Get your Passport

Begin your passport application several months before your flight date, especially if you need visas from foreign embassies. While the passport process is usually fairly simple, bureaucratic issues can cause everything to take much longer than expected.

If you already have a passport, make sure it is up to date! Even if you have a valid passport, most countries will deny you entry if it expires within three to six months of your trip.

Get the required visa 

Visa requirements vary by country, but the bottom line is the same: it's time-consuming and takes awhile.

Conduct some research to determine whether your country of destination requires a visa. If so, what type of visa will you require? Sixty percent of the world's countries require visas for any length of stay, the majority of which are in the form of a regular visitor's visa.

Plan your budget

Make sure you plan a budget for your expenses which should include food, transportation, and entertainment. Make an estimate about how much you'll spend on hotels, excursions, dinners out, and so on if you're just going on a personal trip. 

Regardless, be conservative with your spending and bring more money than you think you'll need.

Find out more about your destination

You're bound to experience culture shock, no matter how cool and open-minded you are. No amount of research will change that. However, it is always a good idea to plan ahead of time so that your time abroad can be spent exploring and enjoying yourself rather than flipping through new guide books. Research  the locations you want to visit, any events that will be taking place during your stay, and events in which you can participate.

Pack your essentials

 Allow yourself enough time to pack all of your trip's necessities; do not start packing the night before your trip. Make a list of everything you want to bring so you don't forget anything. Check the weather forecast and prepare accordingly. Make sure you have an outfit for each occasion, or if that's too much, pack some essential fits that can be worn multiple ways. Remember to leave enough space in your luggage for souvenirs!