If you’ve never traveled before then starting out on your first adventure can be a scary, anxiety inducing thought. Rather than experiencing excitement you may be overcome with fear and stress, turning that amazing vacation into an unpleasant event. That is why I decided to write this list of travel tips for first time travelers. Each vacation you plan is unique in and of itself but no matter your destination these tips will help you get the most out of your vacation and eliminate some of the anxiety that first time travelers often feel.

Familiarize Yourself With Your Destination

The first thing you should do when planning out your very first travel experience is to familiarize yourself with your destination. Reference books, the internet and tourism sites all offer useful information on a nation’s history and culture. Some things you may want to consider are exchange rates, basic words and phrases, the standard of dress in the area you are visiting, tipping practices or dining customs. Learning about a country before you visit is a sign of a smart traveler and shows respect to your host country and its culture.

Book in Advance

Booking your trip in advance means that you will have the best chance of getting the hotel, itinerary and flight that you want. Booking in advance also means that you will have more time to plan out the details of your trip and allows you to be more prepared when that long-awaited day finally comes. This will also give you some extra time to coordinate things with your family and friends if you have a pet to take care of or plants that need to be watered. 

Use a Travel Agent

Even using an experienced travel agent, it is inevitable that sometimes things will go wrong. The advantage of having a professional in your corner to put an end to the turmoil swirling around you might be the difference between a vacation that turned into a nightmare and one that is relaxing and care-free. There are always issues such as lost passports or reservation problems but and experienced travel agent will always be available to solve these concerns so you can just relax and enjoy your vacation. An experienced travel advisor knows their travel providers and the destinations they are proposing. They are usually familiar with the area they are recommending. They can advise on the best lodging, tours, and restaurants. They may not have visited every destination, but they have trustworthy sources of information on must-see areas as well as the ones to avoid.

Purchase Travel Insurance

We all know bad things can happen when you travel. The State Information Technology Agency estimates that more than 22 million bags are mishandled each year. In addition, Flight Stats reports that more than 300,000 flights are cancelled and over 6 million are delayed each year. These stats do not include trip cancellations, medical emergencies and trip disruptions that happen to thousands of travelers each year. Travel Insurance will help cover financial loss on such things as loss of passport or personal belongings, delays, lost baggage, trip cancellations and more.

Contact Bank

One of the most overlooked things to do before leaving on a foreign vacation is to notify your bank in advance of your travel plans. With fraud at an all-time high, if your banking institution starts seeing foreign transactions, they may just put a temporary hold on your account. Inform them ahead of time of your plans and where you will be traveling, and you can avoid this holiday spoiling mistake.

Have Copies of Important Documents

We recommend printing out copies of your documents such as ID’s, passports, VISA information, etc. This can save you from major problems should any of your travel documents become lost. The process of obtaining new travel documents can sometimes be lengthy and a mistake of this magnitude can ruin your trip. We recommend leaving one set of copies with a trusted friend at home as well as bringing the originals and one set of copies with you on your trip. You can even store the documents in the cloud for easier access when abroad.

Pack Light

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when traveling far from home is to overpack for the trip. Veteran travelers tend to pack only what they will need and use. While it’s tempting to bring as much of home with you as possible, this makes your luggage more difficult to transport and will result in check baggage and over-weight luggage fees.

Don’t Try To Do Too Much

Another mistake people make when traveling is trying to pack too many activities in one trip. Unless you have unlimited time on your hands, having an overly ambitious itinerary will just leave you worn out and stressed. Your opportunities will be limited and the hassle of constantly running will have you worn out and stressed. Relax, take your time, and enjoy what each location has to offer. You won’t be able to see it all, but you will return home more relaxed and rejuvenated.

Check Your Phone Plan

Before leaving on a foreign vacation, it is important to know exactly what your cell phone plan will cover. Every carrier will have its own policies regarding international travel which may include special prepaid international plans or buying a local SIM card once you arrive at your destination. Check with your carrier on this to avoid the unexpected cost of massive roaming fees.

Be Adventurous

Get out of your comfort zone. Eat, drink, and do things you wouldn’t go near in your normal life. Be adventurous, this moment only happens once. Locals in the area are a major source of information and can tell you what parts of the area are safe and even share off-the path attractions for you to explore. 

Travel can be an amazing experience yet seem overwhelming at the same time. Every new destination brings fresh challenges but by following these tips you can limit the mishaps that may occur, make the whole process much smoother and help you make great memories of your very first travel experience!

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