If you haven’t gotten out of your bubble, the Singapore government announced that they have extended the Vaccinated Travel Lane to more countries –Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Maldives, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

While it seems like these travel bubbles (oh wait, this term is a jinx) aren’t bursting anytime soon, we can’t help but to feel a little apprehensive at the thought of traveling again.

Taking the travel plunge but feeling a little travel rusty? No fret! Here are some steps to jumpstart your wanderlust.

Check passport for expiry date

Believe it or not, the most useless thing in 2020 is finally USEFUL AGAIN! Now don’t get too excited and start booking your trip without checking your passport’s expiry date. If your passport is up for renewal, simply head to Immigration and Check Point Authority (ICA) website. Log in with your Singpass submit the form to renew your passport.

Get yourself a pair of wings

Duh? You need flight tickets! But here’s a keynote: ONLY selected VTL flights grant you the exemptions. Here is the list* from ICA.

*list accurate as of 27 Jan 2022

By exemptions, it only means no quarantine is needed when you reach your destination. You will still have to do the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests as required.

Need a place to stay?

Now that you have booked your flights, it’s time to find a place to stay. Choose from luxury hotels to the comfortable bed and breakfast style. There is something that will fit your needs!

Build an Itinerary and go wild

The best places to get your inspirations are from Pinterest and Instagram. Pin your way to a rough itinerary filled with food and attractions.

Once you have mapped out your itinerary, it’s time to book your attractions. You can choose to book your experiences on platforms like Booking.com, klook.com or airbnb.com.

Get local currency

Not all countries are contactless payment friendly. It’s always wise to have a bit of spare cash – in case of emergency.

Here are some popular locations for money changers:

Create a packing list

If you don’t remember, it’s full-blown winter in December. So, pack your fur coats. Get your winter gear from Uniqlo, Decathlon or Universal Traveller.

Get COVID related travel insurance

You don’t want to book all your trips only to get a failed PCR test 48 or 72 hours before your flight. Make sure you get a solid travel insurance plan that covers the following:

• Trip cancellation, postponement or curtailment due to COVID-19
• Emergency medical expenses due to COVID-19
• Overseas quarantine

And remember to get your travel insurance the moment you have your flights and hotels settled.

Get PCR tested 48 –72 hours before your flight

In short: No PCR test, no entry.

Testing windows for travel requirements differ from country to country. Do double check before you book your PCR appointment.

You can find the list of approved PCR- predeparture test on the Ministry of Health website.

Enabled magnetic strip in your credit card

To payWave your entire trip away, you need to enable the magnetic strip on your credit card. You can’t make any overseas transactions without activating it.

You can enable it using your bank app or online banking.

And don’t forget to always pay in the country’s currency.

Want better FX rates for your credit card?

Bring along your amaze card on your trip. Pair up any Mastercard bank cards with Instarem’s amaze card and you get to enjoy:

• Enjoy up to 1% cashback from Instarem on top of miles & cashback from your linked cards.*
• Enjoy fantastic FX rates with every global purchase.

Don’t have the amaze card yet? Sign up now before your trip kicks off!

*TnCs apply

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