Hello world, nice to see you again.

As our options for international adventures keep opening up, we can finally feed our sense of curiosity. Therefore, we thought it’s a good time to check in on how you could travel feeling a little freer -  to help you plan ahead now and put that busy mind at ease ahead of your next big adventure.

Try solo travel

You may already fully subscribe to travelling alone and enjoy doing what you want, when you want and wherever you want to do it. But if you’re dipping your toes into solo travel waters for the first time, it can help to consider that it can sometimes be equally nerve-wrecking as it is rewarding. Deciding your own international travel destiny can be a profoundly life-changing experience. To help you out, check out Lonely Planet’s ‘The Solo Travel Handbook’. 

Plan, plan, plan

The benefits of doing your ‘homework’ before you go will give you such a sense of freedom whilst on the road. Don’t get us wrong, it’s not about painstakingly planning each day into 20-min intervals, but rather having a general understanding of all the things you might need to consider prior to leaving. Think climate, peak travel periods, major events, accommodation options, language barriers – the list goes on. Getting it sorted now means no precious ‘travel time’ being eaten up trying to solve the problem.

To kickstart your planning, here are some must-dos prior to leaving.

• After deciding where to go, visit the Safe Travel website. It houses all warnings inclusive of non-Covid-19 advisories which are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).

• Get your passport fit to fly. Check the expiration date (some countries require that your passport has at least six months validity remaining after your intended departure from the country you are visiting). If you do need a new passport, you can visit the Department of Internal Affairs who issue passports.

• Get your International Vaccination Passport which you can request from the My Covid Record website.

• Get your visa/entry requirements sorted (if required). To find out whether you need to apply for a visa for your trip, you can ask your travel agent or check with the Embassy or High Commissions of the countries you plan to visit or transit through.

Get yourself sorted with travel insurance

Even when you’re in the early planning stages of your trip, it’s important to consider taking out travel insurance. AA Travel Insurance policies can cover for cancellation and loss of deposits before you even go. If something happens in the lead-up to your trip, we can be there to help you. With AA’s International Travel Insurance, you’ll be supported 24/7 no matter where you are in the world, with help just a phone call away. So, now you can travel a little freer, knowing we are on the journey with you.

Save up that little extra money for the trip

It pays to have a good think about how much money you might need to have the experiences you want from this overseas adventure.  It might involve some major sacrifices prior to heading off overseas but remind yourself constantly of the end goal. If you do have a little extra, it can mean more choices on what experiences you can have.  

Get these (tried and tested) tips happening and watch the travel fund grow.

• Cut out superficial spending e.g., bring your lunches into work, ditch the bought coffees

• Set a weekly savings amount so you can consistently celebrate the small wins.

• Sell any items around your house that are only working hard at collecting dust.

Consider slow travel

There are two types of slow travel you could consider here. The first is (literally) taking a slower approach to your mode of transport. It could be immersing yourself in the landscape by taking the train instead of flying or gaining closer contact with local communities by riding a bike instead of taking a car. With this approach, you can have a deeper feeling of the atmosphere of the places travelling through and when the unexpected happens, you can approach it with the same slow mindset and allow it to become part of the trip.

The second type is when you focus on the destination. You may be quick to arrive but then adopt a slow-travel approach. The obvious benefit being it allows you to immerse yourself deeper in the neighbourhood and community. You don’t have to cross off all the ‘must-do’s’ on your list, but rather select a few, leaving time for you to experience life as a local on a deeper, more authentic level.

Responsible travel

There’s no denying the past few years have reminded us how our simple daily actions around the world are having a significantly negative impact on the environment. Embracing a responsible travel mindset is about thinking and actioning more sustainable ways to travel and to give back to the land, wildlife, and people of the destinations you visit. By taking a responsible travel approach now you are helping to preserve the environment and allow the next generation to experience the freedom of travel. 

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