Traveling in a different country means you have a lot more to think about, and if you’re not used to airport rules and customs as well as dealing with a new language and place, it can feel very overwhelming to plan the perfect trip without the worry.
Nevertheless, traveling abroad is an exciting and liberating time, as well as an opportunity to learn more about a new place and a new people.
Here is a guide to help make your first trip abroad less stressful.
Book a Tour Package
First and foremost, if you’re feeling too uncertain to plan every aspect of your trip yourself in a new country, you can instead look for travel tours which take care of all the important parts for you. This will help you to rest easy knowing that professional travel experts have taken care of everything in your place of choice, and that everything has been arranged for you.
Stress often arises from the unknown, so if your intended country is too unknown to you, a tour package could significantly help to reduce that stress.
Get to the Airport Very Early
It’s usually advised that you arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight. However, you can arrive even earlier if it means you feel less rushed, and also gives you the time to familiarize yourself with the airport and where you will be boarding your flight.
This is a very good idea for nervous first time flyers, too. It also gives you time to relax and browse the shops, as well as being able to grab a bite to eat and drink.
Pack Light
It can be tempting to pack all your belongings when you’re going abroad for the first time, because you may panic at the idea of leaving certain items behind in a different country. However, packing lighter and more sensibly means you not only have less baggage to carry around, but also leaves room in your luggage for any souvenirs or extra items you may purchase when over there.
Other countries will have what you need in terms of essential items in their stores and markets, it may be a different brand, but for the sake of travel, you will always be able to pick up emergency items if you haven’t packed them.
Write an Itinerary and Contact Information
When traveling to a new country, it’s advised that you let someone know back at home where you’re going to be, where you’re going to be staying and how to contact you. You should think about:
- Addresses for your accommodation
- Your flight information
- The emergency contact numbers for the country you are traveling to
- How to contact you
- The time difference in case you’re out of contact due to the different time zone (i.e. sleeping when everyone else is awake)
Learn About the Culture
If you’ve only ever traveled in your own country, then customs and certain manners will be natural instincts. However, other countries may have different customs, and to limit the risk of offending anybody – as well as enriching your experience – you should research the culture and customs before you travel.