Planning for your next holiday doesn’t just stop at booking your tickets, planning your itinerary and packing your bags. There are many other factors that you need to take note of as well and here’s the checklist of 10 things to look over before jetting off your next vacay.
#1 Passport Validity
Ensure that your passports have a validity of at least six months from your date of travel and make plans to renew your passport if it doesn’t. You wouldn’t want to be turned away at the gate when you’re all excited to set off for your trip at the airport right? Passport renewal usually takes a week to process, but give it two weeks just to be safe.
#2 Visa
Luckily for Singaporeans, our passports offer visa-free access for up to 90 days in 167 countries. But if you are planning for longer holidays like 3 months, make sure you count the number of days and not assume that that it won’t exceed the 90 days limit. Overstaying in a country may get you barred from visiting and will void your existing visa if you have one.
#3 Currency
Always prepare an ample amount of the currency needed before heading to the airport as the exchange rates aren’t always the best there. Plus don’t get caught in a situation where you have to head to a moneychanger overseas and end up losing money due to poor exchange rates. Check out this list of the best moneychangers in Singapore, don’t say we never share. If you do own a credit card, find out your bank’s exchange rates and extra charges to avoid getting the shock of your life when you receive the bill afterwards.
#4 Travel insurance
Travel mishaps like theft, lost baggage, travel delays and medical expenses can add up to a hefty sum if you don’t have travel insurance. If you are unsure about it, do seek help from your parents – they might have an agent they work with when it comes to regular insurance policies. Alternatively, we always head down to NTUC Income to get the travel insurance as it’s affordable, fast and easy to apply.
#5 Health and vaccination requirements
When visiting a foreign land, be sure to check if there are any health risks involved. It’s recommended to get vaccinated against Yellow Fever and Malaria when visiting countries like Brazil, Peru and Argentina. As there is an incubation period for Yellow Fever, travellers should get themselves vaccinated at least 10 days before they travel – your family doctor should be able to advise on the different vaccinations to get base on your destinations.
#6 Customs and quarantine
In countries like Australia and New Zealand where agriculture contributes to a large part of the country’s GDP, they’re often very cautious about the risk of introducing pests and diseases to their crops. Items like food, plants and even handicrafts made out of wood pose a bio-security threat so it is best to avoid bringing them. If you are unsure, declare the items and you would not be penalised – your food might end up being tossed but that’s way better than being fined.
#7 Time zone
Jet lag can be annoying especially when you feel sleepy during the wrong time of the day. Find out the time zone of your destination and make adjustments to your sleep cycle accordingly. If you have the luxury of time before your flight, prep your bio-clock a few days before your departure. Otherwise, melatonin pills can help you fall asleep easier, while a much needed caffeine fix can help perk you up. Knowing what time it is back home can also help you decide when to check in with your parents – you wouldn’t want to wake them up in the wee hours of the morning would you?
#8 Embassy details
In case of emergencies, the Singapore Embassies and Consulates would be able to assist you. Find out the addresses and telephone numbers of the local embassy or consulate here and write it down. It’ll prove to be useful especially when you meet with natural disasters, terrorist attacks or when you lose your passport.
#9 Documents to bring along
Besides your passport, there are other important documents to bring along for your holiday. Ensure that you have your airline tickets (including the booking confirmation for the return trip), hotel confirmation, itinerary, credit cards, driver’s license and International Driving Permit (where applicable). Remember to pack along photocopies of your IC and the passport data page as they’ll be super useful when you lose your passport overseas.
#10 National service
If you are an NSman who is looking to travel for more than 14 days but less than six months, you will need to notify the MINDEF Notification Centre of your travel plans. Even if you’re not enlisted, all Singaporean males between the ages of 13 – 16.5 will need to apply for an Exit Permit if you are travelling for more than three months.
Image Credits: Pixabay, Getty
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