Hope. Fear. Excitement. Traveling for the primary time produced a wave of emotions.

When I left to travel the planet on my first round-the-world trip, I didn’t know what to expect.

Now, with fifteen years of travel experience under my belt, i do know better. Traveling is habit to me now. I land in an airport and that i just continue autopilot.

But, back then, i used to be as green as they are available .

To catch up on my lack of experience, I followed my guidebooks and wet my feet by happening organized tours. i used to be young and inexperienced and that i made tons of rookie travel mistakes.

I know what it’s wish to just be starting out and have a mind crammed with questions, anxieties, and concerns.

So, if you’re new travel and searching for advice to assist you prepare, here are 12 tips that I’d tell a replacement traveler to assist them avoid a number of my early mistakes:


1. Don’t Be Scared

Fear may be a powerful deterrent. Taking the leap into the unknown is horrifying , but remember: you aren’t the primary person to travel the planet . You aren’t discovering new continents or exploring uncharted territories.

There is a well-worn travel trail out there and other people to assist guide you along the way. If many people can make their way round the world annually , you'll too.

You’re even as capable as anyone else. After all, you probably did the toughest part: deciding to travel . Having the courage to form that call is that the hardest part.

You’ll make mistakes. Everyone does. But that’s a part of the experience.

There will be many people out there to assist you. You’ll be shocked at just how helpful and type people are. You’ll make friends, you’ll survive, and you’ll be better for it.


2. Don’t Live by Your Guidebook

Guidebooks are useful for a general overview of a destination. They’re an excellent thanks to learn the fundamentals and obtain introduced to the cities and countries you propose to go to . But you’ll never find the newest off-the-beaten-path attractions, bars, or restaurants in them.

For the newest info (as well as insider tips), connect with locals. Use websites like Meetup.com or Couchsurfing to attach directly with local and expats so you'll get suggesitons, advice, and tips to form the foremost of your trip.

Additionally, ask other travelers you meet or the staff at your hotel/hostel. Visit the local tourist board also . It’s a wealth of data that always gets overlooked.

In short, use a guidebook for the inspiration of your plans but fill within the details with up-to-date info from locals.

You can also use travel blogs for planning tips since they're updated more often than guidebooks.


3. Travel Slow

This is something most new long-term travelers learn the hard way (myself included).

I know it are often tempting to pack in as many cities and activities as possible. (This is particularly true if you simply have a couple of weeks of vacation.)

But rushing from city to city every other day is simply getting to leave you exhausted and stressed . You’ll experience a whirlwind of activity, most of which can remain a blur once you reminisce thereon . Sure, you’ll have some great pictures for Instagram but is that basically why you’re traveling?

Travel is about quality, not quantity. Don’t worry about what proportion you see. Don’t worry about trying to impress people with the amount of nations you’ve visited. hamper and take in your destinations. You’ll learn more, enjoy it more, and have a way more memorable experience.

When it involves travel, less is more. (Plus, traveling slow helps reduce your transportation costs. It’s cheaper to travel slow!)


4. Pack Light

When I visited Costa Rica in 2003, I brought a bag crammed with plenty of stuff: hiking boots and pants, a fleece jacket, an excessive amount of clothing, and my bodyweight in toiletries. And it all sat in my bag, mostly unused.

I was packing for “just in case” and “what if” rather than the truth of my trip.

While it are often tempting to bring quite you would like “just just in case ,” remember this: you'll buy things on the road. Socks, shampoo, jackets, new shoes — you'll find it all aborad. There’s no got to bring everything and therefore the sink .

So, pack light. You’ll have less to hold , saving you the effort and stress of lugging an enormous backpack around for weeks (or months) on end.

Unless you're going somewhere cold, a bag around 40 liters will suffice. Bags around this size are easier to hold , don’t get too unwieldy, and may fit on your flight as carry-on as long as need be (a huge perk if you would like to save lots of yourself some headaches).

Here’s everything you would like to understand to assist you discover the right bag for your budget and your trip.


5. Get Travel Insurance

Whether you’re a travel veteran or a fresh backpacker, don’t leave home without ensuring you’re protected just in case something goes wrong. As we learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, sudden emergencies can begin of nowhere.

I’ve had my luggage lost. I popped an eardrum in Thailand. i used to be knifed in Colombia.

I’ve had a lover break bones, got to be helicoptered out of the Amazon, or fly back thanks to a overtime .
Stuff happens.

To ensure you’re protected, buy travel insurance.

I never leave home without it because i do know just how quickly things can go sideways.

You never know what might happen. The road is crammed with uncertainty. confirm you’re protected. it'll also offer you peace of mind and assist you travel confidently .

Here are a couple of posts worth reading. i do know it’s not a fun or sexy topic, but it’s a crucial one!

Is Travel Insurance Worth it?

The 7 Best Travel Insurance Companies

World Nomads Insurance Review


6. Bring a Phone (and Get Local SIM Cards)

Having a phone with data means you'll search directions on the fly, make reservations, and get in touch with emergency services if something happens.

Sure, there's free wifi just about everywhere lately so buying an area SIM card for data might sound sort of a waste of cash (especially if you’re on a very , really tight budget) but having that immediate access to roaming data are often a lifesaver.

If you’re from the US and traveling for fewer than 3 months, T-Mobile has reliable data plans. Google Fi is another great option too.

Additionally, having a phone makes it easier to attach and stay in-tuned with travelers you meet.

Simply put: having a phone is basically helpful during this day and age.

Just don’t stay glued thereto all the time.


7. accompany the Flow

When a day is mapped out and there are timetables to follow, you’ll get stressed. Very stressed. You’ll rush around and be unhappy if there are any glitches in your well-curated schedule.

And there'll be hiccups. And glitches. and every one sorts of inconveniences, both major and minor. Life on the road doesn’t always go as planned — which is both fun and frustrating.

When you plan an excessive amount of , there’s no room to experience the happy accidents of travel. There’s no room for spontaneous choice, for incorporating new information and advice that you simply learn.

When making your plan, confirm that it’s flexible. Learn to travel with the flow. Plan one or two activities and let the remainder of the day happen.

It’ll be a more enjoyable and fewer stressful experience. You’ll be surprised by what happens.

Be flexible. Let life unfold the way it should.


8. Bring Some extra cash

Travel isn’t as expensive as many of us think but you continue to got to create a budget meaning your needs. the key to future travel is sensible money management.

However, always overestimate the quantity you would like . You never know what might come abreast of the road. After all, you didn’t spend all that point saving every penny and staying home to skip those once during a lifetime activities?

Maybe you would like to undertake bungee jumping otherwise you discover a tremendous restaurant you can’t pass up. or even you meet some cool people and choose to scrap your plan altogether.

No matter how well you propose , something can always come up which will throw your budget out of synch.

That’s fine.

Just leave home with a touch extra. If you’re planning says you’ll need $2,000, bring $2,500. it'll offer you a buffer for emergencies and spontaneity.


9. Remember most are within the Same Boat

It takes courage to speak to strangers when you’re new travel, especially if you’re an introvert like me. What does one say? are you able to just invite people to hitch you? What if you finish up alone?

These are all questions I had once I first started traveling. the great news? most are within the same boat. All around you're other solo travelers trying to find friends. they need to satisfy new people too.

While there are a couple of tricks to find out to assist you meet people, it mostly just comes right down to saying “hello” and taking that initiative . Everything else will fall under place then . you've got nothing to lose and, within the process — this is often how you’ll recover from your shyness, make new friends, and obtain better at conversation.


10. Be Adventurous

The only time we grow is when we’re outside of our comfort zones. And travel is about growth. That doesn’t mean you would like to try to to dangerous things, but it does mean you would like to push yourself beyond what you’re wont to .

Hiking, sky diving, eating new foods, camping, hiking , hitchhiking — whatever taking a risk seems like to you is 100% ok. Everyone has different interests and tolerance levels. Push yours. it's going to be scary and uncomfortable at the time, but you’ll be glad you probably did it later.

Challenge yourself. Try new things. You’ll walk off more self-confident.


11. It’s okay to Change Your Mind

If you hate a city, leave and attend another one. If you don’t enjoy the tour your on, cancel it early. And if you actually love the place you’re visiting, change your plans and stay longer.

It’s perfectly normal to vary your mind on the road.

Maybe meaning extending your trip. Maybe meaning going home early. There’s nothing wrong with either choice.

Always remember you'll head home if you aren’t having fun. You aren’t cursed with your decision to travel or your decision to be during a specific place. You’re the captain on your own ship. always remember that!


12. Remember, You’re Not Alone

Wherever you go, there's a network of travelers who are going to be your friends, offer you advice or tips, and assist you out. they're going to guide you, point you within the right direction, and be your mentors.

You aren’t out there on your own.

And you'll be OK.