Instead of an introduction

The first time always looks complicated. Many people postpone their trip for years because someone told them you need to prepare for half a year, that you'll get sick everywhere, that you'll get robbed everywhere, that you can't manage without knowing the language.

None of that is true.

Realistically: three to four weeks with a buffer to get everything done without rush. An experienced traveler handles it in three days. This guide shows you exactly what to do and in what order — nothing more, nothing less. No exaggeration, no scaremongering, no massive operations.

You don't need to speak foreign languages. You don't need to be rich. You don't need to be brave. Millions of people every day go where you want to go, and come back safe. You will too.

This guide assumes you already have a passport. If not — that's always the first step, and it takes about 30 days in most countries.

1.1 Destinations that work well for the first time

Your first big trip abroad doesn't have to be the adventure of a lifetime. Choose a country that isn't a challenge in itself — that way you can focus on the pleasure of traveling, not on fighting logistics.

Three criteria for a good first destination:

• Developed tourist infrastructure — easy to find accommodation, transport, restaurants; locals know how to handle tourists
• A place where travelers feel at ease — no constant tension or need to stay on guard, no active armed conflicts or political instability
• Working internet — critical, because without it you have no way to get the information you need: maps, translation, taxi apps, AI support, contact with people back home

Countries that work well for the first time:

• Thailand — the most common first big trip in the world, and for good reason. Everything works, everything is cheap, people are friendly.
• Vietnam — great infrastructure, cuisine, low prices
• Sri Lanka — small, compact, easy to loop around in two weeks
• Cambodia — mainly for Angkor Wat, small and approachable country
• Colombia — old bad reputation, today one of Latin America's most interesting and welcoming destinations
• Peru — very touristy, excellent infrastructure around Cusco and Machu Picchu, Lima as a starting point
• Chile — calm, safe, good infrastructure (though more expensive than the rest of South America and requires a longer flight)
• Morocco — closer to Europe than a typical "far away" trip, but culturally already another world: language, currency, climate, customs. Great choice for Europeans looking for their "first culture shock" without flying halfway around the globe.
• Tanzania + Zanzibar — safari in Serengeti/Ngorongoro plus a week of relaxation on the island. A classic "first time" in Africa, well organized for tourism.
• Kenya — safari (Masai Mara, Amboseli) plus coast (Diani, Watamu). Warning: Nairobi after dark requires caution — use Uber/Bolt, don't walk around in the evening. Outside Nairobi it's much calmer.
• Philippines — beautiful islands, but choose one island or one region (Palawan, Cebu with Bohol, Siargao). Trying to see everything = a week in planes and ferries.
• Indonesia — same rule. Choose one region: Bali and its surroundings, Java, Sumatra. 17,000 islands is not a single-trip destination.
• Uzbekistan — the Silk Road, wonderful cities (Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva), calm, welcoming
• Kyrgyzstan — for mountain and nature lovers, less touristy but infrastructure is sufficient
• Armenia — very approachable Caucasian country, great cuisine, monasteries, cheap. Note: don't combine with Azerbaijan on one trip (they are in political conflict, no easy crossing between them).
• Azerbaijan — Baku with modern architecture, mountains, Caspian coast. Same as above: separate trip, not together with Armenia.

Important: the choice of country also depends on flight availability and cost from where you live. Uzbekistan from Warsaw is closer than from Buenos Aires; Colombia from Madrid — closer than from Bangkok. Check flight prices before you decide — sometimes flying further with a cheap ticket is cheaper than closer with an expensive one.

Countries better left for the second or third trip:

• Places with active conflict or political instability — Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, parts of Myanmar. Excluded.
• Places with weak internet and low safety at the same time — central Africa, some mountain regions of Central Asia off the main routes. Even if a problem occurs, it's hard to get the information you need.
• Countries culturally very different from what you know — India and China are approachable and you can go there, but the scale, crowds, chaos, and language barrier (especially in China outside big cities) can be overwhelming for a first time. Come back to them once you have one successful big trip behind you.

You don't need to pick an extreme destination for it to be a real trip. Thailand for three weeks can change more in you than a week of fighting logistics in a country you weren't ready for.

Practical tip: for every country on the list above, the country panel at mytravelcast.com has a section with concrete advice — typical scams, local laws, the biggest real risks. Open it before you buy the ticket.

1.2 Visas — for popular destinations, it's simple

In nine cases out of ten, the visa for your first big trip is not a problem. Three categories:

Visa-free — you enter with just your passport, you get a stamp at the airport. Examples: Thailand, Colombia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brazil, Chile, South Africa (for many passports).

Visa on arrival (VOA) — you fill out a form at the airport, pay cash, get a sticker in your passport. 15-30 minutes in line. Examples: Cambodia, Nepal, Laos, Maldives, Zambia.

e-Visa online — you fill out a form on the government website, pay by card, receive a PDF by email in 24-72 hours. You show the printed PDF at the airport. Examples: Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Egypt.

How to check for your passport and destination: the country panel at mytravelcast.com shows the visa category, required documents, cost, and processing time — instantly.

1.3 When a visa takes more time

Visa requirements depend entirely on your passport. The same country can be open to one traveler without any formalities, and require a consular visa with weeks of waiting for another.

In general, it's worth knowing that in every passport there is a group of countries where entry requires:

• A consular visa with a personal appointment and interview
• Complete documentation (invitation, hotel booking, bank statement, insurance)
• Fees from tens to over 200 USD
• Processing time from a week to several months

Practical rule: before you fall in love with a specific destination, check the country panel at mytravelcast.com — select your passport at the top of the page, and the map and panels immediately show the visa status for you: visa-free, e-visa online, consular visa, cost, and time.

If your dream first trip requires a complex visa — you can do it, but plan one to three months as a buffer. Alternatively, start with a country where the visa won't stop you — the world is big enough to make your first time without paper gymnastics.

2.1 Vaccinations — stay calm, no scaremongering

If you're going to a popular tourist country (Thailand, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, Peru), you probably don't need any mandatory vaccination. You enter with your passport, period.

The information below will be useful for future, more ambitious trips.

Three categories of vaccinations:

Mandatory for entry — the country won't let you in without a certificate. Only two realistic cases: yellow fever (required by 19 countries of central and western Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, DR Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Central African Republic, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Chad), and meningococcal ACWY (Saudi Arabia since 2025 for all travelers, not only pilgrims).

You can see this in mytravelcast.com — for every country, if a vaccination is mandatory, the information appears between the visa section and the budget.

Recommended — no one will stop you, but it's worth being prepared. Standard: hepatitis A, tetanus (booster), typhoid. Your travel medicine doctor will decide in one visit — destination country, type of trip, your medical history. One visit handles it all.

Malaria — not a vaccine, but preventive tablets. Malaria occurs intensively only in specific regions: jungles of West and Central Africa, rural areas of Cambodia and Laos, parts of Papua, parts of the Amazon. Not in Thai resorts, Bali, or the Vietnamese coast. If your plan includes risk regions — a doctor will prescribe the tablets. You take them before, during, and after your return. End of topic.

Practical advice: find a travel medicine doctor in your country (not a regular family doctor — it's a different specialty). One visit, all decisions. The visit itself is usually reasonably priced, vaccinations are paid separately.

If travel medicine is not easily available in your country, WHO has an online, free country-by-country database of recommendations.

2.2 Insurance — you must have it, price depends on destination

Why this is not optional.

A broken leg in Thailand, a scooter accident in Vietnam, acute appendicitis in Peru — without insurance, that's a bill of several thousand dollars. In the United States or Canada — twenty, fifty thousand dollars. Insurance for a week-long trip costs about the same as one restaurant dinner. There's no discussion.

How much it actually costs (2026):

• Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa: 3-6 USD per day for standard coverage
• Europe outside your continent, Balkans: 2-5 USD per day
• USA, Canada, Japan: 8-15 USD per day — much more expensive, because medical care there is the most costly in the world

The USA is a special case. One day of hospitalization can cost five thousand dollars, one day in intensive care — ten thousand. Insurers know and charge accordingly. But this higher price protects you from financial disaster, it's not an extra fee.

Minimum coverage to accept:

• Asia / Latin America / Africa: medical costs minimum 100,000 USD
• USA / Canada / Japan: minimum 500,000 USD
• Always: accident insurance, third-party liability, rescue costs (if you're planning mountains or water activities)

What is often NOT in the base and you have to pay extra:

• Scuba diving (even shallow Open Water courses)
• Motorbike or scooter (the classic way of getting around in Asia, and most policies don't cover it without an add-on — check this especially carefully)
• High-altitude sports (usually above 3000 m)
• Chronic conditions worsened during the trip

Read the exclusions before you buy, not after the accident.

Insurance included with your bank card — an increasingly common option.

Many modern bank cards (Revolut Premium/Ultra, Wise Premium, N26 You/Metal, premium cards from traditional banks) include travel insurance in the monthly subscription. If you have such a card, check if the policy is sufficient for your destination and type of trip — you can save tens of euros per trip. Watch out for limits: these insurances often have lower coverage amounts for the USA and exclude extreme sports.

Where to buy separate insurance.

International: World Nomads (targets travelers, buy online, covers sports in the base), SafetyWing (monthly subscription for longer trips and remote work), IMG. Local: comparison sites in your country.

Important: save the assistance phone number in your phone and on a paper note in your backpack. In case of an accident, the first thing you do — call them BEFORE going to the hospital. They will direct you to a partner facility and settle payment directly. If you go to the hospital yourself — you pay out of pocket and fight for a refund for months.

2.3 Travel card — one decision saves you thousands

The problem: a standard card from your bank adds a currency markup of 3-6% on payments and withdrawals abroad. On a week-long trip of 1000 EUR that's 30-60 EUR. On a month-long trip of 3000 EUR — 90-180 EUR. Money thrown away.

The solution — two options.

Fintech cards. Revolut, Wise, N26, Curve, Monzo. You open an account online in 15 minutes, receive the card in a week. Currency exchange at mid-market rate, no markup in many cases. Top up in your currency, pay and withdraw in the local currency.

"World" cards from traditional banks. More and more traditional banks are introducing cards dedicated to travel, with exchange rates close to the mid-market. Check what your bank offers — you may already have this option without knowing. Often it's a card in a higher account package, costs a few dozen EUR/USD per year, pays for itself quickly on one trip.

Very important — ATMs abroad.

When you withdraw money from an ATM abroad, the screen will ask you: "do you want to pay in local currency or your own currency?". Always choose local currency. Choosing "in your currency" is Dynamic Currency Conversion — the ATM converts it at a terrible rate, adding 3-7% extra. The same trick appears in payment terminals in shops and restaurants. Always local currency.

Watch out for ATM fees. Some ATMs (especially at airports, resorts, local banks in Asia like Bangkok Bank) add their own withdrawal fee — 5-10 USD regardless of your card. Solution: withdraw larger amounts less often, look for ATMs at shopping centers instead of tourist areas.

2.4 Cash — less than you think, but you need it

How much to bring.

Emergency reserve: 300-500 USD or EUR in banknotes. That's all. More — unnecessary theft risk; less — not enough if ATMs fail or your card gets blocked.

The rest of your money — from your card on the spot. ATMs are everywhere, even in Cambodia, Nepal, Namibia.

Where to get this cash.

Exchange at a currency exchange office in your country before departure. Not at the airport (terrible rate, extra fees), not after arrival (rate even worse). A regular currency exchange in town = best rate.

Take banknotes in perfect condition — no worn, wrinkled, marked, or torn ones. In many countries (Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, all of West Africa) money changers and shops refuse to accept US dollars older than the 2013 series, or with any signs of use. Check the banknote series at the exchange office, ask for clean, new ones.

How to divide cash on the spot.

Never all in one place. Split into three parts:

• Daily spending — equivalent of 50-100 USD in your wallet, for today and tomorrow
• Main reserve — the rest hidden deep in your backpack (money belt under clothes, inner pocket of main luggage)
• Emergency reserve — 100 USD in a third place (separate bag, hotel safe, hidden in a sock, in a spare wallet)

When someone steals your wallet on a tram, you lose a hundred dollars, not five hundred.

USD vs EUR — which to take.

Depends on where you're going.

• Southeast Asia, Americas, Africa — USD is king. Exchanged everywhere, everyone knows it; in some countries (Cambodia, Ecuador, Panama, Zimbabwe) it's the second official currency.
• Middle East, part of East Africa, Balkans — EUR often just as good or better.
• Countries with unstable currency (Argentina, Venezuela, Turkey, Lebanon) — USD is the only sensible choice; on the black market you'll exchange at a much better rate than the official one.

Universal: take USD. If you're going to Europe or Turkey, add a few hundred EUR.

3.1 Internet — your most important tool

Without internet, you're cut off from everything. You can't order a taxi, check a map, translate a menu, contact family, call for help. Internet + phone today is not a luxury, it's a safety element.

Additionally — with network access, you have an AI assistant in your pocket (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini). It will translate from Chinese, explain how to use the Bangkok metro, tell you if a certain pill matches your medication. This is a completely different world than travel five years ago.

Three options for internet abroad:

eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Ubigi). You buy an online plan before departure — 3, 7, 15, 30 days. You activate it on your phone in 5 minutes, works from the moment you land. 10-30 USD per week in most countries, more for USA and exotics. Requires an eSIM-compatible phone (most smartphones since 2020).

Local SIM card at the airport. Cheapest — 5-15 USD per week/two weeks of data. You need to find the operator's stand (they are at all major airports), show your passport, wait 10-15 minutes. Good for longer stays (month+) in one country.

Roaming from your operator. Check what your operator offers for your destination — many have packages abroad outside the "roam like at home" area (outside the EU for Europeans, outside North America for USA). Price and coverage depend on the operator and country. Usually eSIM is 30-80% cheaper, but roaming means zero configuration — you turn on the phone and it works. Worth checking before departure.

In practice: if this is your first time — buy an eSIM before departure so you don't stress about finding a stand after arrival. For subsequent trips, you'll check what's more convenient for you.

3.2 Taxi apps — a safety essential

Ordering transport through an app has four advantages over hailing a taxi from the street:

• You know the price upfront, before getting in
• The driver is registered in the system, someone knows you're riding with them
• You don't have to negotiate in a foreign language
• Your location is tracked, ride history saved

This is a bigger deal for your safety than most people realize. The classic tourist theft is not a mugging in a dark alley — it's an unknown taxi driver promising a shortcut and ending on wasteland.

Which app to use where:

Install and register all needed apps before departure. Registration requires an SMS code — easier when you have your home SIM card than fighting with an eSIM at the airport.

3.3 Offline maps

Before you board the plane, download the maps of the countries you're visiting — offline. Even with internet, sometimes there's no signal (underground metro, caves, mountains, border areas).

Three tools, each for something different:

• Google Maps — download offline areas (option "Your places" → "Offline maps"). Best for cities, restaurants, public transport.
• Maps.me or Organic Maps — free, whole countries in one click. Great for travel off the main road, villages, smaller towns.
• Mapy.cz — the best mountain hiking maps, trails marked in colors, viewpoints. Key if you're planning trekking.

Important preparation before departure: save addresses and locations in the maps in advance — first night's hotel, key attractions, restaurants from recommendations. In the field, you no longer have to type foreign names in a different alphabet.

3.4 Additional apps (10 minutes of installation)

• Translator: Google Translate — download offline languages (option in settings). It also has a camera feature — point at a sign, translates live. Key in China, Japan, Thailand.
• AI assistant: ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini on your phone. Free accounts are enough. They'll answer "what fruit is this?", "how do I use this bus ticket?", "what to do with this symptom?".
• Currency: XE Currency or similar
• Messenger: WhatsApp is everywhere. Telegram where WhatsApp is blocked (China, Iran, parts of the Middle East).
• Your bank + travel card — download and test both apps before departure.

3.5 Document copies (15 minutes of work)

• Scan (or photograph) your passport with the photo page, visa, insurance policy, plane tickets. Send them to yourself by email — accessible from any device.
• Additionally: photos in your phone (in the cloud, so they survive phone loss)
• Paper copies in your main luggage, separate from originals

Why? Because a lost passport with copies can be replaced at the consulate/embassy in a few hours. Without copies — a few days, much more stress.

3.6 Leave your plan with a trusted person

This is normal travel practice, not paranoia. Give one trusted person (parent, partner, friend):

• Insurance policy number and assistance phone number
• Contact to your country's consulate/embassy in the destination country
• General trip plan — cities, dates, hotel names
• Your main card number (without CVV) — to be able to quickly block it in case of theft

In everyday communication, sending a message "everything OK" every few days is enough. No one has to track you. But in case of a real problem — someone has a starting point.

4.1 Luggage — one carry-on backpack for a month

That sounds like little, but it works. Many experienced travelers go around the world with one 35-40 liter backpack that fits in the plane cabin, plus a small day bag/backpack of 15-20 liters.

The advantages of this solution are huge:

• Your luggage will never get lost — it flies with you, not in the hold
• You're first out of the terminal — no waiting at the carousel
• You don't pay for checked baggage — with many budget airlines that's 50-100 EUR one way
• Mobile on the spot — carrying 40 liters on your back is easier than dragging a suitcase on uneven pavement, up stairs, on sand
• You won't overpack — because it physically won't fit

Suitcases were invented for European-class hotels. In Asia, Latin America, Africa — a backpack always wins. Sidewalks are broken, many hotels have no elevator, public transport often requires carrying luggage through gates, stairs, ferries. A suitcase is self-sabotage.

For details on baggage fees and pitfalls with airline limits — the "How to Fly Cheap" guide in the Compass has a separate section on global baggage.

4.2 Clothes — depends on the climate

The amount and type of clothes depends mainly on the destination climate. There is a laundry service in every tourist city for 2-5 USD (you drop off in the morning, get back in the evening or the next day). You don't need to bring everything for the whole trip.

Hot and humid tropics (Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, tropical parts of Latin America):

• 5-7 T-shirts
• 3-4 shorts (long trousers actually unnecessary — you can bring one thin pair for evening restaurant visits or temples)
• No warm sweater — unnecessary. Evenings are 25-28°C.
• Thin rain jacket — key in the wet season (tropical rainfall can be intense, even 30 minutes of downpour will soak you to the bone)
• Flip-flops + comfortable walking shoes
• Swimsuit
• One nicer shirt for going out (bartenders/waiters sometimes expect minimum dress code)

Moderate climate or mountains (Uzbekistan in spring/autumn, Kyrgyzstan, Mexican highlands, Colombia — Bogota):

• 5-6 T-shirts
• 2-3 long trousers
• Warmer layer — fleece or thin puffy jacket — evening temperature can drop to 5-15°C
• Rain/windproof jacket
• Comfortable walking shoes, possibly hiking boots for mountains
• Head covering (mountain sun is sharp)

Desert (Middle East, Sahara, part of Latin America):

• Long clothing made of light cotton — protects against sun better than cream
• Warmer layer for night (desert after sunset can be 10-15°C)
• Head covering absolutely required
• Comfortable closed shoes (scorpions, snakes)

Universal rule: what you're wearing + the same amount in your backpack = enough for a week. The rest goes to laundry.

4.3 First aid kit — basics plus personal items

Without exaggeration. Tourist countries have pharmacies on every corner, everything you need is there for pennies. You don't buy "just in case" antibiotics in Poland/Germany — if something really gets you, a local pharmacy has them for 2-5 USD.

Standard traveler's first aid kit:

• Paracetamol, ibuprofen — headaches, fever, minor injuries
• Loperamide — traveler's diarrhea, a classic
• Electrolytes — powders for water, key in case of dehydration (diarrhea, heat, exertion)
• Allergy tablets — if you have any allergies
• Plasters of various sizes, elastic bandage, disinfectant
• SPF 50+ sunscreen, after-sun spray — the sun in the tropics is completely different from the temperate climate
• DEET mosquito repellent (min. 30%) — tropics, jungles, evenings
• Eye moisturizer if you wear contact lenses

Personal items that are hard to buy in the destination country:

• Contact lenses — take a full supply for the trip + a spare pair in case of loss. Contact lens solution too — specific brands may not be available in Asia, pharmacies often don't have them.
• Prescription medications — take the whole course + some extra + a note from the doctor in English with name and dosage (trade names differ between countries — international name is easier)
• Corrective glasses — spare ones, if you have any. Lost glasses in Thailand = a week of discomfort.
• Personal hygiene products you use daily — in Asia soaps are cheap, but specific brands (your favorite deodorant, specific tampon brand) may be difficult to find

4.4 Electronics

• Phone + charger + 2 spare USB cables (they weigh nothing, cable failure is a disaster)
• Power bank 10,000 - 20,000 mAh — must be in carry-on, not in the hold (the airline will refuse to take it in checked baggage, they may throw it out at security)
• Plug adapter — type depends on destination country, check in the country panel on mytravelcast (types A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I)
• Waterproof phone case — if beach, boat, snorkeling, kayak, waterfall. Costs 5 USD, saves 500 USD.
• Universal USB hub (optional) — one port to charge several devices at once, useful in hostels

What to leave at home: laptop (unless you work remotely), camera (unless photography is your passion — a phone today takes better pictures than many people realize), hair dryer (available in hotels), iron, e-reader (unless you read a lot).

5.1 First 24 hours — no rush

The biggest rule of the first day: give yourself time. Rushing is the best way to get scammed, withdraw wrong amounts from an ATM, get in the wrong taxi, pay three times too much. A few extra minutes = dozens or hundreds of dollars saved.

If you have to rush — that means you should be better prepared. Know the plan in advance, know where you're going, have the taxi app already open.

Order of things at the airport:

1. Toilet, a moment of breath. After 10 hours on a plane, your brain isn't working.

1. ATM in the terminal — withdraw a small amount for today and tomorrow (equivalent of 50-100 USD in local currency). Never exchange at airport currency booths — rates are dramatically bad. The rest from an ATM in town, where it's better.

1. SIM card or eSIM — if you bought eSIM before departure, activate in 2 minutes. If local SIM — operator stands are at baggage claim or in the arrivals hall.

1. Transport to the hotel — app, not a street taxi. Open Grab/Uber/Yandex/local app, order. The driver will come to a specific spot (the app will show where), you know the price upfront.

If taxi drivers approach you (and they will — it's their job, at every airport in the world):

• Don't discuss, don't explain yourself, don't negotiate price. Every word with them is a signal that "this one will break".
• Universal answer, calmly: "someone is picking me up, thank you". Walk on.
• Go to the designated ride-hailing pickup area (marked at most major airports), order.

Airport taxi drivers are masters of manipulation. They'll tell you the app doesn't work here, that your hotel is closed and they have a better one, that metered taxi is a scam (the irony). All lies, their goal is to put you in a car without a meter and take 5-10 times more than the normal fare. Don't engage in discussion.

Rest of the first day:

• To the hotel, shower, nap if needed
• Eat something simple — don't try the most exotic street dish in the first moment (your stomach is just adapting)
• Don't plan any big activities on the first day. Jet lag will hit you in the evening or at 3 AM, you'll be falling over. Temples, museums, excursions — from tomorrow.

5.2 Safety without paranoia

People in most of the world are friendly, honest, and helpful. This is not naivety, this is statistical fact — per million tourists in Thailand, the rate of serious crime victims is lower than in many European cities.

But a few rules raise your safety from "high" to "almost 100%":

• Wallet/passport in inner backpack pocket or money belt under clothes — never in a back pants pocket. Pickpockets exist in Barcelona, Bangkok, Rio, everywhere.
• Don't show off with electronics or jewelry. A 5000 EUR watch on your wrist, 3000 EUR camera around your neck = an invitation.
• At night stick to main streets and well-lit areas. Shortcuts through dark neighborhoods are only for people who live there.
• Taxi in the evening — always through an app. Never off the street, never "a barman's friend".
• Drink always opened in front of you. Don't leave a drink unattended. This rule applies to both women and men — drug spiking of drinks happens more often than people think, and the goal is theft, not sexual assault.
• Trust your instinct. If a place, person, situation seems strange — walk away. Don't tell yourself it's your prejudice. Instinct is usually right.

About classic tourist scams — such as inflated taxis without a meter, "free" bracelets, ghost hotels, fake entry tickets — check the country panel on mytravelcast.com. The Safety section for every country contains concrete, practical information about typical local scams, risks, and rules of caution — exactly what's worth knowing before going to a specific place.

5.3 Health on the spot — watch out for food poisoning

A classic of the first big trip: two days out due to diarrhea. It happens to almost everyone, and not always due to "dirty food" — your stomach simply meets a different bacterial flora than it knows. The same food that locals eat every day without a problem will also stop hurting you after a week of adaptation.

How to minimize the risk:

• Water — bottled (India, Africa, Peru, part of Southeast Asia) or tap (Europe, USA, Japan, part of major cities in Asia). Check in the country panel on mytravelcast — the information "tap water" will appear.
• Ice in drinks — in tourist hotels and restaurants, safe (they buy commercial ice). In local rural bars — skip it.
• Street food = OK if it meets three conditions: locals eat it (look at the queue), high turnover (food doesn't sit for hours), hot (freshly prepared in front of you). A Vietnamese pho soup served boiling is safer than an "international" salad sandwich in a suspicious joint.
• Fruit — peel yourself (bananas, mandarins, mango) or wash with bottled water. Salads of raw vegetables in questionable places — skip.
• Air conditioning — don't set 20°C if it's 35°C outside. A 15-degree difference = a cold in a day or two. Set 25-26°C, your body will thank you.
• The sun in the tropics is not temperate zone sun. SPF 50+ sunscreen, mandatory. Head covering. Water all the time. Heatstroke can ground you for a week.

When diarrhea comes anyway (and it probably will):

• Loperamide + electrolytes + lots of water
• Light diet (rice, potatoes, bananas, toast) for a day or two
• If it lasts more than 3 days or fever >39°C appears, blood in stool — see a doctor (call insurance first)

Treat it as a normal part of adaptation, not a sign of catastrophe.

5.4 More serious matters — don't save money, call the insurer

Anything more serious than a headache or traveler's diarrhea — call the insurance assistance BEFORE going to the doctor or hospital. This is not a suggestion, this is a rule that saves thousands of dollars and months of fighting for a refund.

When to call:

• Fever above 39°C for more than two days
• Severe pain that home meds don't relieve (stomach, head, chest)
• Injury from a fall (even if it looks harmless — fractures are sometimes hard to recognize)
• Traffic accident, even minor
• Anything related to bites (snake, spider, worse insects)
• Allergic reaction
• Serious infection (wound, eye, ear, throat with pus)

How it works:

1. You call the assistance number from the policy (you have it saved in your phone and on a paper in your backpack, right?)
2. You give the policy number, describe what happened
3. They direct you to a partner medical facility — often a reputable private hospital in a big city, not a rural public clinic
4. The bill goes directly between the hospital and the insurer
5. You pay nothing (or only a deductible, if the policy has one)

If you pay out of pocket without consulting assistance:

• You must have all invoices, medical descriptions in English, proof of payment
• The refund takes months, sometimes partial
• The insurer may question the necessity of the procedure if they didn't agree in advance
• Fifteen minutes saved on the phone = several thousand difference

Before departure, it's worth calling the assistance hotline and testing that the number works and they speak English (or your language). That's 5 minutes of peace of mind for the whole trip.

5.5 Accommodation — where and how

Booking.com and Agoda — two dominant reservation services. Agoda has a wider selection and better prices in Asia, Booking dominates everywhere else. Both apps on your phone, a dozen minutes to learn.

Rules of safe reservation:

• Always book the first 2-3 nights in advance. Jet lag + new country + looking for a hotel in the middle of the night = a recipe for disaster. Have somewhere to go from the airport.
• Following nights you can book the day before or go blind if you like flexibility.
• Always with cancellation option for the first few nights — if your plans change, you don't lose money.
• Check reviews: rating below 8.0 for a tourist hotel = something is wrong. Read the latest negative reviews (not just positive ones from page one).
• Watch out for photos — if a hotel looks too good to be true for the price, photos are probably 10 years old or from a neighboring property.
• Check the location on the map before booking. "Close to center" in some hotels means "40 minutes by taxi".

Types of accommodation — which to choose:

Hotel 2-3★ — safe, standard option. Private room with bathroom, breakfast often included, 24h reception. 20-50 USD/night in Asia, 40-100 USD in Latin America.

Hostel — for solo travelers, the best way to meet people. Shared room (dorm) 5-15 USD/night in Asia, 15-30 USD in Latin America. Private room in a hostel is also an option, cheaper than a hotel. Book through Hostelworld — this platform specializes in hostels and has the best reviews.

Guest house / homestay — the most interesting way to get to know the culture, cheap, hosts personally take care of you. Popular in Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, rural regions of Indonesia, Sri Lanka. Less privacy, more authenticity.

Airbnb — good for longer stays in one place (week+), own kitchen, whole apartment. Usually more expensive than a hotel for short stays (2-3 nights), because of high service fees.

Practical advice for your first trip: choose comfort. A hostel is nice financially and socially, but on your first trip you value a private room, a locked door, your own bathroom. The 15 USD/night saved comes back quickly when you don't have to worry about things in your backpack, when you want to sleep off a 10-hour flight.

6.1 Last day

• Spend or exchange local cash — at the airport, rates are bad; in an exchange office in town, better. Alternative: keep it as a souvenir and take it next time.
• Photos in the cloud before you board the plane — Google Photos, iCloud, whatever you use. A lost phone on the way home without a backup = photos from the whole trip gone.
• Notify the bank about your return — not obligatory, but you avoid automatic card blocking after a big transaction jump from abroad back to routine.

6.2 After returning

Jet lag — lasts roughly one day for each time zone difference. Classic tips: lots of water, sun in the morning, sleep at normal hours even if you don't want to. Coffee in the afternoon prolongs the problem, so yes in the morning, not really after 2 PM.

If something worries you after returning — unusual fatigue lasting weeks, fever, strange skin symptoms, prolonged cough — consult a doctor and be sure to mention that you were in the tropics. Malaria can manifest weeks after exposure. I'm not saying this to scare you, but because the doctor doesn't know about your trip unless you tell them. It's information not worth withholding.

Photos, memories, plan the next one. The first is always the hardest — the second you do in two days.

Wrap-up

The first time always requires the most work — because you're doing everything from scratch, checking everything for the first time. But it's one-time learning. On your second trip, you already know how insurance works, which card to take, what to pack, where to check the visa. You do everything faster and calmer.

Experienced travelers pack in half an hour, plan the route loosely and finalize on the spot, handle formalities in the background without stress. It's not a matter of talent — it's routine. You'll build yours too.

The biggest obstacle before your first big trip is your head. It's not those countries that are scary — it's imagination. People live there every day, eat that food, ride those roads, sleep in those hotels. Millions of tourists return safely every year. You will too.

See you on the road.