33 Helpful Tips For Traveling Internationally the First Time
TRAVELING ABROAD FOR THE FIRST TIME AND NOT SURE WHAT YOU NEED?
I’m a European travel expert, and over the past decade, I’ve traveled internationally a ton. Meaning, I’ve figured out how to travel well, and I’ve made plenty of mistakes, too! In this blog post, I’ll provide some international travel tips and advice for first-time travelers to help make their journey smoother and more enjoyable. From packing essentials to cultural etiquette, I’ll cover everything you need to know to have a successful and memorable international adventure.
Traveling internationally for the first time is an exciting yet daunting experience.
It’s a chance to explore new cultures, taste new cuisines, and create lasting and life-changing memories. However, it can also be overwhelming to navigate unfamiliar customs, languages, and currencies.
I took my first international trip in 2014, and it was an unforgettable experience. But I did it all wrong. Between 5 countries, countless cities, and way too many currency changes, I messed up plenty.
Long story short, having the advice below as a first time international traveler could’ve helped my trip run so much smoother and be even more fantastic than it was.
Planning a Trip Soon? Use My Favorite Resources Below!
Booking a Flight: Use Skyscanner to find the best prices!
Accommodations: I love Booking.com!
Travel Insurance: SafetyWing Is the best in the industry!
Things to Do: Use Viator for amazing experiences!
Car Rental: In Europe, I recommend DiscoverCars
Logistics & International Travel Tips For Planning Your First Time Abroad
The logistics of travel documents and planning can be one of the most daunting parts of adventuring internationally for the first time. Here’s what you need to know:
✔️ 1. Get Your Passport in Order!
First, get a valid passport. And then…Understand that some countries require your passport to be valid for 6 months AFTER your return date, or you will not be permitted to board your international flight.
Even if you’re returning on March 6th and your passport expires on March 26th…it’s a no-go. Don’t even try. Seriously…my friend and I were at the airport, ready to head to Barcelona, and were denied boarding because her passport expired earlier than 6 months after our return. (Hi, Jen! Still love you, though!).
Don’t let that happen to you. It is a HUGE disappointment (And annoyance as you’re unpacking).
✔️ 2.Make Copies Of Your Passport + Other Important Documents!
Have physical AND electronic copies of your passport. The last thing you want is to be stranded with no passport in a foreign country. Thankfully, extra copies of your passport can help prevent delays and will be helpful in getting a temporary passage from an embassy.
You’ll also want to have copies of any other important documents. I generally store these in my luggage and in my carry-on. Just in case I get separated from my checked baggage.
✔️ 3. Register Your Trip With the International State Department (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program)
Register your trip locations and dates with The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. This will notify appropriate United States embassies and consulates that you are traveling abroad. It can be exceptionally useful in a few events:
⭐ If there is an emergency or catastrophe, the embassy will know to look for you in that country
and can easily assist you.
⭐ If you happen to lose a passport or need other assistance, they will already see the record of your
trip.
You can register with the International State Department here.
✔️ 4. Plan Your First Time Traveling Internationally, But Don’t Overplan It
Have a fantastic itinerary for your first trip abroad, but don’t schedule yourself down to every last minute.
It can be tempting to pack your days full of amazing things to do, but you want to leave some time to explore on your own. You’re apt to walk past a store you’re dying to check out or see a cute bakery that makes your mouth water.
If you have a jam-packed itinerary, you won’t be able to stop and smell the roses or wander around.
✔️ 5. Print Confirmation Paperwork
Have hard copies with you for all of your major bookings: flights, hotels, trains, tours, car rentals, etc.
In the era of wifi and cell phones, many people rely on email confirmations in the event of confusion. However, it is pretty much guaranteed (Newton’s law or something like that, right?) that the moment you need access to your email, wifi and phone service won’t be working for you.
Plus, you don’t want to have to sift through confirmations while you’re dealing with a frustrated gate agent. Have a folder with printed confirmations, and whip that baby out in the event of an issue.
✔️ 6. Purchase Travel Insurance
Purchasing travel insurance is one of the best ways to protect yourself from losing out on a ton of money.
Most first-time travelers don’t realize just how much travel insurance does. It covers you in the event of most cancellations, weather delays, lost luggage, health emergencies, and many other nuanced situations that can delay or ruin your international trip.
I only ever purchase travel insurance through SafetyWing. Their flexible policies and customer service have always made the process easy and reliable.
Tips: What to Pack
Pretty much everyone I know (including myself) has either under-packed or severely over-packed the first time they were traveling internationally. This is how to do it the right way!
✔️ 7. Consult a Packing List
An international travel tip you can’t afford to skip: Research what you need to take with you ahead of time!
You do not want to take your first trip abroad and forget something absolutely vital that you had no idea you needed.
Like, seriously, who knew you needed a power adapter just to plug in your straightener or phone charger? Yep, you do! Don’t get caught without the tools you need to make your first trip abroad a success.
Similarly, a travel passport wallet is one of the top travel items I recommend everyone have on hand.
✈️ Need a full printable packing list for your first international trip? Here’s everything you need to take with you!
✔️ 8. Spend The Money on Good Luggage
Save yourself the trouble. Buy good luggage!
There is (almost) nothing worse than traipsing around a foreign country with broken luggage. You know- walking to your hotel, dragging (or carrying) all of that stuff you just had to have with you on your trip.
Pro Travel Tip: You want luggage that rolls all ways and is reliable. I personally love this soft-sided set, but if you prefer a hard-sided suitcase, this Samsonite one is also a great choice!
✔️ 9. Mark Your Luggage Visibly
Buy something to mark your luggage with! Because basically everyone in the world travels with black luggage.
Have you ever seen a packed baggage carousel? In the massive sea of black bags, you know what stands out? Bright colors. Flashy tags.
I generally go for my personal favorite…Pomchies! Little pom poms that snap right onto your luggage handle.
I can’t make myself buy anything but black (sorry not sorry!), but, if you’re really into being visible, you can always purchase a colored suitcase, too!
✔️ 10. Don’t Overpack
Do not cram your suitcase full on your way to your destination.
This will prevent you from being able to purchase souvenirs or other items you decide you want to bring back. Trust me, I have had to pay $150 to check a suitcase full of extra things (granted, it was planned).
Leave room in your suitcase; you need less than you think you do.
✔️ 11. You Need to be Able to Carry Your Luggage
An often overlooked travel tip: You WILL need to walk with your luggage at some point during your travels. Therefore, you don’t want anything more than a backpack (personal item) and a suitcase.
If you can’t walk through a street to your hotel with it in one trip, you should not pack it. You will feel like a pack mule and regret it.
⭐ The first time I took her abroad, my mom brought a TON of stuff. Like…multiple small bottles of bath bubbles (because we had time for that 😂) and could not get across the streets of Amsterdam without help.
She was frustrated, and so were we (Hi, Mom!). Don’t be that person.
✔️ 12. Bring a Bag to Carry During the Day
Having a crossbody bag or other small bag for daily explorations is one of my top tips for traveling internationally for the first time.
Your backpack or personal item from the plane is too big to carry around cities during the day. Plus, many places, for example, churches or historical sites like the Anne Frank House, will not let you take large bags inside with you.
A crossbody bag or a belt bag is a perfect option because it is secure and compact, yet large enough to carry a few must-have items with you like money, chapstick, or sunglasses.
✔️ 13. Invest in Great Shoes
You cannot travel abroad as a first-time international traveler without comfortable walking shoes.
When traveling, you’ll walk so much more than usual-especially if you are traveling to larger cities like Paris, Krakow, or Edinburgh.
Buying comfortable shoes guarantees that you’ll be able to have an enjoyable trip. The alternative is getting blisters, being uncomfortable, and, depending on how badly your feet hurt, being unable to walk around the next few days.
✔️ 14. Know What Will Make Your Long-Haul Flight More Comfortable
There are international travel tips that you can use to make that long flight a bit more bearable.
Plan ahead and figure out what YOU would like to bring. This can vary for just about everyone.
I personally always have with me things to do (a book, my airpods, etc.), chargers, snacks, water, toiletries, a change of clothes, a face mask for moisturizing, and fuzzy socks so that I can take off my shoes but not touch the nasty airplane floor-ew.
Whatever will make you comfortable- bring it along!
All Things Money, Cards & Currency
It often goes unnoticed that one of the largest things to plan for when you’re traveling internationally for the first time is how you’ll access money and how you’ll get local currency. Luckily, I’ve perfected this process for you step-by-step!
✔️ 15. Don’t Exchange Money Ahead of Time
Wait a beat and exchange your currency locally once you arrive at your destination. Exchanging ahead of time in the United States will not get you the best bang for your buck.
Plus, you don’t want to carry around a ton of extra cash during your flight or lengthy travel. Talk about an easy way to lose your money…yikes!
Tip: I generally do exchange money at the airport just so that I have local currency right away. However, you’ll find the best exchange rates at local banks.
✔️ 16. But…Carry Cash
You need to have cash in the local currency. Pre-Covid, cash was king in many countries- especially in Europe. Although countries are moving towards being cashless now more than ever, there are still many times you’ll need cold hard dinero.
Smaller cafes and restaurants, local artisans, and street food vendors are just a few of the places you DEFINITELY want to visit that likely won’t accept card or touchless pay.
Trust me, missing out on an experience you really want just because you don’t have cash is THE WORST.
⭐ Europe Tip: You’ll want to carry cash AND coins as most countries in Europe only have paid public toilets!
Take it from someone who has been there…you don’t want to be wandering around Paris trying to find a bathroom at the last minute just to find out you need a Euro and you don’t have one. It is awful. And embarrassing.
✔️ 17. Bring a Credit Card (With No Foreign Transaction Fees)
Bring a credit card along with you on your trip- preferably one that has no foreign transaction fees.
Although you can use cash, you will also frequently need to use a card too in order to avoid stopping by ATMs constantly. Taking out cash charges a transaction fee, whereas a credit card with no foreign transaction fees will be free to use.
Just be sure to choose the local currency at checkout in order to get the best conversion.
✔️ 18. And Bring an Extra Credit Card, Too!
Stash an extra credit card in your suitcase or in your hotel safe. That way, if the notorious European pickpockets get you, or you lose your wallet, you won’t be completely out of luck.
You’ll still have an extra card stowed away for an emergency!
✔️ 19. Notify Credit Card Company That You’re Traveling
Let your credit card company know where you are traveling and when. Depending on your bank and the type of card you have, you might be told to skip this step. But, I HIGHLY recommend you do it anyway.
I once forgot to tell my credit card company that I was traveling, and they shut off BOTH of the credit cards I had with me. I was stuck in Amsterdam without access to money. I had to three-way call my parents and my bank to get it fixed- a nightmare you don’t want to add to your first international trip.
Save yourself the headache and call!
Technology Tips to Use Before Your First International Trip
Things like apps and how you’ll use technology abroad are important pieces to consider prior to your travels. They can both make traveling significantly easier and more convenient!
✔️ 20. Plan For Your Phone
Decide whether or not you need an international phone plan.
Most carriers offer daily rates for unlimited data and calls internationally. For instance, the AT&T plan that I use charges me $10/day for international access. Verizon offers a similar option.
You can simply call your phone carrier and ask them what their options are and put this plan on your device.
Tip: If you have an iPhone, you may decide you do not need a phone plan. You’ll be able to utilize wifi at public places, hotels, and other locations in order to access apps, iMessage, Facetime, or communicate via WhatsApp. However, you won’t be able to text or call.
✔️ 21. Check the Weather. Then Check it Again.
You need to keep tabs on the weather in the country you’re traveling to…and you need to pack for it.
Download your favorite weather app and check a few weeks or months in advance just to get an idea of what you might need to start purchasing. Then, check a week or two in advance as you start setting things aside to pack.
Finally, double-check the weather the week of your trip as you’re packing. This will tell you what types of clothing to pack and whether you need any additional items like heavy boots or a particularly weather-durable jacket.
✔️ 22. Know a Few Phrases
Learn some key words and phrases in the native language prior to your first international trip.
Being able to use common courtesy in a foreign country will go a long way toward making traveling internationally for the first time so much easier. People all over the world genuinely appreciate when you attempt to say hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and good morning in their native language.
In addition, you do not want to get caught in a situation where you need a bathroom badly and cannot find one. Always know how to ask for a restroom.
You don’t have to be an expert! Just try to learn a few phrases.
✔️ 23. Use Google Translate
Don’t be afraid to utilize tools like Google Translate to help you out!
If you grab the app ahead of time, you can download specific languages so that they can be used offline. Meaning, whether you have an international phone plan or wifi at the time or not, you’ll still always have access to the translations.
While many countries speak English in tourist areas, this can be useful if you come across a language barrier!
✔️ 24. Download Offline Maps Ahead of Time
It’s a great idea to download city maps from Google Maps ahead of time so that you can use them offline as well.
This will prevent you from getting into a situation where you are unsure of directions or where to go and have no way of finding your way around.
Regardless of service, you’ll be able to search locations and instructions for travel. This article has easy directions on how to download these offline maps.
You’ve Made It! On-Trip Tips
Finally, some of my tried-and-true tips for how to maximize your time abroad in the best ways.
✔️ 25. Try Local Grocery Stores
When you’re traveling abroad for the first time, you want to try all the foods, right? Look, it sounds a little out there, but this is like my FAVORITE tip for traveling internationally ever (can you tell I love food?).
Each country you travel to likely has its own chain of local grocery stores. In the United Kingdom, you’ll find Tesco. In the Netherlands, Albert Heijn. In Poland, Biedronka. In France, Monoprix.
These local grocery stores are THE BEST PLACES to grab food and try it. It’ll be a wild guessing game of trying to decipher packaging based on photos and words you know, but it’ll be an experience for sure!
⭐ Pro Tip: Get water bottles each day at the grocery stores. It’s so much cheaper than buying water elsewhere, it’ll help you stay hydrated, and you’ll have something to sip on back at your hotel!
✔️ 26. Public Transportation is Better
In most of the larger international cities (and, really, even smaller ones), public transportation is a godsend.
In the United States, we are so used to shunning public transport. It’s inefficient, it’s often dirty, and it is not cost-effective for the most part.
Internationally, this couldn’t be more false. You WANT to take public transportation while you’re traveling abroad for the first time. Particularly in Europe, the network of trains, buses, trams, and other types of travel are so intricate and efficient that it saves an incredible amount of time.
You’ll also get a legitimate local feel if you take public transport. You might get on the wrong train, head in the wrong direction, or feel like you stand out from the crowd. But, again, you’ll remember the experience forever.
😂 Embarrassing Story Time: One time, I tried to get off of a tram in Amsterdam at the last minute, tripped over my suitcase, and fell flat on my face in front of a bunch of local Dutch people. I felt like an idiot (my husband never lets me live it down- even still), but everyone was so sweet and helpful.
Hey, it happens to the best of us. Don’t be afraid to try public transport! What’s the worst that could happen!?
✔️ 27. Don’t Block Lanes
Watch out for European traffic lanes (Ex: the fietspad-bike lane- in the Netherlands) because you will get run over.
In the U.S., we don’t really have alternate traffic lanes other than our traditional car ones. At least, they’re not extraordinarily frequent. In Europe and other places, this couldn’t be less true.
In the Netherlands, for example, you’ll often have lanes for cars, lanes for bikes, and walking paths, too! It is so easy to find yourself in the middle of these lanes without even knowing it.
Pay attention! And, for the love of God, stay out of the fietspad 🙃
✔️ 28. Look For the Locals
Locals know what they’re doing- follow them.
If a restaurant or store is empty aside from people with tour stickers and souvenir bags- avoid it! Locals know where the hidden gems are.
Keep an eye out for populated cafes, bars with relaxed locals, and stores that are not tacky chains. You’ll have a better overall experience trying out what is really awesome in a given country vs. what the internet and tourists say is awesome.
✔️ 29. Eat Off the Beaten Path
DO NOT eat anywhere within a few hundred feet of a large monument, attraction, or historical site. You will never- I repeat, never– find great food in these tourist areas.
Walk away from the Eiffel Tower, the Rialto Bridge, the Grand Place. Find restaurants down a side street and enjoy some of the best foods of your entire life.
✔️ 30. More People Will Speak English Than You Think
A significant number of the people you come across during your international travels will likely speak English, so you do not need to expend energy worrying that you’ll never be able to communicate with anyone.
The first time I traveled abroad, we had a stop in Poland, which was much less of a popular tourist destination at the time. I was so concerned that we’d be stuck in Krakow for a few days, trying desperately to translate Polish.
Well, guess what…pretty much everyone in Krakow spoke English just fine. No sweat.
Getting Into a Traveling Mindset
Traveling well is not as easy as just hopping on a plane and doing the damn thing. You also have to prepare yourself for the journey. You have to get into the correct traveling mindset.
✔️ 31. Get Ready to Be Outside Your Comfort Zone
At some point in your trip, you will be uncomfortable. Rules of the game, my friend.
Recognize that you did not travel across the world to experience the very same things you could easily have experienced at home.
Travel intentionally pushes you out of that little zone where you feel safe. Learn from it and embrace it! Be intrigued by what lies past those boundaries you’ve set for yourself.
✔️ 32. Don’t Take Things Personally
The customs of other countries are NOT the same as the customs in ours.
You’ve likely heard, for example, that Germans or French people can be curt and unkind.
The reality is that the German language sounds rougher than it is in general, and French people have just gotten a bad rap likely due to a disdain for small talk.
What’s rude in your country may not be considered rude in another. Try not to take anything personally. Unless you’re being raucous, obscene, and massively inconsiderate, I promise, it’s not about you.
✔️ 33. Be Flexible
Things will go wrong the first time you’re traveling internationally. It’s like an unwritten rule, and it just be like that sometimes.
It is incredibly easy to allow these setbacks, route changes, or inconveniences to impact your entire mindset, and, therefore, your entire trip. Don’t let it!
Be as flexible as you can! It’ll help you have the most amazing time.
Everything You Need to Know For Your First International Trip
That’s a wrap! My top 33 tips to help you have a smooth, successful, and, most important, ENJOYABLE first time traveling internationally.
Exploring new countries and cities is life-changing, and I know you’ll come back with memories you’ll never forget!
Safe travels!
