Introduction
I love to travel. I love getting to know different cultures, meeting new people and experiencing new things. That being said, sometimes it can be hard to decide where to go next! You might have a list of places you’d like to see, but what if you don’t know anyone who has been there before? Or maybe you’ve never even been out of the country before? Don’t worry: there are ways around these problems and more! With some planning ahead of time and some helpful tips from other travelers who’ve done it right before me, I’m going on my first international trip ever this summer—and I’m thrilled about it!
Figure out which type of trip you’re going on.
Now that you know what kind of trip you want to take, it’s time to figure out which type of trip you’re going on. This will help determine how much money and/or time is needed for your trip.
First, consider whether or not this is a first-time travel experience for yourself. If so, then perhaps some smaller cities would be best for your first time because they have less tourist attractions and fewer things going on during the day (like museums). If this is not the case for whatever reason (maybe because you don’t want too many things happening), then larger cities may be better since there are more things happening in them during the day; however, even these places can still be fun if done right!
The second thing worth considering when deciding what type of travel experience works best for one person versus another person like ourselves here at [Company Name] Travel Services LLC:
Pack light, but not too light.
Packing light is the name of the game when you’re traveling to a place you know nothing about. But that doesn’t mean you should pack for absolute zero, either! You’ll be thankful for every extra ounce of clothing if your flight goes through turbulence or if it rains during your trip.
Pack for the worst conditions—but also pack for what could be an exceptionally good day out in nature (or at least somewhere with lots of green). If there’s any chance that you might need an umbrella on your travels, bring one; if there’s any chance that there’ll be snow or sleet on demand, expect those conditions too!
Your packing list should include:
- Clothes suitable for short-term travel—and maybe even long-term travel (if possible)
- Sun protection devices like hats/scarves/sunglasses
Talk to people who have been there before you.
Before you go, talk to people who have been there before you. This can be a friend or family member who has traveled there and can give you the inside scoop on what to expect, or it could be someone in the travel community who has visited that location before. You could also talk to people who work for airlines and hotels—they’re likely far more familiar with travel destinations than anyone else!
If possible, try asking questions on social media platforms like Reddit and Twitter, where there are many active discussions about places across the world. You might even find some useful tips or tricks from these conversations (like how not to get robbed while traveling abroad).
Read travel blogs before and after your trip.
Before you go, it’s always a good idea to read travel blogs about the place in question. You can learn about the culture, food and language of your destination. You will also find out what things to avoid and places to avoid when traveling there. This way you are prepared for anything that might happen during your trip!
Take a small amount of cash and a credit card that doesn’t charge big fees.
When it comes to traveling, you want to be as prepared as possible. The last thing you want is for your trip to go south because of an unforeseen expense. It’s best not to take too much cash or too many cards with you on your trip—and even worse if one of those things happens!
If possible, avoid using a debit card at all costs. Debit cards charge high fees when used overseas and can come with restrictions such as being unable to withdraw money from ATMs while abroad. A good rule of thumb is that if the bank charges foreign transaction fees (which is usually anywhere between 2-5%), then don’t use that card! You also shouldn’t use any credit cards that charge high interest rates or have annual fees (or both).
Don’t travel during peak season unless it’s part of your plan to do so.
If you’ve decided that it’s necessary to visit a place during peak season, consider this:
- The more people there are in the area, the more traffic and noise you’ll encounter.
- Traffic jams are common during rush hours (often between 9am and 3pm), which can make sightseeing difficult or impossible.
- Peak-season prices usually include transport costs—but if you’re on a budget and don’t have time for expensive taxis or buses, these can add up quickly.
You can make it work if you give yourself enough time to prepare for a trip and are committed to having an amazing experience!
- You can make it work if you give yourself enough time to prepare for a trip and are committed to having an amazing experience!
- Be flexible. This is the whole point of traveling, right? If something doesn’t work out as planned, then that’s okay! Just keep going and try again another time.
- Don’t over plan: there will always be unexpected circumstances that come up during your trip that may require improvisation or change in plans — so don’t stress about it too much (you’ll figure out what works).
- Be open-minded when it comes to new experiences; sometimes the best way of learning about a place is through experiencing it firsthand rather than reading about what others have seen/done there before yourself.* Don’t bring too much with you on these trips since space can get very limited depending on where we’re going.* Make sure our attitude stays positive no matter how challenging things might feel at times!
Conclusion
If you’re thinking about traveling to a place you know nothing about, I hope these tips can help you get started. It’s not easy, but it’s doable — and when you arrive at your destination, it will be worth every second of your effort!