You have about one month before you’re trip! Exciting! So, not its time to kick it into high-gear and start fine-tuning your travel plans. I’ve already written a blog post about making a detailed, yet flexible plan, so after you have that down its time to start your research. Traveling into a foreign country requires that you look more into that location, its rules and regulations for travel. You don’t want to have any issue come up that forces you to be sent back home. So, here are a couple of things you’ll want to look into at least a month before you embark on you broke backpacking journey!

Passports/Visas

I can only really discuss the procedures Americans have to go through when traveling to a foreign country, but I’d assume they aren’t too different from most other countries. If you’re backpacking through Europe, you’re in luck. Many of the countries follow the Schegen Visa Agreement, which allows you to travel from country to country without having to show you passport. Other countries, like Turkey, allow you do obtain a visa upon arrival. However, I would double check all the procedures required to enter a country as there are often slight differences in rules and regulations, like the length of duration you’re allowed and how much it will cost. Remember, just because you’ve landed doesn’t mean you will automatically be allowed in the country.

Helpful website for all of your passport needs: http://www.iatatravelcentre.com

Currency

This one was always kind of tricky for me, since the Euro has been going up and down a lot recently. If you’re backpacking through Europe, be aware that not all countries use the Euro. If you’re backpacking through South East Asian, be aware that the exchange rate fluctuates daily. This is when you have to stay up to date with the politics of currencies and the trends that they usually follow. I prefer to enter a country with at least a day’s worth of money. It saves me the trouble of having to find a currency exchange as soon as I arrive, and I’ve found that I usually get a better exchange rate when I preplan and exchange currency with my bank. Be sure to let your bank know that you’re traveling. This will let you use your debit/credit card abroad easily and they should give you information on international ATM partners to help save you some currency exchange fees. If you really want to be smart with you’re money: constantly check the exchange rates, avoid using a credit card, and avoid paying in US dollars.

Helpful website for all of your money questions: http://www.gocurrency.com

Insurance

Whether or not you should get traveler’s insurance is a tough decision. I think I’ve only gotten traveler’s insurance once: when I went trekking in Peru, and this was only because I was doing something where I could injure myself. But, if you have pre-existing medical conditions, are traveling to dangerous locations, or are prone to getting into accidents I suggest you get look into getting traveler’s insurance before you head out. The price depends on what you’re doing, how long you will be there for, where you’re going, how much your trip cost, and how old you are. Insurance also means driver’s insurance. Some countries don’t accept that USA driver’s license and require an International Driving Permit. If you’re even considering renting a car in a foreign country you must check to see if you need an IDP. They’re easy to get and could make your trip go much smoother.

Local Customs

It’s fairly obvious that not all countries will share similar cultures, so it’s important to educate yourself before you arrive on anything that would be considered socially unacceptable. For example, some countries are still extremely conservative, so you should pack and act accordingly. Some cultures have different gestures for greetings, saying yes, or saying no. You don’t want to accidently insult someone because of the miscommunication and the multiple meanings behind one gesture. Huffington Post has a great infographic of the multiple meanings behind common American hand gestures.

Medical Documentation

Make sure you’re up to date on all of your immunizations. In some cases you could be barred from re-entering America because you didn’t get a particular immunization, like yellow fever, or you can be barred from entering the country of choice because you don’t have a particular immunization. If I’m even going on a trip where I think or I’m not 100% sure I’m medically prepared, I check with my doctor who can print me out some info about the country and a clearance note saying I’m safe to travel. You should also find out about common ailments and what to pack in case someone terrible happens. For example, before I went to Peru I was prescribed a medication used for high altitude sickness and it was extremely beneficial. In case of the worst (traveler’s diarrhea), always pack some immodium.

Useful website to answer all of your traveling medical needs: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list

Organize all of your documents into something that you can keep safe on your travels, possibly something that won’t tear, seals, and is water-proof. You’ll want to familiarize yourself with all of your documents before you leave, so that when you arrive you will have (hopefully) no issues.