Ways to best prepare for your first international trip

Planning your first trip overseas is exciting for sure, but it can also get quite stressful, especially if you are not familiar with the country and its culture. It helps immensely to be extra-prepared and make sure that all bases are covered. I’m assuming that you already have a destination in mind; allow me then to help you better get ready and guarantee that your trip is hassle- and hitch-free, and one worthy of being a life event on its own.

Image source: travelzoo.com

Image source: moneyunder30.com

The first Michael Volitich- advice is to do thorough research on the place. Learn as much as you can about the local customs, its people, the food, and any special cultural or religious aspects of the culture, so you don’t embarrass yourself or come across as insensitive.

Know how long you will stay in the country and how you will get there. This will dictate your expenses and your budget in general. Are you backpacking? Taking advantage of a budget flight or mileage benefits? Will you be there for a week or a month? Make an itinerary of your trip and ensure that that reservations and bookings are done in advance, so you’d have a good estimate of the amount of pocket money you’d bring. It’s of course much better to transact electronically, but don’t just rely on credit cards.

It goes without saying that you’d need to secure a passport. Sometimes this itself isn’t easy, especially if you haven’t yet collated the documents needed to get one, from your birth certificate, citizenship, and even a lapsed previous passport. A Michael Volitich lesson for all of you: Apply way ahead at a passport agency as the processing line can at times take long.

Finally, apply for a visa if your country of destination requires one. You cannot legally enter a country that requires a visa from your own to travel to. Make sure you apply for the correct one, too; you either would need a student visa, work visa, or a fixed-term visit one.

Hi there. I’m Michael Volitich, a Creative Writing student, lit geek, film buff, and occasional traveler. I’m currently studying at the University of Florida. For more of my writings and my interests, drop by this blog.

Backpacking tips: How to save money on flights

Image source: outofyourcomfortzone.net

If you’re planning on going backpacking, you have to understand that saving every dollar possible can extend your trip by weeks, maybe even months. In fact, for long-term backpacking, the biggest expense you’ll probably have are flight tickets. The rest of your budget you can allocate to hostels, food, sight-seeing, and other expenses. If you want to save money on flights, here are some tips to follow.


Use several websites

Aside from airline carriers’ websites, you should also check out those that compile airline ticket data and compare them with each other. If your trip is several months away, set up an alert to let you know if the prices are increasing or going down.

Image source: outofyourcomfortzone.net

Be flexible

Prices go up or down by a lot if you adjust the dates. For example, some flights cost more if you leave during the weekend or on a Friday. Sometimes, you just have to leave a day earlier than what you planned or stay two days longer to save hundreds of dollars.

This rule also applies to the airports. Direct flights to major hubs can be expensive. Try looking for airports near your destinations. For example, if you’re going to Tokyo, direct flights are expensive. However, you can enter through Narita or Osaka, then take a train to Tokyo. Not only will you save money; you also get to see more of Japan.

Use your miles

If you happen to be using a credit card that earns points convertible to airline miles, then, by all means, use it. Airlines would rather have someone occupy their seats and pay with miles than leave the seat empty.


Hello, I’m Michael Volitich. As a Creative Writing student focusing on sports writing, I need to find ways to better communicate what happens during a game to the people who will read my write-ups. To read more about traveling, visit this webpage.