Step one: passport and visa
Before you book anything, check your passport's expiry date. Many countries require it to be valid for at least six months after you arrive, and some want blank pages for stamps. If it expires soon, renew it first: renewal can take weeks.
Then check the visa: do you need one? Is it an e-visa you apply for before travelling, a visa on arrival, or one that needs an embassy appointment? Always rely on the official embassy or foreign ministry website, not forums, because the rules change.
Step two: booking flights and hotels
- Direct flights are easier the first time: if the price difference is reasonable, a direct flight saves you changing planes, finding gates and worrying about missing the second flight.
- Read what the ticket includes: some cheap fares don't include a checked bag or seat selection, so you pay more for them later.
- Your name exactly as in your passport: one wrong letter can cause problems at boarding.
- Location before stars: a mid-range hotel close to everything beats a luxury one far away that you pay to get to and from every day.
- Read recent reviews: focus on the last six months, and look for comments on cleanliness, noise and location.
Step three: a few days before you fly
Photograph your passport, tickets and hotel booking, and save them on your phone and in your email. Enable your bank card for use abroad, sort out internet for when you land, and buy travel insurance that covers medical care. About a day before the flight, check in online if the airline allows it, and pick your seat.
Step four: at the airport
For international flights, be at the airport about three hours before departure. The order is the same at most airports:
- Airline check-in desk: get your boarding pass and drop your checked bag. Find your flight on the screens to see which desk.
- Passport control: your exit stamp.
- Security: take devices and liquids out of your carry-on if asked.
- Gate: the number is on your boarding pass and the screens, and it can change, so check again. Gates usually close 20 to 30 minutes before departure.
Step five: when you land
Follow the signs for Immigration or Arrivals, then Baggage Claim, then customs and the exit. If you have a transfer booked, someone will be waiting with your name. If not, use official taxis or well-known ride apps, and avoid people offering rides inside the terminal.
During the trip
- Leave your passport in the hotel safe and carry a copy, unless local law requires the original.
- Take a hotel card, or a photo of the address in the local language, to show taxi drivers.
- Don't fill every hour. The first day after a long flight is for resting and getting your bearings.
- Save the local emergency numbers and your embassy's number.
Our advice: if this is your first trip, an all-inclusive package takes care of most of these steps: flights, hotel, airport pickup and transfers are arranged in advance, and a team is on hand if you need anything.