Global Travel Tips – How to Plan a Trip with Confidence

Planning a trip to a destination you’ve never visited before? Whether it’s your first time in Europe, your dream adventure to Japan, or you’re finally ticking Morocco off the list, we’re here to help.

We’re Tracy and Doug, passionate travellers who’ve planned dozens of trips to new places across the globe. We know what it’s like to feel unsure about where to start, how to pace your trip, or what apps and tools will make it all easier.

Over the years, we’ve helped thousands of travellers just like you, through our websites, podcast, communities, and 1:1 trip planning sessions to feel confident exploring new destinations.

This page brings together our most essential global travel tips. It’s everything we’ve learned (sometimes the hard way!) from planning trips around the world, all in one place to help you feel calm, prepared, and excited.

Let’s get started.

🌎 Essential Global Travel Tips

Start with these core decisions — they’ll shape everything that follows.

How long do you have?
How far are you comfortable going?
What type of experience are you after (culture, nature, food, relaxation)?

Use our Global Trip Planner Workbook to map this out step by step.

Visa-free? e-Visa? Transit rules? Always check the official government travel sites for your passport — and be aware that requirements change frequently.

Factor in time zone differences when planning flights and activities. Build in a slow day after arrival, especially for long-haul trips.

Never leave home without it. We always travel with comprehensive coverage that includes medical, cancellation, and lost luggage. You’ll never regret having it — only not having it.

Compare prices, yes, but also routes, layovers, and arrival times. Booking the cheapest flight with an awful layover can set your trip off on the wrong foot.

Plan your airport transfer before you land (don’t rely on grabbing a taxi without a plan). Look for shuttle services, apps, or hotel pick-ups in advance.

Trains, metros, ride apps, ferries, bikes — every country is different. We break it down in each of our destination travel guides, so you’ll know what’s safe, affordable, and convenient.

From Google Translate to trusted ride apps and offline maps, we’ve rounded up the best travel apps to help you navigate the world with ease.

Weather, culture, dress codes, and practicality – our favourite travel accessories and destination-specific packing lists are designed for real travellers.

Don’t forget:

Universal plug adapters
Lightweight but secure bags
Reusable water bottles
Downloaded travel documents

Contactless payments are common, but cash is still widely accepted in many places. Always have a backup card and some local currency on hand. Let your bank know where you’re going to avoid declined charges.

Depending on your destination, eSIMs or local SIM cards can save you a significant amount of money. We usually travel with an unlocked phone and either buy local SIMs or use services like Airalo.

Hotels, guesthouses, Airbnbs — it depends on your trip. We often look for:

Walkable locations
Good reviews from real travellers
Local transport access
Luggage storage if arriving early or departing late

Don’t try to do too much. Give each location enough time. We always say: it’s better to see fewer places properly than to rush through a checklist.

Need help with this? Our Global Trip Planner Workbook walks you through it and we offer personalised itinerary consults for travel to the UK too.

Rules vary by country. Common issues include:

Prescription meds (carry original labels and a letter if needed)
Drones (banned or restricted in many places, eg Morocco)
Fresh food, seeds, or certain electronics

Tipping etiquette differs worldwide. In some countries, it’s expected; in others, it’s insulting. We include local guidance in each destination guide.

Timing is everything. Use our month-by-month travel inspiration guide to discover which destinations are best at different times of year — and avoid seasonal surprises.

🧭 Ready to Start Planning? 🧰 Global Travel Tips – Top Planning Tools

You’ve got the tips — now let’s build your itinerary!

➡️ Download our Global Trip Planner Workbook
🗺️ Guides for first-time visitors (by region)
🧳 Travel Accessories & Packing Lists
🎧 Global Travel Planning Podcast
📧 Travel Tip Tuesday Email Series (coming soon)
➡️ Join our FREE 5-Step Itinerary Planning Challenge (coming soon)
➡️ Book a 1:1 Travel Planning Consultation (available for UK travel)
Whether you need help structuring your time, planning rail travel, or just want reassurance, we’ve got you covered.

📍 Explore Our Destination Guides by Country

Click a region to find itineraries, tips, and stories from our travels.

Ladies Who Travel – Join Us on Tour

Planning a trip is exciting, but sometimes the best experiences come from letting someone else take care of the details.

Ladies Who Travel is our women-only tour company, created for curious, independent-minded women who want to explore the world in small, supportive groups. Whether you’re a solo traveller or coming with a friend, you’ll be part of something special.

We currently offer unforgettable small group tours to:

🇲🇦 Morocco – from medinas to the Sahara

🇻🇳 Vietnam – cultural immersion, food, and scenic landscapes

More destinations coming soon!

✨ Explore safely, travel meaningfully, and connect with like-minded women from around the world.

👉 Find out more about Ladies Who Travel Tours

🌐 Join Our Travel Community

You’re not travelling alone. Join other curious, independent travellers in our private groups and ask questions, share wins, and get trusted answers from fellow planners.

💬 Join our Facebook Groups

Global Travel Planning Community

Ladies Who Travel: Over 50 Women’s Travel Group

🎧 Listen to the Global Travel Planning Podcast

📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly tips and updates

🎧 Listen to the Global Travel Planning Podcast

Global Travel Planning Podcast for Global Travel Tips

We don’t just write about travel, we talk about it too!

The Global Travel Planning Podcast is packed with:

🗺 Destination tips and insights

🗣 Honest conversations with fellow travellers

📖 Inspiring stories from places we’ve explored

👍 Practical advice to help you plan smarter

Whether you’re dreaming about Antarctica or booking your trip to Japan, tune in for trusted guidance, fun stories, and real-life experience.

🎧 Listen on Apple 🎧 Listen on Spotify
👉 Or browse all episodes on our Global Travel Planning Podcast page

💬 “This podcast feels like a chat with friends who’ve been everywhere you want to go.”

✨ Stay Connected & Keep Exploring

We love sharing behind-the-scenes travel tips, real-time updates from the road, and honest reviews of the places we visit.

📸 Instagram → @globaltravelplanning – destination highlights, packing tips, and trip inspiration

🎥 YouTube → Global Travel Planning Channel – videos from our travels + planning tips

🇬🇧 Planning a Trip to the UK or London?

You’re in the right place!

While Global Travel Planning covers destinations around the world, we also run two dedicated sites packed with planning tips, itineraries, and insider advice for exploring the UK.

🇬🇧 UK Travel Planning – Our complete guide to England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland

🏙️ London Travel Planning – Everything you need to plan your perfect London adventure

🎧 Plus, don’t miss the UK Travel Planning Podcast with over 500,000 downloads!

Global Travel Tips – How to Plan a Trip to a New Destination with Confidence