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5 Essential Tips For Traveling Abroad Safely While Having Fun
A quick guide for first-time international travelers + 7 bonus tips
Maybe you’ve had your sights set on traveling abroad for a while.
Or perhaps the idea just popped into your mind.
Either way, international travel is an exciting experience. Where you encounter new cultures, strange cuisines, and meet new people. Seeing the world differently through fresh eyes.
As a professional writer who has been traveling abroad and doing it long term for the last 9 months, I have some tips to offer you.
I’m from the United States and first set off for Costa Rica, where I spent over 7 months staying at Airbnb listings. When I wasn’t traveling by land, I was flying on a plane. But no matter how I traveled, safety was a top priority.
Having fun only came second to my safety, security, and peace of mind.
And while I had a great time, here are five essential tips to help you have an even better one.
1. Research Your Destination Country
When traveling abroad, it’s important to prepare for your destination.
Your preparation and planning should include researching crime statistics and information on the country’s government. This will help you understand local customs and laws, which can help you travel with more ease. Going into a high-risk country may steer many travelers away, but it’s possible to find a location within that country that is relatively safe.
For example, I traveled to Mexico in June 2021. I needed to jump countries in order to renew my Costa Rica visa, so I knew I wouldn’t stay too long. A couple of weeks at most.
So I researched online, looked at the US State Department’s advisories, and discovered that Mexico City was probably my safest choice in Mexico. It was in a major city with a world financial hub and would keep me close to their international airport. Which meant I could leave the country without driving hours and putting myself at risk.
When researching your destination country, try to find out everything you can about the country, its…
