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Whether it’s within your home country, or outside of it…
Your first time travelling or if you are a seasoned traveller…
Travelling alone or with your family and friends…
It’s always fun and exciting to travel!
We have put together a list of tips to help even the most seasoned traveller get the most out of their trip.

Research your destination before leaving

Researching your destination prior to departing will allow you to be educated on climate, customs, activities, and cuisine. Other great sources are the locals, who live there. Pricing for activities can vary by provider, so researching may get you the best deal! Use tools that will allow you to become accustomed to your destination such as:

1. the internet (before travel) to become familiar with customs and norms

2. travel guides to help you learn about different forms of transportation, attractions, restaurants and lodging

Be sure you obtain important contact information for your destination including, but not limited to: hospitals, police stations, ambulance and currency exchange stations.

Inquire about and obtain necessary vaccinations for your destination

Visit your local travel vaccination clinic or family physician to review your immunization records to see if any further vaccinations are required. Failing to obtain the necessary vaccines will leave a traveler vulnerable to illnesses such as: Meningococcal meningitis, pneumococcal disease, influenza, malaria, typhoid fever, bacterial pneumonia and hepatitis A & B. (Source)

Always have copies of your important documents

Scan and copy your passport, identifications, travel visas, travel itineraries and credits cards. You can provide these to a family member at home and store them within your own personal email or somewhere online for easy access, in case they are lost.

Notify financial institutions of your travel dates

To ensure you have full access to your funds while travelling, notify your bank and credit card providers of your travel dates, prior to departing. This will allow them to note it on your file, so any use of your cards will not trigger an alarm in their system for unusual activity (which usually results in the card being locked out for a standard period of time).
Remember to only travel with the cards you feel are absolutely necessary to bring.

Use Travellers Cheques when you are able to

Travellers cheques are a safe currency to travel with and are available in various currencies such as: U.S. Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Euros, Australian dollars, Canadian dollars and Japanese yen. They are accepted at banks, at financial institutions, and by merchants around the world. Visit your financial institution for more information.

Contact your cellular provider for a roaming package

Many of us these days are not able to travel unplugged. Contact your cellular provider before departing. Many now have packages available to upgrade your plan to be used in the country you are travelling to.

Pack the essentials in your carry-on suitcase

Airlines may lose your luggage and it could be days before it’s located and returned to you. To be able to enjoy your vacation (if your luggage is lost) and avoid the cost of purchasing essentials, pack enough necessities to get you by for a few days. Items to consider packing in your carry-on:

1. bathing suit,
2. sunscreen (maximum 100ml of liquid, gel, or aerosols. Visit for more information),
3. toiletries,
4. undergarments,
5. phone chargers,
6. money and personal documents.

Safely secure your valuable personal belongings

Most hotel rooms now provide a locking safe. The safe provided may vary in size and may not be able to fit electronics such as your laptop. If you do not want to carry these larger items with your while away from the hotel, inquire if you are able to use the hotel’s safe or acquire a larger one for your stay.
Items to consider locking up before heading out: laptop, passports, camera, additional currency, jewelry, and any other valuables.

Practice water safety

Water may not be safe to consume in the country you are travelling to. Read about some water safety tips to prevent water related illnesses while travelling.

Carry sunscreen, bug repellant, after sun and after bite care on day trips

When travelling away from the hotel, be sure to pack sunscreen for sun protection, bug repellant to avoid bug bites (and any illnesses the critters may carry) and after sun and after bite care for relief of burns and bites. Read more about Sun Safety in our other blog post.

Purchase travel insurance prior to departing, or at time of booking your trip

Purchasing travel insurance at the time of purchasing your trip will allow you to purchase coverages such as Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Trip Delay and Emergency Medical coverages to cover sudden and unforeseen circumstances before and during your trip.

Be cautious, ask questions and have fun!