A Few Things to Keep in Mind

Traveling abroad is exciting, but if it’s your first time leaving the country, it can also be a little intimidating. Before you jet set off to a foreign land, here are some things our EWR Airport parking company suggests you do to be prepared:

Passport

If you’re leaving the country, you’ll need a valid passport. Whether you need a new one or you simply need to renew your current one, you’ll want to do it at least a couple months in advance. Passports take several weeks to validate and you don’t want to wait until the last minute to do it.

Credit Cards

Before you leave, look into the policies of your credit cards when it comes to foreign transactions; some companies charge foreign transaction fees while others don’t. In addition, many countries only accept credit cards with chips in them, so keep this in mind when planning.

At least two weeks before you leave, notify your credit card company about your trip. Give them the dates you’ll be gone and the country you’ll be traveling to – otherwise, they may think your card has been stolen and freeze your account.

Research

A little research goes a long way when planning a trip abroad. If you’re planning on seeing a show, attending a festival, going to a museum, or partaking in any other activity that requires a ticket, look into purchasing them in advance. You’ll not only be able to skip the line once you get there, but you may be able to save some money, too.

In addition, be sure to buy a guidebook for the area you’re visiting. These come in handy when it comes to transportation information, maps, foreign language phrases, and more.

Vaccines

Depending on where you’re going, you may want to get a few travel vaccines before you go. Some of the most popular are influenza, polio, tuberculosis, meningitis, pneumococcal, malaria, shingles, and yellow fever. In fact, some countries like Angola, Liberia, Congo, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and more require proof of a yellow fever vaccination before you’re able to enter the country. If you’re going to get a vaccine, make sure to do it 4-6 weeks before you leave for your trip.

Packing

When packing, don’t forget that many foreign countries use a different kind of electrical outlet than the ones in the U.S. Invest in a good outlet converter (consider getting one with several different outlet styles if you plan on traveling elsewhere in the future) and you’ll be able to easily charge all of your devices.

In addition, pack a carry-on (whether you’re checking a bag or not) with a couple outfits and necessities like a toothbrush, medications, and valuables. This makes it easy to go a few days without your checked luggage in case it gets lost.

Airport Parking

If you’re flying out of EWR Airport, parking can be a hassle. Make things easier by making a reservation with Newark Airport Long Term Parking. We’ll take care of getting you to and from the airport and keeping your car safe while you’re gone.