Unlock the World - Tips for International Travel

Life is an adventure, and the world is too big to stay in one place. If you haven’t experienced the thrill of international travel, it’s time to start planning. There’s nothing quite like stepping outside of your comfort zone and immersing yourself in new cultures, trying incredible foods, and meeting fascinating people.

You see, nothing compares to experiencing the world firsthand. Sure, TV shows and books can be inspiring, but they don’t capture the unique energy of a bustling market, the subtle fragrance of an exotic spice, or the vibrant hues of a foreign landscape.

And the food? Forget the restaurants in your local town. They may be labeled as the cuisine of their native countries, but they are often watered down versions meant to appeal to the tastes of the locale they are in and not the traditional locale. I’ll write more on the challenges of preparing foreign dishes outside their native locale, but the point is that to try the most authentic versions of these dishes, you need to travel and experience them firsthand!

Okay, so you’re convinced. Maybe you have family or friends you want to visit in another country, or maybe you want to experience something new. Let’s dive into how to make your international adventure a success.

Top Tips for International Travel

1. Essential Paperwork: Do your research! Passport and visa requirements vary by country, and rules can change with international relations. Some documents can be prepared or stamped at the airport, while some may require weeks or months of processing ahead of time, so do your research! Also, make sure to print multiple copies of all of your important documents and stash those copies in your bags, just in case something should happen.
2. Money Matters: Travel can be unpredictable, so budget generously - ideally 2-3 times what you expect to spend. Bring local currency (exchanged safely beforehand) and minimize reliance on debit/credit cards to reduce the risk of scams and bank fees. Don’t forget to notify your bank about your travel plans, as trying to contact your bank overseas when your account gets locked can be frustrating!
3. Prioritize Safety: Let people you trust know your itinerary, ideally both at home and in the country you’re visiting. Blend in with the locals and try not to stand out. Minimize valuables, and spread out your cash so you’re not storing it all in one place. Research common tourist scams in the country you’re visiting.It’s important to note that the presence of danger and scams are not indicative of the whole of a foreign population. Dangers and risks are abound anywhere in the world, especially in areas frequented by tourists. Be prepared and be safe, do what you can to not appear a target.
4. Plan (but Don’t Overplan: Research must-see attractions and local events, but leave room for spontaneity! The most memorable experiences often come when you ditch the rigid schedule. Locals are your best guides, so be open to suggestions and unexpected adventures!

Bonus Tools to Enhance Your Trip

• Note-Taking/Planning Apps: Apps such as Notion, Obsidian, Microsoft Loop and others create an easy place to organize your travel details, places you’d like to see, notes about common phrases, and other tidbits of information you might find useful.
• Offline Maps: Most Map Applications like Google Maps or Apple Maps offer the ability to download maps for offline usage and allow you to pin locations/addresses such as places you want to see or your hotel address/etc. Though spotty, GPS may even still function on an offline map without data connectivity, allowing you the option for navigation.
• Translation Apps: Applications like Google Translate are lifesavers for real-time communication. Even in countries that have English coursework in their schools, if the language is not spoken every day, locals may struggle to speak it. Real-time translation applications, though not foolproof, do make it easier to communicate, allowing both parties to use their native languages.
• Unit Conversion Apps: Very useful for travel between countries with different measurement systems. Even when visiting countries that share the same native language, I find communicating units of measurement can often be a barrier if you’re not familiar with unit conversions. Example, I’m familiar with distance and weight conversions between imperial and metric which isn’t a problem but volume and temperature conversions are much easier to punch into an app.
• VPNs: Protect yourself on public WI-FI networks against data theft. Any data accessed on a public network such as bank details, personal information, or other data you don’t want others seeing can easily be hacked from a public network. Connecting to a VPN while on a public network before accessing this information adds a layer of security to protect against prying eyes.

International travel can enrich your life in ways you can’t anticipate! By planning ahead of time, protecting yourself and staying safe, and embracing a culture outside your own, you can have a more magical trip. Embrace the unknown, and you too will see that the world is so much bigger than we believe!