Your First Trip Abroad: 20 Essential Tips for New Travelers
Nineteen-year-old me during my first trip abroad. I am now slightly less awkward when posing for photos.
I was 19 when I first set foot outside of America. My sister and I had traveled to Manchester, the first stop on what would be a week-long road trip across England. I can still remember the sense of awe mixed with surrealism I experienced upon disembarking from the plane. I had never been so far from home, but rather than frighten me, the realization sent a thrill through me, planting the seed of what would become a passion.
In the intervening years, I have had the opportunity to travel fairly extensively, and as I reflect back on that first trip abroad, I can’t help but think of all of the ways that I have grown as a traveler. Every trip that I have taken has been a learning experience, imparting me with a fresh piece of wisdom or helpful tidbit, and I am now going to pass on that knowledge to you.
These are the travel tips that I wish someone had shared with me all those years ago when I was planning my first international trip.
1. The Two-Day Rule
As tempting as it might be to see as many cities as possible when you are visiting a new country, don’t. Always spend at least two days in a given location before moving on to the next, as this will ensure that you have a buffer between your travel days. My husband and I once had a vacation where we were on the move every single day, and I would not recommend it. We were tired from constantly being on the go, and the end result was that we didn’t enjoy the trip very much.
2. Plan but Don’t Overplan
When planning a vacation, I like to use what I call the “menu approach.” I research the location and create a list of all of the sights and activities I am interested in, and once I am over there, I pick and choose from that list. In the past, I have created detailed itineraries for trips, and I have found that they do more harm than good. Having designated start and end times for every activity can be anxiety-provoking, as you always have to be conscious of the time to ensure that you aren’t late for your next planned event.
3. Be Aware of Timed Ticket Requirements
As a caveat to the previous rule, book timed tickets when necessary. Certain attractions and activities require you to book timed tickets in advance and do not offer same-day tickets. So, for everything that you add to your trip’s menu, be sure to research the ticket requirements.
4. Find the Best Flight Price
Google Flights is a great resource for researching flight costs and tracking prices over time. If you have some flexibility over when and where you fly, Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) is another useful tool. Once you sign up and enter your airport, they will email you alerts when prices for flights out of that airport drop.
5. Download Offline Maps
If you are going to be relying on Google Maps for navigation, download an offline map of the area that you will be visiting. In the event that you find yourself in a data dead zone, having an offline map will ensure that you are still able to get directions to wherever you need to go. Offline maps have saved my skin on more than one occasion.
Tulip fields in Netherlands
6. Have a Backup to Your Backup Map
Even with offline maps, your phone is never 100% reliable. It can freeze, malfunction, or worst case, cease working (I speak from experience). You never want to put yourself in a position where you are entirely reliant upon your phone for directions, so you should always pack an old-fashioned paper map in your luggage. You don’t need to buy a clunky, spiral-bound atlas; a foldable map will do just fine.
7. Check Carry-On Weight Restrictions
Certain airlines, particularly budget ones, have weight restrictions for carry-on luggage, so you should always check whether yours does. The last thing you want is to be told at the flight gate that your carry-on is too heavy and that you will have to check it (and pay an additional fee).
8. Duffel Bags for the Win
If your flight does have carry-on weight restrictions, invest in a duffel bag, as they weigh substantially less than a roller suitcase.
9. You Don’t Always Need to Rent a Car
This tip is geared toward my fellow Americans. I get it, here in America, we need a car to get around most places, but that is not the case in other parts of the world. In many European countries, for instance, there are vast train networks that can get you from Point A to B without much fuss. So, before you book a rental car, look into whether there are any viable public transit options (your wallet will thank you).
10. Credit Card Car Rental Insurance
If you do have to rent a car, look into whether your credit card offers car rental insurance as one of their perks. If they do, be sure to inquire about what they do vs don’t cover as part of the insurance (e.g., damage, theft, liability, etc.) and if the coverage is offered in the country that you will be visiting (oftentimes, credit card companies will have a list of countries that are excluded from coverage). Being able to use your credit card’s car rental insurance can save you a fair amount of money, as the insurance offered by car rental agencies is often quite pricey.
Me riding a bike along the Seine in Paris
11. International Driving Permit (IDP)
This is another tip for my American readers. If you plan on renting a car in another country, always check whether an IDP (essentially a translation of your driver’s license) is required. The State Department’s website has a country look-up feature that allows you to see whether one is required. Simply type in the name of the country, then scroll down to the ‘Travel and Transportation’ section. If an IDP is required, it will be noted, and information on how to attain one will be provided.
12. Standard Transmission Is Standard
Here in the US, the vast majority of people drive cars with an automatic transmission. In other countries, that is not the case. In Europe, for instance, most cars have a manual transmission, and that extends to rental cars. Many rental agencies will only have a limited number of automatic transmission vehicles, so be sure to book in advance to secure one. Given their premium nature, you should also be prepared to pay more for an automatic car.
13. Buy Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is one of those things that you hope to never need, but when you need it, you’re glad you have it. While waiting for a flight home several years ago, I overheard a man with crutches tell another passenger about how he had injured himself while skiing in the Alps. He had been taken to the hospital and treated, but because he did not have travel insurance, he was on the hook for the entire medical bill, which was several thousand dollars. Don’t wind up like that guy – buy the travel insurance.
14. Bring a Battery Pack
Using your phone, be it for navigating or taking photos, drains its battery, and having a battery pack on you can be a lifesaver. During our trip to London last winter, my husband and I forgot to bring our battery pack, and there was one day when we both nearly ran out of charge on our phones. Had we remembered our battery pack, it would have been a nonissue, but alas, we were left worrying over whether our phones (and by extension, our cameras) would die before we got back to the hotel.
15. Research Tipping
While 20% might be the standard tip amount here in the States, that is by no means the global standard. In many European countries, for example, waiters are paid a higher salary and are thus tipped a lower amount.
Estate of Trianon at Versailles
16. Ask for the Check
Another difference between restaurants here in the US vs. Europe (and potentially elsewhere): the bill is not automatically brought to you. In each of the countries that I have visited in Europe, I have had to ask for the check.
17. Avoid Traveling During Peak Season
If possible, travel during the shoulder season, that period of time between peak season and offseason. There are fewer tourists, and amenities, including hotels, tend to be cheaper.
18. Learn Some Key Phrases
If you are traveling to a country where your native language is not the primary spoken language, learn several key phrases in the local language. Knowing them can help you in a pinch, and it also communicates to locals that you are making an effort vs. assuming that they speak your language (this is especially true for English speakers).
19. The Americano Coffee
What we, Americans, consider coffee (a.k.a. drip coffee) is hard to come by in Europe. Most cafés will only serve espresso-based beverages, and the closest drink to a coffee that they will offer is an Americano (espresso + water). Also, some places might say that they serve coffee and then give you an Americano. That’s not to say that you can’t find drip coffee anywhere in Europe; it’s simply more uncommon over there.
20. Eat in at Least Once per Day
To save on money, try to cook yourself at least one meal per day. I like to book hotels that have a kitchenette or at the very least, a fridge and microwave so I can make myself breakfast every morning. My go-to breakfast on vacation is oatmeal with fresh fruit – it’s filling, healthy, and easy to make.
And there you have it, my 20 tips for the first-time traveler. I hope that these help you in planning your next trip, and as always, if you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below!
Happy travels!
