8 Tips for Traveling Abroad
For the first time
“You are still young, free.. Do yourself a favor. Before it’s too late, without thinking too much about it first, pack a pillow and a blanket and see as much of the world as you can. You will not regret it. One day it will be too late.”
-Jhumpa Lahiri
Traveling the world is an exciting experience, but it can be somewhat daunting when it is your first time traveling abroad. However, there is nothing to worry about and why we put together our 8 tips for traveling abroad for the first time.
You don’t have to start traveling the world as a complete novice; with a little research, and light reading, you can learn some pro traveling tips that will help you ensure a comfortable and enjoyable international vacation.
So, let go of the anxiety, and check out these eight tips for traveling abroad for the first time.
Make sure your documents are in order
One of the biggest concerns of first-time travelers is their documents, and for a good reason. All of your documents must be in order if you want to have a smooth trip. The most important document is your passport. Make sure that it isn’t going to expire anytime soon, and it has a visa for the country you’re visiting.
If you are from the US, you will probably be able to visit many countries and get a visa on arrival; however, these visas are usually only for a week or so; therefore, if you plan to stay longer or you are visiting a country that requires you to have a visa, make sure that you get it in time, and have all the requisite stamps on your passport.
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After that, you should also get a physical copy of your plane ticket, and remember to make copies of the identification page on your passport if your documents ever get lost.
Ideally, for your first international trip, you should choose a travel destination that doesn’t require a visa.
Do some research, and learn about the place you are visiting
Whenever you travel to a different country, there is some culture shock that you have to face; therefore, for an amazing trip, you should do some research and learn a little about your destination. For instance, where it might be good manners to tip a waiter in your country, in some countries, like Japan, it is considered to be insulting.
If the people at your travel destination speak a different language, it might also be a good idea to learn some important words and phrases.
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Moreover, researching your destination will make you more familiar with what the country has to offer, and you might also be able to find out about some hidden gems that aren’t that popular with tourists. Sometimes, it can also be very difficult to find a destination for your first international trip, and research can be helpful with that as well.
Create a travel itinerary, and make bookings accordingly
Some people might suggest that you “go with the flow” and not plan everything; however, though being spontaneous can sometimes lead to amazing adventures, it is better to have things planned for your first international trip.
It would be best to plan all the activities you want to do and the spots you want to visit when you are abroad. You should check some travel blogs for the specific destination you visit and find out what attractions the region has.
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You can then use this information to create a travel itinerary, which allows you to be more organized and make arrangements even before you reach the country.
For instance, imagine you reach your destination, and when you go to check into the hotel you wanted to stay at, you find that it is fully booked, or maybe too expensive. These situations can be problematic and cause unnecessary stress.
Therefore, make bookings for hotels, resorts, and other things on your itinerary before you leave.
Make sure that you have the essentials for a comfortable flight
A common mistake that many new travelers make is that they don’t consider how comfortable the flight will be. Though you might not think that this is a big deal, when you are taking a long flight and staying at a destination for a short time, it can completely ruin your vacation.
An uncomfortable flight can make jet lag worse and make you so tired that you aren’t going to enjoy the first day at your destination. Therefore, make sure that you take some steps to make the flight more comfortable.
Firstly, you should dress appropriately; you should not wear any jewelry or extra items to take off and put on during the screening. Moreover, remember to take a neck pillow and a pair of earplugs so that you can rest in the plane and lessen the jet lag. Check out some reviews for earplugs so that you can get the best quality.
Make a detailed budget plan
Whether it is international or within the country, one of the most important aspects is the budget with any vacation or trip. It would be best to make sure that the destination you are visiting is within your budget range and make decisions with your budget in mind.
Depending on how you visit a country, there can be quite a difference in how much money you need to spend. If you have a healthy budget, you have a lot more freedom regarding where you choose to stay, what you eat, and what activities you participate in. However, if your budget is a little tight, you need to be a little more conscious.
If your budget is tight, you should choose a budget-friendly destination. For instance, you can visit many Asian, European, and South American countries for a budget of under $50 a day, and if you are backpacking, that can go even lower.
Therefore, the thing to remember is that your budget is a very important factor, and you should make sure that you have a good plan to make your money last for the duration of the trip because you wouldn’t want to be stuck in a foreign country with no money.
Travel light and functionally
Most people who are traveling for the first time tend to overpack. However, ideally, your luggage should be as light as possible, because that allows you to be more mobile. Moreover, as your luggage increases, so do the complications with traveling.
Ideally, you should limit your luggage to a carry-on and don’t overthink the things you need. Stick to the essentials, and don’t take any what-if items.
Moreover, it is very important to pack functionally according to the destination you are visiting. For instance, if the weather at your destination will be cold, you will need warm clothes. Similarly, if you visit a beach destination, it is important to pack a swimming suit and some light clothes.
Use travel apps to get better deals
Traveling abroad can take a lot of planning, and it is usually not easy to find the best deals; however, these days, travel apps have made it very easy to find the best hotels, restaurants, and flights at the most affordable rates.
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If you want to handle your first international trip like a pro, you need to get familiar with these excellent applications. Here are some that you should download on your phone now.
Hostelworld: if you are backpacking, this app can help you find travel hostels. It lets you search using filters and descriptions, and shows the location on a map as well.
Skyscanner: This app helps you find the best deals on flights.
Yelp: Yelp is a very useful app; it helps you find the best hotels, read reviews, check menus, and do much other stuff. You should also check out Openrice, which is like yelp for Asia.
Trivago: Trivago helps you find the best hotels for the most reasonable price.
It would be best if you also used more popular apps like Airbnb for finding accommodation and Uber for transport.
Prepare yourself mentally
Traveling to another country can be complicated, and no matter how excited you are, you need to mentally prepare for the fact that you will be away from your home, in a foreign and different place.
Moreover, though planning and preparing physically make the trip easier, if you think that everything will go according to your plan without a hitch, let me assure you, that is rarely ever the case.
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Therefore, you must be mentally prepared. You need to keep an open mind and be ready for cultural changes. Be mentally prepared for meeting new people and facing some slight problems as well. This will allow you to stay calm and handle any problems logically and sensibly.
Moreover, being mentally prepared allows you to be more confident and less anxious about the vacation.
There are many incredible destinations on this planet, and unfortunately, most of us don’t get the privilege of traveling. However, when we finally do make the time and get the budget for our first international trip, it is very common for most of us to get a little anxious and worried.
However, I hope that I was able to fix this problem through this post. All you have to do is follow the tips mentioned in this post, and you will be able to avoid a lot of travel-related issues.
Stay Gold.
