Traveling abroad for the first time can be very intimidating to people who are not used to traveling frequently. The following are some tips for your first time abroad that will help make your trip go smoothly. Even after dozens of trips abroad, I still use all of these tips any time I travel. Interested in learning how to travel for free? Learn more about the best credit cards for travel in this post.
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Bathrooms Abroad
Bathrooms in other countries can be an interesting experience. Here are a few bathroom tips for your first time abroad.
In Europe, you may have to pay to use a public bathroom, so make sure to always carry some change on you. In Asia, many of the bathrooms have squatters. In Central and South America, you may need to throw your toilet paper in a waste bin rather than flushing it, as the pipes cannot always handle the toilet paper.
Cell Phone Usage Abroad
I recently switched my cell phone carrier to T-Mobile. T-Mobile includes unlimited talk, text, and data. It also includes unlimited text and data in over 210 countries around the world. Therefore, when I land in a different country, I just switch on my phone and it works!
If you do not have T-Mobile, you have a couple of options. I used to switch my phone to airplane mode. By doing this, you can still connect to wifi and use many of the features of your phone. As long as you leave it in airplane mode, you will not be changed to use your phone.
On wifi, you can use any apps that use the internet, and message people (if you use an iPhone like me). The other option is to get a sim card at your destination. They are usually pretty inexpensive and then you can use the internet without wifi. Hopefully these helpful cell phone tips for your first time abroad make it easier on you.
Health Tips for Your First Time Abroad
Make sure to check with your doctor before you leave to make sure you are up to date with your shots, especially if traveling to Asia, Africa, or South America. They will also have the best advice to ensure you stay healthy while traveling. I always carry antacids, aspirin, and Immodium no matter where I go.
Sometimes food in other countries can upset your stomach, so I always come prepared. Also, make sure not to drink tap water in other countries. In some countries, tap water is not safe to drink. In others, your stomach may not be used to the type of water in that country. Bottled water is the way to go.
Language Tips for Your First Time Abroad
Surprisingly, there are many countries that speak decent English around the world or have enough English signage to make it easy to get around. However, sometimes the language barrier can be an issue when traveling abroad.
In order to prepare for a trip, I will learn a few phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, and thank you. I love the app Duolingo for this! This app has 30+ languages you can learn and it is very user-friendly.
When traveling, I use Google Translate for basic words. It is not always 100% accurate, but it is enough to help you get around or communicate basic needs. Make sure to download the language(s) you will be using beforehand, in case there is no internet access.
Money Tips for Your First Time Abroad
I always use my ATM card to pull money out upon arrival at the airport when I travel abroad. I find this easier and less expensive than exchanging money. Make sure to let your bank know what countries you will be visiting prior to your trip, in order to ensure your card does not get shut down.
Many countries across the world accept major credit cards. I always put anything I can on my credit card so I can earn points! I love using the app GlobeConvert to see what the exchange rate is. It even works without the internet, so you can use it wherever you are.
Navigation Abroad
Google Maps has become my go-to for navigating around a city! Not only does it show you where you are, but you can also save places you went to or want to go to. This comes in handy for recommending places to people later on. You can also download maps for most cities in case you do not have internet access. Please note that you are not able to use google maps in some countries such as China and you might not be able to download all of the maps.
Passports and Visas
Always make sure to keep your passport in a secure location. I recommend leaving a copy of your passport at home and keep a copy of your passport with you as well. This way, if something happens to the original passport, you still have some form of it for reference.
Prior to your trip, make sure to check if you need a visa for wherever you are visiting. One way to ruin a trip is to show up and not be let into the country. For US Citizens, I always check the State Department Website. This lists a ton of information about every country and lets you know what you need to visit that country.
Safety When Traveling
Theft is common throughout many countries of the world. Do not let this deter you from traveling, especially if it is your first time abroad! Make sure to stay aware when in public places and make sure to stay in a safe area. I recommend getting a crossbody bag to carry around. I always keep one hand on top of my bag, especially in crowded areas.
If you opt for a backpack, wear it in the front so people are unable to break into it. Do not carry all of your cash and cards in one place! I always leave some cash and one credit card in my hotel room, just in case. When traveling from one city to another, I keep that cash and credit card in a separate bag. I sometimes put $20 in my shoe.
Hopefully, these tips for traveling abroad for the first time help your trip go smoothly! Comment below with any other tips or if any of these tips worked out for you!
Traveling abroad for the first time?
The following are some itineraries to help plan your travels!
3 Week Eastern Europe Itinerary
10 thoughts on “8+ Amazing Tips for Your First Time Abroad: How to Not Be Nervous During Your Fun Trip”
These are such useful tips! I really like making a copy of my passport, just in case I lose it.
Yah. It’s nice just to have the extra security.
These are some great tips that I wish I had before I studied abroad! I really wish I knew about the different bathrooms before I went to Asia.
Haha right!? Many people don’t realize.
Love the tip about keeping money in your shoe. I definitely need to start doing that. I remember when I lost my bank card in Belfast, I was devastated but thankfully I had another card in my luggage
Oh no! I’m glad you had another one stashed away!
These are good tips for the first time international traveller. The culture shock of not having things work as you’re used to (Ex. toilets) should not deter. I would add the map.me app for navigation as its offline maps are sometimes more accurate than Google maps.
I agree! Culture shock is half the fun for me.
such useful tips! the toilet one is funny because so true. They really shock folks lol
Haha right!? Many people don’t realize!