5 Best Tips For First Time Travelers

Travelling for the first time could be scary and exciting at the same time. The biggest challenge is at the Customs clearance. Some may simply be impatient as the process while others may be unprepared, making it more complicated than it ought to be as a traveler.

5 Best Tips For First-time Travelers

Below are tips to make your journey a lot more pleasant:

1. Fill out the customs and immigration form promptly

When you get on the plane, you will be given a customs and immigration form for your destination. Make sure you fill this form as soon as you get it. It will save you a lot of time when queuing through immigration.

Filling in the form while in the plane will give you the time to make sure you have everything filled out correctly, especially if you have to fill in forms for your family members as well. Once you are done, keep the forms in your passports, and put them aware in a safe yet easily accessible place. 

Make sure to declare all the items that need declaring such as food that is not from the place, plants or seeds, animals or animal meat, weapons and ammunition, and some medication. Failing to declare this upfront could land you in a lot of trouble at customs.

2. Have all the information

As part of the security checks when clearing customs, you will be asked a few questions to gauge the intention of your visit. To avoid being regarded as suspect, know exactly what you have in your luggage, how much cash you have with you, which credit cards you have carried, and where you will be staying. Make sure you know the exact address of the hotel. If you are staying at a friend’s place, make sure you know their full address and telephone.

3. Minimize the carry-on luggage

The less stuff you have in your carry-on, the quicker you will go through the search process. As you approach the security check, take out your electronics so you are ready to put them on the tray, rather than fussing with your bag right at the checkpoint. Empty your pockets as well, and wear shoes that you can easily take off and put back on. Some countries may require you to take off your belt if it is made of metal, so avoid wearing it if you can. All of these will certainly save you time when going through customs clearance.

4. Booking

Early booking is very important. If you are taking a flight to South Africa, Safair requires you to make a booking early enough. It is also necessary to do a research and find out what amenities come with each airline so that you don’t pay for amenities you may not need. Long-distance trips will be charged depending on the company. Also, book your short term airport parking ahead of time, if you are driving to the airport

5. Keep time

It is important to keep time to avoid unnecessary rush on the travel day, prepare early and get to the airport on time to avoid missing your flights.

Travelling is fun, but can cause you a lot of headache. It is important to prepare early enough and keep all you require ready and easily reachable to be able to enjoy your trips.