You’ve always wanted to travel the world with your family.
But your financial situation may not have allowed such a luxury. Until now.
You’ve saved up enough for overseas travel and are now ready to do some globetrotting somewhere other than these familiar shores you know and love so much.
But you don’t want to be all willy-nilly. Things have to be perfect for your first overseas trip.
Here’s where to start when planning for your first out-of-the-country family vacation.
Where To Go
So you’ve decided you can now afford to travel overseas. Time to book that plane ticket you’ve always wanted.
Hold your horses, mummy. Depending on where you go, the plane tickets are going to be a lot more expensive.
The trick to deciding your destination is to find a country that’s affordable to travel to.
This includes additional tourist things like food and shopping.
For us Malaysians, these destinations are usually mostly reserved in the Southeast Asian region of the world.
Here are some great places where the Malaysian ringgit is strong so that you can get a huge bang for your buck:
- Indonesia
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Cambodia
- Hungary
- Poland
How Much to Budget
This again depends on where you want to go (and how long you plan on staying).
But in general, if the exchange rate is in your favour, RM8,000 to RM12,000 should be enough for a week or two.
Experts recommend not spending more than RM100 a day.
But you should also factor in your tickets, accommodations, and of course, travel insurance.
Another thing you should think about is how you’re going to carry your money.
Physical cash is usually the go-to for first-timers, but there’s a limit to how much you can bring across borders, which is currently capped off at USD10,000 (RM42,255).
Now, even if you do plan on bringing that much money, the financial danger of doing so should be enough of a deterrent.
So instead, activate the international feature of your debit or credit card if you have a Visa or Mastercard.
This can be done through a local ATM or at the bank.
Or e-wallets, if applicable in your visiting country of choice.
To assist you in your financial planning, you may consider budgeting apps.
Pick the Cheapest Flights
Unless you plan on driving to your destination (which is possible with nearby countries like Singapore and Thailand or Cambodia), you need to book a plane ticket.
If this is your first time on a plane, then you may need to prepare a few things, other than shop for an affordable airline ticket.
Here are some general guidelines for first-time flyers:
- Research the airline’s luggage requirements
- Pack essentials in your carry-on
- Arrive at the airport two hours early
Alternatively, you can also travel under a tourism agency.
They will basically handle everything for you down to the hotel you’ll be staying at.
But otherwise, if you want to handle things on your own, here are some of the cheapest airlines in Malaysia for overseas travel:
- AirAsia
- Firefly
- Batik Air Malaysia
- Jetstar
- Tigerair
- Cebu Pacific
How Long To Stay
This, again, depends on your budget.
Although most people usually don’t stay in a foreign country longer than a week or two. Perhaps even shorter.
The trick to figuring out how long you want to stay overseas is to plot out a schedule.
You may want to rest for a few days when you touchdown (if jetlag is a problem).
Or you may want to dive head-first into some hard-core tourist activities straight from the get-go.
Remember, always have a game plan. Maximise this opportunity by doing lots of research on your destination.
Although, again, flying with a travel agency takes away most of the headache.
While we’re on the topic, knowing how long to stay also ties in with your airline booking.
You’ll ideally want to purchase a returning or two-way ticket as well when going overseas travelling.
This can help to eliminate the headache of last minute bookings.
Remember, you don’t want to be staying any longer in a foreign country—especially if you can’t afford to do so.
Prepare Your Family
If this is you and your family’s first time riding on an airplane, then you may need to make some preparations. Especially if you have a new baby.
While it’s recommended that you try to avoid travelling with a baby, sometimes it’s unavoidable.
There are a few things that you need to know about your baby’s first flight.
First, try to fly according to your baby’s sleeping schedule (if they’ve learned to sleep through the night).
Another thing is to protect your baby’s ears which may not yet be accustomed to the sensation of being in high altitudes.
Finally, make sure they’re well-fed.
A good trick is to mix some formula with your breastmilk to keep them fuller for longer.
Plan Your Overseas Travel Now, Mums
You can, of course, throw all this advice out the window and wing it on your own.
Admittedly, sometimes the best experiences are the result of spontaneous spur of the moment decisions.
But if you are someone who tends to err on the side of caution, its best to get a handle on your sea-legs.
For those infrequent flyers, building your experience with overseas travel is important to avoid mishaps, misfortunes and other unwanted circumstances.
After all, if this is your first overseas family trip, you’ll want to have lots of happy memories.
So what are you waiting for, mums?
Make those plans, prepare that budget and have the time of your life!
For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!