Traveling is a transformative experience, one that will enable you to discover new places, make memories and experience things that you never would back home. However, if it’s your first time embarking on a journey to a different country or region, you might feel a little apprehensive. Yet, having a successful, stress-free trip isn’t impossible. You just have to do a little extra planning before walking out your front door.
Documents
The most important thing you must have in order before you go on a journey is your passport. Since it remains valid for a long time, you might forget that it requires renewal as well. Some jurisdictions don’t allow you to travel three or six months before the expiration date, so it’s best to check beforehand to avoid trouble upon arrival. Check to see if you need a visa as well.
The requirements here differ depending on the country as well. While in some areas, you can receive yours after arrival, or you might not even need one depending on the time you plan to spend at your destination, other countries require a mandatory visa that you must obtain before leaving your home country. Get a google fi eSIM that’ll allow you to remain connected to everyone back home without the extra fees, and look into your travel health insurance options as well.
Depending on where you’re from, your regular insurance won’t cover expenses you might incur during your travels. And while nobody sets out to become injured or have an accident, it’s better to be safe.
Research
Doing some research before leaving home is crucial, mainly if you’ve never visited the region where you’ll travel before. First and foremost, there are cultural differences you must be aware of to avoid embarrassment and coming across as an inconsiderate tourist. There are also laws against different things that might seem completely ordinary and commonplace to you, such as the well-known ban on chewing gum in Singapore or the prohibition of feeding pigeons in Venice.
Being aware of these laws can save you considerable trouble since you’ll avoid the possibility of receiving a hefty fine that’ll seriously affect your trip budget. If you’re not familiar with the local language or dialects, you should discover which are the places where English is most likely to be spoken and get a dictionary with valuable phrases if you plan to visit rural areas or smaller towns. An eSIM Europe, for example, will help you remain connected to the internet no matter where you are so that you can use online dictionaries as well.
Some of the other things you should learn about are the local currency, as well as whether the tap water is suitable for drinking or not. You should check if you need any vaccines for endemic diseases or if there’s an ongoing epidemic and which areas were the most affected. Traffic laws, dietary requirements and apparel are some of the other issues you should learn about.
Book in advance
Having a predetermined itinerary can help remove some of the anxiety you might feel regarding your first traveling experience. It also lets you use your time wisely, so you don’t spend too much time in one place to the detriment of others. You can buy tickets for museums, art galleries and any other facilities that can be purchased in advance, even before you leave home.
Booking your flight early also means that the costs will be more affordable, and you have more seating choices available. The same goes for accommodation. Depending on when you’re choosing to travel, you might discover that all the good spots have already been booked, and you’re left with the more unsavory alternatives. Worst case scenario, you could be left without a place to stay, meaning that you’ll have to postpone the whole trip.
Travel light
Overpacking is a common thing among travelers, and even the most experienced can still fall into this trap sometimes. You should avoid doing this since it means you’ll carry a lot of extra weight with you, making the overall traveling experience more uncomfortable. Bringing too many things along also means that you’ll have to look after all of them, and if you happen to misplace something, it can create a lot of panic.
Even if you might want to display some of your newest outfits that you’ve just bought, your trip might not be the best time for it. Instead, you should focus on practicality and bring only comfortable items to fit for hiking, walking or sightseeing. If you plan to have a dressy event, such as an evening at the theater or opera or a dinner at an upscale restaurant, you might want to bring something a little more formal, but don’t overdo it.
Even if you generally enjoy wearing many accessories, try to leave them at home this time, or only bring two or three items that are easy to keep track of. Since jewelry can be pretty expensive, losing it will really put a damper on your journey. As for shoes, bringing only one extra pair apart from the one you’ll wear on the plane should be more than enough.
And remember to dress for the weather. If you know you’re traveling somewhere cold, there’s no point bringing short-sleeved tops, and if you’re going somewhere warm and with plenty of sunlight, knitted jumpers are pointless.
The locals
Don’t be afraid to talk to the locals and ask them for information. Generally, they can help you far more than any website, blog or video online. They can tell you what are some of the hidden gems that you can visit, where to find the best food, and how to use public transit routes to save money. Even if it might feel a little embarrassing initially, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the language, most people are happy to help. You’ll also get to learn more about the culture and become more aware this way.
When traveling, it’s essential to make a plan beforehand so that you aren’t caught unprepared.
Barry Lachey is a Professional Editor at Zobuz. Previously He has also worked for Moxly Sports and Network Resources “Joe Joe.” He is a graduate of the Kings College at the University of Thames Valley London. You can reach Barry via email or by phone.
