Although we love all kinds of trip planning, there’s nothing like the excitement that you get when planning an overseas vacation. Just the thought of immersing to a new culture and disconnecting to all the stresses of the world is already enough to make you pack your bags without thinking twice. That said, spending extra time on planning your trip accordingly can make your entire trip run smoothly from start to finish. So if you’ve already decided where to go on your next trip, consider using the following tips to get the perfect overseas getaway that you’ve always wanted.

1. Check on Your Passport and Visa Requirements. This may seem like a no-brainer, but double-checking on your passports and visas will save you time and trouble later on. If it’s your first time to apply for a passport, ensure that you give yourself four to six weeks to receive it. The same thing goes for your visa. One smart tip though: Leave an extra copy or your actual visa and passport at home to avoid the stress brought by losing your papers overseas.

2. Map Destination Spots Beforehand. Another good way to save some time during your trip is to prepare and list down all your destinations beforehand. Spend a few hours to write down the addresses of hotels, shops, restaurants and museums that you plan to visit. Doing this will give you a better understanding of the city’s layout, and an idea as to which sites are located near each other.

3. Review Travel Alerts and Warnings. Checking on some official travel warnings and alerts prior to your trip is important especially when you’re travelling overseas. Look out for major and minor warnings involving issues like political unrest, peaceful demonstrations or transportation strikes. Make sure to check these alerts and warnings a week or two prior to your trip to get all your bases covered.

4. Create a Travel Budget. A good way to make your travel run more smoothly is to create a travel budget beforehand. First, figure out your total trip budget, then subtract your initial costs like your visa and flight fees, and you’re left with the amount you can spend for the rest of the trip. Just don’t forget other costs like the entry and exit fees, and the foreign transaction fees that some countries charge.

5. Learn Key Phrases. Learning key phrases in the native language of the country you’re visiting can really make a huge difference in your trip. Simple phrases like ‘Thank you’, ‘How are you?’ and ‘How much is this?’ will greatly help you. If you want, you can also use mobile applications like Memrise and Duolingo to help you learn a new language in no time.

Planning an overseas trip is really exciting, but ensure that you follow these planning tips so that you’ll have a smooth and relaxing overseas getaway.