Travel abroad: step by step Check what you need to do to travel internationally

Trip Abroad

Travel abroad: step by step

Check what you need to do to travel internationally.

There’s different guidance if you are travelling for business in the EU or driving professionally abroad.

Hide all steps

Step1:Plan your trip,HideThis Section

Check what you need to do to travel abroad from England during coronavirus

There are different rules if you're:

travelling abroad from Scotland

travelling abroad from Wales

travelling abroad from Northern Ireland

Check foreign travel advice for the country you’re travelling to or transiting through

Find out what you need to do:

to drive abroad

if you're disabled

to take your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad

Step2:Get your passport, visas and permits ready,HideThis Section

How much time you need on your passport depends on the country you're visiting. Check the entry requirements for the country you want to travel to.

Check your passport has enough time left on it for the country you're visiting

Renew or replace your passport

Get a passport for your child

You may also need a visa to enter some countries.

Check if you need a visa or permit

Step3:Get travel insurance and check if you need vaccinations or inoculations,HideThis Section

Get travel insurance

Use your NHS COVID Pass to prove you're vaccinated

Check what vaccinations or inoculations you may need on the TravelHealthPro website

Step4:Travel abroad safely during COVID-19,HideThis Section

Find out what you need to do to travel abroad from England during COVID-19

Find out how to travel safely in airports and on aircraft during COVID-19.

Check guidance for safer air travel during COVID-19

Check guidance if you’re transiting through England as part of an international journey

Step5:Going through border control,HideThis Section

You may need to show paperwork such as your passport or visa. You may also need a negative COVID-19 test result or to demonstrate your COVID-19 vaccination status at the point of entry.

Check the entry requirements for the country you are travelling to or transiting through

You can use the NHS COVID Pass to share your COVID-19 vaccination or test status.

Find out how to use your NHS COVID Pass for travel abroad

Step6:When you're abroad,HideThis Section

Follow the local COVID-19 restrictions

Find out what to do if:

you need to access healthcare in the EU

you're in a crisis abroad

you're arrested abroad

you're a victim of a crime abroad

Step7:Before you return to the UK,HideThis Section

Check what you need to do before you travel to England and after you arrive during COVID-19

There are different COVID-19 rules if you're:

entering Scotland

entering Wales

entering Northern Ireland

Follow the border rules for entering the UK

Find out what to do if you want to:

bring goods into the UK

bring food, plants or animal products into the UK for personal use

Step8:After you arrive in the UK,HideThis Section

Check what you need to do before you travel to England and after you arrive during COVID-19

Find out how to stay safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 when you're in England

There are different COVID-19 rules if you're:

entering Scotland

entering Wales

entering Northern Ireland

You may also need to declare goods and pay tax and duty to UK customs.
Didn’t think there were cheap ways to travel abroad? Think again! If you won the lottery, imagine all of the amazing things you’d finally get to do. Take a trip to see the cherry blossoms bloom in Tokyo, go snorkeling with sea turtles in Bali, explore the hidden wonder of Machu Picchu in Peru, or get up close and personal with the wildlife in Tanzania. The world would seem limitless.

Cheap ways to travel abroad

Behold: Brilliant ways to save money while traveling!

Now imagine being able to do all of that without winning the lottery. Crossing off every location on your bucket list shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg, and, guess what: it doesn’t have to. With our budget travel tips, you can visit to every corner of the globe—from the Greek Isles, to Melbourne, to Buenos Aires and back again—on a budget that suits you. Traveling isn’t just for the rich anymore, my friend!

So, look no further; we’re here to help you navigate balling on a budget.

Here are the 11 BEST ways to travel cheap

Believe it or not, there are cheap ways for students to travel. In fact, there’s cheap ways for everyone to travel! With a little flexibility and a bit of know-how, you’ll be able to save money traveling like it’s nobody’s business. Sadly, none of these tips will get you traveling for free, but they’ll definitely help you cut costs where it counts.

Cheap ways to travel abroad

One of the most tried and true budget travel tips? Use public transpo!

1. Travel with Friends

There’s no one better to share your travel adventures with than all of your BFFs. Your group chats are already consumed with talk of fun and different ways to travel, so why not turn it into a reality? This is one of the best ways to save money while traveling, because you can split all the costs. Groceries, accommodation, activities, car rentals; all of it gets so much cheaper the more people you have. Grab your friends and get planning!

2. Try Couchsurfing

Wanna spend your vacay surfing it up on the Brazilian coastline but can’t afford a hotel room with an ocean view? Take up another kind of surfing: couchsurfing. Locals open their doors to tourists looking for a cheap place to stay. They can also tell you all about the lesser-known gems across the city: from cute, hole-in-the-wall restaurants to the quietest beaches for your early morning surf. You’ll have access to a wealth of knowledge that isn’t available at a hotel and save a ton of money on accommodation.

3. Look Into Programs to Volunteer Abroad

Volunteering helps the community and the planet and it’s good for your soul. Take your mission overseas with a volunteer opportunity abroad. There are so many programs and causes out their, so you’re sure to find something that works for you. Not only is this a different way to travel, it’s also great for budget travelers, because, although you usually have to pay to join the program, that will cover your accommodation, meals, and lots of other costs.

Cheap ways to travel abroad

Budget ahead of time for your non-negotiable “must have adventures,” then work backwards to determine your daily spend.

4. Get a Part Time Job While You’re Away

Maybe budget travel isn’t for you and you’d rather live like they do in the movies; settle in Sydney for the summer and catch some rays or take an extended siesta in Barcelona over Christmas break. Whatever your prerogative, a part time job is a good way to fill the gaps in your finances without sacrificing comfort or must-do activities. If you’re on a visa that lets you work and you’re happy to stay in one spot for a bit, talk to a local temping agency about finding a short term role. You’ll make some money and add some cool experience to your resume!

5. Search for Budget Travel Destinations

“Budget” doesn’t have to mean “not worth visiting”! In fact, many countries with lower costs of living can be great places to stop, get off the beaten path, and save some money. Beautiful countries like Colombia, Bosnia, Portugal, Sri Lanka, and many others are safe, unique, and affordable places to travels, even if you’re going solo. Generally speaking, food, transportation, and accommodation are cheap, so you can save your money traveling here and spend it on pricier destinations later.

6. If You’re in College (or High School!), Study Abroad

You probably wouldn’t expect studying abroad to be included in a list of budget travel tips, but it can be done! Depending on the school and location, study abroad programs can be the same price or cheaper than a semester at your home university. Going with one of the budget travel destinations listed above is a good place to start looking, as countries with lower costs of living are ideal for studying abroad. There are tons of scholarships available too, so it can definitely be one of the cheap ways for students to travel.

Check this out: Affordable study abroad programs with CISabroad

7. Stay with Relatives Who Live Overseas
Cheap ways to travel abroad
Some of your best travel memories won’t cost you a darn thing <3

Does your cousin live in Germany? Or maybe your mom’s step-sister’s uncle’s son lives in Japan? If you’ve got a relative living abroad, that is the perfect excuse for you to stop by on your budget travel adventure. You’ll get to visit your family and save money traveling. We’re talking free accommodation, free meals, insider tips, and your own personal, bona fide tour guide. It really doesn’t get much better than that!

8. Intern Abroad and Gain Experience
Taking a lengthy break from work and studying to travel may not suit everyone. So, interning abroad is a good alternative for a career-driven person looking for a different way to travel. Programs can set you up with the perfect site in whatever country you want for whatever duration works for you. Interning can even be a cheap way to travel abroad in countries that aren’t exactly budget travel destination, like Sydney or London. Despite the program price tag and cost of living, you’re gaining valuable experience and international connections.

Check this out: Intern Down Under with Intern OZ

9. Go for an All-Inclusive Package
All-inclusive getaways aren’t just for grandparents going on cruises around the Florida Keys. From bus tours around Asia to island-hopping adventures in the Mediterranean, these programs can be a good way to save money traveling, no matter your age. Again, opting for lesser-known locations during the off season is your best bet to save extra money. But, even if you end up going with a more expensive option, meals, accommodation, transportation, and activities are usually discounted, if not completely covered with these packages.

10. Travel During Off-Peak Times

Cheap ways to travel abroad
Remember to document all of your adventures—a full photo roll is free!

Traveling to Europe over summer break may sound like a dream, but if we’re talking about cheap ways to travel the world, you may be better off going at off-peak times. Usually, that will mean winter or fall, depending on where you’re going. But hey, walking around snow-covered streets in Prague wouldn’t be so bad either! Do your research; finding the less popular times to visit your budget travel destination is one of the easiest ways to travel cheap.

11. Apply for Teach Abroad Programs
Whether you have teaching experience or not, teaching abroad is a cheap way to travel somewhere you’ve always wanted to go. You can get paid a pretty generous salary, learn some new skills (that will make your resume shine!), and spend a long time overseas. Some programs even cover your housing, meals, or airfare! If you’re passionate about teaching and are willing to learn, this can be a really cheap way to travel the world.

Program suggestion: Teach English in China with Premier TEFL!

[Keen on budget travel? View ALL Teach Abroad Programs Available Now]
Bonus budget travel tips to help you save money
Cook your own food. Enjoying the local food is part of the traveling experience, but it can make a serious dent in your wallet. Try to go grocery shopping and cook most of your meals at your accommodation and only eat out every now and then.
Sign up to get frequent flyer miles. The best way to fight off jet lag? Knowing you got your ticket for free. If you know you’ll be flying a lot while your away, signing up for frequent flyer miles early on will help you save money in the long run. They’ll also email you about any deals they have going on so you can snap up cheaper tickets!
Try not to use your card overseas. Foreign transaction fees can really eat through your money. Talk to your bank before you go to see if they have partnerships with any foreign banks that can help cut back on fees. If you decide to take out cash at an ATM to pay for small purchases, make sure you store it someplace safe!
Be minimalistic. Pack light. This may seem impossible, but, by not bringing two huge suitcases, you’ll limit the amount of souvenirs and novelty things you’ll purchase, because you simply have no where to put it. That way, you’ll save money and only buy things that you really value.
If you’re staying for a while, find long-term accommodation. So, you’ve fallen in love with a Venice and want to stay and work for a while? Great! Avoid staying in hotels or traditional hostels, which can be pricey when you stay for weeks on end, and opt for long-term hostels or shared apartments. It’s a great way to meet people without blowing through your money!
You’re ready to take on the world without taking out a loan!
Cheap ways to travel abroad
Cheers to you having the time of your life! Just remember all the cheap ways to travel abroad

If traveling the world always seemed like an impossible dream, now is your time to go.