There’s a lot of planning (and also a lot of luck) that goes in to wandering about abroad. It requires a certain window of having a job but no massive assets (house, pet, kids) and also a lot of preparation leading up to the big move. Looking back, we found a few things that we consider essential for travel, and also preparing for travel. So here’s a list of a few things to know before you leave the country. This is more level-headed than our usual content, but if you’ve ever thought about making the jump, it’s a good start.

1 – Have the Right Card

We’re talking zero foreign currency conversion fees. You won’t get this on a free credit card, but it’s worth paying a small yearly fee to get rid of conversion fees, especially post-COVID as so many things have moved toward digital transactions. The two cards we personally recommend are either the Chase Sapphire Preferred, or the Capital One Venture card. Both are quite similar, with Capital One having some lounge perks and credit for Global Entry or TSA precheck – if you’re into that sort of thing – and Chase offering a bit better point redemption if you book your travel through their portal. Both of them are $95/year, so if you spend about $3,300 in a year (and you will), you’ll make that back through the points. NerdWallet prefers Chase, but different people prefer different options.

Don’t pay currency conversion fees. It’s 2025. Just don’t do it.

2 – Pick the Right Phone Plan

This is a huge one, and it depends on your itinerary. If you’re only going to one or two places, you can probably get local SIMs and pay as you go. Like many things, cell service outside the States is usually less expensive than inside the States. However! If you have a lot of places on your trip, or if you’re moving fairly frequently (as we are), than an international plan can be a great idea. We’d recommend one of the T-Mobile Business plans – we use Ultimate as it’s pretty affordable at $80 a month and allows for data/texts/calls without having to change your number.

3 – Double Check Visa Requirements

You’ve probably already checked the requirements, and many places offer a 90-day visa free entry anyway. But some do not! We’ve already had one little travel hiccup as we missed one location that only allows for 30 days of visa-free entry. We’ve patched it up for now, but it’s worth double checking. Many places also allow entry visas to be extended, but some do not. Make your plan, and then double check each location you plan on traveling to!

4 – If in Doubt, Throw it Out

Now we’re on to the final parts of preparation: packing up and moving out. Packing up is always a pain, no matter how prepared you are. There’s always a last minute rush to get everything, all the small pieces like a utility closet, the crap underneath the kitchen sink, etc. So here’s a solution: just throw it out. Are you really going to use that last half of dish soap when you come back in a year? No! What about the bucket with 14 random screws in it and a light bulb that may or may not work? Hell no! And what about that sweater you always say you should start wearing, but you never do? THROW IT OUT! When in doubt, throw it out. In fact, just throw it out. At the start of the moving process, these items tend to get put in a ‘make a decision later’ pile – just call that the trash pile and move on.

5 – It’s Not Quite Vacation…

So now we’re on the ground. Congrats! You made it. But there are some differences in travel and vacation. Vacation is about excess. Dionysian Excess. Should you splurge? Yeah, why not. Stay up until 4? Sure, why not. Nothing is off limits on vacation.

Traveling, on the other hand, is more disciplined. You still have to establish a weekly schedule, and run through expenses and establish a budget. You’re not visiting somewhere else: you’re living somewhere else. Even if it is only for a few months. It helps to join local subreddits or social media groups to try and make friends, and it helps to find some places you like and be extra friendly with the staff. You’re not here to escape reality and get blitzed; you’re here to have the chance to connect with another part of the world, to realize people are pretty much the same all over, to enjoy the highs and lows of the human experience, build a life, find new haunts, make friends, and, most importantly, be glad you won’t be paying any enormous tariffs.

So there you have it: a few things to think about before you leave the country. LATER THIS WEEK: top spots in Auckland, and thoughts on food…