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8 International Travel Tips for First-Timers
February 5, 2020 | Guest Post: Geraldine Mills
Traveling for the first time is an exciting endeavor, but it can be quite scary as well. This is especially true if you are traveling outside of the country. Since you are going to be in the middle of an entirely new culture, sometimes you might feel a little out of place. Even thinking about this might get you a little too anxious. However, there is no need to fear. As long as you prepare yourself right for your first international trip, you should have fewer worries in your head. If you are looking for tips that you need for your international trip, then here are eight tips that you should check out:
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Check Your Passport and Visa
Your most important documentations will be your passport and visa, in case the country you will visit requires it. You need to have your passport and visa organized before you can travel anywhere else. You will not want the hassle involved if you have not organized your papers. Also, you should make sure that your passport is not going to expire anytime soon. Otherwise, you might also have issues when you are at the airport.
PRO TIP: For your first out-of-country travel, you might want to opt for a visa-free country first to get a feel of what to pack for this kind of trip.
Book in Advance
One of the things you have to be conscious of if you are traveling anywhere is the fact that you need to book anything in advance. If you are booking your flight on an earlier date, there is a higher likelihood that the price for the seats will be a lot cheaper. The same goes for any early bookings for your accommodations.
Aside from having to pay for cheaper services and whatnot, the reason why you want to book in advance is because of the freedom of choice. If you booked anything too near the date of your flight, you would have fewer choices available since a lot of people have already booked theirs.

Research About Your Destination
If you feel like you are going to be unsettled a bit since you are traveling to a new place, then you should circumvent your worries by researching your destination. Researching your out-of-country destination allows you to figure out what you plan to do, as well as which issues tourists have had while they were there.
Researching your destination will give you more knowledge to work with, like what to eat and where to go. You will feel less anxious about how you are going to do while you are out of the country because you know certain information that can guide you.
Pack Light and Bring a Useful Gadget
The best carry-on luggage is one that will stop you from overpacking. Most people who are new to traveling tend to overpack because they overthink about the things that they would need while on their trip. Even if you are traveling for a long time, it does not mean you will not be able to pack light. If you have small to medium-sized luggage, then you will be restricted with the number of things you can bring with you. It is a huge hassle having to drag around heavy luggage while you are traveling. Pack only the essentials and do not bring any what-if items.
Be Selective About Lodging
If you wanted to save some money, then you should be more critical about the type of lodging you are staying at. Nowadays, there are a lot of accommodations available for travelers that are both affordable and located in prime areas. You no longer have to settle for expensive hotel suites, which can cut a lot from your budget. You can have accommodations that are in the center of the city so that you are near any amenities that you might want to visit. What you should do is select the most convenient accommodation option based on the activities you plan on doing in that area. Also, if you are going to be staying someplace for a long time, you should ensure that there are amenities like a washer and dryer that will make the long-stay more convenient for you.

Notify Your Bank
You might want to notify your bank and your credit card company if you are going to be traveling abroad. The reason for this is that your bank might think that your provider might suspect you of fraud if you use your cards while you are in another country.
Get Travel Insurance
Another thing that you should avail to help assuage any worries that you have are travel insurance policies. Getting travel insurance will help cover any medical expenses that you might incur while you are abroad. If push comes to shove, then travel insurance can also help cover the cost of your transportation back home during medical emergencies.
Make Sure You are Travel Ready
When traveling abroad, you should not expect everything to be the same as it is back home. Otherwise, you are going to be very disappointed. Make sure you are ready for this cultural change and always be open-minded.
The international travel tips mentioned above can help you navigate through a foreign land, especially if it is your first time. Following these tips will ensure you have the best time possible as you spread your wings and try new things.
This post was written and contributed by Geraldine Mills, a self-confessed wanderlust, with a passion not only for traveling but also for sharing her travel experiences and tips as a writer. If you want to contribute a Guest Post to The Travelling Souk, please visit our Write for Us page.
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