Ok friends, let’s face it – international travel can be overwhelming and stressful and it’s totally ok to feel that way! But it’s also so exhilarating to explore new places and exciting to see corners of the world that differ from your own.
If there’s anything I’ve learned from traveling, it’s to learn from your travel blunders and keep going. There isn’t much that would get in the way of me and a new adventure but there are a few things that I think make international trips a bit easier (and more enjoyable).
So here are a few of my top international travel tips – bon voyage!
1. Pack Smart
This sounds like a pretty basic thing, everyone knows they’re supposed to try to pack light but I’m talking about packing smart. By this I mean consider what your trip is going to be like. Will you be staying in one place or moving around every few days? How will you be moving from place to place?
In many European countries, if you aren’t renting a car to get around you’re probably taking some kind of public transportation. This means you’ll be lugging your bags on and off of trains, busses, subways, etc. that are busy and full of people.
When I went to Germany, I made the mistake of packing my biggest suitcase (it was winter and I needed the packing space for my coats!) and it was such a struggleto get that thing around. Moreover, we didn’t just stay in one place, we traveled by train to threedifferent places, so I had to go through the ordeal a number of times. Moral of the story here is if you’re moving around a few times and taking the train, you probably want to opt for a smaller sized bag.
Also, is your luggage up to the task?
When I went to Israel, I somehow didn’t notice that the wheels on my suitcase were broken until I got to the airport. Have you ever tried to pull a 50 lb suitcase with no wheels? It’s not fun. It wouldn’t have been so terrible if we had stayed in one place but during our 10-day trip we stayed in at least 5 different places which meant I was lugging that thing every few days.
Avoid my mistakes, always double check your luggage.
2. Pack an Empty Duffle Bag
This is one of my best travel hacks. I love bringing home different souvenirs which means I need a way to bring them home but as you can probably tell from my stories so far, I’m a bit of an over packer. My solution? Pack an empty duffle bag!
This works out best if you’re checking a bag so your duffle bag, full of new treasures on your way home, becomes your carryon item. This is especially helpful if you’re bringing home fragile items that you don’t want to get banged up by airport baggage. Plus, if you’re worried about your bag being overweight on your trip home, you can just use your empty duffle for overflow.
3. Learn 5-10 Words in the Local Language
If you’re traveling to a non-English speaking country or a country where the official language isn’t English, I highly recommend you learn a few words/phrases in the native language. Don’t think that you can just get by with English because it’s commonly used in other countries.
France gets a particularly bad rep for having snooty locals who are unhelpful to tourists, but I think it all depends on how they’re approached. If you go up to them spewing a stream of English babble they’ll probably be put off (wouldn’t you be?) but if you start in French, even in a limited capacity, seeing you make an attempt will make them more likely and willing to help.
So download one of the free language learning apps, find a podcast, or just look up a few words and memorize them to get the basics.
I think these are the six most important to learn no matter where you’re going:
- Hello
- Thank you
- Please
- Bathroom
- Do you speak English?
- Where is…?
4. Use a Travel Journal
The very first time I ever left the country was for a study abroad program in college. We spent a month in London and it was everything I had ever dreamed it would be; London in the summer was spectacular. Our trip was led by two faculty members and they gave me the best piece of travel advice I’ve ever received: use a travel journal.
I feel like journaling is a bit out of fashion these days and I don’t keep one regularly, but I took one on that first trip, per their insistence, and have continued to take one on every trip since then. Being able to jot everything down about each day is such a release for me – there are always so many little things I want to be able to remember and putting them down on paper is the best way to do that. I’m able to pour out all my excitement about the day I’ve just had and create space in my brain for everything happening the next day.
Keeping a travel journal is also a fantastic way to look back and remember your trip. Photos are great but sometimes I can’t remember the name of that one ice cream place I loved in Dublin or the name of the kibbutz we stayed at in Israel. A quick flip through my notebook refreshes my memory and is a fun excuse to relive past adventures.
Just trust me here, take a travel journal and give it a try.
5. Download Offline Maps
If you’ve never used offline Google maps before, I’m about to rock your international travel world.
If you have a smartphone, all you need is to download Google Maps tap a few buttons and you’ll have access to specific maps (for areas you’ve selected) anytime. Magic, right?? And you can still use the directions function in offline maps so you can get around easily. This has saved me a number of time while traveling abroad without a data plan.
Here’s how you do it:
- 1) Download Google Maps and open the app
- Search for the location/area you need a map for
- Click the menu icon (the three horizontal bars) at the top left
- Click “offline maps” then “custom map”
- Zoom in/out as much as you want for that location
- Click “download” and wait for your offline map to download to your phone.
And voila! Easy offline access to any map you need.
There are probably other platforms that do offline maps too, but this is what I use so that’s what I’m going with.
6. Find Worthy Souvenirs
This may be the one that you have the most trouble getting on board with, but hear me out.
I believe that we should only surround ourselves with things that bring joy. As a deeply nostalgic and romantic-minded person, for me this also means things that have meaning.
Does a plastic Eiffel Tower keychain truly carry meaning? Not so much.
When I travel, there are three things I always keep an eye out for: local street art, a copy of Harry Potter in the local language, and something descriptive of that place. I will admit that I’ve fallen victim to a souvenir kiosk or two but the pieces I love the most when I get home are the ones with stories attached to them.
I’m not saying you have to get the same souvenirs I do, but when you travel challenge yourself to find relics that are indicative of the things you’re doing, the people you’re meeting, and everything you’re experiencing. Take home a little piece of that culture with you instead of a magnet depicting the country’s flag.
For more ideas of unique souvenirs to bring home, check out this post.
There you have it, my top six international travel tips! Hopefully I’ve helped you feel a bit more prepared for your next adventure.
