Take Your Family Around The World

by erin on May 20, 2010

Traveling out of the country can be an exciting and very educational experience for you and your family. However, a large amount of preparation is involved, but it doesn’t need to be stressful. There are some things you can do in order to get you and your family ready for a great trip.

First, be sure to obtain valid passports and visas if you need them. Spend a moment and fill out the emergency pages in your passports in case you misplace them.

A credit card is always a better option over cash in a foreign country. Having a credit card saves you from having to exchange money, which comes with a conversion fee. It also protects you from people who recognize that you are a foreigner and try to rip you off. Do your best to learn the conversion rate. Shopping can often be misleading if you don’t know exactly how much you’re spending in American Dollars.

Avoid dressing like you’re from out of town. You don’t want to make yourself stand out from the crowd, which can make you a good target for criminals. Don’t use your expensive handbags and don’t wear your expensive jewelry. Take all Social Security cards, library cards out of your wallet and put them in a pouch to keep around your neck. Taking the unnecessary credit cards out of your wallet along with other forms of identification can ultimately protect you from identity theft should your purse or backpack get stolen. Make copies of your ID and your passports, and make sure they are in a very secure place. These will be your best friends in case your stuff gets stolen.

Take the time and learn a little bit of the local language. Making the effort to integrate into the country’s community will not go unnoticed or unappreciated by the locals. It also protects you from a lot of potential frustration. If you are in Mexico and you just drank the largest margarita you have ever seen in your life, knowing how to ask where the bathroom is will be a huge benefit. Become familiar with the local laws and customs. This prevents any hand gesture or action that can potentially offend someone or even get you arrested.

Keeping a first-aid kit with you while traveling is a very important thing to remember. Make a little baggie with anti-diarrheal, ibuprofen, antibiotic ointment, bandages, and any necessary prescriptions and keep it with you at all times, as you never know when your family might need it. Bring your own water or something to sanitize and filter the local water with. So many trips are cut short by a sickness due to the local water, so don’t let this happen to you. Look online and see what immunizations your family should get when traveling abroad. You don’t want your trip to be cut short by an illness.

Some great memories and experiences await when you are traveling the world. With a little preparation and some good advice, you and your family can have a great time exploring other countries. So get your family some passports using one of the reputable American passports services, and pack your bags, because the whole world is yours for the discovering.

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