The Best International Travel Tips for First Time Travelers

February 06, 2018-Jennifer Dorothy

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Traveling with friends can be great, but make sure you find time for yourself in each day so you don't get overwhelmed; same goes for an escorted tour.


No matter how much of your home country you've seen, it's exciting to think about going somewhere completely new, different, and foreign. It's can also be a little scary, confusing, and require some additional logistics – and that's perfectly okay! If you're feeling a little confused, here are the most essential international travel tips for first-timers:

Deciding Where to Go for Your First International Trip

If you aren't even sure where you want to go, this can be a big hurdle for your first trip abroad. Personally, I have always had a list ten miles long of destinations I wanted to visit someday, but even then: how was I to choose the first one?



Here are some important things to ask yourself as you try and narrow down a literal world of choices:
Do you want to stay close to your home country, or go far away?Do you speak a foreign language? Or, are you comfortable traveling to a place where you don't speak the language?
Do you eagerly look forward to making new friends and connecting with locals? Or, are you more comfortable traveling with people you already know?What is the most exciting part of your trip, in your mind?
Some options include seeing beautiful buildings and architecture, eating delicious or unusual foods, meeting new people, wanting to lay on a beach or climb a mountain, or just wanting to party.
You can choose any or all of these options, but it might help to figure out which 1-2 are the most appealing. What is your comfort level about different countries you have in mind?
Some people are willing to travel to more "risky" countries right away, whereas others like to travel in safer countries first.



Once you've thought about these questions, hopefully, you can narrow down your choices to one or two countries.
In case you're still unsure, a good recommendation for first-time travelers is to visit Western Europe or the United Kingdom. Most people speak English (even if it's not the national language), there are good transportation options (buses, trains, and airplanes), and lots of culture to experience for the first time.
Australia and New Zealand are equally easy, but slightly more adventurous destinations. If you really want to go somewhere different, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Thailand are great first-time destinations for travelers to test the waters in a non-Western destination.

Planning Your First Trip AbroadOnce you've decided where you're going to go, there are several more important things to consider:For how long you'd like to be travelingWhere you would like to visit in the country/countries you've chosenWhat kinds of places you would like to stay in (e.g. hostels, hotels, vacation rentals, campgrounds, etc.)What budget you haveHow you'll get thereIf you want to do an escorted tour, go solo, or with friendsRegarding the last point, this is a big one: on my first international trip, I did all three! I arrived on my own for a few days, met up with friends for a few more days, and then joined an escorted group tour for the last couple days. Traveling with friends can be great, but make sure you find time for yourself in each day so you don't get overwhelmed; same goes for an escorted tour. The nice thing about both traveling with friends and a group tour is that you have people to enjoy all of the sights with!

Give Yourself Enough Time to Get over Your Jet Lag and Enjoy

A 7-10 day trip is a great length for your first trip – or 4-7 days per country you're going to visit. It's enough time to really experience the cities you want to visit, but not so much that you'll be super homesick by the end.
At the same time, you'll want to take into account that you may experience jet lag. A good rule of thumb is that it can take up to a week to adjust for every 8 time zones you change. So, if you're flying from Los Angeles to London, you can expect several days where your brain and body are adjusting to the new time zone.
Some quick tips to zap jet lag? Drink plenty of water, sleep on your new time zone, and eat the first meal possible at the appropriate time in your destination. Even if you arrive at an odd hour, try to put yourself on a "normal" sleeping schedule and resist naps. No matter what, be sure to consider whether you need an extra day or two in your schedule to adjust.

Save Money by Looking at Different Ways of Getting Around & Accommodation OptionsMost international trips are going to require you to fly there, but for getting around your destination, consider other options such as a road trip or trains. I personally like using Rio2Rome and GoEuro (only in Europe) to figure out which mode of transportation will be quickest/cheapest.This is one of the biggest questions for travelers at every level of experience: how far in advance should you book your trip?Also, riding the bus in a lot of countries (Spain, Thailand, Costa Rica) is actually pretty nice and not at all like hanging around a sketchy Greyhound station in the U.S. Don't write off that option -- it can often be cheaper and quicker than the train!
As for accommodations, it's also good to look around. While hotels are always a good option, don't forget to do research on hostels and Airbnb options where you're traveling – these offer you the chance to connect with other travelers while you're there.

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