My Top 5 International Travel Tips
For the past 20 years, I have been traveling to six different continents living, studying, serving, and visiting at least 25 countries. Along the way, I have picked up a bit about traveling, especially traveling internationally. I often get asked about tips for traveling, so wanted to share my top five…well, now six!
Traveling to another country can (and should be) be an incredible adventure! Below, are six things I do every time I am headed to another country to increase the odds that I can make the most of my trip by truly experiencing a different culture.
#1: Pick up a CultureGram
CultureGrams are a 30-minute read that will give you the most up to date information about any country, including its history, culture, people, customs, food, religion, etc. I have literally been using them for 20 years. Yes, you can get a book that is longer and more comprehensive, but if your goal is to actually read it, I would suggest simply getting a CultureGram. Then you’ll know in advance if you should bring your hosts flowers or wine, the best ways to greet people, and why it might be hard to find a place open for dinner at 6pm. ProQuest bought CultureGrams a while back, so you should be able to access them for free at your local library or online with your library card.
#2: Pack what you can carry
Unless you are traveling to the United States, you can anticipate needing to walk with your luggage on various types of terrain including cobblestone, dirt roads, up and down stairs, through narrow alleys, around train stations, etc. This is one I have learned the hard way, more than once (you would think I would learn). Knowing you will likely need to transport your own luggage and the odds are very high you’ll need to actually carry it for at least a little ways, only pack what you can relatively easily carry. The only caveat to this is if a car is picking you up from the airport or the train station (though again, stairs are likely involved when even just adding a train to your transport plans). Otherwise, anticipate lots of walking with your luggage on ground that is not suitable for rolling suitcases.
Our family still laughs about that one time we all had our rollers traveling about Scotland and walked nearly a mile down a dirt road to our B&B. By the way, we had to walk back down that dirt road to get back to the bus station when we were heading to our next destination. If you’ve ever tried to drag a rolling suitcase on a dirt road you know it’s not that easy…neither is carrying a rolling suitcase.
#3: Check the local weather
Unless you plan to leave extra room in your suitcase because you plan to go clothes shopping during your trip, check the local weather. Don’t assume that summer in one country is the same as summer in another country. Making this mistake will mean you literally need to buy clothes that you didn’t anticipate needing to buy (which might not be a bad thing), but it is helpful to plan in advance.
#4: Eat local
One of the best ways to experience another culture is to eat local food. Here’s the thing about eating food in different places (this might even be a different part of your country): it might not sit well with your stomach. Our stomachs are so well-tuned to our own water and what we regularly eat that a change in either of these can mean an upset stomach. For some, this might not even be noticeable and for others it can ruin a trip. (My dad and I were somewhere in Montana, USA one night and stopped at the Snake Pit for dinner. We drank many glasses of their delicious tasting tap water. Overnight we realized that that our stomachs did not like that delicious water as much as we did drinking it. Needless to say, the next day we had to call my mom for advice from a pay phone at Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park…It can happen anywhere folks!)
So, bring along something to help with mild upset stomachs (like Pepto-Bismol) as well as the harder stuff, which you might need a prescription for it. Nothing can ruin a trip faster than frequent trips to the bathroom. I’ve had everything from food poisoning the night before a wedding, to salmonella poisoning, to unidentified water-borne illnesses. So, eat local, but be prepared! Depending on where you are traveling, you may find that it helps to discreetly chew a Pepto before every meal (I usually do this if I am in a rural area and the food is cooked in someone’s home and I can't know what the cooking preparations are like). Again, it’s simply that our stomachs are not used to food elsewhere, it’s not a bad thing. And in case you need the reminder, if you are in a very rural area, don’t eat it unless it is cooked or can be peeled.
#5: Learn local phrases
Unless you already can speak the local language, learn 5-10 words and phrases of the local language. This goes a long way in showing people that you’re there to experience their country and culture and not simply to have a ‘fill in your country’ holiday in another country. If your flight is even 4 hours, this is plenty long enough to memorize some new phrases, so take advantage of your flight time and get learning!
And the bonus tip that should go without saying, but it’s an absolute must for actually engaging in, experiencing, and learning about another culture:
#6: Meet local people
And last, but most importantly, meet local people. I have been to some incredible places around the globe and seen incredible sights, but what I remember most are the people. They are what make traveling internationally so incredible. Seeing the tourist sites can be great, I’ve seen them and done the touristy things too. But getting to know the people wherever you are visiting will hands down be the best part of your trip! We were made for relationships after all.
There you have it, my tried and true tips for traveling internationally. Bookmark this page to come back to the next time you’re headed to another country. If there are other tips that you would add, please comment below! We all have plenty to learn when it comes to travel.