I say this because before traveling I was a very raw person if this is even an adjective. What I mean here is that I didn’t know much about how life works, nowadays I’m still a dumbass but I learned a lot during my travels, before smashing my head against the wall a couple of times, but I can say that I feel much more prepared now.

To have an idea, I didn’t even know how to catch a train! Seriously. All that idea of using machines to buy a ticket or recharge your Oyster was pretty new for me before you call me a granny, let me explain myself saying that we don’t have railways in my country, let alone machines that sell tickets! (And I tell you more!

You should have seen my face in the drugstore making my first purchase on the machine!). In my very first travel, I ended up hidden in a south London borough being forced to take 2 trains a day sometimes even 3!

Language barrier

Nothing worse than not being able to communicate with others, language barriers can be a problem when traveling abroad. If you are not confident in any other language but your own, try to start with a country that speaks your language, it will make things easier for you.

In general, we can consider English as the global language nowadays, but still, we need to bear in mind that not everybody speaks English, and even, it’s not in every country that English is such a spread and important language.

In South America and some countries of Asia, for example, it’s not so easy to find people who speak English. This doesn’t make the trip impossible, just a bit challenging.

Check our tips for learning a new language faster here.

Developed country

Coming from a Third World Country I can totally assure you of how bad Third World Countries suck. We really do. Things don’t work the way they should, public services are sometimes precarious. Public transportation delay as hell, the quality of the service are at its worst. Sometimes the places are not so clean nor secure either.

I know how different a First World Country is, so that’s my 4^th tip if you are a newbie, and still trying to build your confidence or if you were born and raised in a First World Country, do not pick Third World Countries as your first option.

Sometimes it can get pretty hard. Most of the time we don’t have undergrounds and buses don’t come and go every 5 minutes, they probably won’t take you everywhere you would like to go either. In general, these countries don’t have a well-established tourism scene and are unfortunately not so well prepared to receive backpackers.

This is just one small example of one of the reasons to don’t pick these countries at first. Is it a reason to never visit them? NO! They are a must, but let you get more experience until there.

Start with small periods of time

Travelling will change your routine from day to night, you will be in a different place, with people you don’t know, speaking a language that maybe is not yours. It is quite a change.

Before leaving your place, you don’t really know what to expect, you don’t really know how you will deal with the new place. It takes you out of your comfort zone and sometimes.

If you have mixed feelings and don’t feel totally comfortable with the idea of spending a long time without everything you knew as home since ever, book a small period. Instead of staying a month on your very first travel, stay one week or two.

You will have a good idea of how it is and how you act in this situation and will you have more secure with yourself the next time.

Choosing a companion

I admire people who manage to go on solo trips, I personally, have never tried. It demands a lot of courage to put on your backpack and go around the world like this. Although it might be a good experience, it is not something that everybody does.

If you don’t feel like traveling alone, try to find a good company to go with you, like a friend, a brother, father, mother.

A small tip here, try to bring someone who has a similar mind as you, who likes similar things and are up to travel at the same speed as you. It can be quite difficult to travel with someone else if you want A and the person wants B.