Helpful Tips for Beginner Travelers

​Travel is a major aspect of American culture. Looking at professional travelers alone, Americans make about 405 million business trips each year, according to TravelPerk, equating to more than one million businessmen and women traveling by plane, train, and automobile each day. Traveling for personal reasons, including pleasure, can provide Americans with many unique benefits, from reduced levels of stress to an increased understanding of and appreciation for other cultures. Whether a person is an experienced traveler or someone interested in traveling more frequently, it can be helpful to review a few helpful travel tips.

To begin, travelers should strongly consider the advantages of carrying travel insurance. Insurance is not mandatory for all travelers; a good rule of thumb before a trip is to ask, "What am I okay losing?" Once the number or combined value of goods reaches a certain point, it becomes fiscally imperative to invest in travel insurance, which protects against certain risks, accidents, and other losses that occur while traveling. 

As is the case with other types of insurance, the comprehensiveness of a travel insurance plan can vary considerably from one policy to the next. Injury and illness, lost luggage, and last-minute cancellations may all be covered under a travel insurance policy. However, travelers must familiarize themselves with the details of their policy. For instance, coverage may apply to international vacations of five or more days, but not to a two-day business trip in the same state.

If a trip involves traveling by plane, individuals should ensure that they have all of the documentation needed to pass safely through airport security checks. This means packing the correct identification, such as a passport or Real ID, depending on the destination. Individuals and families should start planning for international travel well in advance, as the processing time for receiving a new passport can exceed six weeks, per the US Department of State.

Checking the weather is an often overlooked yet critically important aspect of travel, especially if you are visiting a distant city, state, or country. On the macro level, travelers should avoid booking a trip to a location during a period of poor or potentially dangerous weather. Japan, for example, is a beautiful country rich in tradition and history, but Americans may want to avoid visiting the island during typhoon season. On a smaller scale, business travelers may realize that it will be extremely hot or rainy during a week-long trip, influencing their wardrobe and other travel decisions.

Regardless of whether a person is traveling for business or pleasure, it is always advisable to pack light. Bringing multiple pieces of luggage is physically difficult, stressful, and time-consuming at a time when travelers should be relaxing or focusing on their next destination. If a person is flying, checking bags can also be expensive. Further, the more items and valuables a person travels with, the greater the risk of goods becoming lost or stolen. 

A few helpful travel tips apply more to international travel than to local trips. Learning a few local phrases, for example, can be very helpful when traveling in a foreign country. Key phrases include greetings, ordering food, asking for directions, and saying "Thank you." Generally speaking, asking locals for advice is a great way to become immersed in a new culture and discover unique locales.

Veronica Knapp

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