Shane T. Frank, COO of alliantgroup, on Traveling Abroad

Whether it’s for business or pure enjoyment, international travel can be exciting, relaxing, and sometimes, even a little stressful. Even if you’re an avid “domestic” traveler, you may find that traveling abroad has a few more requirements that you might not be used to. With that said, international travel offers tons of excitement, new experiences, and opportunities that some people may only experience once in their lifetime (if they’re lucky). If you’re considering taking a trip abroad, or have one booked already, consider some of these helpful travel tips to ensure your experience overseas id enjoyable and stress-free:

Have all Documents in Order
Your travel documents are essential when traveling abroad; depending on where you’re going, how up-to-date your documents are can make or break your trip. Before you embark on your journey, make sure your passport is at least valid for up to six months, (9 months if you really want to be safe). Some countries will require this to cover you in case your trip is extended. They want to ensure that if that happens, you are legally allowed to remain in that country without any issues.

Work Out Your Finances
Always look into the financial part of your trip; meaning, monetary conversions, international ATM use, and making sure your credit card will work in whatever country you’re visiting. Your monetary conversion is crucial for your trip; finding out the currency in the country you’re visiting is only equal to a few cents in U.S currency is not a great way to start your trip. If that’s the case, make sure you have enough U.S dollars to cover your trip once you convert it to the local currency. Additionally, you always want to be on the same page with your credit card company, so they know any overseas transactions being made are valid and not fraudulent.

Research Your Destination
Be sure to conduct the proper research about the country you’re traveling to. Whether for a business trip or a vacation, you’re likely going to have downtime where you can experience different areas the country has to offer. Research places you want to visit, or sites you want to see. If you’re a picky eater, or really into international cuisine, research some different restaurants and see if you can find American cuisine or great places to indulge in local food options!

Always Check Your Electronics
Many inexperienced travelers don’t realize that voltage and outlets overseas are often different than what we’re used to in the U.S. The last thing you want is to get to your destination and realize you can’t use any of your electronics because your plugs are different, or the voltage isn’t high enough for the country you’re in. However, if you’re well prepared, you’ll have adapters, as well as any other tools that work well with the voltage requirements of your location.

Traveling abroad is a great experience when you have everything in order. Follow these tips to ensure you have the best trip possible.

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This article was originally published on shanetfrank.org

About the Author

Shane T. Frank is a highly experienced entrepreneur with interests in cryptocurrency, international export, and technology. Based in Houston, TX, Shane is a co-founder and the Chief Operations Officer of alliantgroup, a national specialty tax service that assists businesses, and their corresponding CPAs, in maximizing available tax credits and other various incentives. For more of Shane's insights, visit:

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