There are many reasons you might be taking your first vacation later in life. Perhaps your family never prioritized going away on holiday when you were younger, or maybe you never found yourself in the financial circumstances necessary to be able to afford trips away. Whatever the case may be, your first vacation can be an extremely exciting time, but it can also be very stressful. Check out our 10 beginner travel tips to help you make sure that your first holiday (or even your next holiday if you’re not a newbie but you’re an inexperienced traveller) will be unforgettable.
1. Plan everything beforehand
We cannot stress this enough: if you’re going on holiday, make sure to create detailed plans for everything beforehand. That includes your travel itinerary, the luggage you’re going to need to take, your accommodation plans, and everything else you could plan. While those plans are almost certain to change, having them means you’ll be prepared, which in turn means that if something does go wrong, you’ll be able to adapt and adjust to it more effectively.
2. Make sure you have enough money
There are lots of hidden costs and expenditures when it comes to a holiday. For example, you may have thought about booking a hotel, but have you considered where your food is going to come from while you’re away? Make sure you have enough cash to cover every eventuality. Even if you’re a little hard up right now, you’ll find very bad credit loans direct lenders that can help you to boost your reserves so that your holiday isn’t difficult from a financial perspective.
3. Research your destination
You should make sure that you know everything you possibly can about your destination before you travel. What are the customs of the people who are native to that country? Will you need to make any special preparations to ensure that you’re adhering to those customs? Different countries can expect different things from travelers, so you might need to make some changes to your plans based on what you find out. That’s why it’s so important to do research ahead of time. For instance, if you’re considering a trip to Arizona, looking up Paradise Valley hotels can give you a taste of what the region offers in terms of accommodations. Knowing where you’ll be staying can make planning your cultural explorations and day trips a lot easier.
4. Don’t travel in tourist season
If you can help it, try not to travel during peak season. Everything becomes more difficult if you travel along with everyone else; you won’t be able to access sightseeing landmarks as easily, and you’ll be jostling with everyone else for position when it comes to the things you want to do on your itinerary. Try to travel during off-season, whenever that happens to be for your chosen destination. You’ll have a happier, more peaceful experience if you do so.
5. Pick unusual things to do
Even if you travel during off-season, you’ll often find that the most popular tourist attractions are packed with people. That’s why you should consider doing something a little more off the beaten track when you get to your destination. Why not pick a nature hike that’s a little less well-attended, for example? Activities and destinations that aren’t overpopulated with tourists can often be more “authentic” ways to experience the country you’re in, too, so you might even have a better trip overall if you dodge the crowds.
6. Talk to locals
Depending on where you travel, it’s a good idea to talk to the locals and get a realistic idea of where you are and what you should do. That’s also why you should think about learning the language of where you’re traveling to, even if you only learn to a rudimentary degree. Being able to converse with locals in their language is a huge advantage for you as a traveller, because they might be able to give you better recommendations about where to go and what to do.
7. Don’t go for too long
Homesickness is a genuine consideration for new or inexperienced travelers. You might be surprised by just how much you miss your normal routine and surroundings, and this goes double if you’re traveling alone. As such, you should try to make sure that you’re not away from home for too long at first. You can gradually extend the time for which you’re away as you become more experienced, but don’t travel for more than a week or so for your first few trips.
8. Get a local SIM
This is one travel consideration that is often highly overlooked by many travelers. It’s important to get yourself a local SIM card so that you can use your phone while you travel. There’s nothing worse than getting stuck somewhere you don’t know, or missing your plane, and not being able to talk to anyone. Don’t pick up a phone plan that’s geared towards travel, either, as these can often be far more expensive than simply grabbing a local SIM and topping it up.
9. Don’t overpack
You might be tempted to throw everything you possibly can into your travel suitcase, but that would be a mistake. In fact, it’s often a good idea to pack lighter than you think you might need to. You’ll be able to pick up many of the essentials you need when you get to your destination, and doing so will help you to save valuable suitcase or backpack space so that you’re lugging less around with you when you’re on the move. Clothing, medications, and documentation are all essentials, though, so don’t skimp on those!
10. Take lots of photos
You might hear people say that if you’re taking too many photos of your vacation destination, you’re not enjoying yourself, but we think that’s nonsense. You should make sure that you take as many photos of your trip as possible so that you can remember what it was like to be there when you’re back at home. Of course, you should ensure that you’re enjoying the trip, too, but if taking photos for memories is a big part of your enjoyment, then snap away.
We hope you found this blog post on 10 Beginner Travel Tips For A Great Vacation useful. Be sure to check out our post on How to Stay Healthy When You Travel for more great tips!
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