First Trip Abroad – How To Pick a Place When You Have No Idea

There’s always the thrill of going on your first trip abroad but you have to answer the question of where to actually go!? Hahaha decisions decisions. You know full well that experiences are greater than material things or possessions. And that’s why you want to start travelling.

But if you’re a WanderWisher like me then you probably want to go EVERYWHERE and back! Sometimes you have so many places on your wishlist, it’s hard to choose one. Or you can’t think of a single place you’re really interested in visiting at the moment. There are several ways to figuring it out and selecting a destination once and for all!

Your First Trip Abroad

Obviously there is the question of how much to spend budget for your first trip abroad (more on that later). But if you’ve never had the chance to visit another country, then you might be concerned or anxious about other things like safety, language and just straight up how it will turn out.

Here are some things to consider when trying to pick a destination for your first trip abroad:

1. Decide…Easy or Stress-free?

I’ve said it before and I will say it again: consider starting with an easy destination. Some first trips abroad are easier than others. Starting with a stressful trip may squash your travelbug before it can even grow wings. Think about if this first trip abroad is for relaxation, adventure, exposure to new languages and culture, or even for partying/festivals. It matters why you are travelling.

2 Choose…Hobbies or Passion-Project?

Did you know there are tons of people who base their travels solely around their hobbies? Travelling based on passion-projects or hobbies is a sure way to guarantee an awesome trip! Moreover, it makes where to go an easy pick.

• Like art? Then go to artsy cities like Berlin.
• Love fashion? Then fly to Milan, New York or Paris and turn the streets into your personal catwalk.
• Like reading? Check out some of the most beautiful libraries in the world.

What activities do you like to do? Think about it. Write down your top 3. Search for countries renowned for these activities. Go there and make that your first trip abroad.

3. Eat…Exotic or Fave-Food?

You can literally eat your way around the world! What’s your favourite food? Ever thought to try it from the place it originated? Maybe a cooking course to learn how to cook your fave authentically. Are you a foodie and pasta is your fave food…the choice just seems easy right? LoL. Align your travels to your palette or a type of cuisine you always wanted to try and this could be the experience of a lifetime.

4. Spend…Frugal or Cheap-Skate?

Also, don’t overdo the budget. Be smart. Check out travel websites and promotion offers. You can set travel alerts on destinations to get notifications on the lowest fare or if you are more spontaneous, choose the cheapest place to travel to from where you live.

Another trick is to set a budget…then cut it by 25% or a quarter! That reduces the number of places you can go. And Yes, you can travel on 75% of your original budget. Pinky Promise.

5. Be…Spontaneous or Open-Hearted?

Finally, no two trips are alike. Whether this first trip abroad goes smoothly or there are hiccups, don’t expect all of your trips to turn out the same. As you travel, you will discover what type of traveller you are which will help even more with choosing your destinations. I can think of very few things better than having time off work and seeing new and interesting things every day!

Give travel a try. Wander a new city. Go meet a new you. Tell me how you enjoy it.

Diedre McLeod.

Which of these options do you think about most when you’re trying decide where to go? And if this will be you’re first trip abroad, which option do you think matters more to you?