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First time abroad: where to go? First time on holiday abroad - a short guide.

How to decide on your first independent trip abroad. Which country to choose so as not to experience problems, have fun and save money. Which countries are the easiest to travel to on your own if this is your first time?

Still studying travel agency advertisements and listen on the phone to the manager’s revelations about paradise holiday in Egypt And luxury beaches of Pattaya. You may be ready to change your hotel reservations Sharm El Sheikh And Antalya to the vastness of the central Turkey; and also, not the best coast of Pattaya with a walk along the evening Beach Road in the company of drunken compatriots to the deserted snow-white beaches of small islands and the atmosphere of the northern provinces of Thailand. I don't know the language! I do not know how to drive! I'm afraid of the unknown in a foreign country! I'm afraid of being left without money! Where to start, in the end, which country should you go to for the first time if you have no experience of independent travel? These are roughly the questions that novice travelers ask themselves, as they increasingly think about cheating on a tour operator and organizing a trip abroad on their own. It’s no secret that often, along with a tour package, they have to look at the local garbage dump under their window and fall asleep not to the sound of the evening surf, but to the sounds of a bulldozer under their window, accompanied by rich expressions of local builders.

I analyzed about 50 countries that I could recommend to those who want to go organize your own trip - from the moment of purchasing a ticket and booking accommodation to planning the route. I took 7 main criteria to make it clearer why these countries actually are. The 5-point rating scale is closer to me, so I will evaluate the criteria according to it. Then, by mathematically adding the points, I selected the countries. I would like to present the result of my research below.

One more thing. Why exactly 5 countries? And not, say, 7 or 10. Because after visiting these five countries, you will practically not care where to go next. You will only be faced with the question of choosing a direction.

So, the criteria by which I studied the possibility of an independent trip as a novice traveler. The order in which these criteria are laid out is random without any hidden meaning.

  • Visa regime
  • Language and friendliness of the residents.
  • Transport accessibility and ease of movement within the country.
  • The country is interesting for tourism in general.
  • Price level.
  • Safety.
  • Infrastructure and service

Many countries that seem easy to visit are not included here based on the same criteria.

Türkiye

  • Türkiye is a visa-free country for Ukrainians and Russians, so Welcome. ( 5 points)
  • English and Russian are spoken here, although only in tourist places, but for the first time this is enough; Ignorance of foreign languages ​​in the Turkish outback is compensated by the friendliness of the locals and sign language helps. ( 5 points)
  • high-quality roads and a developed bus network, airports in key tourist spots, proximity to Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. (5 points)
  • tourism is Turkey's strong point and there is hardly any need to convince anyone of this. (5 points)
  • Turkish prices do not amaze with their low level, but they also do not make you think about the insignificance of your income; (4 points)
  • in Turkey it is dangerous, probably only for long-legged blondes, who also diligently show the local hot guys their other advantages; everyone else has nothing to worry about; ( 4 points)
  • tourist infrastructure and service are almost European and much higher than in Southeast Asia; ( 5 points)

Total points - 33

How to find budget accommodation in Istanbul

Thailand


  • visa on arrival ( 5 points)
  • V Thailand everyone understands basic school English and is fluent in sign language - ( 4 points), since many at school studied French or German...
  • organizing internal travel in Thailand is the dream of any traveler. Any place in the country can be reached by plane, bus, train, car or by water. In addition, all this is incredibly cheap, and there is plenty of information about traffic patterns on specialized forums or on the Internet. The only “but” is that it is a bit far from our region. That's why - ( 4 points)
  • Personally, I don’t know a more interesting country for tourism than Thailand, if anyone knows, please share. Beaches, history, exotic, local cuisine... ( 5 points)
  • island still remains a country of very low prices for everything: transport, housing, food and services; a small problem for car enthusiasts - driving on the left, which you get used to in half an hour, the path to Thailand is also not close, so - ( 4 points)
  • V Thailand there is a specially created tourist police, so if you behave decently, there will be no problems, even in the case of indecent behavior, the probability of problems arising is equal to the probability of snow falling in the Sahara ( 5 points)
  • here everything is the best - for tourists, the service in general will probably have a lot of problems for snobs and those who are accustomed to Arab luxury, but overall it’s a solid four - 4 points.

Total points - 31

How to find budget accommodation in Thailand



  • a visa is not needed for 96 hours, this is enough to see the country and imagine what the Kiev Troyeshchyna could look like in 150 years ( 5 points)
  • 98 percent of the residents speak English, so I don’t see any particular problems... nevertheless ( 4 points)
  • a car in Hong Kong is a superfluous, expensive thing and is more of a luxury item than a means of transportation; You can get to any point in the country and at any time of the day by bus, metro or taxi. From our latitudes the route is not close and not cheap, so ( 4 points)
  • local attractions are compactly located, and their number would be the envy of any more or less tourist-attractive country; ( 5 points)
  • prices are perhaps the only serious drawback of the country, so if you are registered in the employment fund, it is better to postpone a trip to until there is a white streak in your life; ( 2 points)
  • Even if you want, the probability of encountering the Hong Kong mafia, if you are not a drug dealer or a human trafficker, is practically a negative value. Hong Kong is an absolutely safe country ( 5 points)
  • excellent infrastructure, good service is directly proportional to the price ( 5 points)
Total points - 30

Review of travel to Hong Kong


How to find budget accommodation in Hong Kong

Budget accommodation or hotels in Hong Kong can be found through the booking system Hotels Combined, a service I use myself. The advantage of the service is that it compares prices from dozens of booking systems - you just have to choose the best offer. In each article or report, I provide links to hotels where I stayed and which I liked.

How to buy a budget flight to Hong Kong

Flight from Kyiv You can buy directly from the airlines, but the most profitable way is to take advantage of flight offers on directionKyiv-Hong Kong from aviasales.ru

Croatia



  • until recently, a visa-free country now allows our citizens only if they have a stamp in their passport; The procedure is simple, but some people are stopped by this - ( 4 points)
  • Here they know English no better than most Russians or Ukrainians, the situation is saved by the commonality of languages ​​- even a traffic cop can learn a dozen necessary phrases. ( 4 points)
  • The country is located along the sea, which is considered one of the cleanest in the world, mountains, lakes and a number of ancient monuments. ( 5 points)
  • Croatian autobahns are some of the best in Europe and there is nothing to do here without a car, although the bus network is decent ( 4 points)
  • prices are lower than the European average, although the dynamics are not encouraging ( 4 points)
  • V Croatia it’s safe, but it’s better to leave the soviet mentality at home, after all, Europe won’t understand ( 4 points)
  • It’s probably not worth going here for Hiltons and other hotel amenities (with the exception of Dubrovnik), everything else is a solid four ( 4 points)
Total points - 29

How to find budget accommodation in Croatia

Budget accommodation or hotels in Split , budget hotels in Dubrovnik or on popularHvar Island aviasales.ru , an aggregator that I use myself. The service selects the most advantageous offers - you just have to choose the best by price, departure time or airline.

When deciding where to go abroad for the first time, there are many things to consider. You need to choose a country where vacationers will face fewer problems and relax with greater comfort. There are countries where Russians can feel comfortable and even inexperienced tourists will not be disappointed in their vacation.

Beach holidays for those traveling abroad for the first time

The most popular holiday destinations among tourists are Turkey, Egypt and Bulgaria. These countries are ideal for those traveling abroad for the first time, as they are perfect for holidays abroad for the first time. This happens not only because you can relax relatively cheaply, but also due to a number of other reasons.

Firstly, you can always meet compatriots in hotels in these countries. In case of any problems or if questions arise, and those who traveled abroad for the first time will have questions, Russian-speaking staff or tourists will be able to help and explain the unclear situation.

Secondly, it is in these countries that many residents understand basic phrases in Russian and will be able to explain anything. Here you don’t have to know another language to move around a foreign country on your own. In this case, the first trip should be successful.

Thirdly, almost all hotels in these countries provide accommodation and meals on an all-inclusive basis. At the same time, the cost is quite reasonable. This is very convenient, because tourists can be sure that they will not need to pay extra for hotel meals and, accordingly, spend extra money.

Fourthly, package tours are mainly organized to Turkey, Egypt and Bulgaria, which include not only accommodation and meals at the hotel, but also transfer from the place of arrival to the hotel and back, as well as guide support if necessary, insurance and a number of others services. When in a foreign country, this is very important, because some people find it very difficult to navigate.

Excursions in Europe

If beach holidays and these countries do not attract attention, but you prefer sightseeing tours, then you can choose Europe as your first trip abroad. For beginners, it is better to immediately purchase an excursion tour, which will provide all services for accommodation, accompaniment on excursions and meeting at the airport. You can go to Greece, Italy, France or the Czech Republic. However, it should be borne in mind that such a vacation will cost.

To save money, you can choose a bus tour abroad. Its advantage will be not only lower cost, but also the opportunity to see a large number of cities. The only inconvenience is long journeys from one city to another. Despite this, tourists will spend the night in hotels. The advantage of such a visit to Europe is that tourists are always accompanied by a guide who shows the main attractions, tells how to behave, how to get to any place, etc. Visiting European countries on your own for the first time can be difficult.

Combined tours abroad

Going abroad for the first time may well combine a beach and sightseeing holiday. Many countries have good beaches and interesting attractions. To purchase such a tour, you can contact a travel agency that sells combined tours.

Thus, those who are interested in historical monuments in addition to the beach can go to Greece, Spain or Malta. Egypt and Turkey can also act as a combined tour. There is also something to see here in between relaxing on the beaches. The sea and gorgeous nature are also found in countries such as Croatia and Montenegro. They can also be visited as a first trip abroad. The choice of countries for traveling abroad for the first time is quite extensive, so everyone must first decide what exactly they expect from the trip.

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Statistics tirelessly confirm that outbound tourism is constantly growing. There is no doubt that this is so. However, most Russians still prefer to spend their vacation days in their hometown or at their dacha. And if for some of them a summer vacation is a conscious choice, then for a certain number of people organized tourism within and abroad simply remains a sealed secret. But breaking them is not so difficult. This article will help you choose the most convenient vacation option for those who have not yet joined tourism.

Beach holiday

Relaxing on the sandy shore of the blue-blue sea is perhaps the favorite pastime during the long-awaited vacation for most Russians. If you don’t have any special requests for your vacation, but just want to bask in the warmth, lie under palm trees, swim in the clear sea and get a bronze tan, then you are welcome in , (budget holiday options are possible) or in , and other coastal countries and islands.

The requirements for a beach holiday are usually minimal and can be defined in one word: comfort. The choice of options provided by Russian travel agencies is so wide that you can always find a tour to suit your taste. For holidays with small children, experienced managers will recommend hotels with good children's infrastructure (special baby food, children's pools and playgrounds, small water parks). For an entertaining holiday, you can choose a hotel in some popular youth city, where life is in full swing not only during the day on the beach, but also at night in bars and discos. Respectable married couples usually choose more respectable resorts.

Excursion tours

Excursion tours were invented especially for those who since childhood dreamed of visiting the places where the events of ancient Greek myths and knightly romances unfolded. The main trails and routes have long been laid out by experienced tour operators: all you have to do is make a choice. And he is really great. These are the already mentioned trips to, and travel to the castles of the Loire, and excursion tours to the classical. Holidays in, and if the recreation program is full of various excursions, can be no less interesting.

The cheapest type of excursion holiday is bus tours. However, before you pay money for such a trip, consider whether you are willing to spend long hours in a bus seat. If your health allows, then seeing almost everything through the bus window is pleasant and interesting.

Excursion tours are suitable for tourists of all ages, including very young children. The main thing for parents is to choose places where their children will be interested. Moreover, excursion trips around or can be combined with entertaining holidays in amusement and adventure parks, of which there are really many in these countries.

Combined tours

If you want to lie on the beach and go on excursions, then it is better to ask the travel agency about the availability of combined tours in its range. Many countries with good beaches are ready to offer tourists a variety of excursions to their historical, cultural and natural monuments.

Trekking, extreme

If you still remember what it’s like to relax in the forest in a tent, but you can’t cook dinner over a fire and assemble a kayak yourself, specially trained people can do it for you. By taking part in a trekking tour, you travel through forests, fields and mountains on foot, on horseback or kayaks, while specialists take on all the tedious work of choosing a route, setting up a camp and preparing food, and you just breathe fresh air and walk , pick mushrooms and fish - in general, relax.

In addition, now a large number of organized tours give tourists the opportunity to engage in their favorite extreme sports. For example, you can go to Andorra to ski or scuba dive. In the Turkish town of Oludeniz, paragliding flights are organized, and windsurfing fans traditionally go to Hawaii.

Sea and river cruises

Measured, elite and varied holiday. Sounds like a fairy tale? This is actually a reality if you go on a cruise. Sea cruises are especially popular. This could be traveling around the Mediterranean Sea, or sailing around. But the essence of such a vacation is clear: you spend most of your time on a fashionable ship and only sometimes go down the gangway to the piers of hospitable cities to take short sightseeing walks.

However, river cruises can be just as interesting. Russian travel agencies offer travelers cruises on the Volga, Danube, Dnieper, Rhine and other rivers. For many, this can really be a good opportunity to relax and see several countries at once. True, a cruise vacation cannot be called budgetary, but if financial capabilities allow, cruises can be a truly luxurious option for spending a long-awaited vacation.

Exotic holiday

Unforgettable, elite, fabulous and a great many other delightful adjectives can be chosen for a vacation in those countries that are commonly called an exotic destination. Exotic countries are always a little more than just the sea, a little more than just beaches, a little more than just unique natural and cultural monuments. Holidays in exotic countries are always breathtaking, memorable almost for a lifetime and... hit hard on your wallet.

What is considered exotic? For example, the most beautiful resorts in Bali and. Or rest in Buddhist monasteries. Or the mysterious caves of the islands. Exotic countries are what we see in the most colorful advertising brochures, creating the illusion of heavenly life on earth. And if you organize your vacation correctly, this illusion can be realized – at least during your vacation.

beauty and health

Finally, another type of recreation is recreational. You can breathe fresh air, bask in the sun and swim in the healing waters of the seas and oceans on your own, or under the supervision of doctors. For many city residents, exhausted by dirty air and daily bustle, massages, wraps, baths and other spa treatments are the best way to relax and recuperate.

Spa resorts are now the most developing type of recreation in many countries around the world. It is a mistake to believe that spa services are provided only in luxury hotels on the sea coasts. Spa resorts in the highlands and on the shores of pristine lakes in alpine villages are no less popular.

Everything happens for the first time, including the first trip to the sea with a child. Many people put off this moment, fearing the difficulties that may arise during a long and distant journey, however, the completely natural fear of parents is not yet a reason to deprive the baby of the pleasure of splashing around in sea water. If you are afraid, don’t do it, but if you do, don’t be afraid. So if you are already planning to go on vacation, cast aside your fears and follow the instructions - then you won’t get lost anywhere.

Before changing your climate zone, be sure to consult your pediatrician. The fact is that children are more difficult to acclimatize, so many parents are not recommended to take their children to the sea until they reach 3-5 years of age. The acclimatization process itself consists of two components - getting used to the local climate and getting used to microorganisms that enter the body with food, water and air. Adults are less susceptible to these influences and therefore get used to everything much faster, although there are exceptions. It is more difficult for a child to adapt, since his body has not yet been trained by such loads.

At the same time, consult your doctor about what medications you should take with you and what should be included in a child’s first aid kit. As a rule, the standard package for a traveling mother looks like this:


  • antipyretic (Panadol, Nurofen, etc.);
  • immunomodulators (Viferon);
  • three types of remedies for the common cold: rinsing (Aquamaris, Aqualor, etc.), vasoconstrictor (Nazivin, Otrivin, etc.) and treatment (Isofra, Vibrocil, Collargol, etc.);
  • “Rescuer” ointment for bruises, burns and other injuries;
  • remedy for burns (spray “Panthenol”, “Solcoseryl”);
  • pain reliever for the ears (Otinum, Otipax);
  • analgesics (No-shpa, Analgin);
  • antihistamine (Suprastin, Tavegil);
  • cough medicines (syrup or spray);
  • stomach medications (Linex, Smecta, etc.);
  • anti-poisoning agents (Regidron);
  • dressing materials: sterile bandages and cotton wool, bactericidal and simple adhesive plaster, rubber tourniquet, sterile gauze wipes;
  • accessories: pipettes, mercury thermometer, disposable gloves, sharp scissors, tweezers, compress paper, syringe, measuring cup, gas outlet tube, nasal aspirator;
  • herbs: chamomile, motherwort, rose hips, soothing mixture, chest mixture (including for children), linden blossom;
  • if your child has any chronic or specific diseases, then most likely you will have to replenish your first aid kit with some special medications that the doctor will recommend to you;
  • as well as baby cream, sunscreen with maximum protection for the child, mosquito and other insect repellent (clove essential oil).

Make sure you know all dosages in advance and be sure to get your pediatrician's cell phone number.

Documents and customs

There are unspoken rules according to which children of preschool age can go through customs without queuing. These rules apply to all countries, so if your child is tired or you are having a hard time, it is quite normal to ask the customs officers to let you skip the line.

When traveling abroad, you must have all the necessary documents with you. If a minor child goes on a trip without his parents, he must have with him:


  • international passport,
  • written notarized consent of both parents for his departure, accompanied by a specific person, indicating the dates of departure and entry, route and purpose of the trip.
In the case of a child leaving with one of the parents, according to the Federal Law of the Russian Federation “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation,” the consent of the second parent is not required. See art. 20 “A minor citizen of the Russian Federation, as a rule, leaves the Russian Federation together with at least one of his parents, adoptive parents, guardians or trustees. If a minor citizen of the Russian Federation leaves the Russian Federation unaccompanied, he must have with him, in addition to his passport, a notarized consent of the named persons for the departure of the minor citizen of the Russian Federation, indicating the date of departure and the state he intends to visit.”

But the legislation in our country is far from practice, so border guards may require the consent of the second parent in writing, certified by a notary. So it is not recommended to travel without this paper. Moreover, in many countries this consent is mandatory.

Such consent is not required in the case of the legal absence of the second parent, which must be confirmed by relevant documents, such as:


  • a mother's book (previously it was called a single mother's book);
  • death certificate of the second parent;
  • document on deprivation of parental rights;
  • statement of the second parent about abandonment of the child;
  • a document from the court indicating that the whereabouts of the other parent cannot be determined.
If the child is traveling with his parents, then it is enough to take an international passport and a birth certificate, if the family has different surnames. It is also important to know that a child over 6 years old must be photographed, and his photo pasted into the parents’ passports.

Flight

All popular resorts have long had all the conditions to welcome even the youngest travelers. A mother and child room is an essential attribute of any airport. However, when going on vacation with your baby, you need to take into account a number of features of such a trip.

According to the rules adopted by almost all airlines in the world, children under 2 years of age fly free on airplanes. Flights in business class fall into the category of exceptions, where you need to pay 10% of the ticket price for a child. In both cases, there will be no separate seat, and the baby flies sitting on the parents’ lap. Bassinets for infants on board should be provided free of charge, the only question is whether there will be enough for everyone, so the airline must be notified in advance about this type of trip. You will also be easily allowed to take a stroller into the salon, but you will have to remove the wheels from it. With both a cradle and a stroller, you will need the first row of seats for the flight. There are no changing tables on the plane, so everything will have to be done by hand. And finally, remember that southern airports are very stuffy, so stock up on water for your baby.

Hotel

Children stay free in hotels, however, you need to notify the administration in advance that you will have a baby with you. All hotels must have children's beds, of three types - a playpen bed, a daybed with a side or a single cot for older children. In 4 and 5 star hotels, the baths are sterile, so you can bathe your child without any worries. Therefore, when traveling abroad with a baby, it is best to take rooms in good, proven hotels. There are practically no problems with diapers, toys and other things necessary for a child.

For children over one year old, 5-star hotels have special day and night nannies. Her services are paid locally and cost around $10-15 per hour. Moreover, during the day the child can be in the playroom, and at night he will be brought to your room. Whether to leave your baby under the supervision of a stranger is up to you to decide. If you don’t want to, then just buy a baby monitor, but then you won’t be able to go far from the room. For bottle-fed babies, you need to make sure that there is, where and how to make formula for night feeding. As practice shows, finding hot boiled water in a hotel in the middle of the night is not so easy. Yes, in any case, you will have to constantly run back and forth. So the easiest way is to buy a special camping kettle so that you can warm water without leaving your room.

Food and water for your baby

Good for those whose child is breastfed. No problem, drink and food are always with you. Other mothers have it more difficult. Hotels have a children's table, but it is designed for children with teeth, who can chew and do not have food allergies - omelettes, meatballs, yoghurts, ice cream, juices. As a rule, resort stores do not offer the usual food for our children. Other brands may not be suitable due to the different composition of the water. So you will have to bring food for an infant or a child with allergies (porridge, mixtures, etc.). For older kids, adult food ground in a blender or using a mixer is suitable.

As for water, the baby should be given only bottled water to drink, and it would be a good idea to bring it with you - the baby won’t need much. Do not give tap water under any circumstances, and try not to drink it yourself.

First access to the sea

For the sake of preserving the health of your child, it is worth remembering that the beach is an extreme zone for a baby. And the smaller the child, the greater the risk. So parents won’t be able to sunbathe in the sun unless they take turns watching, not letting the child out of sight.

According to most doctors, south beach is not the best place for a baby. So try to find shade, be it a grove, a forest, a canopy or an open bungalow - anything is better than a sunny place. Children no younger than one year old can fully explore the beach. And still, exposure to the sun should be strictly dosed. To form vitamin D, which is useful for your baby in winter, the body needs enough ultraviolet radiation received in the shade. But even in the shade, panama hats, caps or scarves are necessary, since the child’s head is easily vulnerable and he can get sunstroke. Don't overheat your children, but don't let them get sunburned, and don't ignore complaints of weakness, headache or nausea. At the first signs of overheating, the baby needs coolness, a constant flow of fresh air, plenty of fluids, and ice on the head and back of the neck.

The best time to visit the beach is from 7 to 10 am and after 4 pm in the south, from 9 to 12 and from 16 to 18 pm in the middle zone.

Always bring your strongest sunblock, plenty of drinking water and burn spray to the beach.

Do not put a diaper on your child, this will quickly lead to heatstroke, but also do not keep him naked - the child can get an infection, and sand that gets into the genitals will cause irritation. It is best to wear light panties made from natural fabrics on your baby.

According to doctors, eggs of human roundworms and other unpleasant microorganisms are often found in beach sand. Therefore, make sure that the baby does not put sand in his mouth or anything that has been on him - a bottle, a pacifier, a toy...

You also need to bathe your baby carefully, especially for the first time. Before going to the sea, it would be a good idea to organize contrasting procedures for him - air baths, douches and rubdowns. After bathing the baby, you must immediately change into dry clothes, otherwise he may catch a cold. The average comfortable water temperature for children is 22-24 degrees Celsius. In the middle zone the conditions are different - no colder than 20 degrees.

You should only go into the water after being in the shade; strong contrasts are harmful for children. Keep bandages, cotton wool, peroxide and iodine ready to quickly treat the wound if your baby steps on any splinters or sharp shells. Avoid jellyfish and other sea creatures, many of them are poisonous. After bathing, dry your baby's ears with a cotton wick.

Follow the rules of behavior on the beach, do not swim when the sea level is higher than 3, beware of catamarans and jet skis, which are often driven along the shore by drunken extreme sports enthusiasts. Keep an eye on your child, do not leave him alone for a moment, even if he knows how to swim.

If the baby does choke, then as an emergency aid, you can put him with his stomach on your knee so that his head is below the level of his body, while his legs can be raised. Applying slight pressure, massage your back, making sure that water pours out of your mouth (before this, you need to release the sunken tongue with two fingers). If cardiac arrest occurs, this measure is not enough - you will need closed cardiac massage and artificial respiration, which not everyone knows. That's why doctors warn - relax with your child in places where there is special coastal medical care. Or take a special first aid course.

Enjoy your holiday!

We all do something for the first time sometime. When you do something for the first time, you are very afraid or not even afraid, but internally tense because you will have to experience something new. So it is with traveling abroad for the first time. Before my first trip abroad, I was very worried and asked a lot of questions to those who had already been there. And I think this is correct. If you are planning to travel abroad for the first time and you have questions, we will try to help you.

What's better? Buy a tour from a tour operator or go wild?

You've probably often heard from friends and acquaintances that it's cheaper to go abroad as a savage. Is it true? We would like to note that if you are traveling abroad for the first time, it is better to buy a tour from a tour operator. At least you will see with your own eyes what it’s like abroad. And then decide whether to go wild or through a tour operator.

Which is cheaper? Should I buy a tour from a tour operator or go on my own? It all depends on the direction and time of your trip. Sometimes it is much cheaper to go through a tour operator, sometimes to travel on your own. In any case, you can compare two travel options and choose the most inexpensive option.

If you buy a tour from a tour operator, then everything will be organized for you. They pay for your hotel, plane and provide a transfer (take you from the airport to the hotel and back). Also, a representative of the tour operator is on call 24/7 and can come to you at any time. If you are traveling as a wild person, then you book a hotel yourself, pay for the plane and get to the hotel. And no one is responsible for you! Also keep in mind that you may have problems with air tickets. The plane may be canceled or there will be no tickets. And you will have to solve this problem yourself. In addition, the tour operator insures you, which is especially important if you are traveling to an exotic country where you can “catch an infection.”

Travel alone or with someone?

On my second trip abroad, I was tormented by the question of whether I should go alone or not. What to say? Feel free to travel to Europe alone. It is better to go to Egypt, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the countries of Southeast Asia together.

Traveling alone has its advantages. No one will bother you to discover the country. You can go wherever you want and do what you want. By the way, many Russians go to European resorts alone, and you can find a couple for your vacation there.

Questions about air travel

If you cannot fly on an airplane, or you are pregnant, then it is better not to risk it. After all, flying on an airplane is a strain on all body systems. And it is not clear how your body will behave. If you have a problem with motion sickness in transport, then be sure to buy special tablets for motion sickness; any pharmacy will tell you them. In addition, on vacation you may also have boat trips, where you will need pills.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes on the plane. Take a warm jacket with you; airplanes can often get cold. Buy yourself a neck pillow. Also remember that you cannot bring piercing or cutting objects, water bottles, or glass objects on the plane. Therefore, leave all cosmetic bags (applies to ladies) in the bag that you check in as luggage.

For entertainment, take interesting books or a tablet to watch your favorite movies. Also, take a small backpack or bag with you on the plane, where you put the necessary medications and documents.

Also know that after checking documents and customs, you will be taken to a special area where there are duty-free shops and cafes. Here you can drink tea or coffee, buy alcohol, perfumes and other things inexpensively.

Do you need to know the language?

One of the most common questions among those who travel abroad for the first time is whether you need to know the language of the country you are going to or English?

If you plan to travel constantly, then it is worth learning English at a conversational level. In all countries, people who are associated with the tourism industry know English and speak it. Therefore, learn English if you want to travel around the world.

For those who buy tours to Turkey, Egypt, Spain and Greece, Thailand, we hasten to assure you that it is not necessary to know English. Basically, employees of hotels, travel agencies and the entertainment industry can speak a little Russian. And in many cafes and restaurants you will find menus in Russian.

In OAO, the Canary Islands, Southeast Asia and other countries less popular with tourists, it is mandatory to know English. Otherwise, you will not be able to eat “normally” and navigate the area. Of course, our tourists often travel to these countries without knowing English, but it’s still better to explain yourself a little.

For example, if you want to travel around the country not on tourist routes, but as a savage, then be sure to learn English!

Do you need to know the language of the country you are traveling to? If you are traveling to an exotic country where the tourism industry is poorly developed, then yes, be sure to study. If you are traveling to a country where the locals rely on tourism for their livelihood, you can learn some colloquial phrases; they won’t hurt. And, perhaps, knowing the language of the country will help you discover it from the other side.

By the way, you can learn a travel language on your own using video courses. We recommend the video course “Express English course for travelers (3 hours of video).

Basics of safety abroad

If you are traveling abroad for the first time, pay attention to safety issues. Firstly, be sure to read information about the country you are traveling to. On the tour operator’s website for each country where tours are available, there is a memo that tells about the basic laws and customs that will ensure your safe holiday. You can ask a travel agency employee to print out such a memo for you. And of course, do not go to areas where foreigners are not recommended to be. Strictly follow all tour operator safety recommendations!

As soon as you check into the hotel, be sure to rent a safe. It usually doesn't cost much. Store documents, phones, money and valuables in the safe. Every hotel has safes.

If you plan to actively travel around the country, then buy yourself a tourist backpack with secret pockets where you can put all your valuables. And don't leave this backpack unattended! In general, even if you are going to “lie” on the beach, then take a backpack. It’s easier to take things out of a bag or out of your hands. As you already understand, keep an eye on your belongings when abroad!

Are you going on holiday to an exotic country? Buy excursion tours from tour operators. Still, they provide guarantees of your safety. When purchasing tours from “leftist” agencies, there is a risk of suffering financially and causing harm to health.

And remember that all insurance is canceled if something happens to you while intoxicated. You will pay for all treatment and so on, and all these services abroad are quite expensive. So don't drink too much! In addition, while intoxicated, you can lose money and documents.

Take on your trip abroad the medications that you personally need, including for the treatment of the stomach, intestines, anti-inflammatory drugs and for colds and fever. Often, due to changes in climate and cuisine, tourists develop a fever or have intestinal problems. This is called acclimatization. Or, due to ignorance of the kitchen, you may simply eat something that will upset your digestion. So get ready!

Money

Another question that tourists who go abroad for the first time ask is what to do with money. First, ask your friends who have already been to this country about how much money they spent on the trip, or read reviews of tourists on the Internet.

Literally plan out all your travel expenses. Determine your budget and emergency reserves. Exchange this amount of money in Russia. And when traveling, strictly follow your budget. You can also take your bank card with you. But what if you can’t withdraw money abroad?

As we noted earlier, it is better to keep your money in a hotel safe. Carry small amounts of money with you. Firstly, you will spend less on various little things, and secondly, in the event of theft, loss of money from a backpack or clothes, the money will remain in your hotel safe.

And we also note that do not be afraid and feel free to go abroad for the first time. The same people live there as in Russia. If you follow their rules and respect them, everything will be fine. And you will discover another world for yourself. And never let your guard down!

It is possible that you have more questions, but before my trip abroad for the first time, I was interested in all of this. And after my first trip, this is how I answered my questions.