Organising Part 2

__vickyvic — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 17:29:00 GMT

Organising for a trip. Hmmm.

Passports are the fun part. I was born in 1992 and I have a copy of my birth certificate (original copy) and I also needed a copy of one of my parents birth certificates. I went with my fathers as it has my last name on it; if I was to use my mothers I would need their marriage certificate as her last name is different. So having my original birth certificate and my fathers original certificate and the forms I can grab from Australia Post or online; I also had to take my old passport with me. Pay the money and a photo later; and the passport ia off. Took about 2 weeks and I have a new passport.

Going to New Zealand I don't need a visa. Thankfully. So I will have to try to organise one of those when I need one. Which will be later on; in a future trip. So I won'to need try to figure it out.

After securing my passport I went about organising travel insurance. I knew what I would be doing in New Zealand and had to be covered for it. So I went about searching. And searching. And searching. None of the premiums I looked at showed me what sports I would be covered for and then after reading a journal of a world traveller I came across World Nomads and they had what I was looking for. It was perfect and I covered my phone and my tablet; as they will be essential for my travel. I did have the recept for the tablet but I have now spent the last week chasing up a receipt for the phone; thank god for Apple Support. They are mailing it to me. So with the insurance covered and the passport done; I had to organise my connecting flights.

Qantas as was who we were flying with to Zew Zealand in connection with New Zealand Air. So I went with qantas for my connecting flights from Emerald to Brisbane. The last time I was at the airport; another airline cancelled on a friend and she was late for an appointment by 3-4hrs but I was lucky I went with Qantas and I flew out on time. So I stuck with them. The smaller airport means things change easily. Stick with what you know. I got the flights cheap too as they were on a red eye sale and also got insurance on the flights and luggage. Never know.

Lastly. I had to have communication. So I looked for a SIM card for New Zealand. International roaming costs a fortune and I am not wanting to pay for it. So I went for a prepaid SIM I would be able to reuse on future trips to New Zealand. I looked at 3 carriers. Vodafone, Telcom and 2degrees. I went with 2degrees and I was able to purchase the SIM card from http://www.newzealandsimcard.com/ and it will be mailed to my home within 5-15days. So before I leave. :)

I already had a suitcase from a previous trip. So I didn't need one but I did need a new luggage tag and padlocks. I made sure I got one for each of my zips and that they we're tamper proof and approved for overseas travel by customs.

Lastly I needed to figure out which would be best for my spending money. Cash, travellers checks or a cash passport. I looked into my bank in Australia and they have a pretty good deal; I am getting a Multi-Currency Cash Passport with them and this; once again I shall be able to use on future travels.

With this I was happy. I made copies of all my tickets, insurances, cash passport and passport and placed them in a travel wallet with the originals and they other copies I shall keep in my suitcase and with my family in Austarlis.

So far I am organised. Just need to pack my clothes and that will be an effort and a half.

Organising

__vickyvic — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 11:58:00 GMT

The last time I went overseas was in 2008 on a school trip; which was organised buy a travel company for the school. Easy as. All I needed was my passport, camera and a copy of all my travel documents. I was 15 and I was heading to Japan.

This time. I am now 21 and on my way to New Zealand. I don't have a school. I don't have a company. I had to do it myself. Big step. Shocking step. I had to chase a new passport (and all the documents to get one; pain in the ass), the tickets to New Zealand were a birthday present but I had to organise my connecting flights to the international airport. I have also had to organise travel insurance; thanks to this site it was easy; as I was planning heaps of high risk sports.

My friend Kelly and I are just winging it. We know what we want to do but we will organise when and where as we go. She is a Kiwi citizen with Aussie Residence; so basically I have my own personal tour guide.

I leave in about 32 days for Auckland from Brisbane. I still have to pack and organise documents, travel cash (deciding on travel checks or a travel debit card), mobile phone SIM card and just to organise my life in general before I leave.

Lots have research and internet scrolling has help me prepare for my first unguided school trip and my first trip as an Adult. But there will be many more trips to come~~~~ x

Travelling One Country at a Time

Organising Part 2

Organising