Section #4 – Upon Arrival

7 Key Concepts Upon Arrival in New Country

Travel Nerves

      Try not to be nervous when you first arrive. You must remember that you are traveling abroad, and it is time for you to get out of your bubble. Perhaps that is exactly why you are traveling. Nerves will come and go regardless of how many countries you visit so it is better to start understanding your nerves rather than push them aside. More people will help you than ignore you. When you debark the airplane and arrive in the central airport terminal area begin looking for the information desk. This is your best hope that there will be a multilingual associate who speaks English.

Get to Homebase

     Get to your accommodations as soon as you can. After you have gained your bearings and you know where you are located at the airport it is time to get to your accommodations. This is my number one priority when I get into a new city. I understand you may be super excited and not want to miss out on the remaining daylight but unloading your luggage and getting advice from your local accommodation staff members can put you in a much better position than you trying to go off and do it yourself while carrying a backpack and or a bullseye suitcase. Find your way to your accommodations first and then explore the city.

*Insiders tip – Print off a map or screenshot a map of your accommodations from the airport so you have street names and you can show people if you need help finding it*

Think About Practicality

     Think about why and where you want to stay your first night. If I have just finished an extended overnight flight and have a few days in a particular city I will often stay at a hotel near the airport I flew into for the arrival day so I can acclimate and take my time adjusting. This is also situationally based because sometimes the international airport is over an hour from the city like in Paris, Warsaw, and London. If this is the case, I will do my research beforehand and know exactly how I am getting to mt first accommodations. Make sure to contact your Airbnb, hostel, and or hotel beforehand because many times they will know the best and fastest way for you to get to them.

Travel Transportation Options

     Do some research and know your transportation options. Doing some brief research before arrival will allow you to know whether the arrival city has taxis, Uber, Taxify, or public transit. In some countries uber is illegal but they still operate. In other cities, only taxis can do pickups from the airports. You need to be aware of this before you arrive to avoid getting very stressed out once you have landed in the country. Do not set yourself up for failure because you were too lazy and did not conduct 10 minutes of research. I was pleasantly surprised in the UAE when I found out the taxi service was cheaper than the Uber services. Also, in some cities, the bus service can be free so a small amount of research can save you money.

Countries Do’s & Don’ts

     Try and understand the countries’ customs before arrival. Understanding the culture in the country in which you are about to explore should always be a priority. However, I found out that this can be even more prevalent when arriving in select countries in the Middle East. While visiting Dubai, I found this out the hard way. When you are traveling as a couple but are not married you can run into major accommodation issues in the UAE. When we tried to check-in, they asked for a marriage license and I laughed because I thought it was a joke, but it was certainly not. They have certain rules in many of the hotels so keep this in mind and do some research before arriving, so you are not blindsided like I was.

Keep Track

     Keep important items in your carryon bag. Do not be one of those passengers that leaves their documents in their passenger luggage and then be surprised when your bags accidentally go to another city. These things happen all the time but for the most part, airlines will go out of their way to get your bags back to you as quickly as possible. However, sometimes you may only be staying in a city overnight. I always pack my carryon bag as if I’m going to a friend’s house for an overnight sleepover.

Travel Mapping Apps

     Mapping apps can save the day. Handheld maps are something of the past. Many of my friends and fellow travelers may not even know where a map key is located. Mapping apps are the go-to way most people navigate when they arrive in a new country. Always make sure you download at least two mapping apps. My go-to mapping apps are Google maps and the Maps.me app. When google maps decide not to work and it happens all the time you will be happy that you have maps.me. Always download the offline version of the map as well. Your apps will not work when you land in the new country and you may not have service nor WiFi. Take the necessary steps to ensure your mapping apps will work when you need them.

     Arriving in a country can be a very daunting task but it does not have to be. Take the necessary steps and you will set yourself up for success. Remember that getting to your accommodations should be your primary objective. Once you have a place to set up base camp you can move on from there.

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