30 Things To Do BEFORE Traveling Abroad | Retirement Travelers #80

[@angier2289]

One thing that may be useful (and that hopefully we never need to use) is to find out how to contact emergency responders in the country where you currently are.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. That is a great suggestion and addition to our list. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@SabrinaBowser-h8o]

I always sit down with a notebook when watching! I pause it and write, pause and write! So much useful information. Thank you!!!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. Glad you find our content helpful. Wishing you many safe travels. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@mariadillon860]

Me too!! 😅

[@chavafinkler36]

Thanks for your excellent suggestions. One added idea: Purchase a phrase book that contains basic phrases in the country you plan to visit. People in other parts of the world do not necessarily speak English, especially if you are going outside of major urban centres. Ultimately, it does not matter if you pronounce the words, just point to the English and let the person read the translation in their language. These days folks often use google translate or online dictionaries. That can lead to some humourous misunderstandings. A phrase book is more reliable than trying to sting words together that may have unrelated meanings in a second language.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the suggestion. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@jilllyons1091]

You can go to you local health dept and they can test you for what Vaccinations you have had

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@damianbengree8483]

Thank you for so many really good ideas. One thought that. comes to mind as a non American. Getting a US entry visa is time-consuming for most visitors, while going through US customs is often problematic if not a little intimidating.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the feedback and sharing the info for non-Americans. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@beverlyromine1224]

Great, great list! Thanks for sharing this! I appreciate the “shout out” ! I love ❤️ being a small part of helping you two with this adventure! 🥰

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much! We are so appreciative of all your help and support!

[@JohnandCaraRetiredTravellers]

Excellent job you two! Not sure if I heard you mention to notify your bank and credit card company ahead of time of what countries you will be visiting so they won’t think your cards have been compromised! Love the cloud file tip! Very helpful video!!! ~Cara 😊

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. In general that is a great tip about notifying credit cards and banks. Our credit card company said it wasn’t necessary, but sure that isn’t the case with some. John and Bev

[@JohnandCaraRetiredTravellers]

@@RetirementTravelers we share the same love for Chase Sapphire however it was our daughters Bank of America debit card we learned the lesson. 😊

[@erinlikesacornishpasty4703]

Yes, notify your bank! And if you use a credit union, consider opening a separate account at a bigger bank that has an international partner in your destination (s). When I lived in the UK, I had a VERY difficult time using my regular local credit union. They are best used in YOUR hometown and in YOUR immediate region. Just open an account at a big bank so you can actually, reliably access the ATM and avoid any surcharges.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

The VPN let’s me finish binge watching my favourite shows! There was no way I could come to England all summer and miss the series finale of This Is Us! Lol

[@RetirementTravelers]

That would be so bad to miss your show!!! VPN’s are helpful. John and Bev

[@mirjamhoss2923]

It's a bliss to follow your videos. Thank you VERY MUCH for your encouragement and all the information you are providing on a continuous basis. You're walking your talking, and that makes all the difference.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much and thanks for following along on our journey around the world. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@lucdube1612]

Very helpful thanks 😊

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad it was helpful! John and Bev

[@melissatravelgal]

Cell phone e-sim cards make it so easy! No more replacing tiny SIM cards. Requires a fairly recent phone but it’s worth it. I have an iPhone XR.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great suggestion. Thanks. We are getting IPhone 14’s next year and plan to use the e-Sim cards. Thanks, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@Paul-yd6rr]

GREAT LIST! I like that you added not just what by why and how. We have done many of these things, but not all.... We will be updating our habits. Thank you

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. Glad you found them helpful. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@yogisurfrunner1925]

Great list you two! On your electronic list (Ive done list for several euro trips) also a good idea to keep track of credit/debit card info and the emergency 800# to the bank in case of loss or theft…

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great suggestion. Thanks 😊 John and Bev

[@heidixxx2454]

Appreciate the info on storing papers online. I've been hesitant to make that leap. You even have social security cards scanned in!! Even with a house, living in the US, storing all online has value. Where I live, coastal earthquake and tsunami a danger. Elsewhere, floods and wildfires make a secure location for documents a necessity. In case of an entire wipe-out, online the only "safe" haven, unless one has presence of mind to grab the E-bag on the run with current list of all account numbers!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad you found it helpful. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@ChipyRose]

This is sheer brilliance! So much wisdom! Thank you! I just discovered you and am hooked! I will look at all your videos, blog, etc. Great job!!!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. We hope you enjoy our channel. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@barbaraaspengen9810]

Seems like to much work lots of things to remember I'm glad you enjoy 😊

[@RetirementTravelers]

Lots of learning, but very rewarding. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@jumpskirt]

Thanks for the thoughtful list of things to know before traveling abroad!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad it was helpful! John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@gpdoyon]

So many great tips. Thanks!

[@RetirementTravelers]

You are so welcome! Glad it was helpful. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@carlaseier9735]

SO helpful 👍👍👍

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. Glad you think so! Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@dianashelton1371]

I am not expecting you to endorse a product, I was wondering which cloud you use

[@RetirementTravelers]

We use a secured cloud vault through our retirement financial advisors. We keep all of our financial and estate documents with them. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@teachmywordministries277]

Excellent list of "To Do's!" This is great information. Love the specifics and details you offer in your videos.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks and glad you found our information helpful. Safe travels. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@DavidSmith-lp5tz]

Very informative video. I took notes, on my iPad, and stored them on a cloud.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Haha, well done! 👍

[@RetirementTravelers]

Awesome 👏 We’ll done. John and Bev

[@johnmarquez8556]

Great info!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@vmichelita]

Excellent and actionable information!! And lots of it is just common sense even if you aren't traveling full time! Spreadsheets, spreadsheets, spreadsheets 😂

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. You are right, some of this makes sense whether you are traveling or not. Spreadsheets do rock. 😉 John and Bev

[@LovingLifeHitchedUp]

Very important and helpful tips. Global entry for sure. Makes your life so much easier. Smart to have a family member collecting your mail. Good advice about the prescriptions. Continued safe travels. Loving your travel vlogs. Been watching them on our big screen tv and the footage is fantastic.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. Glad you found it helpful and good to know our content plays well on the big screen. 😉 Safe travels and enjoy the rally. John and Bev

[@mosbys7062]

great list!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. Glad you found it helpful. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@ra9r]

You should add Google Voice to the list. When traveling abroad long term we moved our phone number to Google Voice so we could continue to deal with 2FA for our banks etc without having to maintain a US mobile plan.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for that feedback. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@susiestaton5544]

May be a stupid question but what is 2FA?

[@RetirementTravelers]

@@susiestaton5544 There are no stupid questions. 2-factor authentication. It is when you have to type in an additional code for security purposes. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@carlaseier9735]

@lauramaryland @retirementtravelers I've been able to get my banking 2FA to 'push' the code right into the field for the code. I do it on my phone so I'm not positive what would happen on another device. It has been a huge help in that headache. We are Canadians. Don't know if this is available in the US.

[@kaceykelly7222]

THIS IS AWESOME! Thanks so much for taking the time to do this; it is the most comprehensive list I have seen. I am ready to do some traveling!!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks and so glad you found it helpful. Hope you can follow along on our journey around the world. Safe travels and many blessings, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@jihuff1]

Thank you again for your thoughtful sharing of all the things you deem important when traveling for long periods of time abroad. It's mind boggling!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. Glad you are enjoying our channel. Hope you can follow along on our journey. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@anna_m59]

The problem with international driver license is that only for one year ! AAA card is a large paper piece. I just got it and later I saw I could get a card through a company located in Texas.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We’ve only been required to show it one time in two years!! Also, we’ve heard of scams with obtaining from people other than AAA, but not confirmed. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@jocunningham]

Charles Schwab reimburses ATM charges monthly. Great exchange rates too!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much the great tip! John and Bev

[@TrekkingwithMikeandDeb]

Thanks for recommending that we get our vaccinations together. I have been dragging my feet. I can think of things that are more fun and interesting. We'd we will get on it. We are lagging in a few areas.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for watching and glad we could help. It is not the most glamorous part, but necessary. We highly recommend putting all your vaccination records on a single page for easy reference. Safe travels, John and Bev

[@melmcd176]

Thank you for such an awesome and comprehensive list of things to do before traveling!! There were things on this list I'd never thought of! You both saved me and I will reference the video many times in the future.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. Glad you found the list useful. John and Bev

[@lindagirl1140]

This is really good although a bit overwhelming!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. You CAN do it. Keep following along and hopefully we can help guide you. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@lareekline8232]

Thanks much! I need to look into your credit card as I don't think my travel points cover insurance.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We've been pleased with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@lareekline8232]

@@RetirementTravelers I remember you mentioning that. Thanks!

[@terriratliff9638]

Do you have a recommendation for travel insurance?

[@RetirementTravelers]

We typically don't buy travel insurance for a variety of reasons and do a number of things to reduce our risk. We will likely do a video on this at some point, so stay tuned. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@melissatravelgal]

This is super valuable information. Thank you! We hope to see you soon! #dreamofexpatlife

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks and so glad you are enjoying our content. We are also providing content on website, so sign up for our newsletter. Thanks and safe travels. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@eigobike3929]

Subscribed x 30 !

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thank you!!!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

This is such a useful video!!! Cram packed with useful advice 👍👍

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. Glad you found it helpful. John and Bev

[@erinaustin9968]

Very helpful information! My global entry took almost 2 years to complete and I had to travel out of state for the interview. If you have prescriptions for medicine you may not be able to bring it abroad depending on the amount and type of medication it is.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the info and sorry to hear about your slow global entry process. John and Bev

[@kevincross1240]

Not sure if I missed the one about decent Health Care coverage overseas.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We have a high deductible retiree policy in the US. We have found medical care to be SO much cheaper overseas, just to pay out of pocket. We haven’t reached our deductible in any recent year. John and Bev

[@FitoDp1]

Any global medical insurance needed or just keep what we got in the states, and pay extra for what we’ll potentially need when abroad? (Have no idea if a gobal Medical insurance exist )

[@RetirementTravelers]

We don't global insurance. We just use our US based coverage and pay out of pocket overseas (usually much lower costs) Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@lareekline8232]

Thanks for these helpful videos! What is the best Travel Insurance, in your experience?

[@RetirementTravelers]

We typically book through our travel credit card and use the provided insurance. We are investigating options for a cruise next year. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@nancyh.7420]

Great video! Thank you.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thank you. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@pandabearoceanpark]

such a helpful list! I saved the video and will check off one by one when time comes to travel aboard!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. Glad you found it helpful. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@dbibbyma]

I love your list and approve of all the tips, especially using WhatsApp and getting a 52-page passport. I would only add getting a cell phone that supports DUAL SIM. This convenience option came in handy for me in many a country.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great addition. Thanks. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@growsinhouseherbiculturali1100]

Full time travel is exhausting! Do you ever take ‘hotel days’ where you just chill out in your room for a day? Ps…go to Lesvos!

[@RetirementTravelers]

We travel full time and definitely take down days! Lesvos is on our list! Thanks. John and Bev

[@diannekocer2058]

Have you tried using an international SIM card?

[@RetirementTravelers]

Yes, all the time. We use Airalo and it works great. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@heidixxx2454]

How do you get new walking shoes?

[@RetirementTravelers]

We order new walking/running shoes every 6 months when we are back in the US. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@GrumpyYank26]

Question: do you have to keep your meds in their original labelled pharmacy container??

[@RetirementTravelers]

We are not advocating this, but due to the fact we travel for several months, we simply don't have room to keep everything in original packaging. We keep the amount we need for each segment in plastic bags and always keep a listing of the prescriptions with us. We've never been stopped in that past 2 years. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@GrumpyYank26]

Thank you!

[@DrCliffrk]

Where do I get the list of 30 tips in writing?

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great question! We plan to put it on our website, but not there yet. We have been so busy with travel and videos. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@kimberlylalley7255]

Great advice! Thanks

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. Glad you found it helpful. John and Bev

[@mattbailey9396]

Enjoyed the list! Thanks for putting it together! 💥

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the list. Safe and happy travels, John and Bev

[@sweetsimpleslowlife2709]

Apparently there are electronic SIM cards aka ESim…have you heard of this and maybe looked into getting it? Thank you for sharing your thoughts 😊

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great thought. We are getting new phones next year and plan to go with the eSIM. We will still use Google Fi, but after 3 months or so they stop your data if you don’t return to US. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@nicollekuna3108]

Yes check which ones as not all phones are able to accommodate an E Sim.

[@laura_and_shanman]

FANTASTIC TIPS!!!!!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@anniesshenanigans3815]

Thanks for the Info.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. Glad you found it helpful. John and Bev

[@harveyh3696]

A+

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@brianevans8529]

Very informative video! At 9:55 you suggest minimizing the number of booking sites. Can you share the site(s) you use most often? Thanks

[@RetirementTravelers]

We tend to use Airbnb and Booking .com most of the time. We use a variety of apps for plane, bus and train, depending where we are at. Thanks for watching. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@joycem2795]

Great tips! Would like to learn more about the trip cancellation and evac coverage with the Chase Sapphire credit card you have. Is this coverage enough on it’s own or do you need supplemental insurance for medical emergencies, trip cancellation, etc.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. We try to use the Chase card for all our travel. You can go online and just google chase reserve evacuation insurance and trip cancellation and find out much more detail. Be sure to read all the fine print. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I love WhatsApp!!! Especially because I’m trying to not use Facebook or Facebook messenger anymore

[@RetirementTravelers]

We just love WhatsApp. It has. Even so helpful.

[@keylargorealtor1380]

Nice video. Question about your statement you purchase your prescription medications abroad. Please tell us, do you use your US doctors prescription or do you see new doctors? How does that work? Thank you

[@RetirementTravelers]

We still talk with our US doctor about the need for medications, but we don’t need a prescription. We bought everything we needed in Colombia for a fraction of the US cost with NO prescriptions!! We plan to go back next January for exams and purchase more medication for 2023. Let us know if we can help further. John and Bev

[@ra9r]

How do you renew the international drivers license while abroad?

[@RetirementTravelers]

We return to the US twice a year to visit kids and family. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Jen-qb9cl]

Hi how did you learn edit videos

[@RetirementTravelers]

Bev taught herself Final Cut Pro X by watching a million KZbin videos! I would be remiss if I didn't mention that she has a great sense of design and style! John

[@berg8970]

I would just use an electronic mail service to receive all your mail. You can read all your mail online and decide what mail you want to have sent to you or a designated address. Charles Schwab will reimburse all atm fees regardless of where you are in the world at the end of every month.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@lisagmahling1151]

Hi guys! We sure are learning a ton from you! This was a super helpful video. We are curious if you continue to purchase World Nomad Insurance throughout your travels. I see that it seems to run for 6 months at a time. Any tips here? Many thanks, Lisa & Greg

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks and so glad to hear. We have kept our US retiree insurance because we both have pre-existing conditions. We have found treatments overseas to be so much cheaper, we will likely never get near our deductible. We plan to travel to Medellin Colombia each year for preventative care. Hope this helps, John and Bev

[@lisagmahling1151]

@@RetirementTravelers Very helpful, thank you!

[@laura_and_shanman]

How often do you travel back to the USA?

[@RetirementTravelers]

2 long family visits each year. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@sbkpilot1]

Port your US number to Google Voice so you can still receive calls when using other SIMs :)

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great info. Thanks so much for sharing. Very helpful. John and Bev

[@DeanRamser]

Excellent advice! We are traveling to Ukraine next spring, so this video reminds us of what we need to do before leaving the US. Thank you, John & Bev!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad it was helpful! John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@joangravelle8455]

Ukraine? You are aware there's a war going on there right now.

[@musicmarlene]

what is VPN?

[@RetirementTravelers]

It stands for Virtual Private Network and helps protect you when using a public network. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@michaelokeefe1562]

Local sim is importantt How do you handle 2 step bank verification of you do not have a US ptn

[@RetirementTravelers]

Our phones have 2 numbers. With our US numbers we can still receive text messages, verifications, etc. John and Bev

[@GrumpyYank26]

@@RetirementTravelers each phone has 2 numbers associated with it? Is there a video where u go into more detail about this? Which vpn do you recommend? Thanks!!

[@jenamann3484]

Great job, very thorough and helpful. Hope you are enjoying your travels.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. So glad you enjoyed. We hope you like our website as well. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@johnnybq2]

You talk a lot about vaccinations … how many have you taken?

[@RetirementTravelers]

We just got up to date for world travel. Hep A & B, rabies, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis. Hope this helps. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@SharonR1105]

I was just curious what you ended up doing with Annie? I noticed you don't have your dog with you.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Our little sweetie 🐶 is a spoiled princess living at John’s sister’s house in Florida. We miss her, but know this is best for her. After spending 4 months on the road in Central America without her (because of the silly CDC ruling) we realized just how difficult this life would be on her. John and Bev

[@SharonR1105]

@@RetirementTravelers You are so fortunate you had someone to take her. We have a 20 mos old golden retriever, so most travel with the dog is out for us unless we got an RV for US travel. I imagine navigating foreign countries is hard enough without trying to figure out what to do with a dog. CDC ruling was probably a blessing in disguise for you.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Yes, it was definitely a blessing in disguise! John and Bev

[@jagsterr1]

Fabulous information - thank you!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. Glad it was helpful! John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@sculpturegrl1]

Great tips! Thanks so much!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. Glad you found it helpful and safe travels. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@jkopvo]

Great tips - thanks!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/