If you are planning your first International Trip, it could be daunting to know exactly what you need to do to arrive successfully in a different country and have an enjoyable stress-free experience.
I have created a list of the must know things you should do before ever stepping foot in a new country.
First off, I am so excited for you! Traveling abroad is one of the most magical experiences I have ever had. To be able to see how others live life. You will gain so many unexpected life lessons, opening your eyes and mind to the differences this Earth has to offer, and gain confidence in yourself for stepping out and doing something so completely different than you have ever experienced. I have come to love the feeling of culture shock, realizing I am not at home anymore, and to experience the different music, foods, and styles that make a place beautiful. You can see my other blog posts for destination specific information from countries I have traveled to, we also have a “Community Forum” page where you can connect with fellow travelers and post your questions for others to answer on destination specific inquiries. Now lets get into it!
Getting your Passport is the first place to start so you will have the ability to go to a different country. This can take up to 6-8 weeks to process and be sent to you or 10-13 weeks if it is a slow period so it is good to get this application started as soon as you know you are going on a trip!
-You will need your Birth Certificate that gets sent in with your application as well as a 2×2 photo with a white background. You can easily get a photo taken at Walgreens/CVS or even Walmart at the Electronics section. It takes roughly 15 minutes and your photo will be printed. Price is around $15.
You may also book a passport appointment online at a post office or county clerk that does them, but these can be booked 4 weeks out in some locations. I just mailed in my application with the required documentation easily enough without booking.
For full US Passport guidelines you may click the official link below to get started:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html
The application costs roughly around $130.00 and a $35.00 execution fee.
It is best to research the countries’ customs and courtesies. The last thing that you would want would be to insult someone by accident, due to a hand gesture you did not realize was offensive in their country. Research the typical greetings for the area and small phrases that would be helpful for getting around if you are going to a country that has a different language.
– One handy app I used religiously is the Google Translate App which not allows you to type in the word or phrase and translate to the language of your choosing but you can also take a photo of the words, or even a menu to see what it says. This App saved me when living in Germany and I was looking for street parking in crowded areas. If you are not too careful you could park somewhere and quickly get towed but I would just snap a photo of their signs and it would translate for me.
– I also love the language app Pimsleur. Its progressed me in learning Spanish much more quickly than anything else I have tried and is a useful tool for learning key phrases in whatever language you need.
Are you going on a Solo trip or with others? As a female, there are certain countries that I will not go to alone, so make sure to do thorough research if you do plan to travel solo or even as a group, to be aware of dangerous areas to avoid. Places like Brazil or touristy spots in Italy or Greece provide the fear of being pickpocketed.
I used a money belt to put my phone, cash, and passport in, in those more dangerous countries, then stuck the belt under my pants so that no one would even be aware of it. Its helpful to get one that has the RFID blocking so that no one can steal your card information. Here is one you can find on Amazon for a cheap price:
Disclosure: This is an affiliate link, so I earn a small commission if you buy. Zero extra cost to you.
See my International Packing List Post below that has a free downloadable PDF International Packing List with everything that you will need for your next trip!
Research how you plan to get around while you are in the country you are visiting. Whether by train, if planning to go long distances, rental car (if public transportation does not go to the specific areas you want to visit), bus, etc. it is handy to know where these avenues are located along your trip route. If taking a trip in Europe and planning to hop to multiple countries, I love to use Ryanair which has very cheap and affordable flights.
If you do plan to get a rental car, which has the benefits of being able to go wherever you want, and is especially helpful when wanting to go on hikes in the countryside be sure to check the age restrictions, and driving rules for the local area. ALSO! Some countries favor manual cars over an automatic vehicle, so if you do not know how to drive a manual vehicle be aware of this.
I had gotten a rental car when traveling through the UK, and they have some strict driving rules, not to mention driving on the other side of the road. this was a bit of an adjustment to get used to at first but became second nature after awhile. They have speed cameras EVERYWHERE though. I definitely received a few tickets after that trip with a fee and a picture of my face while I was driving through a red light by accident. Oops. I must say that they seem to be kind of hidden off to the side, so it was something to get used to. Nevertheless, navigating was not the worst thing ever and I would consider the trip an overall success. But most like to travel by train if they want to avoid that altogether. It just depends on what you wish to do on your trip.
When researching tickets for your trip it is best to book 3-6 months out if possible for the most affordable prices. As stated before Ryanair is a very affordable airline when flying within Europe. Prior to flying internationally, I used to think that I loved the window seat so that I could look out at the views while flying. But I quickly learned this spot was very inconvenient when flying on a plane where you have two other passengers you have to wake up in order to get into the aisle and use the restroom. Ever since my first experience I have always chosen the aisle seat for easy access to stretch my legs and use the restroom when I please. Which seat do you favor most on the plane? Do you believe the middle seat deserves both arm wrests?
I always like to book my hotels prior to my trip when traveling overseas, as it takes the pressure off trying to book a place when I get there and deal with a possible language barrier. Depending on the location, you may want to book a typical hotel. But there are so many other options too.
Some people like to do Hostels. This is a very cheap option usually, if you do not mind sharing close quarters with other people. They typically have a room with bunk beds that you share with fellow travelers and sometimes have a locker you can store your things so that it is secured while you sleep. This option can be cheap and also a good way to meet other people. I have found good/clean hostels in Germany that I liked a lot, but also had some very horrible experiences with this and it is not my preferred choice when traveling since it is such a hit or miss.
My go to is usually Airbnb. I have never had a bad experience with them traveling all throughout Europe. I find it to be really neat, because typically you are staying in someone’s home (which could be shared by the owner or a home to yourself based upon your preference). It provides the most authentic feel, since you see how an actual local lives, and gives a realistic picture of what it would be like to live there. I love this option. But pricing definitely varies per place so look at all of these options to find what works best for you.
When traveling internationally, I like to bring a normal backpack with lots of pockets that you can store a weeks worth of clothing. I prefer to travel lightly so I do not have to send a large bag to its destination and risk it getting lost. Most countries have different power outlets and it is key to purchase an adapter for your trip, that way you will be able to charge or cell phone and other various electronics you plan to bring.
I really like this adapter below that can be used for over 200 different countries:
Disclosure: This is an affiliate link, so I earn a small commission if you buy. Zero extra cost to you.
Please note that this will not convert the voltage, so make sure you are aware of what the device takes prior to plugging it in. I accidentally fried my America coffee pot by using an adapter and plugging it into a German outlet. Poor thing. Most cell phones should plug into other international outlets just fine though.
Please see my International Packing List Post below for a free PDF download of everything you will need on your International trip!
Make sure to call your cell phone company and ask them if you can set your cell phone to International Roaming for the dates that you go on your trip, otherwise your phone will not work at all when you get there, and may make things more challenging for you.
It is always handy to bring at least $200 worth of cash for the specific countries’ currency you plan to go to.
You want to bring enough to get you by in case there are no ATMs available when you get there, but not too much to where you will be a target for pick-pocketing. You can pick up foreign currency at most banks, but note that there is an exchange rate fee applied.
You will also want to see what your banks’ protocol is for traveling to another country, that way if you pay by card in that country, your bank wont accidentally block you card, thinking someone is trying to hack your account. This could cause a very stressful experience if you only have one card to withdraw funds. Research the specific country you are going to, to get specifics on if card is commonly used or cash, as well has how readily available ATMs are in that country to be best prepared for your trip.
This is going to be the trip of a lifetime and where the lifelong memories are formed. Be present, take it all in, and have a blast.
You can post your trip stories and photos by tagging @CetoraMeanders
Leave a comment of the next trip you are planning for below!
