Sharja's Guide to International Travel for Beginners

For some time now, I’ve been getting many messages from friends, friends of friends, and complete strangers alike on my apparent “secret” to annual exotic travel. Luckily for you, there really isn’t any secret at all, however, there is a decent amount of research and preparation that goes into every trip. While some travelers may take the easy path of “winging it”, which sometimes works out for the better, I tend to (at least) start off with a more balanced approach of "planning with leeway" to maximize my trip in terms of the experience, efficiency, and cost. However, remember that unless you choose the preset "tour group" option, plans are almost always subject to change. Hence, I hope those of you who are interested in the art of independent travel will find this brief guide (or rather, an unprofessional ramble based on personal encounters) somewhat insightful.

DISCLAIMER:
Evidently, a lot of what I'm going to mention will come across as being common sense or innate to people who have traveled before. However, we must remember that we all have friends who have yet to leave the country (or in rarer cases, the state). Hopefully this will not only be a way of simplifying the travel method, but also answer any questions concerning the basic logistics of organizing a good trip abroad. It may even bring to light new ideas for those who’ve recently joined the travel scene. I would finally like to add that my commentary focuses primarily on independent travel (no tour groups/commercial cruises/high end package deals) and on a reasonable budget. Please also understand that my insights are based on personal experiences and opinions, which may not be suitable for all tastes.

INTRODUCTION:
I’m first going to open this entry with an answer to honestly the most frequently asked question I get pertaining to travel: How can I afford to travel every year? The answer to this is multifaceted and has changed throughout my life. The travel bug (more like disease at this point) was essentially passed down from a set of adventurous parents who had traveled the world for decades prior to my birth, which apparently was not going to put an end to that. Travel has been more than just annual experiences abroad for my family – it’s a lifestyle. They’ve always emphasized the educational and psychological value of an experience over something material. My family has always been exceedingly frugal and simple in terms of spending, constantly saving and never purchasing products or services seen as extravagant. I never had toys and video games, the latest mobile phone, or a car for my 16th, but it really didn’t mean anything to me in the long run. Together with hard work and decent paying salaries, my parents always had sufficient funds to invest in travel. And even then, our traveling was done on a budget. For a majority of my younger years, I’ve been fortunate to possess such amazing parents. As I got older, their work ethic and passion rubbed off on me and I soon found myself saving every penny from pet-sitting/house-cleaning/calculus-tutoring/odd-jobs for travel. For birthdays and holidays, I’ve always kindly requested gifts in the form of currency, since there really isn’t anything tangible that could be more worthwhile. Even now, as an impoverished graduate student, a quarter of my research paycheck goes into a travel fund and moderate frugality governs my spending. Since college, I’ve been fully capable of paying for my entire part of a given trip. Inshallah, I’ll be able to keep it up because traveling is a dream and so far I’m living it.

CHOOSING A DESTINATION:
Obviously, it would be nice to have a place to visit in mind if you plan on traveling. However, for some people, the desire alone to travel may be all that they have to begin with, lacking any true idea as to where they should head. In that case, ask yourself what inspires you. Do you have a passion for history and monuments? Or are you more captivated by natural beauty and scenery? Maybe you are athletic and wish to engage in recreational activities with a foreign flavor? Or possibly you are fascinated with a particular people or language and your focus is more cultural? Whatever the case, you should tailor your travel plans to meet your interests so that your trip is entirely worthwhile. Another aspect you should consider is things that aren't necessarily under your control. Ask yourself what is the current political climate/economic situation/weather condition/health status of the nation(s) you have in mind. Are there any travel restrictions or eminent dangers that you might face while visiting? A good place to answer these questions is the State Department website for travel, where they will give you the latest updates on any travel warnings, entry requirements, and health advice for your country of interest.

BACKGROUND RESEARCH:
Research in your country of interest is a crucial part of making your travel experience more meaningful. But it is also a highly advised means of preparing yourself for the trip and knowing things in advance to prevent delays, mishaps, medical issues, or immigration problems. Of course, the term research is fluid and differs for everyone depending on one's time. But it is safe to assume that the more reading you do, the more knowledgeable you'll be about your country of interest and the more confident you'll be during the course of the trip. I tend to divide this research into three main categories, in the order that you might conduct them: Basic Education, Trip Preparation, Travel Logistics, and Leisure Reading.

Basic Education: Research in this category would involve looking into the political, economic, health, and weather aspects of the country. Knowing these aspects ahead of time can help you prepare for your trip accordingly. Is the country politically stable? If not, would you still want to take the risk to visit? What parts of the country might there be instability that you should avoid? Look into the cost of things. Is traveling in this country financially feasible for the budget you've allotted? What is the current exchange rate between their currency and the dollar? What are the average costs for food, transportation, and accommodation? What are the availabilities of banks/ATMs/exchange kiosks? Next, look into the current health conditions of the country. Relatively how clean is the country? What are the living/eating conditions that you might face? Are there any major diseases or outbreaks currently occurring? What are the conditions and availabilities for medical attention in case of an emergency? Finally, inquire about the weather conditions around the time of your trip. How hot and cold will the temperature fluctuate and what is the average humidity? Is it the season for monsoons/hurricanes/typhoons/blizzards/sand storms/torrential rain? Are there any imminent threats, such as a volcanic eruption? Nevertheless, there's a reason why all of this is considered basic.

Trip Preparation: Research in this category will center on both necessary and precautionary measures before departing. Once you have your basic education completed, you can begin to plan your trip accordingly. Look into your country's travel requirements for visitors. For the most current information, it is best to visit the embassy/consulate website of that country. Here, you can find information on the necessary paperwork you might need to fill out and the fee you may need to pay to obtain an entry visa. Travel requirements differ for every country and I suggest doing this as soon as possible, for it might take several weeks to fill out the necessary paperwork, send it in, and wait for the embassy/consulate to respond. If possible, obtain your visa and/or letters of invitation from your country of interest prior to making any flight/hotel arrangements. You won't be able to enter the country without proper documentation, so it's best to secure this first. Also, if you plan to visit nations with politically controversial areas, you may need to obtain special permits to access certain roads or regions. This will require additional paperwork and procedures. Next, look into the health requirements for travel in your specific country. Some nations won’t let you in unless you can provide proof of vaccination (such as yellow fever for African countries). Usually, you can schedule an appointment with your HMO's travel clinic, where they will suggest necessary vaccinations and you can receive them. You should also inquire as to the medications you should bring (pills for diarrhea/stomach trouble/malaria/antibiotics/altitude sickness/sea sickness/etc). You might also consider whether or not you will come into contact with any poisonous flora/fauna and bring necessary treatment. And as a rule of thumb, you should always pack a travel safety kit, which should contain the essentials (band aids, gauze, pads, antiseptic and anti-itch ointments, syringes, etc). After this, prepare for the financial portion of the trip. Look into the exchange rate and estimate the proper amount of money you will need to bring. Depending on how developed the country is, you may be able to bring less cash with you and make withdrawals from local ATMs, but be advised that sometimes ATMs don't work properly or connect to the American system overseas. And when they do, keep in mind that there will be service charges. If you plan to use a credit card to pay for larger expenditures (hotel bills, domestic flights, or big shopping), remember to call your credit provider to let them know that you will be using your card overseas. Should you fail to do this, providers might see your overseas charges as theft and freeze your card. If you plan to visit certain impoverished nations or nations with paranoid governments, you may be forced to bring only cash with you. Remember that for many of these types of countries, there may be extreme requirements for the type and quality of cash you bring in (for example, US dollars that are new with no rips/folds/markings/stamps/wrong serial numbers/etc). You should plan to visit branches of your bank well in advance to request new bank notes. Should you fail to do this, you might find yourself cutting your trip short or getting stranded in your country of interest with a wad of useless currency.

Travel Logistics: Research in this category will focus on four critical travel questions: (1) How am I getting there? (2) Where am I staying? (3) What am I wearing? (4) What am I eating?

• Flights – Probably one of the most challenging and expensive parts of travel is looking for flights. The price of airfare and the ability to find cheap prices are unpredictable, ever-changing, and downright frustrating. So give yourself plenty of time to do this research. Here are some basic aspects about airfare that you might want to know: First, the more exotic or remote your destination, the more expensive your flight will be. This is because nobody goes there, so the airline must raise its price to make the flight profitable. If, after all your airfare research, getting to your destination seems way too expensive, you might want to consider flying to a cheaper neighboring country and making a land or sea crossing. In some cases, the overall cost will be lower if you don't fly directly to your destination, but rather break your trip up into a variety of transportation forms. You will need to look into whether border crossings are feasible between the layover country and your final destination. Also consider that even if it ends up being cheaper, your travel time will be longer. Second, airfare can actually fluctuate by hundreds of dollars depending on what day you fly out on. Nothing is written in stone here, but I have found that flying on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays are more expensive, while flying on Sunday evenings, Mondays, and Tuesdays tend to be cheaper. If money is a crucial factor in your trip, you might want to explore prices by experimenting with flying out and returning on different days. Third, if you use airfare search engines like Orbitz, Kayak, Cheapflights, Priceline, etc, please keep in mind that the price they quote for a given flight may not in fact be the price you pay, for it usually leaves out taxes and other "fine print" fees to make the price look more appealing. Usually this means looking at the small ugly price written in parentheses rather than the big cheap price that first catches your eye. Don’t be fooled!

• Transportation – After you’ve arrived in your country of interest, you’ll need to figure out how to get around. Consider the variety of transport options your country of interest may provide - bus, train, truck, motorcycle, rickshaw, hired car, bush plane, river ferry, canoe, raft, horse cart, camel… Once again, the amount of money you’re willing to spend will ultimately influence the style of transportation you’ll take. Taking local transportation is one of the most rewarding aspects of travel. Nevertheless, there are pros and cons to this and it is truly up to your own personal judgment and comfort level. On the upside, local transportation allows you to engage directly with native people and experience their way of life on a firsthand basis. In many countries, owning a private car is still only reserved for those with money, and by hiring one yourself, you’ll likely miss out on the more colorful scenes and travel customs of the bulk of society. Additionally, local transportation is absolutely the cheapest way to get around, as you’ll likely be paying local prices. On the downside, conditions can often be rather sketchy or even downright dangerous depending on the country you’re visiting. In some places, filling up buses to their tipping points is often practiced, which combined with cliff-hugging mountain roads can be a lethal combination. Additionally, local transportation can sometimes be slower and less direct. For these reasons, many people settle for more expensive deluxe buses/trains aimed at serving tourists. But what it ultimately comes down to is both your research and best judgment on deciding whether to take the more adventurous or more sanitized route. My personal philosophy is this: unless it could potentially endanger you, go for local transportation. Regardless of what style and variety of transportation options you end up taking, you will need to research ahead of time how to get from A to B. Reading travel guide books on the best options for getting to and from places is the best place to start. Internet sites and travel blogs can often help provide information such as updated schedules and time tables for buses and trains. Depending on the country, you may either have to make reservations in advance for transport or simply show up at the station the day before to purchase your ticket. Be aware that in many places, things never run on time and unexpectedly change – as a traveler, the first thing you must develop is patience!

• Accommodation – Now that you have an idea of how you’ll get around to places, you next need to get an idea of where you will be staying. Like transport, accommodation can be just as diverse, ranging from luxurious hotel suites to a hut with a hammock. As with everything, the amount of money you’re willing to spend will determine this. Most people immediately settle for the typical hotel option, which comes in a variety of comfort levels and price ranges. However, you might also want to consider other forms of accommodation that may be more cost-efficient or may be more culturally engaging. There are a variety of alternatives you might want to consider. Backpacking hostels can vary greatly in quality from clean and simple to downright shady, however the commonality among them is that they are probably some of the cheapest places to spend a night. Another aspect of hostels is that their cheap prices usually attract a crowd of young, bohemian student travelers. Hostels are great places to socialize, meet foreign faces, and forge new travel friendships. However, take into consideration that hostels can also be very loud and nocturnal. Additionally, hostels can often be the scenes of luggage/money theft, particularly in dormitory settings. Make new travel friends, but always keep a pair of eyes in the back of your head. Guest houses and homestays typically involve staying in the house of a local family. Apart from usually being a reasonable price, this option is actually an excellent way to really immerse yourself in a foreign culture and experience the way of life. You will likely dine and be given an opportunity to engage in family activities with your host. In some cases, you might be expected to help with small tasks. Remember to respect the customs of your host family and to bring a welcome gift upon your arrival or a thank you gift upon departure. A third option that doesn’t exist everywhere just yet but is starting to become more popular is renting an apartment. While generally a good choice if you plan to spend at least three nights in a given place, renting an apartment can actually be far more cost efficient than paying for a hotel room. Renting an apartment often gives you a much bigger place and the benefit of a kitchen and laundry room. It can also add a more personal feel to your living situation and better access to more local areas/activities. The only tricky part to this is trying to coordinate with the owner to get the keys. Finally, the activities you end up planning on your trip may either take care of accommodation for you or require that you bring your own accommodation. This is generally typical of trekking and safari trips, where tents are either provided or you will be expected to bring your own. Regardless of the accommodation you choose, take into consideration its centrality, proximity to points of interest, and proximity to important departure points (airport, train stations, bus stops, etc) to help reduce the cost of getting around town.

• Clothing – A good point to cover in the process of planning your trip is what to wear and pack. This is common sense at its purest – wear what you need for the weather conditions you expect. However, there are some small tips that are not so obvious but might be helpful, depending on where you’re going. From personal experience, I pack as lightly as possible into either a carry-on size backpack or a standard internal frame backpacking backpack. I always bring light weight pants and shirts that have the capability of air drying overnight, as I do all my washing by hand. I highly recommend clothing of a cotton-polyester blend. I advise against 100% cotton due to its weight and inability to dry in short time. I also advise against nylon because it fails to let your skin breathe, which can be miserable in hot climate, and against silk, which is too thin and becomes uncomfortably soaked in high humidity climates. Your underwear, which will be washed the most often, should likewise be able to dry overnight. For a month long trip, I will usually bring 4 pants and 5 shirts, rotating daily unless unable to. A sweater or jacket may be necessary for cooler climates, and the thickness will vary depending on just how cold your destination will be. Finally, I also usually bring at least one long sleeve shirt to prevent mosquito bites when out in the evening.

• Eating – In securing a decent place to sleep, you will now be free to partake in probably the ultimate aspect of your trip – food. A good question to ask yourself first relates back to the cleanliness of the place you’re visiting. This will determine right at the start what you should and should not eat. Eating options may be more challenging in developing nations where sanitary conditions may be substandard to what your body is used to. Once again, what you eat is up to your best judgment, but take into consideration the impact it might have on the rest of your trip. Getting sick on a trip is not a good feeling for you and is an extreme inconvenience to the other people you may be traveling with. No one wants to have to spend their vacation rushing you around to the nearest bathroom. A general rule of thumb for eating in developing nations: avoid eating anything raw like fresh vegetables and fruits that can’t be peeled (unless the eating establishment is reputable for travelers), avoid anything that uses local tap water like fresh fruit juices or smoothies (unless the water used is either boiled or bottled), avoid any food that has been sitting out for long periods or is exposed to flies. Many countries, particularly in Asia, have an amazing street food scene. Go for foods that are grilled/fried/steamed. If eating at a street restaurant, observe the cleaning conditions ahead of time, as some places will simply rinse dishes in local tap water without use of soap. As of now, it seems that eating may be tricky and convoluted. Don’t let it be. Use common sense but try as many things as you can. My personal philosophy on the matter is this: try everything at least once and don’t be afraid to go outside your comfort zone – it may be that you’ll never have the chance again. One last comment concerning food is the availability of water. Even the poorest nation will have bottled purified water (sometimes the locals can’t even drink their own water), so finding water will likely not be an issue and it is generally cheap. However, if you want to save even more money, save your bottled water for drinking and bring a water purifier to make “clean” water for teeth brushing and other hygienic uses. Purifiers can come in the form of a hand-held pump, a UV light stick, or added iodine solution. Purifiers can usually be purchased at camping and outdoor recreational stores or online.

Leisure Reading: Research in this category helps to complete your knowledge of your country of interest and is the most relaxing aspect of travel because it can be done at any time prior to or during the trip. This type of reading is excellent for long plane/bus/train rides between destinations, both helping to make the travel time less grueling and giving you a good introduction to the next site on your itinerary. Look into the history, culture, language, cuisine, entertainment and environmental sections of your guidebook – they’re there for a reason, that being to further educate you and give you a deeper appreciation for the things that you are going to see. Brushing up on a nation’s facts will enrich your experience and give you more insight into the mentality of its people. It is also a good way to inform you about what sights to see, foods to try, festivals to attend, recreational activities to undertake, and special gifts to bring back.

BEING SAFE:
Probably the most important concern on a given trip is safety. As my wise father always says, no trip is worth your life. Be prepared for potential threats, either to your belongings or to your person. Be aware of your surroundings and take note of when things start to look strange (loud distractions, groups of men following you, animals running, etc). Generally, you should always try to carry your bags in front of you, even on buses. When in Africa, never leave anything unattended at any time. It’s best to carry your money and passport on a hip belt that can be concealed under your clothes. Never leave these items in your pack nor in your hotel room. Also, don’t carry all your money in your pockets, but rather only a daily allowance – this is good for preventing the theft of all your funds and also helps you to keep track of how much you’re spending easily. Avoid street transactions, as these are almost guaranteed to be a scam and believe me when I say that they are certainly smarter than you. Read ahead of time to avoid the sketchier parts of big cities and avoid staying out late at night if advised. As for questions pertaining to independent female travelers, I suggest inquiring about the risks prior to arriving in the given country. Overall, I would typically advise against it whenever possible. Women typically will experience more hassle in the Middle East, South Asia, poorer areas of Southeast Asia and South America, and countries where a majority of the population is male and under 30.

PERSONAL CHECKLIST:
Below is a comprehensive checklist that I’ve put together and have used every year, which may be of some use to you. There are far more things mentioned than what I typically bring, which will vary depending on weather, health, planned excursions, and environmental conditions of the country you're visiting. Additionally, this list is typically what I consult for trips lasting 4 weeks or more. You might question how I am capable of fitting this into a backpack… my only reasonable answer to that is innovatively.

• Health – mini first aid kit, anti-diarrheal pills, antibiotics, water purifier or Steripen, insect repellent, sun protection lotion, water bottles for clean/dirty water, syringes, hand sanitizer
• Hygiene – shampoo for bathing, shampoo for washing clothes, small laundry bag, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, hand mirror, mouthwash, space towel, shower flipflops, travel hair dryer, q-tips, wet wipes, lotion, lip balm, nail clippers
• Clothing – shirts, pants, underwear, socks, pajamas, swim shorts, sweater or jacket, hat, keffiyeh, sandals (not flipflops), hiking boots
• Travel Essentials – passport, photocopies of passport, set of passport photos, flight tickets, reservation papers, park/trekking permits, cash money, credit card, international student card, international driver's license, guide book
• Travel Equipment – calculator/alarm clock, money pouch, pocket knife, 2 meters rope, small roll of duct tape, plug adapters/converters, mini flashlight, small umbrella, plastic bags, mosquito net, padlock with key
• Camera Equipment – Camera, chargers, spare batteries, mini tripod, filters/lenses, extra memory cards
• Camping Equipment – backpacking tent, roll mattress, sleeping bag, backpacking utensils, hand-held GPS, compass     

CLOSING REMARKS:
The information I have provided is by no means all that there is to know, nor may it suit everyone’s own opinions or methods. But that’s the beauty of travel, there really aren’t any set rules on how you go about doing it. Just get out there and have an awe-inspiring, eye-opening, physically-engaging time! If anyone has any more specific questions pertaining to any of my own trips or recommendations, feel free to message me.