International Travel is an opportunity to explore the world and its beautiful tapestry of cultures, landscapes, and experiences.
For first-time travelers, international travel can be an exhilarating yet slightly nerve-wracking experience.
The good part is that, with the right mindset, knowledge and preparation, your journey to the unknown destination can become a life-changing adventure.
In this blog post, I will be sharing with you 6 Essential Tips to ensure you enjoy a seamless and unforgettable trip on your first international travel.
1. An open-mind
An international travel is basically you taking yourself out of the environment, country, you are used to or you have lived in all your life or for a longer period of time for a different destination.
This new destination can only be similar to what you are used to, but it can’t be the same in the sense of the geography, weather, people, and the way of life.
For you to successfully enjoy this trip, you should be open to seeing, living and interacting with people who have an entirely different way of life.
For example, in some parts of Thailand and China, they eat edible insects, but in Nigeria, we don’t.
It will require you having an open mind to be able to relate with someone who eats or has eaten these insects without being offensive.
An open mind also helps you to explore and enjoy the lifestyle of wherever you are.
Your first trick to enjoying your international trip is Open Mind.
2. Travel Documents
To successfully travel by air either locally or internationally, you need a form of identification, like your ID card for local travel and for international travel, you need an international passport, visa, flight ticket and travel visa.
Passport:
This is an identification document issued by a government or governing authority like the Nigerian Immigration Agency.
The purpose of an international passport is to certify the identity and citizenship of an individual, and to also facilitate the movement of people between different countries.
It’s important that you confirm that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your travel date.
For example, if your travel date is December 2023, your passport should still be valid till June/July 2024 for a return trip.
Travel Visa:
This is a document that will legally allow you to enter a foreign country for a specific period and helps the government check and track the people that enter and leave its country.
Not every foreign country requires a visa, some countries give you free entry to their country, some will give you visa on arrival, and some will require that you request for a visa ahead of your travel period.
For the countries that make it mandatory for you to request for visa before you can visit their country, there is no 100% guarantee that you will get the visa even if you apply ahead of your trip.
3. Get familiar with your destination
Remember what was mentioned about traveling to a new geographical location earlier in this article, a new geographical location means a different map, different weather.
You should look out for what your destination looks like during the time of the year when you are travelling.
If you’re travelling to London for summer holiday, you should know that even though it’s still raining heavily in Nigeria, it would be hot in London and so you should pack accordingly.
It is advisable that you get familiar with the rules and regulations of your destination, the meals available, and the map of your destinations, so you don’t get lost in a strange city.
4. Accommodation
If you are traveling to a destination that requires that you apply for visa ahead of your trip, you will need to get accommodation ahead of your travel date.
Even if there’s no need for you to as a requirement, it is highly recommended that you get your accommodation sorted ahead of your trip, either a hotel, or an apartment.
For example, you are not used to that destination, and as such, you may not be able to figure out what’s best and safe for you for the duration of your trip.
While getting the accommodation, ensure that it’s not too far away from the airport and the city, so you are able to easily navigate your way around the destination.
5. Money
Travelling out of Nigeria or out of your country of residence, you won’t be able to spend the Naira or whatever currency you currently spend.
You would have to convert some cash to the currency you will be spending over there. For example, if you’re traveling to Italy, you will be spending euros.
Travelling with Naira alone means that you may end up stranded and it might be pretty difficult to change your naira to whatever currency is spent there.
It also advisable that you notify your bank about your trip so they can authorize transactions on your account from your destination and go with your credit card for larger expenses
Carry a mix of payment methods, including cash for small transactions and credit cards for larger expenses.
Keep an eye on your spending to ensure you stick to your budget and have enough funds for the duration of your trip.
6. Pack Light and Smart
For a first time traveler on an international trip for the first time, you may be tempted to pack everything you think you may need on the trip.
Simply pack the basic things you will need for your trip, like your clothes, toiletries, footwear, accessories. This way you save yourself time and money.
Airlines often charge extra fees for extra bags, and the more luggage you have more, the more time it will take to get them checked in.
Also packing light means you will have less to carry and manage, which reduces the possibilities of getting your items lost or stolen.
Conclusion
We offer visa processing assistance to any destination of your choice. We understand that the process of applying for a visa can be though, discouraging and almost an impossible task, and this is why we offer visa processing assistance as a service. To request for visa processing assistance, send an email to [email protected] or click this link to make a request.
