Travelling abroad is a fantastic opportunity for people to see the world and enjoy other cultures. It is important that you enjoy yourself when you go abroad but there are some simple tips that will help you to make more of your travel plans. There is no need to be overly worried about travelling to the majority of places around the world but following some straightforward do’s and don’ts will help you to have a great time when you go travelling abroad.

In life, it is always better to focus on the positive and here are some do’s that you should think about when travelling abroad:

Always use common sense
It may sound obvious but when you are on holiday, there can be a tendency to relax and not quite be yourself. This can be a good thing because it provides you a break from your normal life. However, you have to think about the decisions that you make and if you wouldn’t do something or act in a certain style if you were at home, you shouldn’t look to do it when you travel abroad.

Learn some of the local language
If you are travelling to a country that uses a different language, take the time and effort to learn some of the most important phrases. If you have the time and inclination, you can learn the language in depth but at the least, you should look to learn phrases like hello, thank you, please and good bye. You may be surprised at how a little work will help you to come across as more pleasant and likable to locals.

Keep a separate record of your passport and your credit card numbers
All being well, you won’t have any problems with your passport or credit cards. However, if something was to happen, you may be in a lot of trouble. This is why keeping a separate photocopy of these items will make the task of replacing them or stopping your cards simpler. You may wish to provide your family or friends with a copy to keep a hold of to increase the likelihood of keeping the details safe.

Make sure you know what your insurance covers
Before you head off, make sure that you have travel insurance in place and make sure you know what it covers and what it entitles to. Whether you have single trip insurance or multi-trip insurance, make sure you are comfortable with the level of protection you are offered and that it will cover your activities.

While you will want to think about the things you can do to enhance your trip, there are also some things that you shouldn’t do when travelling abroad, including:

Don’t carry too much cash
It can be difficult to know how much money you will need on a particular day and if you are backpacking, you will commonly need to have all of your belongings with you. While having cash is helpful, you don’t want to have too much on you. You should also look to split your cash up and store it in different places, hopefully ensuring that even if you are robbed, you are left with some money.

Don’t expect things to be like home
If you wanted everything to be like life at home, stay at home. You are travelling to see the world and experience different cultures which mean you may be frustrated or annoyed at certain aspects. Other cultures may have a more laid-back approach to administration, public transport or serving an order. If you have a tight schedule, this isn’t ideal but don’t worry about it too much, embrace it.

Don’t forget the essentials
Travelling light is often important for people but there are things you will always need. The name and location of your hotel, ID, travel insurance and any medication you require. No matter how much fun you are having, always make sure you can access the things that are most important to you.