Beginners Guide to International Travel

Welcome to the Beginners Guide to International Travel! In this series of articles, we will explore some of the most important aspects of international travel, from understanding customs to money conversion rates and many more. Get our free Travel Checklist

Whether you are looking to take a vacation to your neighboring country or traveling halfway around the world, there is so much beauty, cultural diversity, and exciting adventures awaiting you! Traveling can be life-changing and will help you learn more about this amazing planet with even more amazing people that you may have never seen before.

Are you someone who is interested in exploring the world and seeing legendary places?

If so, then this article is even more perfect for you! Your passion may be traveling for work or leisure; maybe you are traveling alone. Whatever the case, this article will provide some great suggestions on how to get your things ready before embarking on your international travel.

Why should you travel and visit historic places?

You might have heard the saying that “Traveling is part of education”. Who doesn’t want to learn? By traveling, you are out of your comfort zone and so it becomes important for you to learn how to adapt to situations very quickly. Sure, different people travel for different reasons and if you love historic places, you will open up a whole new world to yourself.

Visiting Historical sites is a great opportunity to learn new things and explore new places. Many people like to visit historic places with their children, for education and fun at the same time.

However, there are some considerations to take into account if you are visiting historical sites with your children. For example, the intensity of the experience can be overwhelming for younger or more sensitive children, so it is important that parents plan ahead to help them better prepare their kids for what is to come. Prepare to answer more questions for the children. You know the drill.

Visiting historical sites not only enhances your knowledge but also gives you a new story to tell. Traveling to historic places is probably one of the many things in life that is worth experiencing.

Spending some time in historical sites is also a great way to connect with the past, the people, and events that have probably shaped our world of today. Most of these stories provide us with a sense of who we are as individuals and as part of the larger human family.

Now, how do you get into these places, away from your country? Let’s consider one of the huddles you must pass, the visa.

Visa requirements for international traveling

To be frank, traveling can be complicated sometimes. If you are not sure what is required of you to get to your desired location, it is important to research before booking. You can show up in a hotel with no reservations and make it work, but not having the right entry visa can result in fines or even imprisonment.

Getting Visas for international travel can be tricky, especially if you are not sure what type of Visa you need for your destination. As you plan to get your visa, make sure to know the duration of your Visa and how it might impact your stay abroad.

In the case of the US for example, the type of visa you must obtain is defined by the U.S. immigration law and it relates to the purpose of your travel.

Make sure to gather all the information you need about the country you are visiting before you get there. While some countries might accept your tourist passport, others may require an additional visa.

Understand the money conversion rate for your international travels

Understanding how to convert from one currency to the next is now a necessary skill for those who have international traveling on their agenda. This might be relevant if you want to exchange money before leaving on your trip.

If you ever traveled before even within your country, you know how important money can be outside your estimates. So, knowing the conversion rate will affect your spending plan at your destination.

Saving money has always been in everyone’s best interest when traveling because every dollar counts. For many people, it’s usually more cost-effective to opt for an ATM rather than an airport exchange kiosk. So, pay attention to that as you plan your international trip.

Consider Your Clothing

Clothes are some of the most important items to take into consideration when packing for a trip. They might not seem like a big deal at home time, but it can be frustrating later when you find yourself stuck in a foreign country with no resources and your clothes not adequate in your suitcase.

To avoid that, please pack the appropriate clothes for the destination’s climate. Make sure you have enough pairs of shoes and don’t forget about the weather before you arrive.

One thing is to move to a neighboring country that has the same climate, and another is to move to an entirely different region of the world with different weather conditions. If you don’t think about that, you may suffer harsh consequences. Trust me on that and do what is right for your international trip.

Include hostels in travel your plan

If you are looking to see the world without breaking the bank, then you should include hostels in your travel plans. Saving money on accommodations can mean saving more money for exploring the local sites and attractions that you have always wanted to see. Plus, staying at a hostel is a sustainable choice because many offer plenty of eco-friendly amenities that encourage visitors to take care of their natural surroundings.

Hostels are a type of shared accommodation that can help your travel budget. You will often save money by opting for a bed in a shared room, and to your surprise, some of these accommodations can sometimes be of higher quality than some more expensive options.

I didn’t say hostels were heaven on earth. So, make sure to use common sense.

For your safety, you will find that a large majority of hostels now offer lockers or safes for your belongings, so you don’t have to keep them on you while you visit different locations of choice. This should make it easier to enjoy the full experience of being in a new place without worrying about theft or losing your valuable items.

How to Get Cheap Airfare Possible

Finding a cheap rate for international travel can be a daunting task. Sites like Expedia, Kayak and Skyscanner offer a variety of options to choose from. If you are flying from North America to Europe, you will often find the cheapest rates on Skyscanner.

If instead, you are looking for flights from North America to Asia or Australia, Expedia might be your best bet.

Being flexible with your destination is always a sensible option to get cheap airfares. You can consider flying a day later or from a nearby airport for potential savings.

Don’t make it easy for thieves

Thieves are big challenges for international travelers but don’t make it easy for them. In today’s travel industries, thieves are getting more and more clever. They take advantage of the vulnerability of people like you, foreigners who are visiting new places.

They can steal your phone, your laptop, even your car just by using a few tricks. However, you can outsmart them by making it harder for them to take your stuff.

As a preventive measure, consider getting a bag with a zipper that has a metal locking system and use this on all of the compartments in the bag.

Never leave your laptop computer with sensitive information unattended. We recommend that you take a laptop with you on your trip, use encryption to protect any sensitive files. You should also ensure to perform regular backups so that if there is any theft, there will be no loss of vital information.

There is an interesting article you can consider reading at Allianz Travel Insurance: “How To Hide Money and Valuables While Traveling”.

“We can’t say it enough: Never, ever put valuable items or cash in your checked luggage. Luggage theft happens every day, whether by airport employees or people walking into airports to grab bags. Former TSA agent Pythias Brown, who was convicted of stealing valuables worth more than $800,000, told ABC News it was easy to steal from luggage, even bags with TSA-approved locks.” Allianztravelinsurance.com.

So, always try to keep your things safe.

Your Takeaway

While traveling is part of education, it’s also a way to connect to the larger human family. It allows people to share their knowledge, experience, and culture with one another. It can help us to learn about different ways of life and different viewpoints on the world.

However, while traveling is great to expand your knowledge and more, it can also be challenging. This is what we have attempted to address in this article and others that will come in the series.

Pay attention to what we have discussed here, you will find the information helpful as you plan for your next trip. Keep traveling and keep expanding your understanding of the world around you.

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