Getting your international trip right means tackling things in order: valid travel documents, entry requirements, budget, health, and insurance cover. The longer or more remote your journey, the earlier you need to start, ideally two to three months before you fly.
Travel Documents: What You Really Need to Check
Passport and National ID
Your first move should be to check your passport’s expiry date. Many destinations, particularly in Asia (Thailand, India) and Africa (Egypt), require your passport to have at least 6 months’ validity beyond your planned return date. If your passport expires within 8 months, it is worth renewing before you book.
As for national ID cards: if yours was issued between 2 January 2004 and 31 December 2013 and you were over 18 at the time, its validity was automatically extended by 5 years. However, several European countries (Belgium, Lithuania, Norway, Romania) do not recognise this extension. For travel outside the EU, your passport remains the document of choice.
A handy tip: always scan your passport, national ID and international driving licence, and store the copies in a secure cloud you can access online. If they are stolen, having digital copies makes dealing with the consulate far smoother.
Visas and Electronic Travel Authorisations
Depending on where you are headed, you may need a visa, an ESTA (for the United States) or an eVisitor (for Australia). Processing times can run to several weeks, so plan accordingly. Check the Travel Advice section of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for the latest entry requirements.
Registering with Fil d’Ariane
It is free, confidential and takes under five minutes: Fil d’Ariane is the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs service that lets you register your trip. In the event of a crisis (natural disaster, civil unrest), the Crisis Centre can reach you by text or email and notify your next of kin. It is worth doing for every trip abroad.
Get my Yupwego travel insurancePlanning Your Trip: Bookings and Budget
Choosing How to Travel
The options range from a fully packaged holiday (through a traditional tour operator or online agency) to travelling completely independently. If you are watching your budget, flight and accommodation comparison sites are your best friends for finding the best deals. Travel community groups on social media are packed with practical tips on local transport, hostels and alternatives to Airbnb and Booking.com.
Building a Realistic Budget
A well-rounded travel budget should cover at least:
- Transport: flights, trains, local buses, airport transfers
- Accommodation: tailored to your comfort level and travel style (hostel, hotel or rental)
- Food: local restaurants or self-catering, depending on your itinerary
- Activities: sightseeing, excursions, vehicle hire
- Unexpected costs: insurance excess, minor medical expenses, lost luggage
Setting aside a safety buffer of 10 to 15% of your total budget is a sensible precaution, however carefully you have planned.
For something as ambitious as a round-the-world trip, check out our complete guide to planning a round-the-world adventure to map out every step.
Health and Vaccinations
See Your Doctor Before You Leave
For certain destinations (sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, South America), additional vaccines may be recommended or even required (yellow fever being the most common). See your GP or a travel health clinic at least 6 to 8 weeks before departure, and check the latest recommendations on the Institut Pasteur website.
Keep a digital copy of your vaccination record on your phone or in the cloud.
Medication: Watch Out for Local Rules
Some medications that are perfectly legal in France are banned in other countries. Never travel without a translated prescription and always check the rules at your destination: medication regulations abroad are stricter than most people realise.
Your First-Aid Kit
In destinations far from medical facilities, a basic kit is essential: plasters, a thermometer, saline solution, antiseptic and painkillers. Avoid liquids over 100 ml in your carry-on bag (airport security rules). Opt for travel-size containers and solid formats (soap bars, toothpaste tablets) to save space and breeze through security.
Payment and Connectivity
Two Cards Are Better Than One
Always bring two separate payment methods, stored in different places in your luggage:
- A digital bank (Revolut, Wise, etc.) to keep currency conversion fees low and freeze your card instantly via the app if needed
- Your regular bank card with higher spending limits, kept safely in a separate compartment
Write down your bank’s emergency numbers (for blocking your card) somewhere separate from your phone.
Power Plugs and Connectivity
Plug standards vary from country to country. Wikipedia has a comprehensive reference table. Check with your mobile provider about activating an international roaming package, or pick up a local eSIM on arrival.
Power Banks: Airline Rules
Lithium batteries under 100 Wh are permitted in the cabin without any special formalities. Those between 100 and 160 Wh require prior approval from the airline. Anything above 160 Wh is banned entirely from passenger aircraft. Never in the hold: lithium batteries must always travel as carry-on luggage, and IATA regulations limit passengers to two batteries each.
Travel Insurance: a Must, Not an Optional Extra
Some countries require proof of insurance to enter, or even for a transit stop. But beyond the formalities, medical bills abroad can be eye-watering: a hospital stay outside Europe can easily run to tens of thousands of euros. To get a clear picture of the real risks, read our article on the true cost of an accident abroad.
Within Europe, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers a portion of healthcare costs, but with significant limitations. Outside Europe, it does not apply at all.
When choosing the right cover for your trip, the key things to check are: the medical expense limit, repatriation cover, exclusions for sports or conflict zones, and reimbursement timescales. Our guide on what nobody tells you before buying travel insurance will help you avoid missing any important detail.
FAQ
How far in advance should you prepare for an international trip?
For a short trip within Europe, two to four weeks is usually enough. For a long trip outside Europe involving visas, vaccinations or specialist equipment, allow at least two to three months: some visas take several weeks to process, and certain vaccines require a course of injections spread over time.
Do you really need 6 months’ passport validity to travel?
This so-called “six-month rule” is enforced by many non-EU destinations, particularly in Asia and Africa. The exact requirement depends on your destination and sometimes your transit countries. Always check the entry requirements on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before you travel.
What is Fil d’Ariane and why should you register?
Fil d’Ariane is a free service from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs that lets you register your trip in a matter of minutes. In the event of a crisis at your destination, the Crisis Centre will contact you by text or email and can alert a nominated contact back home. It is one of the simplest and most effective safety measures you can take before travelling.
Is an expired French national ID card accepted in Europe?
If your card was issued between 2 January 2004 and 31 December 2013 (and you were over 18 at the time), its validity was automatically extended by 5 years. However, several EU countries do not recognise this extension: Belgium, Lithuania, Norway and Romania. To avoid any risk of being turned away at the border, a valid passport is always the safest bet.
Is travel insurance compulsory?
It is compulsory for certain countries (Cuba, Qatar, and others may require it for entry or as part of the visa application). But even where it is not mandatory, travelling uninsured leaves you exposed to medical and repatriation costs that can run into tens of thousands of euros. It is far wiser to treat it as a necessity rather than an optional extra.
Can you put a power bank in your hold luggage?
No. Lithium batteries (power banks) are banned from hold luggage without exception, on every airline. They must be carried in your hand luggage at all times. Models above 160 Wh are banned from passenger aircraft altogether.
