101 International Travel Tips For Adventurers
Travelling is an amazing opportunity to try new food, immerse yourself in another culture and have adventures. Kudos to you for stepping out of your comfort zone. The thing about adventures, though, is that they come with challenges.
ATM’s run out of money, flights and buses run late, and sometimes that bag of souvenirs gets snatched right out of your hand by a passing motorcyclist (this actually happened to me in Vietnam!)
With a little preplanning and awareness, you can avoid most of the dangers in the world and experience the trip of your dreams.
I put this list of international travel tips together with my daughter in mind. Together we are embarking on her first international trip, and these are all the travel and safety tips I want to tell her, without having to rant and rave like a madwoman.
International Travel Tips
Passport and Identification Travel Tips
- Have 6 months or more validity on your passport before leaving. Many countries require this and are inflexible about it. Friends heading on a group trip to Italy were denied boarding at the airport. They had to reschedule their trip and rush a new passport, causing them to depart weeks later.
2. Keep photocopies of your passport, health insurance, and ID securely in cloud storage. Now you can access these numbers no matter what happens.
3. Check if you need a visa or to fill out a travel declaration before your trip
Food and Drink Travel Tips
4. Check if you can drink the water in your destination, and bring a reusable water bottle to cut down on plastic waste.
5. Avoid ice unless you know it’s made from filtered water. Restaurants and bars that are high-end or cater to tourists usually serve ice from safe sources. Small street vendors may be making their own from tap water.
6. Don’t let your drink out of your sight. It only takes a second for someone to slip something inside.
7. Don’t accept drinks that you didn’t watch the bartender make.
8. Drunks are easy targets. If you decide to get drunk, do it somewhere safe or have a friend who is willing to stay put together and take care of the group.
9. Only eat in busy restaurants and street food stalls. The food is usually fresher, and the vendor likely cares about maintaining their business reputation.
10. Notice the street vendor’s hygiene, and even the restaurant’s, where you are dining. Do they have a way to wash their hands? Is the environment clean? The tables? The washrooms?
11. Don’t assume restaurants are cleaner than street food stalls. Kitchens are usually hidden in the back, where you can’t see the hygiene practices.
12. For ready-made food, check whether it is being held at a hot or cold temperature. Anything served in between or at room temperature is in what is called the temperature danger zone. That is the zone where bacteria multiply quickly, and food becomes dangerous to consume.
13. Fire is your friend. Choose freshly grilled well-done street food when possible.
14. Check the menu price before ordering food and drinks.
15. To tip or not to tip depends on the culture and the location. Look up what the proper etiquette is in the place you are visiting.
Money Travel Tips
16. It is better to keep your cash and credit cards in multiple places on your person. Separate them into different pockets and consider a travel belt, money belt or travel purse. If staying in a reputable hotel, use the safe.
17. Separate your money to avoid pulling out large sums of money in public. Keep a small amount of cash separate to handle your daily transactions, and keep your remaining money hidden.
18. Keep emergency money separate from all other money. Do not carry this in your wallet at all.
19. Carry at least 2 debit and/ or credit cards. Store them separately.
20. Notify your bank of your travel dates. Your bank may think fraud is happening if charges start coming in from another country.
21. Protect your debit and credit card numbers when using ATM’s.
22. Do not let anyone help you use an ATM! A friend of mine got help reading Spanish at a Mexican ATM one trip. After translating, he helped himself to her bank card, PIN, and all her cash. He was nicely dressed and seemed kind. If someone approaches you while banking, stop the transaction, call security, or if there is no security, make a scene and leave.
23. Check if the ATM appears tampered with before using it.
24. Pick bank machines at bank branches with security or in malls or stores with security and cameras.
25. Choose local currency for ATM fees and payments. Dynamic exchange rates at ATMs are in favour of the ATM owner, not you.
26. Securely store copies of your card numbers on cloud storage. This will make it easier for you to cancel them.
27. Avoid public wifi for banking. Use mobile.
Phones and Tech Travel Tips
28. Travel with a power bank, multi charger, and, if needed, a travel adapter.
29. Offline maps for your planned travel destinations.
30. If a different language is spoken offline Google Translate or the app of your choice.
31. Download and offline all the apps, music, and podcasts you want to use.
32. Get a local SIM card, or use an eSIM, or portable wifi, the choice is yours, but have a plan to stay connected.
A Note About Valuables
33. Don’t travel with unnecessary valuables like expensive jewelry and electronics.
Airport Security Tips
34. Cut down on your time going through security queues by minimizing metal items on your person and having empty pockets.
35. Have your passport and boarding pass out and ready to be scanned.
36. You are allowed a 1 litre clear bag of liquid containers 100 ml or less. This bag will need to be pulled out as you go through security.
37. Store your liquids bag, medications, and laptop in an easily accessible pocket of your bag so you can pull them out and put them in the security bin quickly.
38. Leave your water bottle empty until you get past security.
39. If you are wearing hiking boots or similar heavy shoes, be prepared to remove them while going through security.
40. Anything sharp can be considered a weapon, so leave it out of your carry-on bag.
41. Keep a first aid kit and any medications you need in your carry-on bag.
My post on 30 essential carry-on items has a section about what NOT to bring through security.
In Flight Travel Tips
42. Chew gum, yawn, or gently and gradually pinch your nostrils closed while trying to breathe through them to help ease the pressure in your ears.
43. If your ear pain during takeoff and landing is too severe for the above techniques, get a pair of Earplane earplugs. They saved my sanity while flying and battling an ear infection.
44. Bring a sweater or travel blanket to stay warm on air-conditioned flights.
45. If you have restless legs on a flight, get up and walk to the bathroom and back to stretch them out.
Accommodation Travel Tips
46. Book at least your first night of accommodation before arrival. Looking for a place to stay while being tired from travel is stressful.
47. Write down the address of your accommodations in case your phone dies or you need to show a driver without handing over your phone.
48. Spectacular or unique places to stay may start taking reservations a year in advance. If your heart is set on a dream place to stay, then book early.
49. Research if leaving your itinerary open is an option. Not planning every detail leaves room for spontaneity, but not all destinations support this. Research by seeing how many rooms are available for the next day in your destination. The results might surprise you. I had no problem booking next-day hotels in Japan during the Cherry Blossom season, but most of my saved hotels in El Nido, Philippines, sold out 3 weeks prior.
50. Choose location over room size. You will only spend so much time in your room. Being able to reach activities, restaurants and landmarks will be much more valuable.
51. Check if the neighbourhood of the hotel is walkable and safe.
52. Note check-in and check-out times. Not all hotels have 24-hour check-in for those arriving late at night.
53. Keep your bags closed when not in use and off the ground when possible to avoid hitchhiking bugs.
54. Inspect the room as soon as you get access. Check locks, safe, hot water, air conditioning, and cleanliness.
55. Check the seams of the mattress for signs of bed bugs: rust colored stains, specs of blood and shell casings.
56. Use anti-theft travel products in known pickpocket destinations. Anti-theft bags have small safety features like zippers that have to be unclipped from a loop before being opened or metal wires in purse straps. Often thieves will just choose an easier target.
57. Be careful where you pull out your phone. Do not carry your phone in your hand like you would at home. It’s very easy for someone to snatch it out of your hand and disappear into a crowd.
58. Don’t wear flashy jewelry, name-brand clothing, or carry anything expensive on you. Show no signs of wealth.
59. Don’t put anything in your back pocket.
60. Never leave your belongings unattended.
61. Keep an eye on your items even when you are sitting beside them. Unsecured items like your phone or wallet can be swiped by people passing by or even your waiter.
62. Thieves may try to distract you. A person may ask you for help while someone else helps themselves to your belongings.
63. If you’re robbed, hand over cash, electronic devices, and valuables without resistance. Your life is your most valuable asset.
Tips To Avoid Scams
64. Don’t book tours with strangers on the street.
65. Contests that you didn’t seek out yourself are scams. If someone approaches you to scratch a ticket or tell you that you have otherwise won something, do not go anywhere with them. In Vegas, these scammers were in the lobby of my hotel at The Excalibur, giving them a false sense of legitimacy. If the same scam hadn’t been tried on me in Bali, I might have fallen for it.
66. Use caution when hooking up with strangers. My buddy had a woman relieve him of his car keys and wallet while he slept after a hook-up in Banff, which is here in Canada. You don’t have to travel far to be a victim of a scam.
67. Be wary of maimed people, children, and mothers with infants begging for cash. I would never deny a hungry person food or water, but the sad reality can be that these people often don’t get to keep the money they “earn.” They are usually being exploited by the people who hurt or orphaned them in the first place, and the cycle of harming people for profit continues. If you want to help, look up a recognized and legitimate charity in the area you are visiting.
Transportation and Taxi Safety Tips
68. Taxis and tuk-tuk drivers are notorious for scamming tourists. When possible, use ride share services like Grab and Uber instead – but still be wary.
69. Insist that taxis use the meter.
70. Agree on prices with tuk-tuk drivers and other local modes of transportation before getting in.
71. Have small bills and change available to pay with.
72. Unlicensed drivers may try to stop you inside airports and bus terminals. Licensed taxis will be outside in the designated waiting areas.
73. Carefully count your change.
74. Drivers may try to take you to hotels and shops with which they have deals, and these locations might not be safe. Asking for recommendations is good, but think for yourself
Water Activity Travel Tips
75. Riptides can overcome even strong swimmers. Heed posted signs and warnings about water.
76. Oceans can have jellyfish, sea urchins, fire corals, sharks, etc. The list of ocean dangers is endless. Research what water hazards are in your destination.
77. Observe if locals and their children are playing in the water. If the kids are playing in the nearby river instead of the ocean or lake, there is likely a reason.
Illegal Alcohol and Drugs While Travelling
The best choice is to avoid illegal drugs and unregulated alcohol when travelling. Most countries have a zero-tolerance policy towards tourists doing drugs. Being locked up abroad would be life ruining. In some countries, they will execute you.
But a party is a party, and sometimes we make fun choices instead of smart choices, so if that’s you, heed these tips.
78. Bringing drugs with you when travelling is illegal, even if the drug is legal in your country. For example, marijuana is legal in Canada, but flying internationally with it is illegal – even if you are flying to a place where it is legal.
79. Don’t transport items for other people. Only carry with you things you have packed yourself.
80. Illegally brewed alcohol is common but may not be safe. Be wary of spirits like Arak in Bali, which have killed tourists and locals before.
81. Illegally brewed alcohol can contain methanol. Methanol poisoning can cause blindness, brain damage, comas and death even in small amounts.
82. Some prescription medications are illegal in certain countries, such as ADHD medication. Research before you leave.
83. Be wary of the long con. I was sold legitimate weed in Vietnam, but the 2nd time, the same dealer sold me something called spice instead, and it was terrifying. Check out my drugged in Vietnam story if you want to learn from my mistakes.
84. Selling tourists drugs is often a setup with the police or someone pretending to be the police waiting to arrest you after the transaction is done. These situations are often shake-downs. If you are lucky, they may only be looking for a bribe.
85. Carrying a couple of hundred USD or Euros, depending on where you are in the world, can get you out of a lot of trouble.
86. Don’t do drugs alone. An overdose that happens while you are alone could kill you.
87. Start with a low dose if you do choose to do drugs. The drugs may be stronger than you are used to or may be laced with other substances.
88. Avoid mixing drugs with alcohol. The effects may be heightened.
89. Avoid risky activities like swimming while intoxicated.
General Travel Tips
90. Governments have travel advisory websites that are full of good, up-to-date information and worth checking out. In Canada, we have https://travel.gc.ca and I consult it before every trip.
91. It’s worthwhile to look up the laws in the country you are visiting by doing a quick Google search.
92. Be mindful of your temper. It’s often better to get mildly ripped off than to escalate a situation.
93. Avoid or minimize the time spent walking alone at night. When you do walk at night, choose busy areas and well-lit streets.
94, Research if the neighbourhood you are visiting or staying in is safe. Ask the hotel desk clerk, your server, any locals you meet, and the Internet: Is it safe to walk around here during the day? At night?
95. Follow local clues. Are people walking around? Are women walking around alone? How conservative are women dressed on the street?
96. Learn a few basic phrases in the language of the country you are visiting. Things like hi, thank you, please, how much, and where is the bathroom.
97. Respect dress codes at religious sites. Most often, this means covering shoulders and legs at least to the knee. Sometimes this means head coverings, too.
98. Learn the emergency numbers for the destination. Not everywhere is 911.
99. Be open-minded about cultural differences. You are visiting their country after all.
100. Always trust your gut. It’s better to be embarrassed, rude, or disagreeable than to go against your instincts.
101. Leave space in your itinerary for recommendations and spontaneity.
People Are Kind
I believe most people are kind, generous, and helpful. Many of these tips are about travel safety because being in a different environment leaves you more vulnerable than you would be at home. Don’t let that discourage you – most people are good.
While performing first aid on a new friend in a busy local market in Bogota, Colombia, I knocked over my bag, spilling my wallet, passport, and everything of value I possessed out on the ground. I chose to continue first aiding.
The locals responded by returning everything I owned to me. These types of stories are told less often, but they happen every day. Have increased vigilance when you are travelling, but also remember that the world is filled with love.
I hope these international travel tips prepare you to have the best time possible while travelling abroad.
Thanks for reading, have a fantastic day, and Live Self Happy!
