Traveling outside the country isn't all fun. You need to consider a lot of things like money, time and the basic necessities. It was my first time to travel to a foreign land and my... it was tough, for me and my family. So, I'm providing below a list of basic things you need to take care of before your flight outside the country based on my experience:
Get a passport and if required, a visa. It's a must, guys. A passport serves as your identification as a foreigner. You cannot legally enter another country without it.
Plan ahead. Schedule your vacation ahead of time so you won't get in trouble leaving your obligations behind. Synchronize your leave with your companion(s), if you have any. Get a flight that suits your budget and time, be it direct, connecting or separate flights schedule.
Travel light. Bring only the things you need most and base the quantity on the length of your stay. Don't bring things your planning to buy, unless of course it's a necessity. You're passport doesn't weigh that much, so don't forget it coz' you won't be getting off our country without it.
Better early than be sorry. Time is of utmost importance. Go to the terminal at least 2-3 hours before your scheduled flight. Anticipate falling in a long line of passengers for multiple necessary procedures. To save time, if you have an able companion, you can fall in line for the check-in counter while the other for the travel tax payment (assuming you're not an oversees Filipino worker).
Be prepared monetarily. For all you thought, getting a discounted ticket would bring you to your dream vacation... well that's not all there is to it, there are still travel taxes and terminal fees to pay in the airport which aren't cheap. Not to mention of course your expenses on the country where your going.
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| Payment for 2 kids and 2 adults |
Bring a pen. It's a must, you definitely want to bring one. The immigration won't be providing you with it, and you need to fill up their forms. If not, good luck, you'll definitely need your charisma to borrow one.
And after everything is done, just say a little prayer of thanks that everything turns out well and may He bless you with a safe journey for everything is always up to Him. Yahweh bless.
agree on this "Better early than be sorry"
ReplyDeleteisa pa do a research sa mga country na pupuntahan mo at mas better yung mga best place nila at ang syempre wag kalimutan ang camera for remembrance..
Great tips! :)
ReplyDeletehahhaha well said ralph... true... YES ur ticket is so cheap but when you are inside the terminal so much more to pay ahahaha but that is only in the PHILIPPINES.. been to many countries but i never experience paying any terminal fee and travel tax fee... but the worst experience i ever had was when i was in HongKong, when i check in for my flight going back to manila, my ticket said that i have to stop over Taipei for 7 hours this is with Cathay Pacific... (and i have no plans of going outside the premises of Taipei International Airport cause i have no more budget.. )the HongKong Immigration asking for my VISA in Taipei.. i said I DON'T HAVE VISA cause i am not going to Taipei for vacation or as a tourist, i will just stay inside the airport of Taipei waiting for my flight back to my homeland. but the immigration officer insisted for me to get a VISA... so i have to ask help from the CATHAY PACIFIC officer what should i do with my ticket so that the immigration people will not ask me for any VISA... worst comes worst they ask me to get a new ticket waaaaaaaaaaaaa pwde mabaliw???? its ok lang if they have a very very cheap ticket susme... i have no choice but to get a VISA ahhahahaha good enough i went to the terminal very very early and i was able to fixed everything at the perfect time of my flight schedule.
ReplyDeleteWooooh! This is incident is really stressing. What an experience. The main problem I met the first time I came here in Thailand was the language barrier. Nobody can SPEAK eNGLISH and I had to travel all alone for 11 hours from Bangkok to a province which is already a border of Thailand and Myanmar. Prayers really work.
DeleteGood tips bro! I can relate i am always traveling, locally nga lng... All the info u nid to know are here in the e sphere research and read articles or posts about the place ur going ...
ReplyDeletei haven't been out of the country but i think that for international flights, you have to be at least 4 hours early para di mabitin. hehehe! i read that while passing by an employment agency in ermita.
ReplyDeleteyou know what my boyfriend came to visit me supposedly last XMas from NYC. lay over for his travel is via KOrea for i think 8 hours he was so tired so he slept at the airport lounge when he woke up his passport was gone! so he wasn't able to take his flight going to Manila, he reported to airport police so he was sent to the security office and interviewed for how many hours! he end up calling his lawyer and decided to go back to NYC to get a new passport.. ;( so whenever I travel the first thing that I always secure is my passport and cash/credit cards! ;)
ReplyDeletehassle nga... it's okay if you can ask someone for help or an advice. paano kung wala? tsk. thanks for this. Yahweh bless.
Deletewhat does Anonymous said were very true that it also happened to my hubby and since he is in short budget and can't afford for a hotel, money matters
ReplyDeleteAgree..!!
ReplyDeleteNice tips :) (kahit di ako biyahero) haha. this is helpful for those people who travels a lot :)
ReplyDeleteBetter early than be sorry. > di pwede mga kendeng kendeng unless super duper early! @_@ nice tips.
ReplyDeletedropping by =)
thanks sa tip never been to abroad e
ReplyDeletethanks for the tips.. :)
ReplyDeletemy problem until now is MONACH!lol..thanks for these tips!
ReplyDeleteand don't forget your camera!hihihi guilty ako don sa be early than be sorry.. muntikan na akong maiwanan as in.. buti na lang din domestic lang yon.
ReplyDeleteI will add something, also bring important documents with you as always when travelling abroad kasi when I left the PI for the UK last year using NAIA 1, hindi ko alam na dalawa pala ang immigration, ung immigration na nasa booth and ung immigration na table lang with two officers, you will see them before you will reach your gate. Maraming na decline at hindi naka alis ng pinas kasi walang documents na naipakita sa dalawang immigration officer na nasa table. Good thing, I carried all the documents I submitted when I applied for my visa and they let me go. So, see to it that you got your important documents with you kasi it will be a hassle kung ma decline ka nila not to travel.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your tips Ralph.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't forget those important documents and a camera to capture memories as well. ^_^
kaya ako di na ako nag bya byahe.
ReplyDeletehehehe..ballpen talaga..
ReplyDeletesalamat sa tips..