Planning your first trip outside Europe

Check your documents before anything else

This is the foundation, and it's also the thing that can block everything if you leave it too late. Your passport is the first document to check: most countries outside Europe require it to be valid for at least 6 months after your return date. If you need to renew or apply for a new one, allow several weeks.

Next, look up the entry requirements for your destination country. Some countries require a visa (paper or electronic), others need an online pre-authorisation (like ESTA for the United States or eTA for Canada). The Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ouvre dans un nouvel onglet) website links to travel advisories from neighbouring countries and provides recommendations by destination.

If you plan to rent a car on location, think about the international driving permit. Your Luxembourg licence is recognised in the EU and EEA, but outside that zone, many countries require an international permit. In Luxembourg, it's issued by the Automobile Club du Luxembourg (ACL). You'll find the full procedure on guichet.lu (ouvre dans un nouvel onglet). You'll need your valid driving licence, a certificate of residence and a passport photo.

Finally, prepare digital copies of all your important documents: passport, visa, flight tickets, hotel reservations, insurance certificate. Store them in a secure cloud service (Google Drive, iCloud) and send yourself an email with the copies attached. If something gets lost or stolen, you can access them from any device.

Travel insurance: why it's non-negotiable outside Europe

This is probably the point young professionals underestimate the most. And yet, it's the one that can turn a minor hiccup into a financial disaster.

What the CNS covers (and doesn't cover) outside the EU

If you work in Luxembourg, you're registered with the Caisse nationale de santé (CNS). Your Luxembourg social security card has two sides: the national side for Luxembourg, and the European side, which is your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This EHIC entitles you to coverage for medically necessary care in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. That's it.

Outside that zone, things change dramatically. The CNS has signed bilateral agreements with only a handful of countries: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cape Verde, North Macedonia, Morocco, Montenegro, Quebec, Serbia, Tunisia and Turkey. In these countries, you can get coverage by presenting a certificate of entitlement issued by the CNS.

For all other countries (United States, Canada outside Quebec, Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Oceania...), you pay 100% of costs upfront. When you return, you can request reimbursement from the CNS, but it's calculated at Luxembourg rates. In practice, if a consultation costs you €300 in the US, the CNS will reimburse what it would have paid for the same consultation in Luxembourg - just a few dozen euros. The difference stays with you. For a hospital stay, we're easily talking about tens of thousands of euros out of pocket. More details on the CNS website (ouvre dans un nouvel onglet).

Why private travel insurance changes everything

Private travel insurance picks up where the CNS stops. It typically covers medical and hospital costs abroad (often up to €125,000 or more), medical repatriation (air ambulance back to Luxembourg), trip cancellation, lost or stolen luggage, and personal liability abroad.

In Luxembourg, the main insurers offer annual or single-trip plans. An annual travel insurance policy generally costs between €250 and €350 for an individual. It's an expense, but it's nothing compared to what a medical evacuation from Southeast Asia or a 3-day hospital stay in Canada can cost.

Before you leave, contact your insurer and request written confirmation of your coverage with the details of what's included and the emergency assistance numbers abroad. Keep this document with you throughout your trip (paper and digital). Also check what your bank card might cover: some premium cards include travel guarantees, but they're often limited and don't replace proper insurance.

Your supplementary health insurance may already cover part of it: check your cover before buying.

Vaccines and health: what to plan ahead

Depending on your destination, certain vaccines may be mandatory (like yellow fever for entry into several African and South American countries) or strongly recommended (hepatitis A, typhoid, rabies, Japanese encephalitis...). You can't just get vaccinated the day before departure: some protocols require multiple injections spread over several weeks.

In Luxembourg, travel-related vaccinations are not covered by the state. To find out which vaccines you need for your destination, consult your GP or a vaccination centre. The portal santesecu.public.lu (ouvre dans un nouvel onglet) lists useful information and links to the Travel Clinic in Luxembourg.

Beyond vaccines, think about preventive treatments too. Malaria is still present in many regions of Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America. Antimalarial treatment is prescribed before departure and taken throughout the stay and after return.

Prepare a first aid kit with the essentials: painkillers, anti-diarrhoea medication, disinfectant, plasters, high-SPF sunscreen. If you take regular medication, bring your prescriptions (in English preferably) and enough medication for the whole trip, plus a safety margin.

For your usual care, revisit how the CNS reimburses you.

Money and payments abroad

Your Luxembourg bank card works in most countries, but there are a few precautions to take before you go. Check that your card is an international card (Visa or Mastercard). Contact your bank to temporarily increase your payment and withdrawal limits, and let them know your destination to avoid an automatic block on your card.

Outside the euro zone, currency exchange and withdrawal fees apply. Check with your bank about the charges. Some online banks offer better rates for payments abroad.

The golden rule: don't put all your eggs in one basket. Bring at least two different payment methods (two bank cards, or a card plus some cash in local currency). Keep them in separate places: one card in your wallet, the other in a bag or money belt. If one gets lost or stolen, you always have a backup.

Also keep copies of your bank details and your card's emergency cancellation number in a separate place, so you can act fast if something gets stolen.

Phone and connectivity outside Europe

In Europe, you benefit from free roaming included in your Luxembourg plan (POST, Tango, Orange). Outside the EU, that's no longer the case. Roaming charges can skyrocket if you're not careful: a simple call or a few minutes of browsing can cost a lot.

The simplest solution today is an eSIM. You buy a data plan for your destination directly from your phone, even before take-off. Providers like Saily, Airalo, Holafly or Nomad offer plans by country or region, often for just a few euros. Your Luxembourg number stays active in parallel for receiving SMS (useful for two-factor banking authentication), and you use the eSIM for data.

If your phone doesn't support eSIM, you can also contact your Luxembourg operator to activate a temporary international option, or buy a local SIM card on arrival.

Before leaving, also download useful apps in offline mode: Google Maps (downloadable maps), Google Translate (language packs), and your banking app. It'll save you from depending on Wi-Fi to navigate or communicate.

Safety and dealing with the unexpected

Even with the best preparation, things can go sideways. Here are the habits to adopt before and during your trip.

Photograph all your documents: passport (identity page), ID card, driving licence, travel insurance certificate, tickets. Store them in the cloud and in your phone's memory. Also send yourself a summary email with all copies attached: if you lose your phone, you can access them from any computer.

Register on LamA (Lëtzebuerger am Ausland). This is the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs platform that lets you declare your stay abroad. In case of a crisis at your destination (natural disaster, political unrest, health emergency), the ministry and diplomatic missions can contact you and assist you more quickly. Registration is free and takes just a few minutes via MyGuichet.lu (ouvre dans un nouvel onglet).

Don't pack everything in one bag. Split your important belongings between your carry-on and checked luggage. Keep your documents, medications and a change of clothes in your hand luggage. If your checked bag gets lost or delayed, you'll have the bare essentials with you.

Finally, use the hotel room safe for your valuables when you're not carrying them, and invest in a money belt or anti-theft bag for getting around in busy areas.