5 Travel tips and tricks for beginner travelers
- By Cleveland Willis
- Jul 3, 2018
- 5 min read

So your passport has finally arrived in the mail. Uncontrollably you begin to jump around as your heart races with joy and excitement. All of a sudden, a plague of SELF DOUBT comes upon you in a instant flash!
And you say to yourself 'What now?'
Planning your first trip on where you want to travel, may seem to be pretty scary and overwhelming with absolutely no travel experience whatsoever.
As a young seasoned traveler like myself, I was in your shoes once before.
It took me years of trail and error, until I developed my 5 RULE TRAVEL METHOD .

1.) KNOW WHAT IS EASY FOR YOU: Be sure to find out what countries in the world that gives your currency ($USD) more value when converted. Knowing your math is vital. Especially when traveling with friends, family, or even solo. This will allow you to control and manage your spending budget, without being scammed by the wrong people in markets and learn how to haggle for the best deals around the world. So if you are a bit rusty on the your basic math skills. I advise to brush up on them.
Here is a list of countries that are worth a bang for your buck:
South Africa, México, Norway, New Zealand, Indonesia, Japan, India, Colombia, Iceland, Croatia Chile, Argentina, Canada, Brazil
2.) THE DO'S AND DON'T OF PACKING:

When it comes down to packing for your first trip. It is a MUST that you pack light or you will end up making a rookie mistake like everyone does; over packing/under packing.
The travel guidelines to packing light consist of 8 clothing items that can make up to make 26 unique outfits. which will be enough to last you a week to a month on a long trip. Here are some example
Wearing the appropriate clothing allows you to blend in and separate yourself from the crowd of the "basic tourist"look. The main benefit from wearing less flashy clothing. Reduces your chances of being a victim to thieves and scammers.
(Bonus Tip) I know you are planning to bring electronics on your adventure. Be sure to empty out your phone to have space. So you are able to record videos and take amazing photos for memories. Next, it is very important you have a cellphone case to protect your phone from any weather conditions, drops, scratches, and is 100% waterproof.

I personally recommend the Otterbox , due to it being versatile and very reliable throughout my past adventures. especially since I am one those that constantly drops their phone often.
And lastly, during your transition between flights at the airports. you might not have enough down time to sit and charge your cellphone, including other electronic devices. That is where the Poweradd Slim 2 comes in handy.

You may ask what so special about this particular portable charger. The Poweradd Slim 2 has a Battery 2.1A that is able to charge for countless hours at a time. This device is able charge iPhones, iPad, Samsung Galaxy, HTC and more. most of all, it's very affordable.
3.) Be A Safe Traveler:

It doesn't matter if you are an experienced traveler or not. Travel safety is more important than anything else on this list.
The first thing you must do is, you have let your family and friends know where you will be traveling off to. I advise giving them your itinerary, so they will know the exact time of your arrival and departure.
The next step, when searching for travel destinations. Be sure to check the U.S Department. By doing this, you will be given a list of countries that are safe or dangerous to travel for Americans to visit.
Lastly, don't be afraid to get lost. You are probably saying to yourself "Why would I want to get lost?". Purposely allowing yourself to get lost helps builds huge confidence levels within you. Such as; Communicate with locals, taking you time, and relax i.e. "go with the flow".
4.) Prepare Yourself For Culture Shock:

When traveling to distinct countries with deviser cultures. You have to take everything in account. Because you will come across things that may seem quite different at first. from what you are use to seeing. Learning how to be more optimistic will help you be a huge benefit.
Transportation in foreign countries are very reliable, fast ,and always 100% on time. This includes; Busses, taxi cars/Uber, trains, trams cars, and in terms of even walking too.
And YES, I did mentioned walking is reliable! You wouldn't believe how walking is resourceful in many ways. Countries with big cities such as Japan, China, London United Kingdom, India ,United States, Mexico, and etc. These countries are by far the best places to venture to city to city on foot, since everything accessible and close by at an arm's reach.
(Bonus Tip) Majority of western countries normally use the 24hr military clock. That being said, be sure to learn how use the 24hr clock.
Cultural diversity within other countries is not very different from yours and mines. if you think about it, they are pretty much alike. 90% of countries have the same commercial layout for fast food restaurants and malls/stores. And also, a lot of people from foreign countries enjoy sharing their own culture with many tourist.
There's one more thing you must know. Most socialites have certain policies in which you must be very cautious about. This especially goes for women and men. You will notice how manners are very important when addressing a person. Like the usage of "Sir" and "ma'am" is heavily influenced, without coming off being disrespectful to someone. Lastly, if you are a woman traveling. Make sure to NOT wear clothes that too relieving to the eye. Most countries frown upon woman wearing crop tops and short shorts.
5.) It's Adventure Time:

So, for those of you who has finally reached this part- I CONGRATULATE YOU ALL! Most of you are likely knowledgeable enough to feel like a (confident) full pledged experienced traveler by now. Not just yet, you are missing a few things.
You can't start your traveling adventures without an air plane ticket and hotel reservations silly. I strongly recommend TripAdvisor and Expedia . Due to that having phenomenal flight tickets, hotels, and touring deals, etc. From my experience, I have always used these two to get ridiculous discounts, you wouldn't even imagine. Whenever I had problems or questions in the past. I had no issues whatsoever, the customer service is top of the line.
(For any questions and concerns. Feel free the leave a comment. And don't forget to subscribe to the news letter. So you will not miss out on my next adventures around the world)
I don't why you still here... GO OUT AND PLANNING YOUR FIRST TRIP RIGHT NOW!!!
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