So you’ve flown into a new country… awesome, good for you!!!
But you take your first steps into the airport and you’re bombarded by taxi drivers, rental agents, tour guides and money exchanges.
Suddenly the relax of stepping out of your comfort zone into a new country is not so soothing.
How can you avoid this feeling? In the words of Scar the villain of my fav movie Lion King… Be Prepared.
Here’s five tips on avoiding overwhelm when you arrive in a new country:
1. Have your transportation planned
You don’t necessarily have to have it booked. But go ahead and do you research on what the best method of transportation is in that country and while you’re at it, look to see if there are any prevalent scams going around.
For example in Mexico, we learned that the taxi drivers would upcharge tourists, but you can price haggle there. And in Costa Rica, we learned that there has been a flat tire scam going on for years, so we knew to be careful with any maintenance issues. Having transportation carefully planned gives you the confidence boost you need to say no to any hagglers.
2. Cash out, outside of the airport
I have yet to find a country where the exchange rates are fair within the airport. In Costa Rica, the cash exchange agents actually lied to us and told us that banks were closed that weekend and we were screwed out of $40.
Just wait to get your cash, and make sure your credit cards are set to use outside of the country.
3. Keep an eye on your bags
When you check a bag, go ahead and find your luggage carousel when you get out of customs, you’ll have more piece of mind if you have all of your pieces together.
4. Have your accommodation ready for night one
I’m all for winging a trip! But there is nothing more exhausting than a day full of layovers, stinky planes, and rental agencies. Go ahead and know where you are going night one so you can have an evening of rest. That way you aren’t sitting on an airport floor flipping through pages of hotel guides.
5. Take a breath
Enjoy every moment! Remember craziness is a part of it and sometimes it won’t go your way, and that’s okay. You just may end up with a good story to tell… Promise it will be funny in a few days after the sleepiness has worn out of your eyes!
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8 Responses
I always have somewhere booked for the first night! It saves soooo much worry and stress
Love this! I always follow this tips and it helps a lot 🙂
I agree, getting cash in an airport is never a good idea! Horrible exchange rates!
Great tips! I always get cash from an ATM. I seldom use the currency exchanges anywhere; inside or outside an airport.
This is great! I was so overwhelmed when I went to Costa Rica. When I landed in San Jose I was told that I had to take a taxi because the buses were no longer running. Not true. It was a long day and I didn’t feel like looking into it; I just wanted to get to my hostel. Thanks for sharing these tips!
Great tips! I agree about having your first night’s accommodations sorted out. Nothing worse than getting to a new place and having to walk around looking for somewhere to sleep!
Great tips. I always try book transport from the airport so it’s one less thing to worry about.
Great tips!! Having somewhere to sleep for at least your first night is a must to avoid stressing out when you arrive in a new place 🙂