Heading overseas? Get organised with this travel checklist

After a couple of years of being grounded, you – like a lot of people – might be looking to spread your wings in 2023.According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), there were 1,177,430 overseas departures from Australia in November 2022, returning international travel in Australia to pre-pandemic levels.¹

If you’re travelling overseas this year, then it’s important to be prepared for any situation, especially if you’re visiting somewhere you’ve never been before. There are many ways you can make your next international holiday memorable and as smooth as possible, and it truly does pay to be prepared.

What I need to do before my trip?

It can often feel like there are 1000 things to do before you finally get on the plane and remembering everything can be a struggle! To help, we’ve put together a list of things that you’ll want to tick off before you set off.

Remember to:

1. Check that you’ve got all your documents sorted, including your passport and visa – and how long it’ll take to get these documents if you don't already have them
2. Get a sense for how you’ll be travelling, and have backup plans in case things don’t run smoothly
3. Take more clothes than you think you’ll need – you never know when they’ll come in handy
4. Purchase adapters for power points – this can be a lifesaver in a pinch
5. Ensure you’ve got all your medications that you’ll need for the trip, and in your hand luggage
6. Get a sense of what services are near your accommodation, so you can pick up anything you may have forgotten when you arrive
7. Learn some common phrases - download a translation app if you're travelling somewhere where English isn't the first language

By ticking these things off your list, you can get on the plane knowing you’ve set yourself up for success!

How can I be prepared for things that might go wrong while I’m on holiday?

Even the best-laid plans can go awry. Anyone who’s ever taken public transport or booked accommodation knows how easy it is for a planned-out trip to get delayed or extended because of issues that can arise taking any traveler by surprise. Thankfully, there is usually a solution to any travel-related problem, but it can be difficult to come up with these solutions in the moment!

Some common issues that may arise when you’re travelling include:

• Your train/boat/plane gets cancelled: leave yourself enough time to get the next available form of transport when planning out your route from one city to the next.
• You can’t find anywhere to eat/drink: know what convenience stores are common and what they stock so you can get something that’s readily available.
• You don’t know who to contact when things go wrong with your visa or passport: get in contact with the Australian embassy to see how they could assist.
• Your accommodation’s fallen through: have a list of accommodation websites book-marked in your browser so you can find an alternative fast.

How can I ensure I can always access my money?

One of the most important things you can do is ensure you’ll always have access to your money, especially if something goes wrong. The last thing you want is to be stuck on the other side of the world with no way to get in touch with your bank.

If you’re heading overseas soon, make sure you set up travel notifications. You can do this by notifying us through secure mail or directly in the Qudos Bank mobile banking app. If we know about your overseas transactions, then they’re much less likely to be blocked.

Watch our video on how you can set up travel notifications through the mobile app.

Some other things you can do to ensure your next trip is a smooth one include:

• Download our mobile banking app before you set off on your trip so you can bank on the go.
• Turn on international transactions (you can find this in the ‘card controls’ section of the app) so your purchases aren’t blocked.
• Make sure you know your PIN, as some countries only accept PIN for card payments.
• Add any relevant cards to your digital wallets, so you’re prepared for any situation.

If you’ve found yourself overseas and you’ve lost your card, there are a couple of things you can do:

• Easily report a missing card via the mobile app. You can also temporarily lock misplaced cards so no transactions can be made using the physical card. Once you’ve found it, you can unlock it. Note: your recurring payments won’t be affected.
• Has your card been lost or stolen? Permanently cancel it so it can no longer be used. Send a Secure Mail via the mobile app to order a new card. Ask to link your new card to the cancelled card so you can continue to use your digital wallet to make purchases.

If you’re planning on becoming a frequent traveler (or you already are one), then you may want to consider signing up for the Visa Platinum Credit Card*. This card gives you a complimentary Qantas Frequent Flyer membership, allowing you to earn 1 Qantas Point on every $1 spent on eligible purchases from $1-$2,500 each calendar month and gives you complimentary international travel insurance via Allianz. It’s a way of building up points to put towards accommodation and flights.

Want to learn more about how you can work towards your next dream holiday? Call Qudos Bank on 1300 747 747.

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