Scott, our Asia regional director, is writing for us again! Enjoy his two-part series on preparations for travel. Below is his first installment: 7 Steps of Travel Prep - Part 1.

International travel is fun, challenging, exciting, and complex. My first international trip when I was 19 years old transformed how I viewed the world and enabled me to reevaluate my future plans for my life.  Preparing well for a trip will enable you to concentrate on new adventures and be prepared for potential problems.

1. Research your Destination.

To get an overview of where you are going, buy a current country travel guide and read it cover to cover.  A good guide will have sections on history, culture, language phrases, and extensive maps. I like the Lonely Planet guides.

I like to Google "best short history of" for the country I am visiting and read a few of the articles.  Usually I will be guided to a good book to read to help me gain a more in-depth understanding of where I am going.

Read the local English newspaper online to find out current news and activities.  English Online International Newspapers has an extensive list of newspapers that is constantly updated.

2. Become Familiar with the Language

A few hours invested in studying a language will help you begin to understand what is being said around you  and enables you to make friends.  The first place to start is investing in a phrase book and learning simple greetings, introductions and how to order food.  Lonely Planet phrasebooks have been helpful for me.

The internet has become a great place to study a new language.  Google "________ (language name) language learning online" to find free introductory language lessons for the language you are learning. The BBC Languages  site which offers video lessons, vocabulary games, and mini-guides to help you begin language learning. These free lessons can help get you off to a good start in learning pronunciation and grammar. The internet site italki enables you to  hire a native language teacher inexpensively. You can have lessons with a trained teacher via Skype in your home, on your own schedule.

3. Be prepared for safety in an emergency.

Sign up for US Department of State free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program and enroll your trip. You will then receive the latest travel updates and information from the Department of State. Your personal information and your trip information will be sent to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate nearest to your destination. This information will help the Department of State contact you if there is an emergency in the area while you are traveling.

The Department of State has a helpful Smart Travel app for both I-phone and Android that enables easy access to frequently updated official country information,  travel alerts, travel warnings, maps, U.S. embassy locations, and more.

Make two photocopies of your important travel documents in case of emergency or you lose your documents or they are stolen.  Leave one copy with a friend or relative at home who knows where you will be staying and how to contact you in an emergency. Carry the other copy with you stored separately from the originals. Documents to make copies of include:

• Passport ID page
• Foreign visas
• International Health Insurance
• Itinerary
• Hotel confirmation
• Airline tickets
• Driver's license
• Credit cards brought on the trip

When making a photocopy of your passport check the expiration date.  Most countries will not allow you to enter if your passport expires in six months or less.

Stay tuned for Steps 4-7!

What are some of your prep steps for travel?