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11 Must-Know International Travel Tips
Written by Ashleigh Whitehill
Heading off on an overseas adventure? These are some of the top international travel tips you should know before you go.
Planning a trip to the powder-white sands of the Maldives, a luxury cruise along the Nile or a visit to the white-washed streets of Mykonos? No matter where your next adventure takes you, we’ve curated some of the top international travel tips you should know before you go – from booking flights at just the right time to safeguarding your trip with a comprehensive travel insurance policy with Cover-More.
Read on for our top international travel tips for your next overseas adventure.
1. Book international flights around nine months in advance
Save big on international flights by planning ahead. Whether you’re embarking on a cultural tour of Europe or discovering the temples of Angkor Wat, consider booking your flights at least nine months in advance – it is one of the sweet spots for securing the best deals before prices rise and flights sell out. If you can, try to avoid flying the day before school holidays begin or during peak periods like Christmas and New Year. Flights operating at these times can be busier and more expensive than alternative dates. If you’re really organised, you can bundle your flights with your hotel bookings to take the stress out of planning down the track.
2. Ensure you’ve got great cancellation cover
Overseas trips are a big investment – be it a once-in-a-lifetime trip in pursuit of the Northern Lights or an unforgettable train journey through the Canadian Rockies. With potentially a large sum on the line, add Cancellation Cover to safeguard your holiday in case of unexpected surprises that cause you to cancel. Cover-More also offers Cancellation Plus Cover*, a new optional cover variation that can be added to your policy with Cancellation Cover. Cancellation Plus Cover can reimburse you for some of your pre-paid, non-refundable travel costs if your trip is cancelled for reasons otherwise not covered by the policy. Cover-More’s Cancellation Plus Cover offers you flexibility, covering you in situations, such as if a friend falls ill and you decide to postpone or if you change your mind about travelling.
3. Load up your phone with must-have apps for while you’re away
Before you head to the airport, spend some time downloading a handful of helpful travel apps to streamline your trip. These might be destination-specific ride-sharing apps like Lyft and Grab or general travel apps like currency conversion, local maps and a translator. Make sure to download any relevant airline or booking apps like Virgin Australia or Luxury Escapes to access your hotel, flight and tour booking information quickly and easily on-the-go. If you’ve purchased a travel insurance policy through Cover-More, you can also download the app via the Google Play or Apple App Store. In addition to storing your insurance policy details, it can be used for destination travel advice, real-time safety alerts and to contact the 24/7 emergency team from anywhere in the world.
4. Choose your airline seat online
Long-haul flights can be trying for even the most frequent flyer. To optimise comfort, select your seat online prior to check-in. Use a platform like SeatGuru to confirm the layout of your plane, then log in to the airline website and book your seat ahead of time. Treat yourself to extra leg room in the emergency exit row or snag a bulkhead seat, directly behind the Business Class cabin. Some airlines allow you to pre-book meals, so you’re not left disappointed when the food cart comes along – particularly handy for those with food allergies and intolerances.
5. Make sure you’re collecting airline points
Every flight is an opportunity to collect loyalty points. Even if you’re travelling with an airline you wouldn’t usually fly with, you might be able to transfer the points across to your membership. Many airlines belong to networks of carriers, which allow you to earn, combine and share points – for example, Virgin Australia’s Velocity Points could potentially be redeemed for flights with partner airlines like Singapore Airlines, Etihad and Qatar Airways. This could be the difference between returning home for free, or even upgrading to Business Class. As a bonus, you can also earn Velocity Frequent Flyer points when you purchase a Cover-More Travel Insurance policy with Luxury Escapes.
6. Pack a spare change of clothes and underwear in your hand luggage
As the ultimate ‘just in case’, you may be tempted to pack a spare change of clothes and underwear in your carry-on bag. You don’t want to arrive at your destination after a long-haul flight without a clean change of clothes. To further protect yourself, find a travel insurance policy that offers an allowance for lost or delayed luggage. For example, Cover-More provides a generous allowance (subject to the plan purchased) for any luggage delayed for more than 12 hours, which covers the cost of essential items including clothing and toiletries, plus transportation to collect your luggage when it does arrive.
7. Use tried-and-tested tricks for reduced hotel costs
You can save big on luxury hotels by travelling off-peak. If it’s an option for you, that means visiting Europe outside the summer months, not flying the day before Christmas and travelling outside school holidays, especially for family-friendly destinations like Bali, Fiji and Vietnam. Not only will you enjoy less crowded destinations, but hotel prices can be lower, meaning the world’s most luxurious hotels are suddenly within reach. Enjoy further savings with hotel memberships – think Radisson Rewards, IHG One Rewards and Shangri-La Circle – and travel clubs like LuxPlus+, which offers exclusive discounts and benefits including room upgrades and hotel credits.
8. Check the validity of your passport in advance
Don’t wait until the week before you’re due to fly to check the validity of your passport. Many countries won’t let you enter if your passport expires in the next six months so make sure to check the expiry date carefully. Save the stress at the airport by checking ahead and ensuring you have plenty of time left on your current passport. If you do need to apply for a new passport, remember to allow up to six weeks for processing. For the most current advice however, always refer to Smart Traveller.
9. Consider how to finance your trip along the way
While it might not be as exciting as browsing Ultra Lux hotels online, financial planning is crucial for holidays. Using your local card overseas can come with a string of exorbitant fees, so be sure to check the terms and conditions before you go tapping your way through a new country. Alternatively, you might want to consider a credit card that earns you frequent flyer points, a debit card with zero international transaction fees, or a pre-loaded travel money card. It’s also recommended to carry a small amount of local currency for tips and small purchases. Whether you’re carrying cash, card or both, insurance plans like this one from Cover-More may provide a safety net in case money goes missing while you’re away.
10. Book airport lounges
It’s amazing the difference airport lounge access can make to a long-haul trip. Little comforts like shower facilities, a quiet place to rest, dine and enjoy a glass of wine can feel like an incredible luxury between flights – especially if you have a long layover. Whether you’re flying via Los Angeles, Qatar or Dubai International Airport, most major airports in key stopover destinations feature a range of lounges – from affordable, family-friendly options to ultra-luxurious spaces with dreamy day spas, private chauffeurs, and champagne and caviar on arrival.
11. Prepare for your new time zone
Maximise your time away by altering your sleep schedule in the days before your flight. This will help minimise jet lag and make it easier to adjust to the time zone in your destination. When you arrive, prepare to rise early making the most of your hotel’s daily breakfast, and ensure you get lots of sunlight throughout the day. Maintaining your exercise routine while you’re away will also help keep your energy up and make the transition between time zones easier on your mind and body.
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This article was produced in collaboration with Cover-More.
Disclaimer
*Cancellation Plus Cover is an optional add-oncover variation: an additional premium must be paid. Eligibility criteria appliesapply. Cover is available up to the lesser of 75% of the non-refundable portion of your unused prepaid travel costs or 75% of the Cancellation Cover you addedsum insured. In any case, Wwe will not pay more than $10,000 per insured policy. Cancellation Plus Cover must be purchased at the same time as the policy is issued. Travel costs paid more than 48 hours prior to the Relevant Time are not covered. You must cancel this trip more than 48 hours before the scheduled travel start date. Cancellation Plus Cover does not apply if travel is prevented due to certain scenarios such as widespread physical destruction at the destination you were going to, border closures or disruption of the transportation method you were going to use due to volcanic ash cloud preventing safe air movement or the closure of sea lanes preventing safe and free movement of sea vessels. Cover under Cancellation Plus ceases from the time when the event preventing travel occurs due to the reasons above, regardless of alternate reasons for the claim. You may however be able to claim under other benefits of the policy in these circumstances. For instance, when a Natural Disaster (such as an earthquake, hurricane or tsunami) occurs which impacts Your trip, and was unforeseeable at the Relevant Time, You may be able to make a claim for the prepaid, unused, non-refundable, travel costs prepaid in advance under the Amendment or Cancellation Costs benefit.
Limits, sub-limits, conditions and exclusions apply. Insurance administered by Cover-More Insurance Services Pty Ltd (ABN 95 003 114 145, AFSL 241713) on behalf of the product issuer, Zurich Australian Insurance Limited (ABN 13 000 296 640, AFSL 232507). Any advice is general advice only. Please consider your financial situation, needs and objectives and read the Combined FSG/PDS before deciding to buy this insurance. Click to view or download a copy of the Combined FSG/PDS and Target Market Determination or contact Cover-More.
