Netadverting Blog

Make a booking for the first night if you arrive at an inconvenient hour at your destination or have traveled for many hours or when you arrive in high season (where finding accommodations may be difficult). There are many online services and websites available for hotel booking or just use your local travel agency in town.

Sticky labels

Get sticky labels and write peoples name on them, then just stick them onto your postcards.

Visa

Get necessary visas in your passport. Start this process in time since it can be time consuming. Sometimes you can get visa on arrival. See visa section for details.

Certificate of Immunizations

Bring your Certificate of Immunizations (health book)

Drivers license

If you plan on driving bring your drivers license along. Get an international drivers license if needed.

Other cards

Bring other relevant cards such as airline bonus cards, phone cards, student cards (e.g. ISIC) to obtain discounts, Hostelling International card etc. If you have an e-ticket and it was registered to a card, make sure that you bring the relevant card along.

Insurance

Make sure you have a paper which states your insurance cover with policy number and contact details. If you live in the European Union and will visit another country in the E.U. get a European Health Insurance Card which entitles you to receive health care under the same economic conditions as the citizens of the country you will visit.

Ticket and itinerary

Bring your ticket and itinerary along.

Contact information

Print contact information to:

* Embassies

* Health clinic where you got your immunizations

* Insurance company. Note if there are special emergency contact numbers (sometimes reverse charge)

* Your bank/credit card issuer so that you can report stolen/lost cards

* Travel agent

* Traveler´s cheques issuers local office

* Hotels

* Emergency contacts

* Addresses and phone numbers to friends(for postcards)

Photo

Bring passport photos if needed in order to get a visa on arrival or if you lose your passport and need to get a new.

Book to read on the plane

Get it before you go to the airport (where they are usually more expensive).

Photocopies

Make photocopies of all important documents such as:

* Visa

* Passport

* Tickets

* Certificate of Immunizations (health book)

* Maps in the guidebook (in order not to have to carry the book along while walking around)

Store the photocopies in a separate location from the originals and protect the copies from rain with a plastic cover.

Upload copies

If you have access to a scanner you can scan the photocopies (see previous bullet) and upload them to the Internet (e.g. send an e-mail to yourself with the files attached). If you do not have a scanner you can take a photo with your digital camera instead of scanning. You can also e-mail them to a friend or your family.

Print information from the Internet

Print the information you have gathered on the Internet about your destination).

Your own checklist

Make a copy of your own checklist (based on this one) and bring along. It may be useful for insurance purposes if your luggage is lost/stolen.

Phrase list

A small list with the most useful phrases in the local language to keep in your wallet/purse for easy access or on your mp3-player.

Dictionary

There are electronic ones you can download to your cell phone or portable computer. You can also get a separate electronic device or a good old paper dictionary.

Passport

Apply for a passport well in advance if you do not have one. Check the expiry date of your passport. Some countries require it to be valid for at least six months from your date of entry.

Check the state of your passport, I was once almost refused to board a plane to Japan because the page with my passport photo was almost falling out of my passport (a well know quality problem with some Swedish passports). This can also prevent you from getting a visa.

Happy travels!

At no other time in history has there been as many expatriates than today as borders between countries shrink and more and more people find they enjoy the comfort and adventure of living away from their home countries. If you are thinking of becoming one, then you should be aware of some fundamental facts.

What an Expatriate is

An expat can be defined as someone who has left his or her native country and is now living in another one. However, it also applies to those individuals that, while not permanently living in another place, spend a majority of their time there, instead of the country where they were born.

Why People Become Expats

The growing number of expats is due to the many benefits that most people feel they will gain. Among them are the following:

1. Experiencing a different culture

For many, the chance to be in another land, with a unique culture and different peoples, is the most attractive reason. Most expats travel to different countries around the world, but most prefer to stay in one particular country. Whatever the case may be, it boils down to being able to take part in a different culture and gain new perspectives.

2. Finding work

Others prefer to be expats for more practical reasons, such as finding a job. Difficult economic conditions in their native land may force people to go abroad in search of greener pastures.

3. Studying in a foreign university

For a lot of the young people today, studying in a foreign school offers plenty of advantages. Aside from being able to gain a wider range of experience, students will also be able to improve their social skills by interacting with people with differing backgrounds.

4. Less stress on the finances

Living as an expat can help an individual or family financially, especially if the cost of living in their motherland is prohibitive.

Citizenship

One of the most common questions asked is whether it is necessary for a prospective expat to relinquish his or her citizenship. The answer is no, although you may. However most are opting for dual citizenship.

Double Taxation

A majority of countries do not impose taxes on any citizen that is currently residing somewhere else. However, it is significant to note that the United States is an exception.

Depending on several factors, you might be subjected to some taxes from the Internal Revenue Service, but it will all depend on any tax treaties that the country you are currently living in has with the US. There are also tax credits that you can avail of. To avoid complications you should consult a tax expert and check the necessary facts with the IRS as well as the local tax authorities.

Finding Work

With the growing popularity of outsourcing as a business tool, it has become easier for expats to find work in another country. Because most are skilled professionals, they are always in demand.

Even expat students nowadays, provided they are qualified, will have little difficulty finding work in the country that they are in, or even back in their homeland, if they choose to return, as some are bound to do.