Bucket List Travel

They say, "If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it." And don't let anyone tell you that travel is out of reach for you, because believe me travel is not exclusive to the rich and famous, travel is for everyone and if you plan it right and you work hard, you can travel, you can go as far as the moonand that's not even a lie.

We have received fabulous feedback for our readers on our Poland holiday and we want to thank everyone who has messaged us. We are really glad that some of you are seriously thinking about traveling to Poland and any questions or queries you have, feel free to email us on thebugle@mweb.co.za

However before you go traveling remember that good travel is a result of good planning and that applies to any trip you take, even if it is to the South Coast. So here are the basic things to remember before you start fantasising about those snow covered peaks of the Polish Tatra Mountains.

Firstly check your passport make sure it's valid for at least six months after entering a foreign country, (some countries require up to a year's valid passport) and apply for any necessary visas.

If you are traveling to some exotic destination make sure you find out what vaccinations may be required and have them done. You do not want to be turned back after you have come that far. Also have a health check up, there's nothing worse than falling ill in a foreign country. Also remember to pack a medical kit. I promise you its a tremendous thing to have when you in a strange land, anyway who wants to schlep and look for a chemist when you can be chilling by the poolside.

Good pain killers, broad spectrum antibiotics, antihistamines, burn ointments, plasters, anti-inflammatoryanything that you would normally stock at home, we advise you to take it along just in case. Also it is a very good idea, especially if you are going abroad and plan to do a sport like skiing or maybe you are going diving in the Maldives, buy health and travel insurance. You can normally obtain it through your bank for between R300-R1000 depending how long you are going away for.

Before you travel abroad, just check for travel warnings/advisories and register your trip. While the world is a crazy place at the moment and nowhere really is safeI mean like truly safe. Check anyway and be mindful of the dangers lurking in the neighbouring countries as well.

I guess the most important thing you have to keep in mind is to prepare your finances. Be aware of the exchange rate. Check how much basic things cost, things like accommodation, car rental and food just to have a rough idea about what kind of budget you should put aside.

Make sure to have extra copies of your travel documentsa copy of your passport is truly a must. Make copies of your visas and your hotel reservations and ensure that they are kept in a safe place. Keep digital copies on a flash drive as extra precaution.

It is also a good idea to get all the necessary gear for your electronics. Electrical outlets are different all over the world so you will need to have adaptors that allow your devices to plug into foreign sockets. Or you could go completely off the grid and not worry about all that clutter.

While this is really not necessary as most countries speak English, it is always good to learn the basics in local language, stuff like, "hello" and "Thank you" and maybe if you have any allergies or life threatening illnesses, you should know how to communicate that in the language of the country you are visiting.

Don't be afraid to spread your wings and fly off to your bucket list destinations. Life is so short and should be explored when we still have the energies to do it.

Plan your trip wisely and work towards your goal, after all what meaning would our lives have without tangible dreams and aspirations.

Most importantly commit and book the tickets and go, make the sacrifices and do it, you will surely not regret it.