Photo by frischmilch.

Your international freelancing dream just came true.

Your Dublin underground music blog vibrated with Rolling Stone and now they want to send you on tour with U2 in Japan. Your underwater photographs of Sweetpea the alligator excited National Geographic and now you’re on your way to Easter Island for a month. Your Bollywood gossip column has Entertainment Tonight calling to arrange an on-air interview in Hollywood tomorrow!

You may be good at what you do as a freelancer, but how good are you at international traveling?

Voyaging ever since I was a glint in my father’s eye, I’m here to tell you some career-saving international travel tips.

1. It’s a job. International travel is part of your job as a freelancer; you need to arrive on time with all your gear, ready to work, looking and acting professional.

2. Wear appropriate clothing. Professional attire for a freelancer is not business-casual; professional is looking like the kind of person who knows how to do your job. If you write about fashion, you need to look fabulously hip. If you are a business writer, wear a suit. If you are a safari photographer, wear protective clothing with lots of pockets for your gear. First impressions are everything. This isn’t a vacation; it is work. Travel in character wearing comfortable and appropriate clothes. After all, they may be sticking to your body for a few days.

3. Whoa, she’s got baggage! Lighten your load. You may need to change your regular routine for this trip and leave your baggage behind. When it comes to impressing whoever greets you at the other end, you don’t want to look like a tourist. More importantly, you don’t want to be faced by an unpleasant surprise: an airport could be under construction, public transportation on strike, broken escalators, and long distances to walk without assistance. If you can’t carry your stuff for two miles, don’t bring it. If you are a musician or other type of freelancer with large heavy equipment, try to rent locally. You will benefit mentally and physically by bringing less.

4. Bring carry-on bags only. For travel guidance, look to the professionals who travel daily: flight attendants and pilots. They carry one small rolling suitcase and/or a bag. Checked-in luggage is at great risk to theft, loss, damage, and it forces you to wait in long lines at customs. As a freelancer, you must arrive ready to work with your essentials and equipment on hand. No one wants to hear your sob stories.

5. The packing challenge. Consider cultural expectations, job specific requirements, and the climate of your destination. Take highly collapsible clothing that is not bulky or puffy. On your trip, you will end up wearing one favorite outfit, so don’t bring your entire closet. You can hand-wash items as needed, and hang them over a chair to dry at night.

Good travel basics are: a pair of jeans, a week’s worth of underwear, socks and t-shirts, a pair of sneakers, something semi-formal (just in-case), and a pair of nice closed-toe shoes. Knee-length man-shorts shout tourist; try to fit in with the locals. For your nature trips, safari shoots, and hot days, bring light comfortable pants (or a long skirt) that protects your legs from insects, plants, and the sun. You can trim weight out of your baggage by wearing your heaviest items during travel.

6. Fresh as a summer breeze. Having good breath and body odor is important for freelancers, just as much as it is for any employee or interviewee. Remember to bring your toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, comb, bar of soap, deodorant, sunscreen, razor, and makeup. Avoid fluid products that may be confiscated at the airport.

7. Passport to success. What if a big newspaper or magazine wants to fly you out tomorrow? Are you ready to go? Not having a passport can kill your opportunity, while also making you look inexperienced. Get a passport now!

8. Let me see your papers. Copy your passport, identification, travel tickets, front and back of all your credit and bankcards. Keep one copy with you separate from your wallet and give another copy to someone you trust at home. If your documents get stolen, this will expedite the process of a stop and reissue.

9. Receipts are money. Bring a plastic slip file for receipts. Either you or your employer will need receipts for reimbursement and tax filing. Make backup copies for yourself.

10. Water… I need water. There are many times during your journey where you will have no access to food or water. Delays. Holding periods. Waiting. Breakdowns. Catastrophes. Bring dried fruits, nuts, and jerky (there’s tofu, turkey, or beef). Buy water inside the terminal where liquids are permissible. Only take from your stash when no other food or water is available. While everyone else is ranting and raving, losing their minds, you will be calm and collected because your blood sugar levels will be balanced. As with any job, you cannot arrive to work dehydrated and hungry, even if you did have a 66-hour commute.

11. The early freelancer gets the gig. If you leave a celebrity waiting, or miss the single hour that a particular comet passes over the mountain for the first time in 30,000 years, your employers will be very angry. Do not miss an airplane, bus, train, or other transportation connection. You will never get a second chance to avoid failing your client. Arriving early is the best thing you can do to limit complications and costs. There will always be surprises that delay you.

12. It was right here a second ago. When you travel on planes, trains, buses, metro, or walk the street, you are at risk of being pick-pocketed. You need to put your most valuable items in a place that is not reachable by grabbing hands. Safeguard your money and passport in a secret travel pouch under your clothes. Put a few bucks in your front pocket for your needs of the day or to appease an attacker.

Research and know the crime risks at your destination. Your camera and computer equipment are always at risk. A doctor I know, traveling in Spain, rested his laptop upright between his feet on the floor while standing at a cafe counter buying coffee; someone ran up, grabbed the computer, and ran out the door. Watch your things at all times. These are your tools to do your job; you must have them.

13. Hiiiiieee-yah, take that! You can’t do a very good job if your equipment is stolen or you’ve been injured. Since weapons are not allowed when you travel a course in self-defense is a good idea. Attackers want easy targets, so make like a cat that doesn’t want to get washed and freak out, claw, scratch, bite, stomp, knee, scream, and run! When you are alone, keep your distance from people on the street, keep an eye on your drink, and make sure someone knows where you are and with whom. Cute impoverished little children rob you too; be careful!

14. Romancing the stone. If you are a freelancer in a relationship and your partner is back home, a photo and small candle are pleasant for bedtime. Regular contact via email, post cards, telephone, and small gifts are nice ways to keep the love alive. If you are traveling with a companion, keep tensions at a minimum by eating well, sleeping well and being open to compromise. If you are single, don’t do anything stupid and don’t even think about dating your subject until after that article is published.

15. Sick days for freelancers? Yeah, right! Prepare for your work abroad by getting any shots or pills required to combat local diseases. Purchase travel health insurance; your life depends on it. It takes only a few minutes online and costs less than your regular coverage. Many countries do not have the medical facilities to take care of you, and without travel health insurance, you could be left in a tight spot.

16. Uh, what? No comp-re-hen-day. Bring a pocket dictionary for the language of your destination.

17) Zzzzzzzz. Sleep on the plane to help combat jetlag and get the rest you need to do a good job.

18. All aboard! Traveling to a destination on the other side of the planet could turn out to be 72-hour day. You need to look good and feel comfortable, be open to opportunities and prepared for the worst-case scenario. Wear walking shoes, pants with pockets (jeans are good to hide your sweat!), a comfortable attractive shirt, and a fashionable or classy jacket that you can use as a pillow. Keep your toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, snacks, change and notebook easily accessible.

Each international freelance gig is a one-time opportunity to prove yourself and have memorable experiences. Look good. Smell fresh. Have your equipment. Be on time, ready to work, with a positive attitude.

Being an international freelancer is a dream job; those who prepare for the worst will be the best.