Overseas Travel Checklist 2023: Essentials & Tips
As many countries are almost returning to normalcy and lifting COVID-19 related travel restrictions (if you’ve read the news about the World Health Organization’s recent announcement that the COVID-19 pandemic may be ending soon), many of us are taking out our luggages and preparing for trips that haven’t happened in a long while.
Before booking your flights in a haste, you’ve still got to make sure that you’ve everything you need and be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances. Here’s a quick checklist to help you get ready for your vacations and business trips.
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5 Must Have Travel Essentials Items List
- Travel insurance
- Approved visa
- Credit Cards
- Accommodation and flight booking documents
- Power adaptors
Travel insurance
Although travel insurance is mostly not required to travel to many countries now, it is still strongly recommended. Having a travel insurance plan with adequate coverage will allow you claim for in-patient hospitalisation expenses overseas including medical, surgical, nursing or hospital charges, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage, so it’ll definitely prepare you better for such unexpected situations. If you have any pre-existing conditions or if you’re doing any extreme sports, make sure that your travel insurance covers those as well.
Approved visa
Unless you’re from one of the countries which are on a visa-free entry agreement with that particular country you’re travelling to, you’ll have to apply for an e-visa or other types of relevant visa to travel to your preferred destination as a tourist or for business. The most common types of tourist visa are usually single entry sisa, multiple entry visa and transit visa
Credit Cards
Your go-to travel credit cards are definitely one of the things that you’ll pack in your travel wallet, because there's just many reasons to use your credit card overseas, whether it's clocking air miles, getting free flights, hotel stays, dining rewards, cashback, lowest fees, frequent flyer programme benefits or other benefits.
If you're shopping around for better travel credit cards, you may find MoneySmart's Best Credit Card for Overseas Spending page helpful for you to compare different credit cards and their perks. Do bear in mind the credit card foreign transaction fees and other administrative charges that you may have to pay for different cards, but many banks do offer discounts or waivers for foreign transaction fees.
Accommodation and flight booking documents
You'll definitely need your personal identification cards such as your passport and driver's licence, whether it's for clearing immigration or for verification purposes at the accommodation you've booked.
Remember to print hard copies of the airline reservations, hotel confirmations and rental car details, just in case the soft copies in your phone can't be accessed due to a flat battery or connection issues.
Power adaptors
This may be small and easy to forget about but you'll need it all the time when you travel as your mobile devices, cameras, and other electronic gadgets will probably need the extra energy for all the photography and videos taken during your trip.
As different regions have different types of adaptors, do check international standards before your trip so that you'll know which device you should purchase to fit your charging cords
Travelling in 2023: What To Expect
Increase in travel airfare and airport fees
As demand for travel surges after the COVID-19 pandemic, we can expect airfares to soar to more than 8% by 2023 as per a recent report by the Global Business Travel Association.
Besides airfares, other fees like airport fees and levies (which we probably didn't really notice during the pre-pandemic period) will also increase.
Flight delays and lost baggage
Over the past months, airports in many countries have encountered flight disruptions and baggage issues which are caused by a manpower shortage worldwide.
With such situations becoming increasingly common, getting travel insurance plans which include flight disruption compensation when your flights get delayed, postponed or cancelled is especially important to prevent unnecessary costs.
Overcrowding and long queues
You can expect to queue for hours at check-in counters and immigration at airports around the world as overcrowding at airports is not an unusual sight nowadays.
The staff shortage at airports worldwide is one of the key reasons for this overcrowding problem as the demand for travel has almost returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Mask-wearing as a norm
Wearing masks has become an option for travellers on many flights. However, depending on your destination and airline you’re flying with, it may or may not be mandatory to put on your masks throughout the flight and upon arrival at the airport. Do check with your airline on these mask requirements to avoid any penalties.
Compare The Best Travel Insurance In Singapore
Bubblegum Travel Insurance
- Med. Coverage (Overseas)
- S$150,000
- Trip Cancellation
- S$5,000
- Loss/Damage of Personal Baggage
- S$3,000
- Total Premium
- S$20.63
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Providing affordable plans from as little as $4 a day for travel insurance, MoneySmart’s Bubblegum insurance mobile app enables you to get your travel insurance on the go wherever you are. You’ll also enjoy great flexibility by customising your plan with any optional add-ons, and get a quote in minutes.
For those who are into adventurous activities like scuba diving and hot air ballooning, such aspects are covered in Bubblegum’s travel insurance with no limit on depth or height.
Starr TraveLead Comprehensive Silver
- Med. Coverage (Overseas)
- S$500,000
- Trip Cancellation
- S$10,000
- Loss/Damage of Baggage
- S$5,000
- Total PremiumTotal Premium
S$3135% Off - S$20.15
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Highly customisable with 4 optional riders available, Starr TraveLead Travel’s range of travel insurance plans gives you great flexibility to choose the type of coverage that suits you best.
You’ll be able to personalise either its Bronze, Silver or Gold plan that includes coverage for in and outpatient treatments abroad, personal accident benefit of up to $500,000 for accidental death and disablement, COVID-19 medical expenses, and many more.
FWD Business
- Med. Coverage (Overseas)
- S$500,000
- Trip Cancellation
- S$10,000
- Loss/Damage of Baggage
- S$5,000
- Total PremiumTotal Premium
S$26.425% Off - S$19.80
FWD has been providing some of the most affordable travel insurance plans with low premiums in Singapore. You can look forward to FWD’s cashless medical claim service, 180-day advance purchase, emergency medical evacuation and many other benefits which are included in their Premium, Business and First travel insurance plans.
Moreover, each plan comes with an optional COVID-19 Enhanced Travel Benefits add-on that covers up to $100,000 in COVID-19 medical expenses incurred during/after the trip.
Allianz Travel Silver
- Med. Coverage (Overseas)
- S$500,000
- Trip Cancellation
- S$10,000
- Loss/Damage of Baggage
- S$5,000
- Total PremiumTotal Premium
S$5440% Off - S$32.40
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With one of the best medical coverage of up to $1,000,000 in the market, Allianz Travel Insurance’s plans consist of 3 tiers, namely the Allianz TravelBronze, Allianz Travel Silver and Allianz Travel Platinum.
Besides being able to claim for medical expenses incurred during/after your trip, you can opt for coverage of sporting activities that include search and rescue coverage of up to $10,000 for activities like trekking and diving (exclusively for Allianz’s Silver and Platinum plans), and other aspects like Passport and ID card protection and money cover.
MSIG TravelEasy Elite
- Med. Coverage (Overseas)
- S$500,000
- Trip Cancellation
- S$10,000
- Loss/Damage of Baggage
- S$5,000
- Total PremiumTotal Premium
S$52.540% Off - S$31.50
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Being the few insurers in Singapore that provides travel insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions, MSIG has the TravelEasy Pre-Ex® add-on that can supplement its TravelEasy® Standard, Elite, and Premier plans.
All their plans include overseas and post-trip medical coverage, emergency medical evacuation, replacement of traveller coverage, coverage for insolvency of licensed travel operator, extreme sports coverage, delayed departure and more.
Singlife Travel Lite
- Med. Coverage (Overseas)
- S$250,000
- Trip Cancellation
- S$5,000
- Loss/Damage of Baggage
- S$3,000
- Total PremiumTotal Premium
S$27.4718% Off - S$22.53
Singlife with Aviva’s travel insurance plans features 3 types: Lite, Plus, and Prestige, all of which offers attractive discounts to NSmen who opted in to the Aviva voluntary insurance scheme, i.e. a 30% off.
For those who are looking for more extensive coverage, the highest tier - Prestige, gives you unlimited coverage for overseas medical claims, but their Lite and Plus plans do provide reasonably good payouts for overseas medical expenses as well.
Bonus Travel Tips
When you use a multi-currency account, you’ll be able to convert your currency without having to pay dynamic currency conversion fees.
For example, you can exchange SGD with certain currencies that you want when the exchange rates are favourable, deposit that money into your account and use your debit card for your shopping overseas. This will help you save some money on currency conversion and foreign exchange fees.
Dynamic currency conversion fees may increase your credit card bills if you choose to pay in SGD for anything that you buy overseas.
So you’d rather pay in overseas currency to avoid any currency conversion fees and at the same time gain potential cashback, rewards or miles if that particular credit card you own offers any of such benefits.
If you don’t speak the native language at the destination you’re visiting, Google Translate is a must-have in your library of apps as it will help you communicate with locals who aren't proficient in English.
Besides Google Maps, Maps.me is another great alternative to have as it allows you to download area maps that you can access without Wi-Fi or data.
Some hotel booking sites provide a "book now, pay later" option, but the mechanics may vary from website to website, or from hotel to hotel.
Some charge your credit card at a later date (but before your stay begins), while others require you to make payment to the hotel directly when you check in.
When you use a multi-currency account, you’ll be able to convert your currency without having to pay dynamic currency conversion fees.
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is usually required for Singaporeans to drive in certain countries. It is considered illegal to drive without an original IDP, so if you forget to apply for one, car rental companies won’t rent cars to you.
Also, if you are going to a rural part of a country and will be renting a car, ensure that your travel insurance provides rental car excess cover.
When you use a multi-currency account, you’ll be able to convert your currency without having to pay dynamic currency conversion fees.
In some destinations, although crime rates may be low, there could be occasional reports of foreigners being targeted for credit card fraud and extortion in popular tourist districts. So stay alert and keep yourself updated with the latest news on the situation in the country you’re flying to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim for flight delays with my travel insurance?
- Yes, only if you have purchased a travel insurance plan which includes flight disruption compensation when your flights get delayed, postponed or cancelled.
Is travel insurance necessary for travel now?
- Although travel insurance is mostly not required to travel to many countries now, it is still strongly recommended. Having a travel insurance plan with adequate coverage will allow you to claim for medical and hospitalisation expenses, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation and more, so it’ll definitely prepare you better for such unexpected situations.
Do I need an IDP when driving overseas?
- This depends on the driving regulations of the country you’re travelling to. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is usually required for foreigners to drive in certain countries. In these countries, it is considered illegal to drive without an original IDP, so if you forget to apply for one, car rental companies there won’t rent cars to you.
What are credit card foreign transaction fees?
- Each foreign transaction fee is made of 3 parts - a fee that is charged by a credit card network i.e. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, UnionPay, etc, and another fee that is charged by your card issuer company i.e. DBS, UOB, Citibank, OCBC, etc, and the third component which is the dynamic currency conversion fee (only if you pay in SGD instead of overseas currency).
Can I get waivers for credit card foreign transaction fees?
- Yes, there are many credit cards that offer discounts or waivers of foreign transaction fees, but you’ll have to call in or email or log into your account with your credit card issuing bank to request for it.
Should I pay in full upon my hotel booking or pay later?
- It depends on what discounts are available for different timing of payment. To enjoy certain hotel booking discounts, you may be required to make payment in full at the point of booking. Certain hotel booking sites do offer a "book now, pay later" option, but the mechanics may vary from website to website, even from hotel to hotel.
Some charge your credit card at a later date (but before your stay begins), while others require you to make payment to the hotel directly when you check in. Check the T&Cs of the promotion to be sure.
What is a multi-currency account?
- A multi-currency account is one of the many types of accounts that banks offer. With a multi-currency account, you’ll be able to convert your currency without having to pay dynamic currency conversion fees.