Travel Like a Pro: 6 Rookie Mistakes to Skip on Your Next International Trip

When you’re calmly walking through your departure airport with 84 people in your group, and you find out one of them has already lost their passport, the choice to stay calm is… a choice.

Heading overseas someday soon? Heck, you might just be traveling to a different culture on the other side of your own country. Winging it might sound fun for the spontaneous souls, but for those of us who want/need a plan, a little extra prep can make all the difference.

Living in Mexico for almost twelve years helped open my eyes to a different culture, but I’ve definitely learned a few things while traveling to the past six countries overseas.

Most people save their money, plan their itinerary, try to pack light, and jump on a jumbo jet. But there’s so much more that goes into making sure your big trip goes off without severe jet lag, a lost wallet, nausea, swollen ankles, another lost passport in the trash on your last train, or someone getting caught in closing subway doors.

But that’s a list for another day.

Traveling to Japan with seven dozen people was a feat in and of itself. But when 70 of them were high school students….

Let that sink in, and then jump on this visual with me:

Think herding cats, but in a foreign country and with jet lag. Corralling and coordinating became a thrice-daily activity, counting heads by twos and wishing a select few had packed at least a travel-size bottle of common sense. 

Same thing happened in Italy, Spain, France, England, and Greece.

Yet, amidst the organized chaos, there was a certain charm in the unpredictability and spontaneity appearing around the bend of each plaza, courtyard, and famous intersection. These planned surprises surprised even those of us who planned them. 

For example, I obviously knew there would be gelato in Italy, but had no idea there would be as many gelato shops in Rome as Starbucks in California. (don’t bother Googling that—it’s just my rough estimate)

I obviously knew Kyoto would be pretty spotless since Japan is known for its public cleanliness and commitment to tidiness. But I had no idea there would be a total of zero trash cans out in public. As in, not one.

I obviously knew Greece would have insane food, but I had no idea we wouldn’t be able to find hummus anywhere. Like, no hummus at all. Nowhere. Not to be an international complainer, but lamb and pita without hummus?

I calmly asked our guide about the lack of hummus at our opening dinner. To which he calmly answered, “Hummus isn’t Greek.”

To which I felt like calmly asking, “Are you sure?”

But that would’ve been very American of me.

Here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the way that help differentiate between being a clueless foreigner and confident traveler.

Travel Tips:

Most people know the basics to ensure their international trip goes smoothly… book accommodations and transportation in advance, check your passport, get local currency, notify your credit cards, download offline essentials, etc.

But today I’m talkin’ about the things that will help you avoid looking like an international rookie once you get there. In no particular order….

1. Don’t be Flashy

Dripping in fancy jewelry, toting a bougie bag, and waving around your iPhone 39 might make you feel like a million bucks, but you’re making yourself a target. Pickpockets love it and can spot you a mile away.

That doesn’t mean you can’t look nice when you travel; just be aware of the culture you’re visiting and dress accordingly. Your posh “I have money” look might fly in Monaco, but not so much in parts of Mozambique or Mexico.

2. Look Up

Staring at your phone seems harmless, especially these days when it feels like 98% of humanity is doing the same. But keeping your head buried in your navigational map on a busy sidewalk lets everyone know you have no idea where you’re going, and suddenly, you become the annoying roadblock.

Instead, study your routes ahead of time, plug in your destination before you step out of your hotel, and walk confidently in the direction of your dream dessert.

3. Match the Pace, Vibe & Volume

Unfortunately, we Americans have gotten a bit of a bad rap for being loud and obnoxious. Shocking, I know. When our group stepped onto the subway in Japan, you could’ve heard a pin drop. And it would’ve stayed that way for our whole 15-minute ride, except, of course, for our group. We adults gently hushed our students, but they struggled to hold it together. Kinda funny, kinda not. 

Some cultures are definitely quieter and more reserved in public. Being boisterous in your own little world can come off as cocky, rude, or clueless, and locals don’t love it. Bottom line: read the room… or subway.

4. Learn a Couple Basic Words/Phrases

This is not a call for a language class, months of lessons, or a private tutor (although that would be amazing). This is simply a plea for “please,” “thank you,” and “sorry.” You’d be surprised how you can navigate your way through a foreign country with just these three basics and a genuine awareness of others.

5. Dress Like the Locals

This doesn’t mean you have to get a new wardrobe—just don’t look like a total tourist. A little cultural research will show you how your old sneakers, Kirkland jeans, baseball cap, and passport holder around your neck scream, “I’m not from here.”

6. Eat Where Locals Eat

It’s ok if you’re scared of taco stands on the streets of Tijuana; that’s just more for the rest of us. But if you’re tempted to visit Applebee’s, Burger King, Chili’s, and Domino’s (the A, B, C, & Ds of restaurants) on your international trip… just don’t. 

You didn’t fly 6,300 miles to eat processed junk. Try being a little adventurous and getting away from the tourist attraction spots. Walking a few more blocks for better food, better prices, and a more authentic experience will captivate your taste buds and provide delicious memories.

Bonus: Flexibility

When we lived in Mexico, we emphasized being flexible with our staff and students on the regular. Plans, locations, dates, and opinions changed constantly, and if we were rigid about how we wanted things to happen, frustration ensued. Especially when we traveled within the country to other cities and states.

Hence, the word “flexico” was born. We used it often—sometimes as a joke, sometimes as a reminder, and sometimes as a coping mechanism. Either way, we all knew we lived in another country, we were guests in another culture, and sometimes things didn’t make sense in our American brains. Didn’t mean they were wrong, just different. 

Moral of the story… holding everything loosely is key, especially on vacation overseas. Because, as we all know, you can plan as much as you want, but sometimes circumstances interrupt your plan. 

Your Story

What did I miss? Have you traveled internationally more than a few times? Please share your hack, funny story, or disaster in the comments. You never know—someone could learn from your plan or mistake, and you could change the trajectory of their next trip!

Can you think of a friend or family member who’s heading overseas someday soon? Send this to them and tell them I said hola.