International Travel Tips

AAA Travel Resource Center has 7 great tips to help you be fully prepared for your next international travel experience.

• Sign your passport and fill out the emergency information page. Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and visas, if required, and fill in the emergency information page of your passport.

• Leave copies of your itinerary and passport information page with someone you trust. This will help people reach you in case of emergency. It also expedites the process if you lose your passport while abroad.

• Check your insurance for overseas medical coverage. Your health insurance may not cover you outside of the U.S. If it doesn't, you may want to consider supplemental travel insurance.

• Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs. While in a foreign country you are subject to its laws. The U.S. State Department website has useful safety information about every country.

• Take precautions to avoid being the target of a crime. Don't wear conspicuous jewelry or carry large amounts of money. You may want to purchase a theft-proof wallet or purse.

• Contact your credit and debit card companies. Call your bank and credit card companies to let them know where you'll be traveling. This will ensure they don't decline international charges. While you have them on the line, ask about foreign transaction fees and daily withdrawal limits.

• Check airline fees. In an attempt to remain profitable in the face of rising fuel costs, airlines are constantly changing service fees such as the checked baggage fee. Consult your airline's website for the most up-to-date information. In many cases you can save money by pre-paying these fees online.

And of course don't leave home without your Garmin GPS and the latest map of your destination from GPSTravelMaps.com loaded to it.  Your trip is guaranteed to be easier and more stress free when you let our maps navigate you to each destination. We are always updating our maps to make them as accurate and detailed as possible. Watch our map demo videos to see just how easy we make navigation in a foreign country.

For more tips and information on traveling internationally visit the US State Department website, Bureau of Consular Affiars.