Whenever people ask us about traveling, and more specifically, traveling abroad, they always tend to ask the same handful of questions. So, we thought it would be helpful to include that here, as well as some other general tips and suggestions that we’ve found helpful on our trips…

• Our number one tip that we tell anyone who asks is this…if you’re going somewhere that speaks another language, make a serious effort to learn at least some phrases before you go. At bare minimum, be able to say “Do you speak English?” in the native language; but also yes, no, hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and excuse me are helpful too. If you’re going somewhere that’s relatively developed, you will have no problem finding people who speak English, however, showing locals that you’ve made an effort to do things their way goes a long way in building genuine relationships and not being treated like a typical tourist. If you only take one thing away from these tips, this should be it.
• This one is kinda different, but we’ve found it to be true more often than not…the “second” city of a given country or region seems to have a more local vibe and a culture more typical to the larger area. For example, I prefer Kyoto over Tokyo, Florence over Rome, Sevilla over Barcelona, Cork over Dublin, etc. This seems to work on a more local scale too (Lexington is far better than Louisville). It’s not always the case (I like Santiago better than Valparaiso), but it can be helpful if you’re debating between two places. We used this to decide between Porto and Lisbon, which lead us to choose Porto, and we’re so glad that’s where we went.
• We try to fly carry-on whenever possible, there’s a peace of mind knowing that everything you need is with you in case of delays or cancellations.
• With flights, avoid connections in any of the New York airports at all costs. They are almost always delayed, and are not airports you want to spend any time in that you don’t have to. We’ve had the best luck flying through Boston and Atlanta.
• As far as jet lag goes, you basically want to force yourself into the local time zone. For example, if you have a flight leaving the east coast in the evening and arriving in Europe the next morning, you’ll want to sleep on the plane, and force yourself to stay up that first day, at least until 9pm or so. On the way back, you may be leaving midday and landing back in the states in the afternoon, so stay up on the flight and go to bed at your normal time.
• For your cell phone, it’s worth it for at least one person in your group to have data service. On our plan, it costs $10/day in most countries for full data. Most carriers have similar plans, and while this may not be the cheapest option (getting a local sim card probably is cheaper) it is the easiest and most convenient.
• If you’re using Google Maps to navigate, you can download swaths of the map for offline use. Your service may get spotty, so we strongly recommend that you download all areas you’ll be navigating through before your trip. Doing this varies a little depending on your phone, but the internet has plenty of walkthroughs.
• Whenever we’re in a new city and looking for places to go, we’ll always start with something that we like to do at home. With us, it’s finding a good brewery, or beer or wine bar, from there, we’ll try to sit at the bar so that we can talk to the bartender and get any of their recommendations for the area. I picked up this tip from my dad, who always does this. They will know the area well and ostensibly have similar tastes to us. So find something that you know you’ll like, whether it be a bar, museum, or whatever it is, go check it out, and use those new language skills to make some new friends.
• After you learn a bit of the language, you can be sure to avoid places (especially restaurants) that advertise in English, or have people on the sidewalk speaking English trying to get people to come in and eat. These are generally found in the tourist areas of cities where you’re going to get low quality food at astronomical prices. Get a few blocks off the main strip and find a more authentic looking place.
• Speaking of restaurants, you’ll find that service is a bit different than in the US, especially in Europe. This is something that nearly everyone we’ve talked to after getting back from abroad has mentioned. In the US, the waiter is constantly coming by and checking in on you, making sure you have everything you need without you having to ask. Elsewhere this is seen as rude and intrusive, the meal is supposed to be private and intimate, without undue interruption. The waiters are at your service when you need them, but you’ll need to get their attention for the check or whatever you may need. This seemed awkward and rude to us at first, but actually kind of prefer it now. Simply make eye contact with your server or a subtle raise of the hand to get their attention and they’ll head over.
• With the above, most small cafes will not have a hostess or any clear indication on what to do. Seat yourself? Order at the counter? Wait to be seated? In most cases, you simply seat yourself, and a server will come by to get your order.
• As with avoiding restaurants in the tourist centers, you’ll want to avoid staying in these areas too. It may be convenient, but you won’t get a great feel for the city, and you’ll have to go further to get more authentic experiences.
• Get a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Some regular cards have this feature, but more often than not it’s specific to travel cards. Check to see if your current card has one, and if not, sign up for one before you go.
• On a related note, if your card has *no* foreign transaction fees, then you want to pay in the local currency, as you’ll get a better exchange rate. If your card *does* have foreign transaction fees, you will want to pay in USD (assuming you’re American) if given the option, to avoid those fees (typically 3%).
• Depending on where you’re going, you might want to have cash on hand. The easiest and cheapest way to get cash is just by going to an ATM. Just check the logos on the back of your debit card (Interlink, Plus, Star, etc), find an ATM with a matching logo, and you’re all set. DO NOT, under any circumstance, use the airport currency exchange desks. Their rates are ridiculous. If you have cash leftover at the end of the trip, some banks will exchange it, or just save it for your next trip.
• If you have a car and use a parking garage, make sure to check the hours. Not all garages are 24/7, so you may not be able to have constant access to your car.
• Unless it’s your first day somewhere and you have to worry about jet lag, don’t be afraid to nap.
• If running is your thing, it’s a great way to quickly explore a new place.
• Walk whenever possible. You’ll see so much more of a city this way, rather than jumping underground on the metro and popping up wherever you need to be.
• It’s not always doable, but if you can avoid the busy season of the destination, do it. The off and shoulder seasons will see more availability of lodging, and cheaper prices all around.

Hopefully these are helpful, but feel free to reach out with any tips of your own or other questions you may have!