All You Can’t Leave Behind!
By Jason Jourdan
How does one prepare for a journey to destinations abroad? International travel is the ultimate enriching adventure full of cultural discovery, natural beauty, history, exotic foods, and YOLO moments! Preparing for such an event can invoke stress when preparing to leave home base. Start from a position of preparedness to safeguard your trip and maximize those once-in-a-lifetime memories.
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the ax.”
– Abraham Lincoln.
Preparation is key. Assuming the big things like destination, passage, and accommodations are out of the way, next comes what to pack, how to pack it, and where? Making a list of essential items helps jumpstart the process and ensure that necessary items like passports, electronics chargers, appropriate clothing (mom says extra underwear), medications, and sunglasses are ready to go.
Worldpackers provides an ultimate packing list for traveling abroad, and Smarter Travel has a downloadable packing checklist. Continents & Condiments has a list of carry-on essentials, and Clever Journey features checklists, measuring guides, and luggage sizing charts. Luggagepros brings it home with their airline carrier restrictions guide.
As far as proper baggage goes, Travelaccessories has their top 8 luggage recommendations for international travelers, and the New York Post provides 13 stress-free options for passenger bags. Travel + Leisure also has suggestions for carry-ons, and Travel Fashion Girl has a convenient guide to selecting backpack options and buyer insights into durable and stylish bags for international travelers. Tech-savvy tourists may want to try the HoverGlide floating backpack or make a statement with Pix’s programable LED gear! Travelers with pets can invest in state-of-the-art pet conveyance with a U-Pet Bubble Pet Travel Pack, while Porto Vino offers party passengers on the go fashionable bags with ready-to-pour drinks!
It’s easy to forget the minor but major items:
• Food/snacks for long flights
• Medications, allergies, aspirin, etc.
• Maps, travel guides, etc.
• Bags/zip-locks for laundry, etc.
• Hand sanitizer
• Travel pillow
• Wireless/noise-canceling headphones
• Extra cash
• Insurance for checked bags
Traveling is an investment; it only makes sense to protect it. No packing list is complete without travel medical insurance, especially when visiting another country. Most domestic medical insurance plans provide limited to no coverage while overseas. Not all insurance policies are the same. It’s vital to do research and speak with knowledgeable advisors to ensure the proper level of coverage. Even seasoned travelers are vulnerable to mishaps, any one of which may cost thousands of dollars, and avoidable regrets. Point Comfort Travel removes the guesswork by providing coverage that’s simple, fast, and secure, including:
- COVID-19 Medical Expense Coverage up to the Policy Maximum
- Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation
- Emergency Medical Reunion
- Return of Minor Child
- Emergency Traveler Assistance
International travel, coupled with proper preparation and precaution, is an experience of a lifetime. Don’t get left behind without the coverage of Point Comfort Travel Insurance!
