INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, TEXT CLARA AT 512-466-8282 OR EMAIL CLARA25WARNER@GMAIL.COM.
PASSPORTS
First step of international travel: secure your passport!
Currently, it takes up to 16 weeks to receive your passport. Even expedited service can take up to 12 weeks.
If you already have a valid passport, make sure you check the expiration date! Some airlines (and some countries) will not allow you to travel with a passport that expires within 6 months of your travel.
Click here for passport FAQs.
AIRPLANE TICKETS
There are a lot of “best time to buy tickets” tips out there to save money on flights - some may be true, some not. There’s no telling if prices will increase or decrease post-COVID, but it’s helpful to start looking into costs sooner rather than later so you have a better idea of what the going rates are.
Here is a list of recommendations to consider:
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6 months before your trip is the best time to book
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Buy your tickets on a Tuesday
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Tickets are cheapest in November (this probably depends on when your trip is, but worth looking into)
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Search for flights in a private (“incognito”) window. Rumor has it that prices increase because the sites use your search history and cookies to know what you’re looking for and up the price.
You can also use websites like scottscheapflights.com and dollarflightclub.com (both have free versions) to be notified about price drops and good deals from your home airport.
COVID TRAVEL
No one knows what the world will look like next June. Currently the UK requires you to take a COVID test within three days of arrival and on the 8th day of your trip. This will likely change and we will update you as new rules come out.
If you are planning to extend your trip outside the UK, make sure you check COVID requirements for the country you are traveling to well in advance.
MONEY
The currency in Scotland is the Pound Sterling (GBP).
Accessing your money overseas: Check in with your bank to see if you need to set up a travel alert while you’re abroad so your bank knows when and where you're traveling. You can also inquire about international fees, and whether they have partner banks in the destination that will help you save money on costly "foreign transaction" ATM fees. Make sure you know if your credit or debit card(s) will incur a foreign transaction fee when used abroad.
A few ways you can exchange your money for Pounds:
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Order from your bank/a bank: The benefit to ordering currency before you travel is that you will already have money on hand when you arrive. You can order foreign currency through many banks but some do charge extra fees and may use a higher exchange rate.
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ATMs: If your bank has an international network, they may be your best bet. Be prepared and know whether your bank has a network of partner institutions where you can withdraw money without fees.
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Airport kiosks: Exchanging currency at the airport is convenient but typically comes with an extra cost and should be a last resort. Exchange rates are poor, and fees are high. Multi currency ATMs at U.K. airports that can dispense pounds, euro and U.S. dollars are also likely to give you an awful rate in exchange for this convenience.
LUGGAGE
Each airline has different baggage allowances so be sure you know what those are when booking flights.
If you plan to take public transportation like trains or busses, keep in mind that carting around giant suitcases can be a headache.