An international trip has plenty of moving parts and without proper planning, you might find yourself with more stress than you’d bargained for. Sometimes, you must take care of the boring tasks before you can start having fun. A little planning will help your trip be as fun and stress-free as possible.

Take Care of Any Medical Needs

It’s a good idea to schedule a visit with your doctor before you embark on your trip to make sure you are generally healthy and won’t have any major health concerns while you are away from home. Your doctor can also help you determine what vaccinations you should get, based on the country you will be visiting. You’ll need to plan ahead because some vaccines must be taken ahead of time to work. You’ll also want to work with your doctor to ensure that you have all your medications and paperwork in order. If you run out of any medications, it could be harder to get them in another country.

You’ll also want to make sure you have documentation for any prescriptions, especially for going through customs. Make sure to clearly label medications. It could even be helpful to have a doctor’s note for some medications. You can ask your doctor for extra medications in case you lose them during your travels or have a delay and end up spending longer in the destination. The cost of healthcare is a major barrier for many patients, however, and if you have already allotted funds to your trip, there might not be much extra for any healthcare before you leave. Fortunately, patient financing provides a convenient way to access care before you leave.

Tell Your Financial Companies about Your Plans

Let your credit card companies and bank account providers know before you leave the country. If you try to make a financial transaction without letting them know ahead of time, they could suspend your access if they suspect fraud. Depending on your credit card provider, you could have access to certain travel benefits, like travel insurance or waived fees. Make sure to read over the terms carefully to avoid any surprises and maximize the benefits.

Have Physical Copies of Important Documents

You’ll need more documents with you when you travel internationally than when you travel within the country. You should have both physical and digital copies of your health insurance coverage, your passport, and your visa. If possible, have a second set made to leave with a trusted friend or family member. That way, even if you are a victim of theft while traveling, you will still be able to access your information.

Besides your official documents, you should also travel with a travel itinerary. This should detail your planned accommodations, flights, and activities. It will help if you have an emergency or problem during customs. You should also have a list of emergency contacts, and you should have a physical copy as well as an electronic copy in case you can’t access your phone. Check the laws in the country you are traveling to determine whether any minors traveling with you need custody or consent documents.

Plan Ahead to Avoid Travel Fatigue

When you’re in the exciting early planning stages of your trip, it can be tempting to go overboard and try to fit too much into one trip. But even if you’re a high energy individual, overbooking yourself can turn a relaxing trip into a stressful experience. Give yourself enough time to recover from jet lag.

It can take a few days to adjust to a new schedule and time zone, so schedule time to rest and recover before you do a lot of activities. When you do activities, schedule yourself enough time to enjoy each destination. It’s about quality, not how many destinations you can get into one trip. If you spend all your time going from place to place, you won’t have a chance to enjoy each destination.

Learn about Currency

Before you leave home, take some time to learn about the exchange rates in your destination. Having some baseline knowledge can help you avoid getting scammed or paying exorbitant fees for an exchange. Managing your money during your trip will help you save money. Look for ATMs associated with your bank to avoid high fees. It’s a good idea to carry both card and cash payment options since different places will likely have different rules about what types of payments they accept.

Plan How You Will Communicate

It’s important to understand how you will communicate while you are away from your home country. Not every mobile phone carrier offers coverage abroad as part of your standard plan. You may need to add travel coverage or purchase a SIM card to allow you to stay connected in your destination. It’s an extra cost, but it will allow you to access navigation and make necessary phone calls.