There is a big difference between going on an angling holiday with a few friends and going on a holiday with the wife and kids (who perhaps aren't that enthousistic about  fishing).

This article is about the first form. Not going on a complete guided fishing trip, but finding your way around yust by yourself.  I have been angling abroad (as a dutchman) for many years now. Sometimes with fishing palls and sometimes yust by myself and wife and kids. My heart lies in africa, the cristal clear waters of the indian ocean around zanzibar, pemba and mafia island.

preparation:

• search the internet, not only using google!. Keep in mind that different search-engines deliver different results!. The results you get with the same key-word from google.com will be different from the ones you get from google.de or googl.nl for example. Try a meta-crawler for example
• Buy the right tackle for a trip:
• rods should be easy to take on the plane. You got two choices, take the long pieces and pay a lot of money when traveling, or take one of the newer (4-6)piece rods. I usualy take two 50lbs trolling rods a 20-30lbs boat rod and a spinningrod with me. Heavier tackle is easier to get a hand on when being abroad, its the decent light tackle you want to bring with you!. My travelling rods come from a japanese manufacturer, but an american and also some UK firms have seen the business opportunities and are offering good travelling rods. My rods are only 28" when stored.
• From your searches on the internet, you know what to expect!. If you are going for BIG fish, use a suitable spinning reel. Spinning reels able to cope with african fish will set you back for severall 100 dollars. Its not hte looks or the # of bearrings that counts, but the build in quality and the drag mechanism.
• If you use a multiplier, keep in mind that normally its easier to find a good reel in the 50-130lbs class on a boat then  finding a lighter reel. So bring with you a "light"reel in the 20-50 class.
• I always bring  a bulk spool of the finest monofilament with me. On a charter boat i will often refill the spools with my line.
• if you are like me, from outside the usa, buy your braid on the internet, its often 50% cheaper

fishing:

• use a charterboat at least for once for the first time you visit a place
• try to book in advance
• going with locals is only when you know , what you are doing and can bring your own tackle
• make a choice........... trawling perhaps for hours waiting  for that marlin, or try your luck on fishing for dorado, kingfish barra etc on light tackle. The last choice will surely leave you the boat totally exhausted from continuously drilling fish.