Traveling in a whole new country can be just as dangerous as it is exciting. Maybe you won’t know the local language(s); probably you won’t know the laws. For every monument or picturesque location you are looking forward to, there is an embarrassing faux pas or unpleasant situation to avoid. There are various travel options available to the modern traveler, so the important thing is to do some research and find out what combination or package suits you and your itinerary best.
The first and most obvious concern, of course, is how to reach your destination. Shopping for flights and airfare is easier than ever before, with user friendly airline websites or through a vertical search engine like Kayak or SideStep, or even by consulting a good broker.
When your flights are priced out or already booked, it is then time to pay attention to the problem of lodging. The traditional solution is to reserve a room at a hotel; you can often find one online, maybe even within a package containing other travel related services. That way you can save some money. But, especially if you are traveling as part of a small group, you may find a private hostel room a much better and more informal option. Such rooms usually have at least basic amenities like a private bathroom and lockers for individual travelers to store their valuables in. Just don’t expect the same array or sophistication of facilities as you would in a four or five star hotel. You get what you pay for, after all, if you are willing to give up on plush pillows, scented baths and room service.
That’s the basics covered. How do you move around the city? Some people prefer a car rental, while many others choose the more adventurous option of public transportation and walking. If you’re headed to Europe, you should definitely go for the latter, as most European cities are extremely well connected by reliable public transportation. The one possible negative factor here is that you have to travel on a fairly rigid schedule. To go wherever you want to go and in your own sweet time? Sign up for the car rental. As with hotel rooms, a package deal may help you save on this.
Register with the US Consulate if you are going to stay in a foreign country for longer than a fortnight. They will be helpful if someone at home needs to contact you, and of course they will be very helpful in case of any emergency, personal or political.
For your own safety, try to blend into crowds rather than stick out like a sore thumb – or a gullible newcomer. Your attitude, clothing and accessories should not point you out as an ideal target on the street for a robbery or an assault. If you can’t help being the quintessential “American tourist”, at least try to travel without wads of money or jewelry on you. Pickpockets are to be found in any big city anywhere in the world, after all.
A handful of precautionary measures will enhance your experience of traveling abroad so that you can cherish entirely positive memories after you return home. A certain amount of reservation and attentiveness will also aid in mutual respect wherever you choose to travel, so that your travel experience is a wonderful and wholesome one.
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