Traveling to another country takes a lot of research and preparation – which can be quite overwhelming when searching through the numerous blogs and articles online… This post will give you some basic guidance for starting your international trip and hopefully inspire you to take the leap and start exploring other countries!

1. Passport Entry Requirements

The first step is making sure you obtain a passport. Every person must have a passport in order to visit another country. Go to your local post office or file online to start the process today. You can also click here to find a passport center near you. Filing for a passport is fairly easy, and the average processing time to receive a passport takes about 2-3 months (There is also an option to expedite your passport for an additional cost if you would like to get it sooner).

Note: Adult passports are valid for 10 years, so this is a great investment for many trips to come too 🙂

2. Do Research

If you know your destination, great! If you are not sure where to travel, start by doing some basic research on a few destinations you have always dreamed of visiting and narrow it down to 1 – 2 options.

3. Book Your Trip

Once you receive your passport, it is time to book your trip – specifically your flights + accommodations. Remember that it is very important to list your names on your flight reservations EXACTLY as they read on your passports to avoid any complications or fees down the road. The best time to plan a trip out of the country is 6 – 10 months in advance. This will give you plenty of time to get all of the logistics in place before traveling.

4. Plan Your Route

Depending on the complexity of your trip and how many cities you are visiting will determine how much research is required.

For example, a 2-week trip to Italy with 3 cities is going to be more complicated then an all-inclusive package to Cancun.

Do not overwhelm yourself with the tours, sightseeing, and additional features right now because these prices do not fluctuate as much and can be planned within 3-6 months of your trip (However – I understand some sights/tours are in demand and sell quickly, so it is a good idea to do some brief research on your must-see places in case you do need to plan far in advance).

Now if you are already within 4 months of your trip, then I suggest planning everything as soon as possible.

5. Book Tours and Sightseeing