Travel Tips for Beginners provides 10 tips to help novice travelers plan and enjoy their first trip abroad. The tips include packing lightly but practically, using ATM cards instead of large amounts of cash, expecting costs to be higher than budgeted, researching destinations for fun but not planning rigid itineraries, meeting locals for a richer experience, considering slower modes of travel, allowing adequate time in each place, packing essential items while traveling light, thinking critically about all advice, and being aware of the risk of becoming addicted to travel.

1. Travel Tips for Beginners
So your friends got back from their annual jaunt abroad and you can contain your
jealousy no more.
Or maybe you’re about to graduate, or have been let go from work.
You know it’s time to hit the road, but how and where do you even start? The
questions are seemingly endless and it’s difficult to know where to start.
No worries; you can quickly turn from travel noob to travel snob by starting with
these first time travel tips.
By reading out travel tips for beginners, you can have a great trip, too!
Here are our best Travel Tips for Beginners

2. 1. Consider Your Clothing
You don’t have to dress nicely by any means, but you should probably follow a
couple of basic rules. Most importantly, don’t ever consider fanny packs/bum
bags. Not under any circumstances. They are easy to rob, mark you as a tourist,
and most damning of all – they are incredibly ugly.
For North Americans, leave behind the white socks, white sneakers, and baseball
cap as well. It’s certainly okay to keep your own sense of style, but if you want
people to treat you more fairly, then avoiding the stereotypes is a good idea.
2. Money Matters
How much cash should you take and in what form? The simplest approach is to
forget the traveler’s checks and large wads of cash. Instead, bring your ATM card
and pull out your money as you need it.
Try to withdraw the equivalent of a couple hundred at a time–this way you don’t
pay a fortune in transaction fees, but if you lose your cash or are robbed it’s not the
end of the world. Most cities and almost all airports are connected these days. One
of the best travel tips for beginners is if you are going to be in an airport or passing
through one, you should be just fine with withdrawing money.
3. Your Budget Will Be Wrong
You can plan down to your last penny, but in the end, your trip (whether 2 weeks or
12 months) will cost more than your highest estimate. Whether it’s replacing
stolen/lost items, mailing things home, or signing up for expensive tours…
…you may take home loads of souvenirs, or simply find that the least expensive
places are that way for a reason, that’s the nature of dealing with the unexpected.
Most importantly, don’t stress when things cost more than you expected. (It’s the
nature of the beast. If you are simply flat broke, there are places all over the
Internet about working abroad.)
4. Research For Informational Purposes Only
One of the best things about a vacation is the anticipatory excitement. Therefore,
read every blog you can get your hands on (There will be a lot, wherever you are

3. going.) Buy or borrow travel guides. Browse forums. Go to YouTube and search for
videos of some of your destinations.
Before long, you’ll start to feel like an expert on a place you’ve never been. But don’t
start to schedule, create an itinerary, or expect to actually know what’s going on. It
will all go out the window the moment you arrive.
There’s no preparation good enough to withstand reality, and equally important,
none of the online or printed information is as good or current as the info you’ll get
on the traveller’s circuit. For that reason, it’s worth staying at a hostel at least a
couple of times in order to hear stories and advice from others doing similar things
as you.
5. Meet The Locals
Whether you’re staying in the poshest hotels or the hostel (check out our guide on
staying at a hostel) with your roommates humping on the bunk above your head,

4. you can meet other like-minded people more easily while traveling. This is one of
the joys of traveling.
But it’s always a good idea to get off the beaten path, especially if your trip is going
to be longer than a month. There can be a language barrier, but you’ll be surprised
how much information grunts and pantomimes can convey. Meeting locals will
only enhance your travel experience. A good way to do this is either through a site
such as couchsurfing.org, or wandering into non-touristy areas and just exploring.
There are so many incredible benefits of learning a new language before you travel.
Not only does it make getting around much easier, but it enriches your travel
experience by allowing you to interact with more locals. Why not start practicing
your language skills by signing up with Babbel?
6. Consider Alternate Forms Of Travel
We live in an era where planes, buses, trains, and taxis can get you just about
anywhere in the world. But if you are concerned about carbon emissions, afraid of
flying, or just want a more immersing experience, consider your alternatives. Slow
boats can sometimes save you a bit of money.
Once you’ve reached your destination, exploring it by bicycle, horse, or on foot will
dramatically change your journey, almost always for the better. A hike or bike
journey of just a day or three will give you an epic journey. Plus, you know, it’s
better for the environment.
7. Be Realistic
Don’t expect to have fun every moment. You won’t. Also know that you’ll need to
build in some days to rest. The first week you are running on adrenaline and loving
every moment of it, but your body will have its revenge. Most importantly, don’t
plan to go to too many places. Many first-time travelers are (quite understandably)
eager to see the world.
But don’t cram in too much. You don’t want to spend the majority of your holiday in
transit, and you don’t want your memories to be a blur of castles, temples, and train
rides. There’s virtually nowhere you can go that you won’t want to spend at least a
week. You need to have enough time to do more than snap a couple of obligatory
photos before heading to your next destination.

5. 8. Pack Smart
There is a lot of advice on packing, and most of it concerns the importance of
packing light. Bring no more than 3-4 outfits and without exception you do not
need more than two pairs of shoes. And, yes, sandals count as one pair. Packing
light is very important, but it’s not that simple.
You also want to be somewhat self-sufficient as well. Some things extra travellers
find indispensable include: extra batteries, maps, decks of cards, flashlights, plastic
cutlery, duct tape, and clotheslines. A travel clock can be very handy as well.
Another thing–luggage locks aren’t necessary. They are easily picked (different
makes of locks use interchangeable keys) and the airlines won’t let you lock them
while you check the bag.
9. Take Everything Under Advisement
Before and especially during your travels, you will be barraged by well-meaning
advice (this article included). Listen to what people say, but always make up your

6. own mind. People will warn you about dangers or tell you that something is
impossible when in fact it is quite achievable. Guidebooks are even more
conservative.
Your best guide is your own sense of what you are comfortable with. If you want to
visit a place that’s considered dangerous, don’t let vague information dissuade you.
What it comes down to is people telling you what worked for them. You shouldn’t
ignore blatant warnings, but neither are you obligated to change your plans based
on every rumour that comes down the pipe.
10. Be Careful
Are you sure you want to do this? The biggest risk of travel isn’t dodgy water, upset
stomachs, aggressive touts, bedbugs, or pickpockets. It’s addiction. Don’t put your
foot in this water unless you really want to swim.
Catching the travel bug means at the least staying up too late reading travel blogs
from people you haven’t met, searching airfares out of habit rather than any
expectations of a trip, and bothering your friends by continually commenting on
how much better the Pad Thai in Chang Mai was.
In its more advanced stages, this affliction can lead to quitting a good job, leaving
behind an otherwise great partner, selling your house, or spending your life savings
in a matter of months.
Here are your travel tips for beginners. You have been warned.