When traveling abroad, you can quickly realize how different life is in your new area. These are my top ten tips for getting to know your new area and settling in.
- If you will be traveling a lot or on weekends if you are stationed in one place, bring a carry-on bag in addition to your backpack/bag and your checked bag. This carry-on is going to be your saving grace. For weekends or short trips, try to only bring your carry-on bag. Dragging around a large and heavy checked luggage is not going to be easy. I know because I didn’t bring a carry-on, and that was not a fun time taking a massive suitcase everywhere. You might not even be able to leave it somewhere while walking around, so your back and legs will thank you.
- Regarding the first tip, pack super light, especially if you plan on getting souvenirs or clothes. I ended up buying so many clothes and goodies that I grabbed a carry-on bag a few hours before I left for the airport. If you do not have long overnight layovers, try to put your heaviest items in your carry-on to reduce the likelihood of having to pay an overweight fee on your checked luggage.
- Even if the weather information says one thing, always pack at least one outfit for every weather possibility. For my trip, the weather was saying very warm, so I mostly packed tank tops and shorts. Then while I was there, four days of my trip the weather was raining. I ended up going to purchase some long pants because the one pair of sweatpants I brought were not enough. They weren’t dry or clean enough to last me four days.
- Find a grocery store or at least a convenience store as well as a pharmacy close to where you’ll be staying. Staying hydrated and eating good meals are going to help you stay energized and healthy throughout your trip.
- During your trip, if you start to feel sick do not wait to get over the counter medicine. Being stuck somewhere where you are most likely not going to understand the country’s medical systems is not a great idea. If you get sick and then have to travel home sick, it is very likely that your sickness could get worse due to being around a lot of different people, temperature, and pressure changes.
- Buy a couple of plug ins before your trip. It can be a specific plug, or you can buy one off Amazon that has all the different types of plugs in one. This is so you can always keep your phone charged in case of an emergency and know where you are. This is a safety measure that can be extremely important in the off chance something happens to you. Also make sure two people you trust have your location.
- Bring at least some cash for the countries you will be staying in and have some protection from pickpocketing. For women, that could be a purse that has to twist a piece to open. For men, a wallet that protects from tap payment scam or a cross-body bag to have on your chest. Cash in a lot of places is still more popular than cards and tap payment. Also markets and secondhand shops will only accept cash.
- Be okay with being alone. You will want to do things that maybe the friends you came with or the friends you made do not want to do. Doing things by yourself is how you find out what you really like. You tend to notice more of the little things when you are more present in the moment.
- Comfort over style. Typically, we pack outfits that will be stylish for the photos we will be taking there, but we fail to remember that a lot of the time unless finances support it, you will not be traveling in luxury. Pack clothes that you can truly travel in. You will be learning and traveling in some not-so-great conditions sometimes. You may not have a readily available laundry area or a way to wash your clothes. Therefore, bringing expensive and/or uncomfortable clothing should not be the majority of what you bring. You will be walking a ton, so shoes you can get dirty are better than a pair of heels or some very expensive sneakers.
- Always do your own research before committing to something. TikTok’s and social media, while helpful at times, can lead you astray. They romanticize certain things and when you go to see them you may be disappointed. I would recommend TripAdvisor, google maps, and for directions especially in Europe, try City Mapper. It can be extremely helpful for understanding public transportation and for walking directions.
