International Travel Tips 101

Dear Bougie Girl,

I hear you’re looking to take your first international trip. Congratulations Girl! You are about to embark on the exploration of some of God’s greatest creations. The beauty of travel is that there is always somewhere new to go and explore. So, I’m glad you’re getting out there! You know that I live by the motto “when you win, I win,” so I wanted to give you some tools to help you have a successful trip. 

1.    Don’t Drink The Water

Bougie Girl lots of beautiful places you will explore will not have clean water to drink. I’m sure you have heard, “don’t drink the water.” But what does that really mean? It generally means

Don’t:
•    Use ice made from local water;
•    Brush your teach with it;
•    Drink water that restaurants place out in carafes or containers. That’s likely just filtered water; and
•    Eat at street vendors if you don't know their water source.

Do:
•    Ask restaurants if their ice is provided by a third-party vendor who sources clean water;
•    Brush your teeth with bottled water. If you aren’t staying at a hotel that gives you daily bottled water for free, find a local store and buy a cheap pack;
•    Drink bottled water;
•    Eat at restaurants or food venues that your local guide, restaurant reviews, and research says is safe to eat;
•    Bathe in it; and
•    Swim in it (if that’s allowed)

Why is it important to ensure that you don’t drink water in some places? Because you could get something called “traveler's diarrhea”, which is as unpleasant as it sounds. You spent way too much money on your trip to spend it holed up in the bathroom. I can’t stress enough, when advised, “don’t drink the water,” please don’t!

2.    Hang With Locals

Nobody knows your destination better than the locals. When you work with, We Stay Away, I’ll connect you with locals I’ve either personally experienced or have researched and recommend. Locals know where to eat, where to party, and with whom to hang. Locals will take you to places off the beaten path that are safe, fun, and social media-worthy (if you’re into that type of thing). Follow the locals and you’re guaranteed to find a good time.

3.    Eat Local Cuisine

Is there anything worse than going to a foreign country, being presented with the opportunity to eat vibrant new foods, and having someone in the group order chicken fingers? Don’t be that person, Bougie Girl. Part of experiencing a new culture is experiencing its food, and you should lean into that experience. Try new things at every meal, and you might be surprised by what you learn you like.

4.    Respect The Culture

Do you remember when you used to go to a friend’s house, and your mother would give you a speech about respecting their house and their rules? This is the same concept. When you become a Bougie Girl international traveler, you realize that what flies at home may not be best practice in another country. You may find yourself in unnecessary trouble if you do something seemingly innocuous in another country like chewing gum (Singapore), feeding pigeons (Venice) or wearing camouflage (Barbados and other Caribbean countries).

You also need to be mindful of how people in the country act toward each other. In some places, it's perfectly normal for people to not say “excuse me” or “pardon me” when moving in tight spaces. In other countries, people greet each other by bowing. Regardless, you want to make sure you are putting your best effort forward to respect that country’s culture.

5.    Tip Accordingly

Tipping is a delicate subject, as some countries think it’s rude to tip, while others rely on it as part of a server’s hourly wage. Either way, you need to do two things when visiting a new country: (1) research whether their country allows/requires tipping and for what percentage, and (2) tip when possible. Bougie Girl, if there's one thing we value, it’s helping to stimulate the local economy of the places we visit.

6. Pack Lite

So, this may ruffle your feathers, Bougie Girl. I know it will. But I’m here to tell you that if you are staying somewhere for less than a week or traveling to multiple places, you need to be able to survive on a carry-on and a book bag. You don’t want to lug around copious amounts of luggage for a trip. Packing lite has several benefits:

• you don’t have to pay for a checked bag;
• you can buy nice luggage for less when you only need a carry-on; and
• you can move around a country easier.

My rule general rule is I only pack a carry-on, a book bag, and a purse. I follow that guideline if I’m:

• staying somewhere for a week or less [note: I make concessions if I’m traveling to colder climate locations that require bulkier clothing];
• traveling somewhere for more than a week, and I’m moving to different locations; or
• traveling somewhere for more than a week, I’m not moving around, and laundry is inexpensive.

I’m never afraid to use a laundry service. If I’m in a country where it is inexpensive to launder clothes, I will pack light.

Do not do this!

7.    Be Firm, but Flexible

Have plans! Bougie Girl, we will one day get to the point where you can plan a trip to a new location without researching any activities ahead of time. I have faith we will. But we aren’t there yet. For a 4-day vacation, I recommend having at least 2 restaurants, 2 fun activities, and 1 bar to visit.  Why? Because you never know what events are going on during the time you plan to be there, and by failing to research, you miss out on fun activities. So, have some firm plans that you’re dying to experience, but be flexible with the remainder of your time so that you can explore the area and potentially discover hidden gems.

8.    Know The Exchange Rate

The exchange rate is the value your currency has in the country you’re going to visit. This tells you how far your money will stretch. You want to know this as soon as you decide to travel somewhere because it helps inform the price and value of lodging, food, entertainment, and transportation. In one country, you may need to learn how to travel via bus. I did this while visiting London. But in another, you may be able to afford a personal driver like I did while vacationing in Jamaica. It also informs how much you should be saving to spend while there.

I hope these tips help you, Bougie Girl. International travel doesn’t have to be scary or daunting. Especially when you hire, We Stay Away as your travel concierge. Because at We Stay Away, We Teach You How to Vacay!

XOXO,
Truscenialyn