5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Traveling | Vincent Granville

The first time that you travel abroad, you are filled with both excitement and nerves. Traveling to a new place with a new culture can be intimidating at times, but the memories you will leave with will be worth the butterflies in your stomach. Looking back on my first trip, I wish I knew what I know now. To any aspiring travelers out there, here are 8 things I wish I knew before traveling abroad.

1. Dabble in the Language
If you are traveling to a foreign speaking country, you don’t have to learn the language inside and out. However, it is a great idea to learn a few key phrases. I recommend learning the following phrases:

• Hello
• Goodbye
• Thank You
• Please
• Sorry
• Where’s the bathroom?
• How much does this cost?

Learn these phrases does require a little bit of work on your end, but it will make interacting with the locals easier.

2. Pre-Travel Necessities
Before you even step foot on a plane, you will want to make sure that your passport is still valid. Additionally, certain countries, such as India and Vietnam, require a tourist visa in advance. You will want to make physical and digital copies of important documents like your passport, birth certificate, driver’s license, visas, and credit cards.
If you are traveling to a country that requires vaccinations, make sure you schedule an appointment at your nearest travel medicine clinic.

3. Talk to Your Phone Carrier
To document your travels and stay in touch with your friends and family, speak with your phone carrier to see what data plans are available. In addition to staying connected, you can also use features like Google Maps or Yelp to find out more about the places around you. Plus, Google Maps will come in handy in case you get lost.

4. Eat Locally, but be Careful
Arguably, one of the best aspects of traveling is trying new food. While I encourage eating the local cuisine, you may want to cautious. Some areas will have untreated water and use it to wash vegetables, make into ice cubes, or to just serve as a drink. The developing countries in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia are among the highest ranking for an intestinal infection.

5. Bring Along a Journal
While on your excursion, take a moment to document your trip. A journal can come in handy when recording your experiences, or you can use your first trip as an excuse to start a blog and share your experience with the world. When the trip is over, you will be thankful that you have a record of your memories and stories that you can look back on in the years to come.

This blog was originally posted on VincentGranvillePhD.com