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Americans love to travel and getting to visit another country can be an exciting experience, but it's not like traveling to another state in your own country. Traveling abroad requires a great deal of planning and some insight from more experienced travelers to help you avoid common pitfalls. The last thing you want to do is find out you've overlooked some crucial detail, after you're thousands of miles from home.

Prepare for That Flight
If you've ever flown before, you know what it's like to sit still on a crowded airplane, only to experience debilitating jet lag, once you've landed. Experienced travelers warn that those experiences are multiplied in international travel. First, even if you came prepared with something to listen to, like music or the ESV audio bible, chances are you'll get a case of cabin fever before too long. Bring other things to keep your mind active, such as a tablet loaded with ebooks, games, and video content.

Additionally, jet lag will be much worse, so experts recommend adding extra time to your vacation to allow for your recovery. To battle this condition, try setting your clocks to your new time zone a day or two in advance of your trip. Also drink plenty of water and begin eating your meals at times corresponding to meal times at your destination.

Prepare for the Legalities of International Travel
One of the most important things you can do is something that most people neglect altogether. That is to educate yourself about the laws in your destination country. In addition to visa stipulations, you should also be aware of criminal and civil codes, local customs, and the healthcare system. The last thing you want is to be caught unaware at a crucial moment. Remember that you would expect visitors to your city to respect your laws and customs, so try to extend a similar courtesy.

Is Your Passport Really Up to Date?
Sure, it is. It says so on the inside cover, right? Wrong. Many countries will not accept a passport that expires six months or less from that date, so you may want to renew it before your trip. This precaution is actually for your own good. Suppose your flight is canceled, or some other unforeseen circumstances prevent you from returning home on time. Foreign nations want to ensure you'll be able to get back through U.S. customs when you do leave, so that means having a valid passport. An expired passport may mean you'll end up becoming a financial burden to that foreign nation.

Plan for Banking Needs
There are two things you want to consider in relation to access to your cash, while away from home. First, make sure you notify your bank that you'll be traveling. If you don't, your bank may flag your overseas purchases as suspicious activity and place a block on your account. This means you'll be unable to access your funds, until you clear it up. In most cases, that requires appearing in person at a branch of that bank and your bank likely doesn't have branches in the country you're visiting.

Secondly, ask your bank representative about overseas ATM fees. Many banks charge extremely high fees for using out of network ATMs in foreign countries. One alternative is taking cash with you, but carrying large sums may be unwise. Instead, there are some financial institutions that allow you to open checking accounts with no minimum balance and offer reimbursements for out of network ATM use. Charles Schwab and Fidelity, for instance, will even reimburse you for overseas ATM transactions.

There are many more points to consider, when traveling overseas, but these may cover the most important details. If you're working with an established travel agency, they may be able to offer you many more tips to ensure your vacation will be fun and safe. Planning your trip three to six months in advance will allow you to cover all your bases and reduce the possibility of missing important details.