Top 10 Tips For International Travel

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Planning your first international trip is a mix of excitement, fun, and a touch of nervousness. The idea of exploring new cultures and landscapes is beyond exciting, but it’s also natural to feel a bit daunted. However, with the right preparation and a few insider tips for international travel, you’ll soon discover that a trip abroad is not as intimidating as it may seem.

Depending on your destination, it can be just as easy as a trip within the United States!

Your First International Trip

I hope you landed on this post before even booking your flights because there are some important things to consider. However, no matter at what stage you are in booking and preparing for your first international trip, this travel blog post of tips for international travel will help you!

Tips For International Travel

You need to tackle some things before your trip to ensure you are prepared and minimize common mistakes. So, I have pulled together my top ten international travel tips!

This includes specific things different from those in the United States, such as currency, voltage, and language. I am also including some specific tips for packing, airport logistics, and finding accommodations.

Throughout our travels, we learned many of these things the hard way, so you don’t have to!

#1 Book International Overnight Flights

One of the best ways to beat jet lag is to book overnight flights. In fact, most long-haul flights heading to Europe are at night. We like to take flights that leave around 9 pm, give or take a couple of hours. This ensures that we are as tired as possible and can get as much sleep as possible on the plane.

Plus, with the time change, an evening flight gets you to your destination around lunchtime. For example, leaving Atlanta at 8:30 pm gets you to Paris around 11 am the next day. This gives us time to power through the day, get to bed early, and get onto a new schedule.

I also want to point out that you generally don’t have as much “time” as you think. For example, with good tailwinds, an 8-hour, 20-minute flight from Atlanta to Paris could look more like 8 hours or less of actual flight time.

Additionally, most airlines serve “dinner” not long after takeoff. So, it’s common to board at 9 pm for a 9:45 pm departure and have a meal served at 10:30 pm. You don’t have to take it and can get to sleep right away, but it can be disruptive.

So, you can usually count on about 6 hours of “as good as it gets” sleep on a flight to Western Europe. We like to take melatonin about 30 minutes before we want to sleep on international flights.

Acropolis Historcal Sites in Athens Greece

#2 Have An Airport Exit Plan

This is very important! I consider our family to be seasoned travelers, and this year, we found ourselves confused as we exited the Cancun airport for our Spring Break in Mexico. I hadn’t done my research, and it cost us! We were super stressed and got swindled into a shuttle that cost four times what it would have cost had I prebooked transportation through the resort.

Airports in Europe vary quite a bit, but almost always, people with signs for shuttles and taxis call out to you as you exit baggage claim. It’s hard to know if you can or should trust them! Usually, the answer is no.

Always do your research in advance. Figure out if Uber or other rideshare services are an option. Or should you use a taxi? Then, research it again, look for maps, and drill down on terminals and pickup areas. Even when I think I have a plan, I feel uncertain in these moments. This is one of my best airport tips for international travel!

On a couple of trips, our Airbnb host offered an add-on airport transfer. When we arrived, there was a sign with our name, which made things so much easier. We did this twice while in Greece, and I was glad I did. It was around the same price as a rideshare. So, consider doing this, especially on your first trip to Europe, Asia, South America or anywhere else.

#3 International Plugs & Voltage Adaptors

You’ll need to determine which type of plug your destination uses. Most of Europe uses Type C, but the UK and other places use Type E. Likewise, other international travel destinations use other various versions. There are plug adaptors that can work with various versions, such as the Tessan Universal Power Adaptor.

I have a European Travel Essentials blog post with more information and links to my favorite plugs. It also includes my favorite travel wallet for our travel documents. We always use it when we travel abroad!

Likewise, the voltage is often different when traveling internationally, requiring a voltage converter for things such as hair straighteners and blow dryers. I have those details in the above post as well!

#4 Order Foreign Currency In Advance

I don’t see people mention this often, but it’s one of my favorite little hacks. Before a trip, we always order foreign currency online through our bank, Bank of America. It is delivered quickly and safely to our home, and we get the best exchange rate. This is always at the top of my list of things to do before traveling overseas.

Refrain from using currency exchange places in the airport or popular tourist areas. They often have the worst exchange rates and extra fees. We always like to use ATMs at actual banks; however, that can be challenging. In Playa del Carmen, we specifically looked up a safe bank to use our ATM card, and they had a 20% service fee.

Also, not all international ATMs are easy to translate. In Brazil, we could not find a single ATM that we could use because there was no option for English. I had forgotten to order my foreign currency for that trip, and we ended up cashless the entire time!

The good news is that credit cards and Apple Pay are the standard and preferred in most places outside the US. Most servers, shopowners or vendors have handheld credit card processing devices that make it easy to touch to pay. Make sure you know which of your credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees and use those.

I like having cash on hand for tips or when the kids go downstairs for an ice cream. I never order too much, but I like to have a value of around $150 USD per week on hand.

a girl at Bath Abbey and the Museum at the ancient roman baths in the United Kingdom

#5 Consider A Carry-On Bag

Would you believe me if I told you we only use carry-on bags?

Even for our 3-week European trip this summer, we only bring one Calpak carry-on suitcase and one strategic large personal item each. We do this whether we travel overseas or domestically, and it’s one of my best packing tips for international travel.

Why? Well, I honestly think it makes it easier. We always stay somewhere mid-trip that has a washer and dryer and can do laundry once or twice, so we only really need a week’s worth of clothes.

We love traveling to warm weather destinations, so we can often pack lightweight clothes. But, if you are traveling somewhere that requires jackets and bulky sweatshirts and sweaters, consider using Space Saver bags.

If you only go to one place, it’s not the end of the world if you bring larger suitcases. However, if you are using trains and moving from city to city, you will appreciate the carry-on when going up and down steps!

When we went to Santorini, our bags had to be carried down hundreds of zigzag cobblestone paths with steps along the way. It was hard even with our carry-ons, but it would have been nearly impossible with large, heavy suitcases!

A dad and son at a train station in Brussels.

#6 Know How To Book The Best Accommodations

If you are trying to find hotels when going abroad, you will quickly notice that most rooms are very small and only accommodate two people. They are very strict about these occupancy limits. This generally requires booking two hotel rooms or a large, expensive suite. There are exceptions and sometimes sofa beds, like at the Hotel Indigo Brussels we stayed at in Belgium.

However, we often book Airbnb or rental apartments via Booking.com. Both are very popular internationally and a great way to find places that are a bit larger. In fact, we almost always find 2+ bedroom and 2 bathroom rental apartments for a fraction of the price of a hotel.

Also, pay attention to the location of your rental. We always like to be near a train station or public transportation. Walkability is also very important to us, so we like to find accommodations near restaurants and shops.

#7 Learn Some Local Phrases

You won’t be able to pick up a new language overnight, so don’t feel pressured to do that. With the exception of Sao Paolo, Brazil, we almost always encounter people who speak some English when traveling, especially in Western Europe.

Likewise, you are in their home country, and it is respectful and courteous to at least learn some key phrases. We love to use Duolingo, and the free version is a great start.

In fact, I am learning some Italian now and am giong to be able to order a coffee and a croissant like a boss this summer. I’m joking because the phrases are sometimes cliche, but I have picked up on many greetings and keywords I didn’t know just one month ago!

A Man dressed up in Roman garb at the ancient baths in Bath UK

#8 Don’t Try To Do Too Much

Yes, I am going to six places on our big Italy trip this summer. But we have past trips under our belt and know what pace works best for us.

On your first international abroad, one of my best tips for international travel is to stay in one place if your trip is under a week. Or do two places if it’s ten days. Look for cities that are easily accessible via train so that you don’t have to spend a half day at the airport.

For example, London is a great city for first-time European visitors. You could spend five days there and then three on a trip to Bath, UK. On our past trips, we have combined Paris with Brussels and Santorini with Athens, although the latter did require a flight.

Don’t try to hop all around Europe with only two or three days in a place. Factoring in travel, check-ins, and check-outs leaves you little time to explore and enjoy a city.

#9 Make Sure Your Passport Is Valid

A good rule of thumb is that your passport should be valid for 6 months after your trip. In some countries, it’s shorter, but most won’t allow you to enter through customs with a passport close to expiring.

So, check this in advance, and renew your passport as needed! Also, check for any special visa requirements and international travel restrictions.

#10 Learn The Local Tipping Culture

Last but certainly not least, learn the local tipping culture. I love that I don’t have to tip in Europe. Any taxes are included in the price, and overall, it’s so much cheaper than in the United States.

Every destination has a unique tipping culture. Some places don’t have tipping at all. In other places, a 10% fee is added at sit-down restaurants. On the other hand, at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico, gratuity is included, but you are still expected to carry around cash to tip!

Do some quick research and make sure you know what to expect. Often, while tipping is not customary in food service, it is encouraged during tours. If you are taking a private tour, it’s always a good idea to tip something. This is why I get that cash before a trip!

Do You Have Any Tips For International Travel?

That’s it! Those are my top ten tips for international travel. Of course, I could go on forever, adding countless more words of wisdom and best practices. But these are some of the most important topics.

And one more bonus tip: consider booking a family photo session. A few months ago, we used Flytographer for family photos in Rio de Janeiro, and I am so glad we did!

Do you have any additional tips for international travel? Leave a comment on this post with your best advice!

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