Fears of a First Time Traveler

written on April 26th, 2016 by Kristiana Rule

Traveling is always a life-changing experience. But it can be teeny bit scary to pack our bags, go out the door and just do it.

What’s keeping you from fulfilling your wanderlust?

Here are five fears of a first time traveller and tips on how you can get over them:

1. Getting lost

You’re smack dab in the middle of a strange, beautiful place far away from home. And you are lost. What if you can’t find your way back to the hotel? What if you get ripped off by the cab? These are very valid fears, but you have to chill. Breathe. Relax.

Here’s the great thing about getting lost: you can discover things you never thought you could, and see places off the beaten path. It’s not the end of the world either; thanks to modern technology, you can simply turn on your GPS if you need to find your way back to the hotel. See, that was easy. No need to panic.

2. Forgetting important documents

Every first time traveller fears forgetting important things, like passports, plane tickets and IDs. Who wants to be stuck in a foreign place without these? Luckily, the solution is quite simple. Keep them in secure places where they won’t get lost or stolen. Oh and make a checklist before you leave.

3. Not having enough cash

Here’s a travel horror story from my friend: They got short on Hongkong dollars and couldn’t pay for the cab that took them to the airport. The cabbie wouldn’t take USD, and it was so early in the morning that the money changers hadn’t even opened yet. She actually had to wait for one of the changers to open. The cabbie was fuming mad.

When traveling, especially abroad, always keep extra cash in the local currency and stick to the budget. Have your money changed before going out on the road. Some faraway places like islands and campsites won’t even have ATMs nearby. Keep tabs on your expenses, bring extra cash and you should be fine.

4. Encountering emergencies

Tales of injuries while on a distant island or a bad tummy while on an 8-hour train ride would be enough to scare the first-time traveller. There’s no getting around this one—when you travel, you have to be prepared. Carry meds that can help you with that motion sickness or migraine. Know the emergency numbers. Learn first aid for added points.

5. Missing a flight

Yikes, every traveller’s nightmare! What if you miss that flight? That would be a bummer. Here’s a handy guide that you can use when you’re traveling alone for the first time. Aside from that, you really have to be mindful of your itinerary and always be punctual.

In worst case scenarios, try calling your travel agent. You’ll be surprised with what they can do to help.

So, first-time travellers, I hope we’ve appeased your fears. Travelling isn’t really that scary—basically all you have to do is be prepared and mindful. Even when bad things happen, it’s usually not that bad. What are you waiting for? Stop being a sissy. Pack your bags and go out there.