The Essential Guide to Planning Your First International Trip
Going on your first international trip can be daunting. If you have never traveled very far it can be overwhelming to know what to do or how to do it. Here are the essentials you need to do for your first trip.
Decide
Deciding a few things are key:
Where you want to go
I usually let the cheap flights decide where I go, but if you are desperate to go somewhere specific for your first trip, make that a priority.
When do you want to go
You should research when the best time to travel to your destination is. For example, traveling to Southeast Asia during monsoon season, or northern Europe in the dead of winter is probably not very enjoyable.
Certain times of the year are automatically more expensive to travel - summer, Christmas/New Year, certain holidays (like St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland for example). It’s not impossible to get a good deal during then, but understand that the baseline for everything will be more expensive.
How long do you want to travel
For Europe, 8-10 days is good since you’ll lose a day on each end for travel.
For Central and South America, 4-7 days is good since you won’t spend an entire day traveling.
For Asia, Africa, or Oceania, usually 10-15 days is good since you’ll send 24+ hours traveling each way.
How much are you willing/wanting to spend
Take a look at hotel/accommodation prices, meal prices, transportation, etc. You can always spend more or less, but having a general idea and start saving is always smart.
Who is going with you
Picking your travel partner has just as much, if not more, of an impact than anything else. Here are some posts to help with traveling with friends:
Buy
You need to buy:
Your flight
I won’t spend more than $450 for an economy/basic economy ticket to Europe, or more than $200 to go to Central America/Caribbean. However, check with your budget and make the best decision for your finances, time, and peace of mind.
I have quite a few posts on how to find cheap flights, here are some:
Your hotel / accommodation
I love Hilton so I try to stay at Hilton properties if I can. Some people love Airbnbs, but I prefer hotels personally. Here is my post on comparing the two.
I also would recommend booking directly through the hotel instead of through a third-party company like Expedia, Booking, etc.
Travel Insurance
You absolutely 100% need to buy travel insurance. It isn’t very expensive, and will help you so much if anything goes wrong. I have always used Allianz, and while I have thankfully never had to use it, I always feel so much better knowing I have it.
Travel Insurance covers:
Flight Cancellation and Delay
Lost or Delayed Luggage
Medical Emergency
Dental Emergency
Emergency Evacuation
Cancelled Trip
A passport and Global Entry if you don’t have them
Check
You need to check:
Your passport expiration date - it cannot expire within 6 months of your return date. So if you return on March 10, your passport needs to not expire before September 10.
If you need a visa. Click this link to find out.
If you need any additional vaccinations. Click this link to find out.
If your phone carrier has an international plan. I have AT&T and it is $10 for every day of my trip. Other carriers have different options, or you can opt to do WiFi only - but make sure WiFi is readily available.
Extras
Notify your bank you’re traveling - let them know where you’re going and the dates you’re going. Nothing is worse than traveling and not being able to use your card and it’s a weekend so you can’t call your bank (at least for my local bank).
Take out some cash - both in US Dollars and the local currency. Not a ton - but enough to cover a few incidentals or to buy souvenirs.
Try to understand the local transportation. It’s cheaper, usually more reliable, and a great way to orient yourself with your destination. Keep an eye on your things though, as these can be hot spots for petty theft.
As always, if you have any questions or need any help, reach out!