Part 2 is here! Check out Scott's helpful hints in preparing for travel in 7 Steps of Travel Prep - Part 2.

4. Be Prepared for Good Health

Make sure you have all vaccinations that are required for entry to the countries you are visiting.  Check the State Department's Country Specific Information on vaccinations.  Also look at U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) for their recommendations for vaccinations and other travel health precautions for your trip abroad.

Investigate what medical services your health insurance provider will cover overseas.  Most health insurance does NOT provide coverage overseas and almost none provide medical evacuation insurance, which can cost $100,000 or more.  I recommend buying short term overseas medical insurance which included medical evacuation insurance.  I have been very satisfied with Good Neighbor Insurance which specializes in international insurance for travelers.

If you take prescription medication pack enough to last your entire trip, including some extra in case you are unexpectedly delayed.  Carry your medications in their original labeled containers, and pack them in your carry-on bag since checked baggage can be lost or delayed.  Make sure you have your doctor's contact information in case of problems.

5. Prepare to spend Money

Notify your bank where you will be traveling so your credit card account will not be suspended due to suspicious activity.  Find out if you credit card charges a foreign transaction fee or an additional percentage (3-5%) on each foreign transaction.  These fees can add up fast!  It is often worth getting a new credit card that doesn't charge these fees.  Capital One has credit cards with no yearly fees that do not charge a foreign transaction fee or an additional percentage for foreign transactions.

Using your ATM is usually the easiest and cheapest way to get local currency as money changing kiosk charge high fees.  Check with your bank to make sure you won't have any problems using an ATM in a foreign country and to understand the fees that they will charge.

6. Prepare your electronics

Buy a charger adapter. Countries have different size plugs and voltage. So if you want to use your phone, computer, or tablet make sure you an adopter so you can plug it into the electric socket.  Usually travel guides will have information on what type of an adopter you need.  I carry a "world travel adapter" that works in most countries.

Check the voltage of your electronics. Chargers for laptops, smartphones, and tablets are usually compatible most voltage standards. It should read "input 100-240V."

7. Prepare your cell phone

Using your US-based phone outside of the country can get very expensive very quickly due to international roaming fees. Thankfully, there are some alternatives.

T-mobile offers a Simple Choice Plan with unlimited free data and texting in more than 140 countries. Calls are 20 cents a minute. The data speeds are 2G which will seem slow, but I have found it very workable.

Another option is to buy a local SIM card. Most countries have local carriers that sell a pre-paid plan that includes a SIM card that is very inexpensive. This will give you a local phone number with data and international talk time.   Your phone will need to be unlocked and you will need to check with your mobile provider to see if your phone is unlocked and if it will work on a network outside of the US, especially if the phone is a couple of years old.  Remember that when your USA SIM card is out of the phone, that people in the US won't be able to reach you while you're gone if they call or text your US phone number.

As a last resort, you can turn off your data roaming and use wi-fi hotspots to connect to the internet and to use Skype or Face time to call people.

Time invested before you begin travel will give you're the opportunity for a more rewarding and more hassle free international experience.  It won't prepare you for everything but it will help get you moving in the right direction.

Did you miss Part 1? Read it here.