Traveling outside of the country for the first time can cause both great excitement and extreme anxiety at the same time. You might be nervous about traveling abroad for the first time, but there are plenty of things you can do to prepare so you can relax and look forward to your trip. Read on to learn how you can make sure your first international trip is a memorable and enjoyable one:

What to Book in Advance

Reduce some of the stress of traveling to an unfamiliar place for the first time by booking your flight, hotel room and airport parking space in advance. Many airlines and hotels offer great early bird deals if you book your flight or hotel room at least two weeks in advance. Booking a parking space in advance on a website like ParkON.com will save you time and frustration, so you won’t have to worry about being late for your flight.

ParkON offers parking spaces in more than 200 parking lots nationwide. Each parking lot is strategically located close to all the major airports in the country, including O’Hare, LaGuardia and Los Angeles International. LAX parking can be notoriously difficult to find, but services like ParkON make airport parking a breeze. By booking a parking space in advance, you’ll arrive for your flight with plenty of time to spare. You might even have enough time to enjoy a meal, check out an art exhibit, or even get a relaxing massage.

Language

If you’re traveling to a country where the main language is not English, it would be very helpful to learn a few common and useful phrases before your trip. These include:

  • Hello/Good morning/Good evening/General greetings
  • Please
  • Thank you
  • Excuse me
  • Left/Right/Straight ahead/Turn around
  • Can you tell me how to get to…
  • Where is the bathroom?
  • I need a doctor
  • How much is this?
  • Do you accept credit cards?

Learning a few basic phrases in the local language can help you feel safer and prevent you from getting lost.

Money

Do your research about the currency in the country you’re going to before you travel. Make sure to look up the exchange rates, and check with your credit card provider to see if your card will work in the country you’re visiting. Learn how to mentally convert currency so you can avoid overspending or getting unpleasant surprises. Always bring an extra bank card and credit card, and keep them in a separate wallet, so you can still access your funds even if you lose your main wallet or get mugged.

Electronics

We have become increasingly dependent on our gadgets, such as smartphones and tablets. They can definitely come in handy. When packing for your trip, make sure to check if your chargers will be compatible with the sockets in the country you’re going to, and pick up an adaptor before you travel if not.

You might be nervous about your first international trip, but don’t stress out too much about it. If you do your research and prepare carefully beforehand, you can relax and look forward to an exciting new adventure ahead.