Pre-Departure Prep: 10 Things to Do Before You Board the Plane
When you study abroad with EdOdyssey, our team guides you through each stage of your journey.
The first? Pre-departure.
While some tasks are obvious and exciting—like booking a flight and poring over TikToks and reels for the best noodle spots in Japan or the top vintage shops in Italy—others are important too.
Here are a few items for your to-do list in the run-up to your trip:
1. SORT OUT IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS EARLY AND MAKE COPIES. Keep a “just in case” folder (physical or digital) with copies of your important documents. You can also leave a copy or share a cloud version with a family member or someone else you trust back home. You’ll need:
A passport that is valid for six months past your return date.
A visa, if required (our team will let you know!).
Credit cards (copy front and back)
A valid photo ID card (like a driver’s license)
Medical insurance cards
We also recommend having a paper version of emergency contact numbers like your parents, your site director, and the US embassy or consulate, for example.
2. COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR BANK. Nothing kills the excitement of going out for your first gelato or ceviche like a declined card. Set up a travel notice in your banking app with the dates you’ll be abroad so that your card isn’t flagged for suspected fraud. Also, memorize your card PIN; you won’t always be able to tap or swipe. You can double-check foreign transaction fees while you’re there, too. Some cards charge 3% for every swipe. If your fees are high, look into lower-fee alternatives or more international travel-friendly options like Wise or Revolut.
3. MAKE A PLAN FOR YOUR PHONE. Contact your carrier and make sure your phone is unlocked and ready for international use. The last thing you want is to be dealing with roaming charges all semester. Unless you’re on a genuinely affordable global plan, usually the best option is to swap in a local SIM card or use an eSIM once you land. You’ll get cheaper data and local access. Research the best options for your host country and remember to check coverage for other countries if you’re planning to travel on weekends or during breaks. Look into apps like Holafly and Airalo, too, which will give you cheaper data.
4. PACK STRATEGICALLY. Pack for the weather, culture, and your planned activities. Think layers, versatile staples, and shoes made for walking. We recommend leaving at home any college-branded clothing, anything with an American flag, and baseball caps—all of which immediately mark you as a foreigner. Pack about a week’s worth of essentials: toiletries, sunscreen, period products, contraceptives, make-up, contact solution, and over-the-counter meds or vitamins you use regularly. Plan to re-stock when you arrive unless you’re attached to a particular brand. Remember your phone and charger, laptop and charger, documents and copies (see above), universal plug adapters and converters, TSA-approved luggage locks, a backpack, sunglasses, a money belt, a refillable water bottle, and a small bag for weekend trips. Make sure you have enough prescription medications in your carry-on (see below) for your entire trip, and enough contact lenses to last you for the semester. Don’t overpack; leave space for local shopping and souvenirs!
5. ORGANIZE ENOUGH PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION. If you take prescription meds, it’s important to plan ahead. Work with your doctor and insurance to arrange for an extended supply of meds that will cover the full semester. Request a signed letter from your doctor describing your condition, treatment, and doses, especially if medications you are taking are highly controlled or considered illegal in your host country. Remember that prescription medications must be carried in their original containers, labelled clearly and with your name. Pack all prescription meds in your carry-on luggage.
6. DOWNLOAD USEFUL APPS. Download offline maps from Google Maps. You’ll want a reliable translation app, Duolingo if you’re learning a language, a currency converter like XE, a local transportation app, your banking app, and WhatsApp. Also useful: Your airline app, Hopper, Skyscanner, Splitwise, Notion, Packpoint, and the official US State Department app for American travellers, Smart Traveler.” See our blog post, “Apps That Will Have Your Back When You Study Abroad,” for more, plus country-specific options.
7. BRUSH UP ON THE LOCAL LANGUAGE. You don’t need to be fully fluent, but knowing language basics goes a long way. The earlier you start learning, the more you’ll know. Basics like “Hello,” “please,” “thank you,” “excuse me,” “I don’t understand,” “Nice to meet you,” and “Where is the bathroom?” are a useful starting point. Locals notice and appreciate when visitors make an effort, even if pronunciation isn’t perfect. Try Duolingo, and listen to podcasts or watch movies to get used to the rhythm of your host country’s language before you go.
8. BE MINDFUL OF LOCAL CUSTOMS AND CULTURAL NORMS. Every country has its own vision of what is considered polite, expected, or out of bounds. Take time to research laws, cultural norms, and customs in your host country, especially those that might impact you based on gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, or other parts of your identity. This is especially true for students who identify as women, BIPOC, and/or LGBTQ+, or are part of other marginalised communities. Understanding how your identity is perceived in your host country can help you navigate daily life more confidently and prioritize safety. Save helpful resources, community organizations, support groups, and tips on inclusive or safe places to go before you travel.
9. ADJUST EXPECTATIONS. As much as you plan and prepare, things don’t always go smoothly. Expect delays, the possibility of lost luggage, the likelihood that you’ll take a wrong turn at some point, spotty wi-fi, and services or amenities abroad that aren’t quite what you’re used to back home. Expect differences, cultural surprises and misunderstandings, a lifestyle that doesn’t always align with your own, communication mishaps, emotional ups and downs, and the possibility of homesickness or feeling overwhelmed. All of these things are part of travel. These are the moments in which you learn and grow the most, the ones that shape you, build resilience, flexibility, adaptability, the ability to problem solve in new ways, and understand yourself more deeply than ever before. (And remember that the EdOdyssey team is here to help when you need us.)
10. SPEND YOUR LAST FEW DAYS AT HOME RELAXING. Clear a day or two before you travel to finish packing calmly, go through your checklist again, hang out with family, confirm your ride to the airport, have some downtime, and get a decent night’s sleep. Plan any big goodbye parties so they aren’t happening last minute, get the Target runs out of the way long before you go, and leave buffer time for the unexpected. Consider journaling too: about your pre-study abroad self, what your goals and expectations are, and what you’re most excited or worried about, so that you can look back on this when you return home and see how much you have changed.
Have questions before you go? Reach out! We’re here to help set you up for a successful, safe, and unforgettable experience abroad.
