Travel Health Certificate (THC)
Due to the recent coronavirus pandemic, governments of my countries now make it a necessity for visitors to complete a travel health certificate (THC) before the visitor is granted entry into their country.
This requirement has also helped the government to:
- Monitor who enters and leaves the country at any given time
- Confirm that each passenger meets their specific COVID-19 entry requirement, such as a negative test, vaccination, and the likes
- Easily communicate with visitors if they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive
- Check travelers that have booked accommodation if they are required to go on quarantine.
If this type of document is required of your destination’s coronary policy, you must complete this to be granted access into the country. Failure to complete and show a complete health travel certificate (HTC) will result in a refused entry into your destination.
Access Your Money Overseas
Gone are the days when you need to carry cash or traveler’s cheques to travel overseas. Now, thanks to the internet, it is very much easier to manage and access money while traveling all over the world.
Check-in with your bank to see if you need to set up a travel alert while you are abroad so that your bank knows when and where you are traveling to. You can also inquire about international fees, and whether they have partner banks in your chosen destination that will help you save money on costly “foreign transaction” ATM fees. Or, you can avoid all of that by opening a free checking account with Charles Schwab or Ally. These are two banks that have no foreign transaction fees and reimburse ATM fees even while traveling.
Travel Insurance
It is usually not mandatory to have travel insurance though some countries add it to their part of requirements thereby making it mandatory. It is recommended that all travelers invest in insurance, even if it is not mandatory, to avoid any unexpected costs when abroad. This travel insurance is much easier if you need to make a claim while you are overseas. It is advisable to also take around with you a copy in case it comes in handy.
Read Also: Can I Study In the UK With A Second Class Lower?
Flight Ticket
Although most if not all travelers manage their flight tickets online, it is recommended that you have a paper version of it too just to avoid any risk of losing your digital evidence providing you with a great backup plan.
Proof of Accommodation
Some countries and territories require all arrivals to provide proof of booked accommodation. This is because you will have to drop this information on the Travel Health Certificate (THC).
Identification Documents
When traveling overseas, it is highly advisable to make a copy of all of your identification documents. This covers you in the case of loss or theft and makes it easier for authorities to identify you when any case arises.
With all this knowledge use should have a beautiful stay in your new environment.
