Traveling can be one of the most exciting experiences you have in life. Discovering new culture, landscapes and food is nothing short of a thrill. While traveling there are a few things you should always keep in mind.

Know airport and flight regulations

Knowing airport and flight regulations prior to your trip will decrease the stress of traveling. In Europe for example there are separate security and custom lines for EU & non-EU travelers.  Always prepare to spend an additional 2 hours at the airport prior to taking off. Additionally, be mindful of luggage regulations. Depending on the flight you may be limited to a certain baggage weight. On a return flight from France I spent about 30 minutes weighing, re-weighing, and removing items from my bag because it exceeded international flight regulations (I did way too much shopping lol). Though you can pay an additional fee for heavy bags, it does cost you more time and an extra hassle. Be mindful that there are certain items based on product type and size that cannot be put into carry-ons but can be put into your checked bags.

Tip: Wear comfortable clothing and shoes so that if needed these items can be removed quickly during security checkpoints.

Exchange rates

Exchanging money for a trip is often a source of major frustration. While you can exchange your money abroad at booths or companies like Travelex, keep in mind such places often charge you hefty fees proportional to the amount you are exchanging. It is great to monitor the exchange rate before you travel abroad. This way you can understand how your money is valued in other countries in case you have to allocate more or less for spending. One thing I learned from studying aboard is to check if your home banking institution has a sister bank abroad. Most time big banks have international partners or alliances. This would allow you to use the features of their sister bank such as a more event exchange rate at an ATM and perhaps waived international transaction fee.  Essentially you spend the least amount of money through a currency exchange so that you maximize the use of your actual money.

Tip: Exchange money at your actual bank before you leave. While it may take a few days to arrive, you get a more fair exchange rate where the bank may not charge you an additional exchange fee. You can even order currency online at some banks!

Time Difference

The difference in time from your departure point to your arrival destination depends on its geographical location. The adjustment to the time difference is known as jetlag. Understand that other countries run on what we would call "military time" so be conscious of that when booking flights and trains. For example in Europe 06:30 am is 06:30 but 6:30pm is really 18:30. This is vital when booking flights because you don't want to be 12 hours late or early for a flight.

Tip: Subtract 12 hours from any time larger 12:00 to get the time in the US format.

22:00 is posted on a sign? Subtract 12 hours from 22:00 so (22 - 12 = 10) 22:00 is really 10:00 pm!

Pickpockets and scam artistS

When visiting tourist attractions you become a likely target of pickpocketing. Pickpocketers often target tourist who are distracted and not fully conscious of their belongings. Sometimes they can even take your identification. This becomes alarming when the thinking the possibility of identity theft. To ensure you don't loose valuables always keep your purse or bag closed with any point of entry facing yourself.  The worst thing to do is being a victim and potentially being stranded because you don't have proper identification. Be mindful of scam artists. Sometimes they pose as people looking for signatures and money for a petition. I've learned that sometimes the money they receive in donations is funneled into black market crime and never goes to the intended cause.

Tip: If wearing a backpack wear it facing forward so that you always have an eye on your belongings.

Copy of Identification

It is important that you carry a spare copy of passports and licenses in the event you lose it while a broad. Often, with a copy even if you lose the original item, you can visit the US embassy at the country where you are and they can verify your identity. It is also convenient because you can use the copy as proof of age when going out (in certain countries) this lowers the chance of you losing your valuable ID.

Tip: When exploring, travel with the copy of your identification unless the original is absolutely needed. Keep the original in a safe/secured location in the hotel or residence you are staying.

Have fun!

Don't let a single mishap get in the way of you enjoying yourself. Traveling is a way to discover a completely different part of the world. Use this time to experience new culture, food, and music. Traveling allows you to independently discover so many things about yourself. Take full advantage of any trip by talking to locals, taking loads of pictures, and visiting museums. So far traveling has provided me with some of the greatest experiences which have shaped me into the multi-faceted individual I am today.

- Manessa Lo.

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