6 Essential Tips For Your First Time Traveling Internationally

It’s your first time traveling internationally and there are so many unknowns. Does that sound familiar? I find that when we don’t know what to expect from any experience, it feels so big. So much harder. We don’t know how to prepare.

This post is here to help you ease your worries. At least a little bit. I won’t be able to take away all your concerns, as you have to experience it to really get it. But I am here to get you prepared and reassure you.

You can do this!

So below is your guide to navigating your first international vacation with confidence. We will be taking you through 6 essential topics for a trip abroad with helpful tips on communication, money, health, hotel safety, transportation and how to stay safe in a crowd.

The most important things to know when it’s your first time traveling internationally are in this post, but if want more details on any of the topics, you can click through to more detailed posts below each section!

AND in addition, I have created a Safety Checklist that will keep you organized, help you pack, make international travel easier and prepare you to take flight. 

Some of the links on this post are affiliate links. When clicking on the links and booking travel, I receive a small commission with no extra costs for you. Please note, I only recommend brands I actually use and trust. Please see full disclosure here.

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How To Communicate Back Home

For the first time traveling internationally, being able to communicate is key. Not only with the people around you, but also with friends and family at home and with each other.

Your phone won’t work the same abroad as it does at home. Your phone service only works in your home country. Here are some ways to get your phone ready to use internationally.

Is Your Phone Locked Or Unlocked?

Is your phone locked? You may have heard this question and not known what it means. When you purchase your phone through a carrier like T-Mobile or Verizon, you can purchase a two year contract and pay off your phone each month through a plan.

If you do this, like a large chunk of the American population, then your phone is locked. This just means that until you pay off your phone, the phone carrier won’t let you switch to another phone carrier.

This also means you can’t get an eSIM or new SIM card in another country.

If your phone is locked, you have three options before your first time traveling internationally.

1. Pay off your phone, so you can use an eSIM or SIM card in the country you are visiting. Be sure to get the phone unlocked.
2. Use an international plan through your phone carrier. This can be pricey, but if you want to be able to call or use data when you are abroad and your phone is locked, it might be your only option.
3. Don’t use your phone’s data or calling services abroad.

Get A SIM card For Your Unlocked Phone

If you go with number one or your phone is already unlocked. I would get an eSIM (embedded SIM – not physical) for the country you are visiting. If you are visiting multiple countries, look into a regional eSIM. My favorite way to get an eSIM is through Airlo.

Sometimes it is cheaper to get a physical SIM card when you arrive to a new country. To do this, you would go to a phone carrier in the new country and ask about purchasing a SIM card. Then you would have to replace the physical SIM from your phone with the new SIM from the new country.

This to me is a pain and takes a lot of time. Even if the eSIM card is a little more expensive, I think it is worth it. Much less hassle and time figuring out where to go and what to do.

Skip The Data And Phone Plan

If you decide to NOT get a new SIM or use an international plan, there are still ways to communicate with each other and your family and friends while you are traveling.

Put your phone in airplane mode, so your phone carrier doesn’t charge you when you arrive. You can still use Wi-Fi on your phone when it is in airplane mode.

Download these apps:

1. WhatsApp – you can call or text using data or Wi-Fi. This is the easiest way to stay connected and businesses all around the world use WhatsApp. Make sure your family and friends have WhatsApp too, so that you can keep in contact with them while on the road. 
2. Can’t get your friends and family to use WhatsApp? Communicate through DMs on social media like Facebook or Instagram.
3. Download offline maps on Google maps before you arrive, while you are at your hotel or wherever you have Wi-Fi. You can use these maps to get around on your phone even without Wi-Fi.

Other Helpful Communication Tips For Your First Time Traveling Internationally

As far as safety concerns go, there are a few tips that you might not think about when you are traveling abroad for the first time. Here are my favorite travel tips for communication:

1. Make sure you have a portable charger with you so your phone never dies! I forgot mine when I was visiting Amsterdam the other day and totally regretted it. 
2. Add the emergency numbers of the countries you are visiting in your phone’s contact list. 
3. Tell your family or a good friend your travel plans. Give them a basic itinerary that includes the name of the hotels where you will be spending the night.  
4. Register your trip with the embassy or consulate. If there is an emergency or an advisory, they can help and keep you informed.

Want more details about communication tips abroad? Read the full blog on staying connected when traveling abroad here. 

Money Abroad

Money is up next. It is so important that you can access your money when traveling, and you have the tools to reduce the risk of it getting stolen. Here are some crucial travel money tips for your first time traveling internationally. 

1. Use credit cards whenever possible to prevent fraudulent charges. You an always file a complaint with your credit card company and get your money back.
2. Tell your bank where you are going so that they don’t block your charges. Most have a way to let them know right in their apps!
3. Use ATMs safely to get cash out. Brightly lit areas with people around are best.
4. Split up your cash. When you carry your money in different places the risk of losing all of it in a theft is much lower. 
5. Carry your cash in a smart way using the right purse, a money belt, or wrap it around a hair tie (harder to get it out of your pocket!)
6. Always keep an eye on your belongings. 
7. Don’t show off how much money you have by wearing expensive jewelry or taking out rolls of cash. 

I go into so many more details on ways to keep your money safe and how to access money in this post. Read it next: 7 Ways To Keep Money Safe When Traveling Abroad

Staying Healthy On Vacation

No one wants to get sick on a trip. It is my nightmare actually. Travel all the way across the ocean and then get sick and have to return early. No thanks!

This actually happened to me once when I went to Costa Rica. And yes, it could have been avoided. I was just 20 at the time and didn’t know anything about anything.

Let’s keep you feeling your best on your first time traveling internationally. Use these valuable tips to keep you and your family healthy when traveling.

1. Stay hydrated. Always drink enough water when out and about. 
2. Practice good hygiene by wiping down the plane or train seat and tray before using it. Also the seat pocket doesn’t get cleaned between flights and is gross. Avoid using it if possible! Also, wash your hands often, especially before eating or use hand sanitizer.
3. Check for required or recommended vaccinations for the country you are visiting. Do this by checking the CDC website or if you want to speak with a person, go to your local travel clinic.
4. Get enough sleep. Don’t forget the little one’s nap if you are traveling with kids! If you go to the link below, you can find some very helpful jet lag tips too.
5. Avoid risky water and food. 
6. Always wear a seat belt. 
7. Protect your skin, even when it’s cloudy! Sunscreen is your best friend. 
8. Invest in travel medical insurance. Check out Visitors Coverage here. 

Want more information on this tips above? Read more details on how to stay healthy abroad and those extra tips to minimize jet lag here: 8 Essential Tips For Staying Healthy While Traveling

Lodging Safety Tips For Families

Choosing a safe hotel or vacation rental goes a long way into feeling safe in a new destination. I have some handy tips to help you feel safe and choose the best place to stay. 

Check out these hotel specific travel safety tips for your first time traveling internationally.

1. Find a safe location. Make sure the neighborhood is safe in the evenings and during the day. 
2. Check your hotel’s safety measures. Do they have a security guard? Or security cameras?
3. Make sure to always deadbolt your hotel door when inside. I also recommend hanging the ‘do not disturb’ sign on the outside to let people know you are inside and to stay away!
4. Secure your belongings when you are out for the day in the hotel’s safe. 
5. Don’t let people on the hotel elevator that don’t have a key to a room. 
6. Use hotels with good reputations and always read the reviews. If you see a few bad reviews, choose a different hotel!
7. Avoid being a victim of a vacation rental scam. Many tips on how to book good Airbnbs in the blog post here. 

Get all the worthwhile tips on how to stay safe in a hotel and the extra advice for how to book an excellent vacation rental in this full article: 7 Valuable Hotel Safety Tips For Traveling Families You Need To Know

Staying Safe On Public Transportation + Rental Car Tips

There are a few important things to be aware of when using public transportation abroad. After using public transportation in many countries around the world, I have some beneficial tips that will keep you and your belongings safe when on public transportation in another country. 

1. When on a bus or train, don’t fall asleep. You might miss your stop, and you are more likely to be a target for theft. 
2. Don’t let your belongings out of your sight. Besides putting your bags under a bus, you should always be able to see your luggage. 
3. Avoid traveling during rush hour. You are more likely to get your wallet snatched if you make the journey in a crowded train or bus. 
4. If traveling with kids and a stroller, turn around when exiting the train or bus and wheel it off backwards so you don’t get the front wheels stuck in the gap.
5. Always make sure your taxi is licensed or use Uber or the Uber equivalent in the country you are visiting. You will get ripped off less using those apps. If you do use Uber, make sure the license plate on the car and in the app match!
6. Sit in the back seat of a taxi. You are less vulnerable here. 
7. Follow along on the map when you are in a taxi to make sure you are going in the right direction. If you aren’t or you feel unsafe, call the police. 
8. Always wear your seatbelt!
9. If you rent a car, do a little research on road signs in the country where you are visiting. They may not be the same. 
10. Plan out your journey beforehand and download a map. If you lose coverage, you can still follow along on the map and find your way.
11. When parking your rental car, make sure all of your things are out of sight. If you leave something on the seat, you are more likely to become a target of a robbery. 
12. Make sure the rental car is working properly before taking off on a road trip. 

Do you want more information on these public transportation safety tips? Read the full blog post here: 12 Proven Public Transportation Safety Tips For A Trip Abroad

Crowd Safety For The First Time Traveling Internationally

When traveling to certain destinations, crowds are unavoidable.

First, I like to try to avoid crowds by visiting popular attractions early in the morning or later in the afternoon. Mid-day is when most tourists are out and about. Visit that hidden gem, wander a unique neighborhood, or plan pool time at the hotel during the middle of the day instead.

If you do find yourself in a crowd, follow these helpful travel tips to keep everyone safe and your belongings with you and not stolen.

1. If traveling with kids, dress them in bright colors or the same clothes so they are easier to spot in a crowd.
2. Write your phone number on their arm in ink. If it is hot and sweaty, cover the phone number with clear nail polish so it doesn’t rub off. Other alternatives are to make ID bracelets for them to wear or put an air tag in their pocket or attach it to their clothes.
3. Choose a meeting spot that everyone can find in case you get separated. Have a plan for the subway or metro. Kids get off at the next stop and wait or if they were left, that they just wait for you to come back, for example.
4. In the kids get lost, be sure they know to go to a staff member, security guard or another mom for help.
5. Make sure your cell phone is charged and with you. If you have data, get the Life360 app and track where everyone is! I use this app all the time to track where my teens are.
6. Link arms when moving through a heavy crowd. Holding hands can get separated easier than a linked arm.
7. Wear closed toed shoes to protect those little toes. 
8. Don’t wear loose clothing or jewelry that could get snagged on something or someone. 
9. Be vigilant. If you sense the crowd getting violent or if something is off, leave right away. 
10. Don’t drink too much alcohol and always stay hydrated. 
11. If you have small children, lift them on your shoulders if in a very busy crowd. They will feel calmer because they can see and be able to breathe easier up there too. 
12. Only bring the necessities with you. 
13. Carry your belongings in a safe way. I recommend a money belt, crossover purse or at the very least use your front pocket over your back pocket.

Get more details on how to stay safe in a crowd in the full article here: Safety In Crowds: How To Keep Your Family Safe

Safety Checklist To Prepare For Your First Time Traveling Internationally

As promised, here is a checklist to help you prepare for and implement the above international travel tips. I have organized it into items to pack and things to do to prepare for your trip.

There is no guarantee that something won’t go wrong on your vacation. However, with a little preparation, you can reduce your risk of bad things happening to you and your family when you are traveling.

I hope these travel tips have put your mind at ease and you feel more confident on your first time traveling internationally. It’s going to be a great vacation.