Updated: 7/10/20 | July 10th, 2020 (Originally published 3/30/15)
Hope. Fear. Excitement. Traveling for the first time produced a wave of emotions.
When I left to travel the world 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 know better. Traveling is second nature to me now. I land in an airport and I just go on autopilot.
But, back then, I was as green as they come.
To compensate for my lack of experience, I followed my guidebooks and wet my feet by going on organized tours. I was young and inexperienced and I made a lot of rookie travel mistakes.
I know what it’s like to just be starting out and have a mind filled with questions, anxieties, and concerns.
So, if you’re new to travel and looking for advice to help you prepare, here are 12 tips that I’d tell a new traveler to help them avoid some of my early mistakes:
1. Don’t Be Scared
Fear is a powerful deterrent. Taking the leap into the unknown is scary, but remember: you aren’t the first person to travel the world. You aren’t discovering new continents or exploring uncharted territories.
There is a well-worn travel trail out there and people to help guide you along the way. If millions of people can make their way around the world each year, you can too.
You’re just as capable as anyone else. After all, you did the hardest part: deciding to go. Having the courage to make that decision is the hardest part.
You’ll make mistakes. Everyone does. But that’s part of the experience.
There will be lots of people out there to help you. You’ll be shocked at just how helpful and kind 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 a great way to learn the basics and get introduced to the cities and countries you plan to visit. But you’ll never find the latest off-the-beaten-path attractions, bars, or restaurants in them.
For the latest info (as well as insider tips), connect with locals. Use websites like Meetup.com or Couchsurfing to connect directly with local and expats so you can get suggesitons, advice, and tips to make the most of your trip.
Additionally, ask other travelers you meet or the staff at your hotel/hostel. Visit the local tourist board as well. It’s a wealth of information that often gets overlooked.
In short, use a guidebook for the foundation of your plans but fill in the details with up-to-date info from locals.
You can also use travel blogs for planning tips since they are 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 can be tempting to pack in as many cities and activities as possible. (This is especially true if you only have a few weeks of vacation.)
But rushing from city to city every other day is just going to leave you exhausted and stressed out. You’ll experience a whirlwind of activity, most of which will remain a blur when you look back on it. Sure, you’ll have some great pictures for Instagram but is that really why you’re traveling?
Travel is about quality, not quantity. Don’t worry about how much you see. Don’t worry about trying to impress people with the number of countries you’ve visited. Slow down and soak up your destinations. You’ll learn more, enjoy it more, and have a much more memorable experience.
When it comes to travel, less is more. (Plus, traveling slow helps reduce your transportation costs. It’s cheaper to go slow!)
4. Pack Light
When I went to Costa Rica in 2003, I brought a bag filled with tons of stuff: hiking boots and pants, a fleece jacket, too much 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” instead of the reality of my trip.
While it can be tempting to bring more than you need “just in case,” remember this: you can buy things on the road. Socks, shampoo, jackets, new shoes — you can find it all aborad. There’s no need to bring everything and the kitchen sink.
So, pack light. You’ll have less to carry, saving you the hassle and stress of lugging a huge backpack around for weeks (or months) on end.
Unless you are going somewhere cold, a bag around 40 liters will suffice. Bags around this size are easier to carry, don’t get too unwieldy, and can fit on your flight as carry-on only if need be (a huge perk if you want to save yourself some headaches).
Here’s everything you need to know to help you find the perfect bag for your budget and your trip.
5. Get Travel Insurance
Whether you’re a travel veteran or a brand new backpacker, don’t leave home without making sure you’re protected in case something goes wrong. As we learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, sudden emergencies can come out of nowhere.
I’ve had my luggage lost. I popped an eardrum in Thailand. I was knifed in Colombia.
I’ve had a friend break bones, need to be helicoptered out of the Amazon, or fly back due to a sudden death.
Stuff happens.
To ensure you’re protected, buy travel insurance.
I never leave home without it because I know just how quickly things can go sideways.
You never know what might happen. The road is filled with uncertainty. Make sure you’re protected. It will also give you peace of mind and help you travel with confidence.
Here are a few posts worth reading. I know it’s not a fun or sexy topic, but it’s an important one!
6. Bring a Phone (and Get Local SIM Cards)
Having a phone with data means you can look up directions on the fly, make reservations, and contact emergency services if something happens.
Sure, there is free wifi pretty much everywhere these days so buying a local SIM card for data might seem like a waste of money (especially if you’re on a really, really tight budget) but having that immediate access to roaming data can be a lifesaver.
If you’re from the US and traveling for less than 3 months, T-Mobile has reliable data plans. Google Fi is another great option too.
Additionally, having a phone makes it easier to connect and stay in touch with travelers you meet.
Simply put: having a phone is really helpful in this day and age.
Just don’t stay glued to it all the time.
7. Go with the Flow
When every day is planned 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 will be hiccups. And glitches. And all kinds 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 too much, 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 learn.
When making your plan, make sure that it’s flexible. Learn to go with the flow. Plan one or two activities and let the rest of the day happen.
It’ll be a more enjoyable and less stressful experience. You’ll be surprised by what happens.
Be flexible. Let life unfold the way it should.
8. Bring Some Extra Money
Travel isn’t as expensive as many people think but you still need to create a budget that means your needs. The secret to long term travel is smart money management.
However, always overestimate the amount you need. You never know what might come up on the road. After all, you didn’t spend all that time saving every penny and staying home to skip those once in a lifetime activities?
Maybe you want to try bungee jumping or you discover an amazing restaurant you can’t pass up. Or maybe you meet some cool people and decide to scrap your plan altogether.
No matter how well you plan, something can always come up that will throw your budget out of synch.
That’s fine.
Just leave home with a little extra. If you’re planning says you’ll need $2,000, bring $2,500. It will give you a buffer for emergencies and spontaneity.
9. Remember Everyone is in the Same Boat
It takes courage to talk to strangers when you’re new to travel, especially if you’re an introvert like me. What do you say? Can you just invite people to join you? What if you end up alone?
These are all questions I had when I first started traveling. The good news? Everyone is in the same boat. All around you are other solo travelers looking for friends. They want to meet new people too.
While there are a few tricks to learn to help you meet people, it mostly just comes down to saying “hello” and taking that first step. Everything else will fall into place after that. You have nothing to lose and, in the process — this is how you’ll get over your shyness, make new friends, and get 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 need to do dangerous things, but it does mean you need to push yourself beyond what you’re used to.
Hiking, sky diving, eating new foods, camping, rock climbing, hitchhiking — whatever taking a risk looks like to you is 100% ok. Everyone has different interests and tolerance levels. Push yours. It may be scary and uncomfortable at the time, but you’ll be glad you did it later.
Challenge yourself. Try new things. You’ll walk away more self-confident.
11. It’s Ok to Change Your Mind
If you hate a city, leave and go to another one. If you don’t enjoy the tour your on, cancel it early. And if you really love the place you’re visiting, change your plans and stay longer.
It’s perfectly normal to change your mind on the road.
Maybe that means extending your trip. Maybe that means going home early. There’s nothing wrong with either choice.
Always remember you can go home if you aren’t having fun. You aren’t stuck with your decision to travel or your decision to be in a specific place. You’re the captain on your own ship. Never forget that!
12. Remember, You’re Not Alone
Wherever you go, there is a network of travelers who will be your friends, give you advice or tips, and help you out. They will guide you, point you in the right direction, and be your mentors.
You aren’t out there on your own.
And you will be OK.
I know you’re nervous about heading out into the unknown. It’s human nature to worry. But, if you remember these words of wisdom, you’ll go into this the right mindset and able to avoid rookie mistakes.
So take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy your trip!
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Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
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Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
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Renuka
Great tips for new travelers! I love this – “Make time to spend a relaxing day in the park or just sitting in a café people watching. Slow down.” After traveling for over 6 years now, I too feel that it’s so important to slow down and experience things deeply rather than rushing through them. Most of all, I believe, it’s valuable to interact with your fellow travelers, locals and basically any random person – your cabby, a vendor or a waiter. You never know what you may learn about the place!
Laura
This post is just brilliant! Last year I was always in a hurry and dying to see everything, carrying with me a notebook with pretty much every hour planned. It’s much better when you just go with the flow, like you say. The unexpected experiences tend to be the ones I remember the best.
Jen
Solid advice and so incredibly true. We sold everything to “travel the world” (ha!) for 6 months, two years ago. Now we are long-term travelling and this time around, everything you’re saying rings true. We rushed SO much the first time, squashed by that urgency to see as much as possible in a “short” period of time. We were so used to the two-week-a-year-vacation mentality. It is much more enjoyable to really embed ourselves in a place without caring about how long we’ve been there, just enjoying and exploring and not country counting. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, I hope it will inspire other newbie travellers 🙂
Sonja
This is really great advice, thanks Matt! I do tend to plan out a whole itinerary worth of things to do and places to see, but when I get to my destination I fully expect my plans to change. It helps to have a list in advance, though, so that when your plans do change, you’ve already got some cool ideas of things to do, and you don’t have to spend an hour checking the guidebook. I’ll always make sure I “plan” some “unplanned” activities, like wandering a town, or just chilling on a patio somewhere. The important thing is that you are doing what YOU want to do, not what everyone else says you SHOULD do. If you feel like spending another day snorkeling and don’t want to go see that famous museum, then go snorkel!
Great tips, and thanks for the post! 🙂
Katya
I can sign under every single tip! So to the point and true 🙂
I’ve personally made the same conclusions after my own experiences and mistakes – trying to see too many places in once, forgetting to take people’s contact info, packing too much, traveling with a precise itinerary and in the end getting stressed and being shy to approach other travelers.
While I still think every traveler goes through their own mistakes no matter what – hopefully these tips of yours will have an impact! 🙂
Dave Looch
Wow, this is great timing! I was reading the blog for the first time this week, and today I said @&%$ it, I’m buying a ticket, first step is always the hardest. Headed to Lima in june, and I’m taking 6-7 wks in S. America and Australasia. Thanks for the motivation Matt. Excited to make my passport promiscuous! So excited. Thanks for pushing and aiding us!
Michelle
I love this list and I would also add that people try to do so much on trips that they can miss the point which is to be in the moment. When I travel I understand that I am not going to do everything that is on my list-and that’s ok. I had to talk to a friend of mine who was hosting me once and he was so concerned that I do everything that he thought I should do while in his town. I finally said “Look, I want to experience your city slowly. I am perfectly ok missing certain things…I’ll have a reason to come back!”
Elena
Totally on board with not planning. I’m a procrastinator in the extreme. I don’t usually open the guidebook until I’m on the plane! But a general idea of what you’d like to do is good – and then wait for circumstances to change and run with it! 🙂
Anne
I remember the first time my husband and I travelled to Europe, we planned things almost down to the hour! It was enjoyable, but 12 years later, we fly into SEA with only the first night arrival booked and just kind have a general idea of what we want to do. Any guidebook is almost always 2 years out of date, so although the maps and history infor are valuable, we usually look to the hostels BESIDE the ones recommended…usually much better prices.
My packing idol is Jack Reacher (the herol of so many Jack Reacher novels) who travels with only a toothbrush and a passport. He just buys clothes as he goes! I’m not quite that zen yet.
Cara
Great post! I’d also add that it’s good to try to learn some of the language of the people living wherever you are travelling. If the opportunity arises, stay with someone who’s lived there for a few months or longer. And if you’re into punk or metal, check out metal/punk bars and venues (I like metaltravelguide.com). Play a song in the jukebox, talk to the dj, bartender or door guy about a song you’re into that’s playing. It’s a great way to make fast friends.
Marilynn
When you stop to take a picture, please take time to really look at what you are seeing. Friends were amazed that I traveled for 2 months across Europe with NO camera. I am a rare one because I am an artist whose memories are caught on watercolor paper or in my sketch book. Take fewer pictures and LOOK around. A good way to really see a new place is just to wander, get lost, who cares? Have a map of where you are staying and meet locals by asking directions. It will be amazing the interesting things you will see that are not i. Any guide book. Matt good advice, especially to slow down and relax.
Geri
I especially support the “get people’s contact information”. So many people I know don’t even consider keeping contact with friends they made accidentally. I just don’t get it. Why? Is it so hard to write a letter or just call to check up how and where are they? What do you think? Why people are so static sometimes?
Ethan
I would totally agree on no. 2 (re: guide books) and 3 (travel slow). I just had my first ever solo trip last year and I would really recommend these two to my younger, untravelled self. Eventhough I prepared my itenerary in full details before the trip, these two just fall into my experiences and these advices made my journey truly memorable. I even got lost in an unfamiliar city ( where most people dont speak english) for an hour or two and not remembering that I have a guidebook at hand to bring me home. I just let my senses take in the new sights and sounds until the sun sets at twilight and until i miraculously found a familiar place that guided me back to my hotel. Hahaha.
Kirsten
Wow, this article could not have come at a better time. Yesterday was the very FIRST day of my year-long RTW journey (I’m in Barcelona), I’ve never traveled without friends before and I was kinda freaking out a little, wondering if I had made a bad decision. But, you’re right — I just gotta take a deep breath, relax and enjoy it!
Ramblekat
Matt, an excellent article. You helped inspire me on my RTW trip with my 17 YO son for his senior year of school. Was it scary to take him out of school and go on a trip I had four months to plan? I had a general outline of where we wanted to go, and just planned the first step. The rest naturally followed. And we can attest to all your advice in the article.
Åsa
I do agree completly, to rush through a bucket list makes the memories fade away. Relax, lean back, talk to people, remember the view, the food, the smiles, the warm winds, the snow, or whatever you are exploring.
Bob Merrick
Great advise for new travelers and season travelers as well. I particularly like the Travel Slow suggestion. I have been on trips with a fast pace and it was not very satisfying. I find that it is better to take more time on your trip or do less things so that you can immerse yourself in them and enjoy yourself better.
Roser
I feel very lucky because my parents took me on trips overseas since I was 3. Also, it’s much easier to see many countries when you’re in Europe as everything is close by unlike in North America.
Those are very great tips. Especially travel slow: the only thing I didn’t like about travelling was sleeping so little, having to see all the main things… Now that I’m travelling indefinitely I love being able to say “no, I didn’t see the David this time, there was a massive queue and I really wanted to chill in a coffee shop and finish my book, but I’ll see it when I go back to Florence”.
And I think the don’t pack too much stuff is also very, very good advice, especially for new travellers! I love travelling with just a backpack 🙂
Skye Class
My god this is a great post! Exactly the kind of things I try to get across in my own blog. Traveling is the best thing in the world, and you can never have enough experiences or meet too many friends when on the road. I also think people should have goals in mind for what they want to do in their travels, and don’t give up until they achieve them. But just getting out of one’s own country from time to time is vitally important for everyone on the planet!
Paul
I absolutely agree regards you are never alone. I was shy when I started travelling and people asked how I could travel alone to new countries all of the time. The truth I told them is that you are always with other and new people. You stay in the local youth hostel and within minutes are already talking to new fellow travellers. There is always a great community to become a part of.
Heather
When the first time you travel alone, your entire purse is stolen… you quickly learn most of the above. plan for extra cash and emergencies. obviously my plans had to completely change while I attempted to get cash and obtain a temporary passport so that I could continue the rest of my trip. Met a girl named Mel, who kept me entertained and my mind of my troubles and helped me get money from overseas. We exchanged info. Turned out, we were both heading to Paris right after London, so we met there and wasted and entire afternoon in a park just because we wanted to have a little picnic. I added a day in Paris because she wanted me to go to Disney World with her, so I did. We still keep in contact 3 years later and are still trying to plan a reunion that will include a Disney World somewhere, as we share a love for Disney and I have already been to the 2 in the US. I now make a list of things I definitely want to see, but I leave most of my time for sleeping, wandering, making friends, and seeing things the locals and other travelers suggest. After losing everything on your first trip out.. everything is a breeze.
Luciano
Excellent post. Winston Churchill once said that the only thing to fear is fear itself and that is so true. I feel that most people never reach their potential because of the fear that keeps them bound. I recently returned from a six day trip to the coffee region of Colombia. Although, I did not see everything I wanted to, it was so nice to be able to spend quality time with my friend and some new friends that we made. Often times, the connections we make emotionally with people are much more important then the things that we see in our travels.
Svetla
Don’t be shy – this was the key to everything else when I first started travelling. I made myself come and talk to strangers, be at parties with strangers, just push myself to go and talk with the locals. Well, this has always revealed amazing experiences ad opportunities for me and usually made things happen that turned crucial for my entire trip. Fate or coincidence – nobody knows, but daring to go into the unknown makes wonders.
Ása Steinarsdóttir
I couldn’t agree more on this “realize you saw everything but nothing at all. You’ll wish you did it slower”
Sometimes when you enter a new country and read about all the things that is possible to do, you somehow want to do them all! But sometimes the best days were when you where just relaxing on a café looking at the locals walking by or just sitting in a park reading a good book. Thank you for this great article! 🙂
Gemma
Great advice, all stuff I’ve learnt from traveling. I can be pretty shy, and I found smaller hostels are better at making friends and meeting people. Also, I found it weird that anyone was interested in me when I started traveling, I was an unexciting pasty Brit who didn’t know what the heck she was doing, and I wasn’t quite sure how to react to people I’d just met who wanted to be friends. Why did they want to be my friend? The truth is though, every traveller was that first, scared, what am I doing? backpacker, and are just being friendly and trying to help! I wish I’d embraced it more, and try to do so now. 🙂
Munna
Nice article Matt. I guess I should have read the article before. I am an introvert and too shy to talk with new people when I travel. I still remember saying hi to my next seat passenger in nepal who became my friend and we’re still connected on facebook. This is so crucial.
Deepika
Sound advice and very true. First time Traveling is a whirlwind of emotions. I am traveling to Europe for the first time next week and I can feel every word of what you said. But in the end what you said makes me feel relaxed for a bit. After all it is always good to know that you are not alone in this! 🙂
Layla
Thanks for this! I’m planning to go traveling and am just starting to read travel blogs again (Finally! Travel blogs make me feel inspired again instead of stuck and bitter.) One teeny thing I noticed in your wording is the words introvert vs. shy. It’s “shy” that has to do with worrying what people will think, introvert has to do with whether you get your energy from alone-time or from social time.
Shinobi Mia
A tip i would give to those wanting to travel is to go into it with a positive mind frame and everything else will fall into place. Be adventurous go to places you wouldn’t have thought about going to and come back and be the first among your group to say you did it. Don’t be afraid to put your self out there, say hello to strangers or other travellers where you’re staying they might be in the same situation as you, be friendly and kind towards everyone you come across and positivity will find you. Lastly i would say enjoy it to the fullest as who knows when you will be back in that place therefore you should soak up every moment which comes your way when on your travels.
Lisa Jordie
Thanks, Matt! Reading “You will make friends. You will be OK.” made my heart really warm. Because seriously, you hit the nail on the head with “Fear is a powerful deterrent.” It is THE deterrent for me. I’m a general anxious person, so fear has been the biggest thing that held me back from traveling in the past. I’m admittedly a traveler with an intense fear of flying. Conquering that was huge for me, and definitely not easy.
brandon
This sounds so very awesome. I am used to traveling right now as I have lived in Europe before moving back to the United States and have been to Guatemala about 8 times. I am actually getting ready for my next trip which will be to Chile in September for two weeks. It was a trip that I told my friend i would do once i graduated college and got on my feet and with some people i know dying recent, i decided to go ahead and click the book button for my trip. I have some friends that live there so I am excited to be traveling further south this year. I definitely want to take my time with this trip and just enjoy being south of the equator for the first time in my life.
Suzie
This is all brilliant advice, and I only wish I’d been told some of these things before I first travelled solo. Although you learn these things on the way it’s nice to be reminded, because we always seem get swept away and don’t take the moment to appreciate where we are and the sights and sounds around us!
Jeff Yip
Some awesome advice here! The thing I had the most difficulty with on my travels were when things didn’t go according to plan. Once I accepted that it was part of travelling, the stress of planning went out the window!
A couple of things that I think could also be useful when packing for your trip –
• Packable poncho! Great in the tropics and only cost a dollar or so!
• Ear plugs – not all overnight bus drivers turn off their music at night!
• Debit card with no international fees!
These helped me no end!
Eshan
Okay so maybe it isn’t exactly true because if you buy a house, it may grow in value and if you buy stocks, you may get lucky and hit the jackpot, but you can never go wrong with travel.
But travel brings riches in life with experiences, learning and making new friends.
Elisa
I would add visit places off the beaten path. The best places are off the beaten track
I love to visit places that do not get the big write-ups in the travel books.
Off-the-beaten-path means looking at completely new places to explore, places with a rich history that showcase the culture of your destination away from the classic tourist hotspot. It also means intimate experiences—standing in line with dozens of other people doesn’t cut it, with 61% of people agreeing that being in places with large crowds is a negative aspect of travel.
Elisa from Buenos Aires Off the Beaten Path Tours
Maria
My partner and I love to travel slowly, especially because we like to do long term travel like you mentioned 🙂 We usually do a program called Workaway to volunteer for free food and accommodation.
Some great advice here, thanks for sharing Matt!
erica
Packing light is one of the best travel hacks out there. It saves you tones of money, specially when traveling with budget airlines which start racking up fees when checking in luggage. I completely agree with no. 15 – I’ve canceled flights, extended my stay, re-routed to other cities on my many trips. Nobody can really tell you how to travel. It’s all up to you. Its your trip, you can do whatever you want.
Erki
Every point is so true. After completing my first backpacker travels, it’s now so understandable. My moto during the travels were: “know your way, but be flexible while reaching there”. It was okay to change plans, stay somewhere longer or just meet some random people from couchsurfing or other places. Best way to enjoy your travels are with no plans and to be open for every oppurtunity.
GenemTravels