5 Pre-Trip Travel Tips for First-Time Travelers

Let’s talk preparation, AKA know before you go.

So you’re planning your first trip? Whether you are ready to go full-time, or just want a long-term holiday, I want to share my most important tips for how to prepare for your journey, so you can stay safe, keep your bank in the green, and stay in touch. Enjoy these first time travel tips!

Safety Considerations

Imagine this: you’re geared up for a breathtaking hike, only to realize your travel insurance cuts you off at 2,500 meters… and your trek soars to 2,501 meters. Yikes!

That’s why travel insurance is a must-have. My personal favorite? SafetyWing. They’ve got me covered up to 4,500 meters, giving me peace of mind to explore without limits.

I’ve tried various options, and SafetyWing offers the best travel medical insurance, especially for backpackers, it hits the sweet spot of affordability and comprehensive coverage. As a future full-time nomad, knowing I can rely on their stellar service is a game-changer.

I am pumped to be a supporter of such a reliable brand because my health is my biggest priority. It’s nice to have peace of mind knowing that I can keep using the same company once I switch to their full time Nomad Health plan.

Research, But Don’t Overthink

A six month itinerary mapped down to the minute might sound impressive, but in reality, it stifles flexibility. What if you stumble upon an amazing place or have a change of heart about a location? Embrace the unexpected.

Even the most organized traveler can thrive with refundable travel options. You can always book flights later, and unless you are headed to the most popular places at the most popular times, the cost for accommodation won’t fluctuate as much as you think.

This means that if you 100% want to visit Rome in June, that needs to be booked, but if you’re spending a few days in somewhere like Bansko, Bulgaria, you can probably get away with booking the week prior.

Planning can be a fun part of the travel experience, but there’s a tipping point. Let’s be honest, sometimes getting lost in research takes away from actually being there. Here’s the key: find your balance!

Research the essentials – visa requirements, transportation options, maybe a must-see sight or two. But leave room for spontaneity. Ask locals for their favorite hidden gems, explore a random side street, and see where the day takes you. Doing beats planning every time!

Give yourself the opportunity to change your mind once presented with new information. You’re going to get recommendations from everyone, so give yourself the chance to explore all those options, you don’t want to feel stuck. And always consider that you can plan a trip without making plans.

Communication Choices

Staying in touch with loved ones and receiving those pesky verification texts can be a challenge. Time differences are already enough of a hassle, but deciding how to stay connected abroad (besides email) is incredibly important.

Recently, I learned about a very helpful app for keeping your phone number and receiving those verification texts that you always seem to need: Google Voice. Originally, I had been messaging my mom to send me all those two step verification codes that are constantly on, but that gets frustrating quickly… with the changing time zones, busy family, and honestly it’s just annoying.

Google Voice allows you to give them your number and they will send you those verification texts and voicemails that you need to be able to access your accounts, especially banking, while you’re away.

For messaging your friends and family, and accessing a larger travel community, Whatsapp is very helpful and everyone has it so it’s easy to stay in touch that way. Some people are getting into Telegram too which is similar, but the jury is still out for me on that one, but it’s worth exploring for its potential. There are many communities there as well, so it’s also a valuable communication tool.

The Never-ending Packing Dilemma

Less is always more when you’re traveling. Whether it’s a month or a year or forever, you’ll thank yourself later for leaving unnecessary things behind. You’re going to want to ruthlessly halve your initial packing list. Trust me, you’ll forget entirely about that “essential” shirt in a month (or maybe not, and that’s okay! Just learn and pack it next time). And to keep your backpack light, remember that the best souvenirs are the memories you create along the way.

Selling everything and diving headfirst into nomadism is tempting, but for first-timers, it’s a risky leap. Test the waters with shorter trips before ditching the safety net of your belongings. Nomading isn’t for everyone (although everyone should at least try it).

Don’t forget that you’re going to have to unpack and repack every time you change locations, so if it’s a nightmare to zip up your suitcase on day one, that isn’t going to get any easier, I promise.

My backpack woes from last year were so real! If you’re itching for packing tips specific to long-term travel, check out my dedicated packing post for a stress-free packing experience.

The Big B – Budget

Unless you’re a trust fund baby (lucky you!), or you have guaranteed income, budgeting is crucial. Research average costs at your destination and plan accordingly. It might be tempting to see a bare-minimum budget planner online… but make sure you’re being realistic.

If you want to do tourist activities, eat out sometimes, and make a purchase here and there, then you will overdo that budget almost immediately. If you want to set up a travel limit and itinerary, try a travel budget like this one to get a general idea.

A great place to get started is to consider how your travel style and budget are going to coordinate. Here are some questions that you can ask yourself to figure out what budget you need to make:

While I’ll always be pro-credit cards (Capital One all the way), specifically for the refund guarantee in the case of fraud that debit cards don’t often offer, it is important to have a debit card for a very important reason: cash.

I know that it may seem rare to come across a place that doesn’t accept card, trust me, when it happens, it usually becomes a big problem. Whether it’s lunch, a taxi, or water in the hottest weather you can imagine, each situation goes beyond inconvenience to unsafe territory… so trust me, you’ll need some local currency.

Don’t forget to have an emergency fund. While it isn’t fun to budget that, you need to at the very minimum have enough to buy a return ticket in case you ever need one. Like yes, you probably need more than that, but that’s just the bare minimum.

Also, a little tip that is don’t forget about the expenses you have that don’t stop when you’ve gone international. This means little things like Netflix or Spotify… but it also means big things like car insurance if you are keeping your car in the states like me.

Don’t let your budget keep you from going, just let it keep you informed of what and how your traveling needs to look to sustain it for however long you want.

If you want more tips about what you should have for your trip, check out my travel logistics post or find the best deals and apps in my digital travel essentials article.

It’s Time to Start Your Adventure

While preparation is key, don’t let it overshadow the excitement. These tips can act as your springboard to launch you into your incredible adventure. So get prepared, research, pack smart, stay connected, and most importantly, get ready to have the time of your life… it might even change your entire trajectory.

Bonus Tip: Feeling overwhelmed? Start small! Take a shorter trip to a familiar destination to test the waters and build your confidence before embarking on your long-term adventure. It’ll help you figure out your travel style and decide what works for you!

Enjoy your travels, and keep chasing those sunsets!