Picking the first international destination can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. There are just so many options and choosing a less than ideal location for your first trip can scar you for life. Narrowing down the choices are easier than you think. I have a trick for you; rather than focus on where, start by focusing on what.
The first international destination I chose on my own came down to a few simple things. My budget, ease of getting there, weather and the experience I wanted to have. I still use this as a formula for selecting destinations. With a few simple tips, you’ll be able to choose the right destination for your first trip abroad.
Choosing the First International Destination
You’ll be happy to know there is no one-size-fits all answer to where you should go on you first trip abroad. My first international trip was to Barcelona, Spain. It was the best decision for me at the time for a number of great reasons. Mainly because one of my travel companions was fluent in Spanish which we later learned wasn’t helpful at all as the speak Catalan in Barcelona. A story for a different blog.
Here are the 10 things every traveler should consider ahead of booking any trip.
1. What’s Your Travel Budget?
I would love to live in a world where I didn’t have to look at the cost of things. That’s not my reality and probably not yours either. When looking at travel, it’s important to start with the question, “How much trip can we afford?” That means all in costs: flights, accommodations, meals and activities. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just directionally correct.
Having a budget up front will guide you on destinations in your range. Depending on where you live, some places are more expensive to get to than others. Additionally, some place are just expensive. If every meal is going to cost $100 per person, you are going to need a pretty nice budget to cover it.
Consider if you want a luxurious spare no expense type of get-away or something more budget friendly. No matter the choice, you want to determine this before you start looking at destinations and hotels. Depending on the destination and time of travel you can get luxurious holiday for a fraction of the normal cost. I’ve been fortunate enough to score a suite at a Ritz Carlton for what I would normally pay for a modest hotel on a couple of occasions just because it was low season.
2. What Kind of Experience Do You Want?
Next you want to determine what type of experience you want for your holiday. Are you looking for a city break, a beach escape, or an outdoor adventure? Do you want to dive into the culture of a location or just disconnect from everything? These are important decisions to make before you start researching.
If you’re like me, you want a diverse range of experiences available to you for your vacation. Some combinations work better than others. For example, you probably won’t head to Paris if you want a little beach time in your holiday. Conversely, you might head to Lisbon if you’d like city and rural escape because it’s fairly easy to leave the bigger city and head to the wine region for some time in nature (if you don’t mind a drive).
3. Travel Time and Distance
When you are working with limited time for a vacation, you don’t want to waste precious days getting there. Not to mention, the further you go the more likely you will have some level of jet lag that will impact your readiness to enjoy your destination. A 12 hour flight to Istanbul when you only have 5 days of vacation would not be a good idea.
Choose destinations that have direct flights or short layovers to minimize travel stress. If you have to make a connection, do it in the US. Get a flight to a larger more connected city in the US that has direct flights to your international destination. It might not save you time, but will definitely minimize stress of navigating an international airport.
You want to avoid destinations that have complicated itineraries for your first international trip. Like the most popular way to get to Anguilla is to fly to St Marteen, then transfer to a totally different local airline or to a ferry port to get to the island. It’s just too much to figure out for your first outing.
4. Visa Requirements and Travel Restrictions
Let’s start with the most important question here. “What is a visa?”. And no, we are not talking about the credit card here. A visa is authorization granted by a foreign government that allows you to enter, remain within and leave its territory. Basically it’s your hall pass to be somewhere.
The good news is, there are roughly 188 destinations that you can travel to as a US citizen that don’t require a visa (or that have a simple visa on arrival process). The rest make it quite difficult and honestly for your first trip, I would avoid those all together.
That said, you have to do some research to figure out the entry requirements before you settle on a destination. You can easily reference Travel.gov to get details on any destination on your mind.
5. Safety and Health
While you’re on Travel.gov, go ahead and review government travel advisories and health guidelines for the destinations under consideration. Travel advisories are there to warn travelers of any potential safety issues in the destination. Here you’ll find common warnings for theft and violence. But pay careful attention to special circumstances like if there are any cases of targeted violence against certain groups (i.e Black women or members of the LGBTQ+ community).
There is a color coding system that provides insight on whether the US government deems the destination safe. To keep things simple, steer clear of anything that is orange (reconsider travel) or red (do not travel). Ideally you want blue (exercise normal precautions) but yellow (exercise increased caution) is still a fairly benign warning.
No matter what the warning may be, you should register your trip with the US State Department once you’ve solidified your plans. This will ensure they can reach you if there are any unforeseen emergencies (i.e monsoon or political violence).
6. Climate and Weather Conditions
Nothing can ruin a vacation quicker than some wicked weather. It’s hard to predict what will happen in nature, but it’s easy to find out what is typical in an area. You might want to avoid Indonesia during monsoon season or steer clear of Iceland in the dead of winter (unless you are really into short days and love the cold). There are some advantages of traveling when no one else is (cheaper flights and hotels) but it is a risk that you probably shouldn’t take on your first international trip.
When you initially start planning, you should refer to typical weather patterns for the time of year you are considering. Look up best time to visit your destination. And keep in mind the difference between the northern and southern hemispheres. When it’s winter in the US, it’s summer in Australia. Places close but not too close to the equator have more milder temperature year round. Think Portugal where they experience an average of 300 days of sunshine a year.
I was once told by a local in Norway, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear.” I’ve carried that saying with me for a number of years and always use it to inform my packing strategy. Invest in good gear and you won’t go wrong.
7. Language and Communication
Back in the day, the only way to communicate in another language was to learn a few phrases and walk around with a book of translations. It was painful and ineffective at best. Today, there are so many resources available to help you bridge a language gap in real time. The latest iPhone release has a built in translator. Apps like Google translate allow you to point your camera and translate written materials.
If you are really nervous about language barriers, opt for destinations where English is the primary language. In my experience, places that welcome tourists on a regular basis will absolutely have people that speak English. In fact, in many countries they teach English in school so you’ll find plenty of locals that speak multiple languages.
8. Ease of Getting Around
Not all places are designed to make it easy for travelers with special mobility needs. The cobblestone streets in Europe or the lack of sidewalks in some places in the Middle East can squash the experience in your dream destination. While some places are very progressive and have a solution to meet the needs of most any traveler, this is not the case everywhere.
This doesn’t mean you’re golden if the hotel is accessible. You may find that you need to walk for long distances or carry luggage upstairs if you are catching trains. I watched a lady at one of the pyramids in Egypt totally gutted that she couldn’t go inside because she was unable go down the stairs backwards which was the requirement.
If you have any limitations, add that to the things to research before you plan. In some places, driving or catching a taxi just aren’t viable options.
9. Local Holidays or Events
It should go without saying that not all countries celebrate and/or recognize the same public holidays. Travel during the wrong time and you may find the entire city is shut down. Or you may be in middle of a busy festival that hikes up the prices on everything.
You can easily check global holidays online. I use a site called Time and Date to inform my travel plans. Once you know what is happening, you can then determine if that event or holiday is something that will have a positive impact on your vacation.
10. Popularity with First-Time Travelers
The last and probably one of the best tips for First Timers is to explore destinations that are known for being “beginner-friendly” and popular among first-time international travelers. These places will have well-established tourist infrastructures and will be easier to navigate. Think London, Paris or Tokyo if you’re into big cities.
Of course, you can always check with other travelers. They may have the best insight on what you can expect in the different destinations before you to. Check out the Destinations page on this site for some inspiration.
FAQs About Deciding on Your First International Destination
How do I choose a destination that matches my interests?
To choose a destination that matches your interests, start by considering what activities you enjoy—whether it’s exploring museums, relaxing on beaches, or spending time in nature. Research destinations that offer those experiences, then narrow down options based on your budget, travel time, and safety. This approach ensures your trip is tailored to what you love.
How do I know if a destination is safe for first-time travelers?
To ensure a destination is safe, research travel advisories and read recent traveler reviews. In some cases you may also be able to , and check local crime statistics. It’s also helpful to join online travel forums to ask other first-time travelers about their experiences in specific countries.
Where should a first-time international traveler go?
A first-time international traveler should consider destinations that are easy to navigate, safe, and offer good tourist infrastructure, such as Western Europe, the Caribbean, or Canada. These places have reliable transportation, English-speaking locals, and plenty of activities for new travelers to explore comfortably.
My Perspective
There are a lot of things to consider before booking that first trip abroad. But don’t get so bogged down in the research that you lose sight of what you are really trying to accomplish – getting on that first adventure out of the US.
Always think about what interest you, what budget you have and any travel restrictions, then let that be your guide. Most importantly, don’t over think it.
Are you ready to head out on your first international adventure? Subscribe to our blog for more tips on how to plan your first trip abroad with confidence.
Discover more from TwoBlackTravelers
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
