Last month I went on a trip to London and Paris. It was my first time traveling out of the country. Naturally, I was nervous, so my friends, family and pretty much anyone else I told about my trip gave me various tips and bits of advice. Some of the items are pieces of advice I got and some are experiences I had on my trip.
1. Plan your free time
I went on this trip with a tour company, so our daily activities were planned, and we got free time in between activities. Even though I didn't have to plan the entire trip, it was still beneficial to plan my free time so that I could see everything I wanted. You will definitely thank yourself later!
2. Always think about safety
It might seem obvious, but traveling to a new country means you should always be aware of your surroundings. Travel in groups of three or four if possible, and be aware of pickpockets. You also need to find out each country's emergency number, just in case. It's easy to forget about safety when you're on a trip, but it's the most important aspect when you're in an unfamiliar place.
3. Be respectful wherever you go
You are visiting another country, so it's important to be respectful of the people and the places you're visiting. While I was in Paris, I was told that the French really appreciate it when foreigners say "bonjour" and "merci" when entering or leaving shops and restaurants. Doing this shows them that you are respectful of their language and that you aren't assuming every person speaks English. Small gestures like this can have a positive impact!
4. Everyone will react differently to Americans
I was a little nervous to go to France because a lot of people told me that the French hate Americans, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they were kind and generous people! Of course, there were some people that were less than enthused to have tourists disrupting their daily routine, but I never felt unwelcome. Just be kind and people will be kind to you!
5. Ask for help if you need it
I remember being afraid to ask for help, especially when trying to navigate the public transportation system. In London, the Underground (subway) was easy to navigate, but one time we were clearly lost. My friends and I had our maps out, pointing at the platform map and discussing which train to take. A nice gentleman stopped and asked us if we needed help, and then gave us the shortest route back to the station closest to our hotel. We were afraid to bother anyone or make them late for their train, but he was kind enough to stop and help us, and most people are. You just have to ask!
6. Don't be afraid to have a more authentic experience
This is your trip, so you should do what you want! Often, having lunch at a local restaurant, or stopping at a bookstore could be a better experience than waiting in line at tourist attractions. Personally, I like my trips to have a mixture of both tourist places and authentic experiences! I had just as much fun at Buckingham Palace as I did at a local pub, eating fish and chips. Make the trip what you want it to be!
7. Be in the moment
Some of the best moments of my trip came when I stopped and enjoyed the experience of being there. In Paris, I went to the Eiffel Tower and took lots of pictures, but I also took the time to marvel at the sheer beauty of being there and enjoy the moment. I will always have those pictures to show other people, but my memories of the trip will stay with me forever.
Go plan your next adventure!
