A guide for new travelers

This might seem obvious but for those procrastinators out there, this is step #1. If you’re hesitant on booking a vacation because you’re too busy or you don’t know how many days you can travel or you don’t know what the itinerary will be or whatever other excuse you have, take a deep breath and book your departure flight. 

Work is not going to slow down and unless you win the lottery, you’re not going to have all the money you wished you had. But we cannot get back time. And what are you going to remember more, that week you worked overtime or that week you spent in Tuscany? 

You don’t have to book a roundtrip flight. If you need to, wait to book your returning flight when you have a better idea of how many days work for your schedule. Often you’re not saving money booking roundtrip, so it’s ok to book one flight at a time. My only word of caution is to not book the “basic” fare that many airlines are now offering since you cannot change the flight and cannot select your seat (this is important for long-haul flights). 

But if you book your departure flight without knowing any other details, it will force you to start planning. Now you’re committed! 

There are numerous third-party sites and tips for booking cheap flights, so I won’t dive into all those details. But here’s a helpful video I found, and regardless of how you find the lowest fare, make sure to book directly with the airline. Booking directly eases customer support when there’s a change or cancellation.

Unless you’re staying in a resort that you don’t plan on leaving, most likely you’ll be walking more than you ever have before. If you’re headed to Europe and have this idea in your head that Europeans are chic and sophisticated…well guess what, they wear sneakers, too. 

There are so many things to do and places to see, you don’t want your footwear to stop you. I’ve learned the hard way–more than once, Birkenstocks have saved my vacation. 

Invest in and break-in a pair of shoes that you’ll be comfortable walking in all day, for several days straight. And if you’re going during summer or to a warm climate, find a pair of sandals that can support your feet. 

Pack, at most, one pair of nice shoes that you’d wear to an elegant dinner or evening out. But your priority should be comfort and practical for the activities you’ll be doing.

It’s so easy the first time visiting a new country to want to pack in as much as possible. You flew all that way, you’ve waited for this, you’re going to see everything! 

If you plan your vacation like you plan a day at Disneyland, by just checking sites off your list, you’re missing the point. Not only will you spend a lot of time in lines with other tourists, you’re going to miss the beauty of being in a new country, surrounded by different cultures, a different way of living, and new perspectives. You’ll miss those serendipitous moments like stumbling upon an exhibit in Turin featuring American photographer Ruth Orkin who you learn was not only a trailblazer for her time but also a kindred spirit. Or stopping in a pub in Paris to use the restroom and end up making friends at the bar who take you to a jazz club for a night that you’ll never forget. 

This doesn’t mean you go without any plans or booking any reservations, but rather, don’t overschedule. For those bucket list items, you’ll absolutely want to plan ahead. But make sure you leave time to wander, to sit in a café or park, or to go visit that place your taxi driver recommended. 

If you are planning to go to multiple cities in one trip, allow yourself at least 3 days per city. If it were me, I’d plan one major attraction in a day and keep the rest of the day free. Or select a neighborhood to explore each day. Book a couple dinner reservations, but leave some nights open for local recommendations. 

Keeping some free time in your schedule also helps you be a little more flexible when things don’t go as planned.     

If you assume everyone will be rude, then you will find rude people. If you think the city will be dirty, you will spot all of its flaws. Sometimes we focus so much on the negative, it can overshadow even the best experiences.

And I’ve found the opposite is true, too. Sometimes we see everything in rose colored glasses when we travel. But I’d much rather see the beauty, warmth, and kindness around me.

Though there are a lot of stereotypes and generalizations out there, I encourage you to try to keep an open mind. For example, if you assume your Parisian waiter is going to be rude, you might also put up a front and come across as cold and disrespectful. Then it’s practically a guarantee you won’t have great service. 

Be ready to enjoy new experiences without preconceived biases. And go with the flow. Not every restaurant will have superior service. Not every street will be pristine. Not every bus will run on time. And that’s ok. Shrug it off, or even better, have a laugh about it.  

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t follow up on the Paris stereotype. I’ve been to Paris a dozen times and can only remember once where I thought my waitress was rude. Maybe she was just having a bad day? We all need a little grace from time to time. But compared to the service I receive in the States, I will take French service any day.

Or a silly hop-on hop-off bus tour. You are a tourist afterall! I love walking tours to get to know a little bit of the history behind what I’m seeing and to get to better acquainted with the city I’m visiting for the first time. For those large cities like London and Paris, there’s no shame in taking a hop-on hop-off double-decker bus. They are an efficient way to see all the major sites in a short amount of time. And once you get that out of the way, you can dive deeper into the places you really want to see. 

I suggest planning a walking or bus tour the first day in a city. Often you can find free walking tours, but make sure to tip your guides at the end.

If you don’t know where to eat, make sure to walk at least 2 blocks (the more the better) away from the tourist attraction or shopping thoroughfare to avoid overly-priced, mediocre food. You’ve come to this country for new experiences, there’s no sense eating at a chain restaurant.

Especially compared to U.S. prices, international travel can be cheaper than you think. Your biggest expense will most likely be your flight. Traveling during the shoulder seasons, April-May and September-October, is not only cheaper, but the places you’ll visit will most likely be less crowded. Use tools like Google Flight Search, Kayak, or Hopper (app only) to track flight prices or see if it’s a good time to buy. And don’t forget to check if you can use your credit card reward points.

You can save money on your accommodation by booking an Airbnb and then buying basic groceries items for breakfast and snacks to reduce your eating out expenditures. Stop by a farmers market for fresh produce and local specialities to take on a picnic or for a gourmet dinner at home. In general, prices for food and drinks are often lower than in the States.  

Use public transit or walk to get around rather than taking Ubers everywhere. While it can vary by country, I’ve found public transit more efficient, convenient, and cleaner than at home. And walking is a lot more feasible outside of the U.S.

Many places offer free walking tours, admission-free days at museums, and tourist attraction bundles. But some of my favorite things to do are free: wandering through the old part of town, strolling through an open-air market, people watching in a park, hiking to a vista point, or sunbathing on a beach. 

Your vacation can be as little or as much as you want to make it, but the important thing is to take the trip.