Your FIRST International Trip

I can still remember my first international trip, the butterflies, the excitement, the sheer volume of knowledge about things I had never even considered before (What do you mean I can’t bring my hairdryer?). There are a million little things to consider and prepare before your first BIG/SOLO/EVER international trip and below we will share a few of the most significant.

1. How are you getting to your hotel/apartment/Airbnb from the airport?

   Air travel is exhausting. Not only did you fly 6, 8, 10 hours (or more), but factor in the time you spent getting to and waiting at the airport, not to mention any connections, and you are sure to be DONE when you arrive. The last thing you want to think about is how you will get to your bed to sleep.

   Recommendation: Log onto the free Airport Wi-Fi (no guarantee your phone will work (see below) and either take an UBER (if permitted in the city) or walk to the taxi stand and get in the first available to you. It’s worth the cost. You’ll be tired and anxious, and you’ll feel dirty too, so it’s best to just spend the extra cash on this. Ensure you have your destination address saved somewhere easy to find (I recommend saving in your phone), and if you don’t speak the local language, consider having someone who does send you an audio note in the local language (I can’t tell you how many times this saved me in Morocco!) or show the driver the address (but make sure you have the exact correct address…there could be 3 streets with similar names!).

   EBA Participants: Airport pick up and drop off (in the host city only) is included in your program fee—one less thing to worry about!

2. Can I use my phone in another country?
   This is a serious question and one that requires a little advance thought and preparation. If you are traveling out of the US, it is a safe assumption that your phone will not automatically work internationally.

   Recommendation: If your trip is relatively short (under 90 days), I recommend contacting your phone company and adding international data and service. This will likely cost you a relatively small amount (maybe $10 per month) and you can use your phone as normal. If your trip is longer, I recommend getting a SIM card upon arrival to drop in your phone with your new number. However, this ONLY works if your phone has a dual SIM or if your phone is unlocked (and many American phones are not). You would need to contact your provider and confirm your phone is unlocked.

   EBA Participants: We will have rechargeable SIM Cards for participants upon arrival if you need them. Only one SIM will be provided per participant, so don’t lose it (or your phone!).

3. What should I pack? Better yet, is there anything I SHOULDN’T pack?
   There is never a more critical item than the international packing list. Good news: there are a MILLION of them online. I highly recommend looking up the average weather during your stay and pack accordingly. Note: this is also highly personal…what I find cold is very different from some of my friends. More importantly, what do you need to leave at home?

   Recommendations: Remember, you will have access to a washer. At minimum, you don’t need to bring 90 days of panties for a 90-day trip. Even better, pack some old ones and throw them out during the trip. More room for souvenirs! Pack for the weather and what you need to be cool/warm, bring comfy shoes. Most Europeans walk FAR MORE than any Americans do. Bring a jacket/scarf—these come in so handy.

   You don’t need multiple duplicates of the same thing. Also, don’t pack hair tools. The EU is on a different voltage and many of these will burn up the moment they are plugged in and turned on. Hotels, AirBnBs, and many other places have them. However, I highly recommend bringing at least one outlet converter (i.e. Universal Travel Adaptor, see here). I always carry mine with me and mine also has USB plugs, which I also use to charge my phone.
   EBA Participants: The EBA apartment will be equipped with all the basics of home (kitchen, living room, and hairdryer/flat iron). Just bring your phone charger and leave the rest at home. Save the space!

4. What do I do with all my important documents?
   Safety is a real concern when traveling. While Europe is considered exceptionally safe (especially to American standards), smaller crimes do happen, most notably, pickpocketing.
   Recommendations: I recommend taking a photo of your credit cards, IDs, passport, etc., and sending them to yourself. I keep all these copies in a special Google Drive in case I ever need it. It makes for an easy resource, always accessible. Maybe even send a copy to a trusted family member/friend. Also, when I leave the house, especially in
   Spain, I never carry my passport, I always have another form of ID with me. I don’t carry all my credit/debit cards at once, and only carry what I need. That way if anything happens, I have resources at home. Also, have access to all your cards, etc. on your phone (preferably in an app form). This way you can deactivate anything if necessary.

5. Will I have access to my money while I’m traveling?

   This is important, no one wants to be stranded without cash.

   Recommendation: First, check with your bank to see if you need to set up a travel alert that will allow you to use your cards abroad. You should also ask about ‘international fees’ (the cost of withdrawing money or calculating dollars to euros, etc.), as you may have access to partner banks that have little to no fees. Or, you can avoid all of this by opening a free checking account with Charles Schwab, Ally, N26, or another bank with no foreign transaction fees. Also, always have a backup plan. See above about carrying documents and cards. Try to avoid having everything with you at once.

It’s important to stress, that you don’t need to stress over everything. Plan in advance, do a little research (but not too much), and keep things organized and you can set yourself up for an amazing journey abroad. And on your second international trip, you’ll laugh at all the things you worried about the first time, promise!