October 29, 2024
Embarking on your first international trip can be exhilarating yet overwhelming. Traveling to new places offers a great way to learn about different cultures, but planning for a first time journey abroad requires careful preparation. This guide will cover essential international travel tips to make your experience smooth and enjoyable.
1. Research Your Destination Country
Before heading to a foreign country, it’s a good idea to learn about its customs, currency, and travel advisories. The U.S. Department of State offers travel information for U.S. citizens, including details about visa requirements, local laws, and security measures in your destination country. As a general rule of thumb, familiarize yourself with the local language for basic communication and be aware of important documents you may need.
2. Plan Your Travel Documents and Important Information
Do you have a passport? This is a document that will require a significant amount of time to obtain.
PASSPORT TIPS:
- Before planning any trip out of the US, make sure that you have given yourself no less than sixty (60) days (90 days, ideally) to get a Passport purchased and delivered in time for your trip.
- In our state, Passports are available to order at the post office. Be prepared to get your picture taken when you arrive.
- Passports cost anywhere from $150-$250, as of this posting.
Keeping travel documents in order is critical. Make copies of your passport, visa, driver’s license, and debit or credit cards for easy access. Store these copies separately from your originals, perhaps with a trusted friend or family member. Also, consider registering with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) provided by the U.S. Department of State. This free service alerts the U.S. Embassy in case of emergency, allowing family members to reach you if needed.
3. Choose the Best Way to Manage Money Abroad
International travelers should double check with their card issuer about foreign transaction fees, and ensure their debit and travel rewards credit card will work in foreign countries. Contact your credit card company ahead of time and let them know your travel plans to avoid any issues abroad. You may also want to bring some local currency for small purchases and to avoid incremental fees at ATMs.
My bank cards and my Discover card were declined in Europe. Also, my other credit cards would have been declined if I had not called the issuer ahead of time to let them know that I would be making foreign purchases, since there are conversion rates that are applied.
Having cash for the region is essential. It is very frightening to depend solely on credit when you are in a foreign country. I try to take $500 in local cash with me.
ORDER EUROS ONLINE:
- You will need some Euro’s on hand (if in the EU). You cannot rely entirely on credit cards. They will advertise cash exchange centers in the airport and other designated centers, but the charges to exchange money range from location to location. So, it is best to go online and shop around for different rates and then have the cash mailed to you ahead of time. I was very scared to have the cash mailed to me, but it was sent via special delivery and made it to me safely.
4. Prepare for International Flights and Long-Haul Flights
When flying internationally, especially on long-haul flights, carry personal items that can make your journey more comfortable. A carry-on bag should include personal belongings like a change of clothes, snacks, and a first aid kit. For ease at airports, consider TSA PreCheck or Global Entry to skip long lines, especially for U.S. citizens who travel frequently. For added comfort, check the airline’s rules on personal items so you’re not caught off guard. You can find more specific tips at: 10 Best Tips for Flying to Europe from The US.
5. Think About Health and Safety Precautions
Medical insurance for international travelers is crucial, as U.S.-based health insurance typically doesn’t cover you abroad. Look into options like group travel insurance or WorldTrips’ Atlas Travel for coverage against emergencies, disease control, and emergency evacuations. Knowing what’s covered can save you from unnecessary stress.
6. Be Aware of the Local Culture and Language
Whether visiting popular destinations or remote areas, knowing the basics of the local language is helpful. Having Google Maps offline is useful for navigating new cities, like Tokyo Station in Japan or local streets in European countries. Being aware of customs in places like South Africa or having an overview of Japanese culture will enhance your experience and avoid misunderstandings with locals.
7. Pack Carefully and Securely
Packing a money belt for your valuables, especially in areas prone to petty theft, is a great way to keep important items secure. Include an extra set of clothes in your carry-on bag in case of a delayed flight. An international SIM card or enabled cell phone plan is also important to keep contact information handy and stay connected.
8. Consider Travel Rewards and Extra Coverages
For business travelers and vacationers alike, travel rewards credit cards often come with perks like free checked bags, access to airport lounges, and extra coverage for car rentals. This is helpful if you’re renting a car or using public transportation in your destination. Look for cards with minimal foreign transaction fees to make payments easier.
9. Finalize Your Travel Plans and Double Check
Book your accommodations early, especially if your international trip involves travel groups or travel dates during peak seasons. Check the price of your airline ticket, possible exit fees, and any incremental fees before you finalize your trip.
Also, be prepared for possible jet lag by adjusting to time zones ahead of time. Give yourself extra time for check-in and familiarize yourself with security measures at the airport.
10. Emergency Preparations
Having a plan for unexpected events, like a natural disaster or case of emergency, is always wise. Write down important numbers and addresses and keep copies of your emergency contacts in a money belt. Petty theft can be a concern in some areas, so avoid carrying valuables in open spaces.
In conclusion, an international trip can be a life-changing experience with the right preparations in place. By following these helpful tips, you’ll be able to navigate your first trip abroad with confidence and create lasting memories in exciting, new places. Safe travels!
PACKING FOR A WINTER TRIP TO FRANCE:
- Check the weather for your destination and imagine how you dress at home when it is the same temperature/weather.
- We have very similar weather at home as they do in Normandy. So, I was able to plan for being outside for hours in the same cold, wet weather as we were about to experience overseas.
- If you are going somewhere cold, invest in “thermal” undergarments (silver on the inside).
- I went to Columbia Clothing and bought their thermal undergarments and wore the shirt everyday and the legging pants when I was going to be outside in the wind, such as when we were at the beach. Then, I just layered over those for great comfort.
- Pack lightweight, workhorse shoes.
- I bought some Chaco ® boots that were AMAZING. They were so comfortable and extremely lightweight. I bought wool hiking socks to wear with them. My feet were so happy with me. I packed another pair of boots, as well, from another well known company. They are heavy leather with buckles and big zippers. Unfortunately, they weighed my suitcase down and weighed my feet down when I was out trying to walk for hours on end. They are gorgeous boots that I paid nearly $300 for, but I regretted packing them and had considered leaving them in Europe a time or two. Haha.
- Leave plenty of room for bringing souvenirs home.
- I thought that I had left room to bring things home for everyone, but I ended up finding a pretty amazing winter coat while in Rouen for myself. That is a pretty bulky purchase. Plus, we bought clothes, bottles of wine, Calvados and more. Our suitcases were busting at the seams on our way home.
- Use and take a suitcase scale with you.
- Suitcase scales are easy and inexpensive to buy online. Buy one and check the weight of your suitcases before arriving to the airport. You do not want to wait until you arrive to the airport to find out if your suitcase is over the limit or not. My big mistake was to think that keeping my suitcase 20 pounds under the limit was sufficient to allow for our souvenirs. So, I left my scale sitting on the dresser at home and my suitcase was over the limit when I checked in in Paris for home. That was a mistake that cost me $100. I will never do that again—ever!! What was even worse was that we packed all of the heavy bottles in my suitcase. If I had known that my suitcase was over the limit back at the hotel, I could have transferred some of the weight over to my husbands suitcase and we would have been fine.
- Print off all your reservation confirmations, as well as, taking screenshots of everything.
- Unless you pay extra with your phone carrier, you will not have internet access until you are in a location with WiFi; And, you will not always be able to count on every location having WiFi. It is just smart travel to have back up’s to everything, anyway. I would even say that it would be wise for every traveler in your group to have copies of reservation confirmations in case you lose yours or you get separated.
- Buy an RFDI wallet to protect yourself.
- I bought a large one that was more like a clutch for myself and my husband. I liked it because it could fit my passport and credit cards and cash in it. My husband didn’t like having something that large. So, it usually ended up in my backpack, but I loved mine and still use it now. You can buy smaller ones for picky fellas. My Belgian friend had her credit card information stolen when she was traveling to the US. Someone had charged over $1500 on her credit card before she even realized it had been stolen. So, it is a serious thing to consider!
- I packed a handful of extra Ziplock ® bags of various sizes.
- I wasn’t sure why I was packing them. All of my liquids were already double bagged. But, I swear that I used them all for our trip home. I was so proud of myself for grabbing those.
- Pack clothes that you can wear over and over or combine a few items for multiple outfits.
- This has been the advice of world travelers since I can remember, but it takes me a long time to “get it”. I tried to pack a different outfit for each day, but I found myself wearing only a handful of the most comfortable clothes that I packed. I would even hand wash my yoga pants and bralettes, give them a day to dry and wear them again. So, I could have really packed a lot fewer clothes. When you are all bundled up in winter coats and buried in scarves and hats and gloves, who cares what you are wearing underneath, really.
- Pack an extra backpack.
- I was at the checkout at the Columbia store and this was in a bin near the register. So, it was one of those impulsive buys that turned out to be a really great investment. This thing is super lightweight and folds up to be super small; I, literally, used it every single day at one point or another. It saved me so many times! Even my very manly husband wore my polka dot bag! Haha.
DRIVING THROUGH NORMANDY
Traveling through Normandy was interesting, to say the least. Boy, was I naive about what we were capable of—and I am glad that I was. I gave my French way too much credit, as well. It is one thing to know French while living safely in the US where your own language is spoken than to go to France where everything is in French.
RENTING A CAR
I decided that we would just rent a car and drive all over France. What was I thinking?
We picked up our car from the airport, which was my first real French speaking experience outside of the states. I was quickly learning that I was not as conversational as I thought that I was (I mean, it has been ten years since I was in college). We rented our car—which we ended up going with an automatic, thank God. My husband and I both know how to drive manual transmission cars, but that would have been quite a handful on top of trying to figure out a completely different country’s roadways and signs and language. Whoa.
Luckily, and something that completely saved our lives, is that the rental car fella programmed our cars GPS in English and taught us how to put in addresses (our cars are old and do not have the GPS screens. So, we have only ever used our phones for directions, but without internet, we couldn’t do that). I had planned on using the old school map method to criss-cross all of Normandy. Truly, I would not have survived. I have no idea what I was thinking, at all. There are so many one-ways everywhere!!!
But, at the end of the trip, I am so grateful for that car. It offered us so much freedom. Even the receptionist at our hotel commended us for being so adventurous. He said that a lot of people insist on being picked up from the airport and then just stay at the hotel and miss out on seeing the beautiful country. There was no way that I was going to do that, at all. I had one week and I wanted to see as much as I possibly could.
If you considered renting a car in France, here are my first impressions and things that I would suggest:
7 SUGGESTIONS FOR DRIVING IN ANOTHER COUNTRY
- The structure of the roadways are different than the US.
- At first, this scared me. I got out onto the autoroute (interstate) and the signs were all so different and there were no sides to the road to pull off and people drove sooooo fast. But, if you just take a moment to think intuitively, you can quickly figure out their system and how they have the roads and turn offs structured.
- The speeds are not in miles per hour.
- This was odd to me at first. Obviously, they are in kilometers per hour. So, we could drive from 90-130 kilometers per hour. It just felt weird getting the car up to 130 kph even though that is only 80 mph.
- There are very, very few gas stations.
- The area that we were in (and maybe it is all of Europe) was not commercialized with fast food restaurants and gas stations. Luckily, their vehicles get amazing gas mileage. My advice is just to keep an eye on your tank and fill up when you see a gas station!
- There were a ton of toll roads.
- Thankfully, my mom gave me a bunch of left-over change in Euros before we left. So, as soon as we drove off from the airport we hit an unexpected toll booth. The toll booth caused us a lot of anxiety because we went into the wrong lane to begin with. Their toll booths are like ours and they have lanes for credit cards, cash and passes. I hadn’t learned the French for those terms. So, I was totally lost and confused and scared. Luckily, we got stuck in a lane that had no cars behind us and we clicked on the help button for assistance. The assistant didn’t speak English, but they were able to decipher what I was trying to say enough to get us backed up and into the correct lane. That was a high stress moment. I would look up foreign toll booths online to see what they look like, if I was doing it over—but how would I have known?
- Know your street signs.
- Again, my French was not as good as I thought that it was. I was out of practice and very rusty. I could not identify any of the street signs except ‘Stop’. If I could do that over again, I would have looked up French street signs, printed them off, laminated them, and taped them to the dashboard of the car. That would have saved me tons of anxiety, for sure.
- Do not get pulled over.
- I don’t know what would happen, but that is just it; what happens if you get a speeding ticket in a foreign country?
- Know how to drive through a multi-laned roundabout.
- I live in a small town that got a one lane roundabout about a year ago and the entire town was up in arms over it. No one knew how to properly use it. Change doesn’t go over very well here, to begin with. So, I get to France and there are roundabouts, literally, everywhere! And with three or more lanes! There is definitely a right and a wrong way to use a roundabout. There are several videos to show you how to use one properly. I have included two that you can view. I hope that this helps! ROUNDABOUT VIDEO ONE AND ROUNDABOUT VIDEO TWO
We were smart and chose not to drive into Paris with our car. I drove in Rouen more than once, which our hotel receptionist said was more brave than trying to drive through Paris, but I didn’t feel like I wanted to tackle Paris, too. I am so glad that we didn’t. Instead, we drove to a local train station, bought tickets and rode an hour into Paris. It relieved so much stress. After a long day of running around Paris, I was able to board the train and sleep for the hour trip back to our car—which was a lifesaver!
Traveling by train was so easy. There is an app that you can download on your phone named OMIO. You can find your departure station and destination station and purchase tickets right from your phone. It was so convenient. You can, also, go to their website to buy tickets at OMIO.com
FOOD IN NORMANDY, FRANCE
This was not as easy or as glamorous as one might expect when traveling to France—at least for us. My husband is a very picky eater and had decided that even though he was in Europe, he was going to only eat American food. I was trying to maintain my keto lifestyle. So, I was doing all that I could to resist the breads and sweets while also being determined to savor the culture.
My husband won out until our very last day in Europe (which was not well appreciated by me), but I could not resist the fresh pasteries that we had delivered to us each morning. After two days, I thought “why I am doing this to myself? I can do this at home. Live. Enjoy life!”
Here, you will see me with my first french baguette of the trip. My eyes are still bloodshot from the jet lag—which is real, folks.
We took an interesting trip to the grocery store in our area to find some items to take with us in the car so that my husband didn’t struggle so much (he wouldn’t eat anywhere. He wasn’t much fun in this area). The grocery stores are so different from ours. There are few, if any, chips or soda or sweets (which my husband lives on). And, I never did see any microwave meals. There were aisles and aisles of cheeses and butchered meats. To eat here, you need a full kitchen. Nothing quick in these parts! The above items are all that we left the store having bought.
This was the breakfast that I tried to maintain while in Europe…for, like, two days. I would eat eggs or cheese and meats while my husband stuffed himself on the most amazingly soft and fresh pasteries, literally, baked that morning. I finally gave in and savored the bread life for the remainder of the week that we were there!
One of our desserts
This was a type of grilled cheese with an egg. It wasn’t as “French” as I had hoped to get, but I had to compromise.
My husbands “American” cheeseburger and fries. I had lamb and potatoes with an amazing glass of champagne.
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