Trip Planning

It took awhile for me to plan these two visits, starting in January. After two previous visits, I've found two very useful tools for keeping track of things. First I have a little notebook that I use to write down everything associated with the trip. I also have a small calendar that I record all important dates. It seems to be easier for me to write all of this down although using online tools would probably be more efficient. I just have to have something written down because of my learning mode guess!

These are some things that I keep in the small notebook:

Dates for visiting
Flight and train details
List of possible hotels or bed and breakfast places
Important contact phone numbers
Funds needed for things like transportation, food, gifts, tips
Medications/vaccines needed for the trip and dates for doctor visits
Back accounts to be used
Currency needed, dates to purchase from the bank


Things to plan for:

Call the organization within the time frame to let them know of your plan to visit (about 6 weeks for Children International I think)

Decide what you would like to do with the children like doing a home visit or taking them out to lunch and or shopping

Ask if you can tour the community center to see the services that are provided to the children and their families

Research and book your flights and hotels

Decide how your funds will be used-Will you need fare for taxis, money for gifts, money for tips and so on?

Contact your bank to let them know that you will need assess to your account while you are traveling abroad

Obtain currency for the country that you will visit

If you take meds, be sure to have enough for your stay

Pack, pack, pack

Get the necessary vaccines and medication to prevent malaria if needed

Write to your children and let them know that you are on the way!