Where to fly for the first time abroad. Abroad for the first time. My personal experience

When deciding where to go abroad for the first time, there are many things to consider. It is necessary to choose a country in which vacationers will face fewer problems and rest with more comfort. There are countries where Russians can feel comfortable and even inexperienced tourists will not be disappointed in their vacation.

Beach holidays for those traveling abroad for the first time

The most popular holiday countries among tourists are Turkey, Egypt and Bulgaria. These countries are ideal for those who travel abroad for the first time, because they are great for a holiday abroad for the first time. This happens not only due to the fact that you can relax relatively cheaply, but also due to a number of other reasons.

Firstly, in the hotels of these countries you can always meet compatriots. In case of any problems or questions, and those who have traveled abroad for the first time will have questions, Russian-speaking staff or tourists will be able to help and clarify the incomprehensible situation.

Secondly, it is in these countries that many residents understand the basic phrases in Russian and will be able to explain something. It is not necessary to know another language in order to move independently in a foreign country. In this case, the first trip should go well.

Thirdly, almost all hotels in these countries provide all-inclusive accommodation and meals. At the same time, the cost is quite acceptable. This is very convenient, because tourists can be sure that they will not need to pay extra for hotel meals and, accordingly, spend extra money.

Fourthly, package tours are mainly organized to Turkey, Egypt and Bulgaria, which include not only accommodation and meals at the hotel, but also a transfer from the place of arrival to the hotel and back, as well as a guide if necessary, insurance and a number of others. services. Being in a foreign country, this is very important, because some people find it very difficult to navigate.

Excursions in Europe

If beach holidays and these countries do not attract attention, but you like sightseeing tours more, then you can choose Europe as your first trip abroad. For beginners, it is better to immediately purchase a sightseeing tour, which will provide all services for accommodation, escort on excursions and meeting at the airport. You can go to Greece, Italy, France or the Czech Republic. However, it should be borne in mind that such a vacation will cost.

To save money, you can choose a bus tour abroad. Its advantage will be not only lower cost, but also the opportunity to see a large number of cities. The only inconvenience is long journeys from one city to another. Despite this, tourists will spend the night in hotels. The advantage of such a visit to Europe will be that tourists are constantly accompanied by a guide who shows the main attractions, tells how to behave, how to get to a place, etc. Traveling to European countries on your own for the first time can be difficult.

Combined tours abroad

Traveling abroad for the first time abroad may well combine beach and sightseeing holidays. Many countries have good beaches and interesting sights. To purchase such a tour, you can contact a travel agency that sells combined tours.

Thus, those who, in addition to the beach, are interested in historical monuments, can go to Greece, Spain or Malta. Egypt and Turkey can also act as a combined tour. There is also something to see in between relaxing on the beaches. The sea and gorgeous nature are also in countries such as Croatia and Montenegro. They can also be visited as a first trip abroad. The choice of countries for a trip abroad in the first is quite extensive, so everyone must first decide what exactly he expects from the trip.

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How to choose a vacation spot. It is very important that the first trip abroad is successful, then you will want big discoveries, your horizons will expand, perhaps you will make interesting acquaintances in different parts of the world, or you will simply feel better after a wonderful vacation. Beach holidays are one of the most favorite tourist destinations for most Russians traveling abroad for the first time, and the main requirement for the type of holiday is comfort at a reasonable price. You can soak up the warmth, lie on the sand under palm trees, swim in the clear sea and get an even tan in Turkey, Egypt, Italy, Spain, and Cyprus. Of the budget options, you can select Bulgaria, Montenegro, Tunisia, and a respectable vacation awaits you at the resorts of the United Arab Emirates.

Excursion tours are preferred by inquisitive tourists who do not like to stay in one place for a long time, are interested in art, history and events of ancient myths and legends. The main routes have long been worked out by experienced tour operators, you just have to choose from the proposed options that suits you. Sightseeing tours in Italy, Spain, France, the Czech Republic are popular, combined trips are also possible with visits to several countries, with entertainment in amusement parks, or with a beach holiday on the Mediterranean coast.

Documentation. Always pay attention to the storage of documents while traveling. Always keep your documents (passport, air ticket, insurance, vouchers, contacts of guides and escorts) with you when you cross the border and before checking into a hotel. An important point in storing money and documents in a hotel is the presence of a safe in the room. Leave all original documents and half of the cash in the safe, and carry copies of all documents with you, they may be needed at the most unexpected moment.

What to bring. The number of things you need for the trip is determined by the length of stay, weather conditions and your personal preferences. If you are traveling to a warm country in winter, you can take off your outerwear on the plane and put it in a separate bag, usually it is not weighed. Some tourists prefer to leave winter things in the airport storage room, but sometimes upon returning you can find yourself from +30 to -20, if suddenly the plane parked not at the sleeve, you will have to go down the icy ramp in the cold and still ride in a cold bus to the terminal. As for the list of things themselves, it all depends on the country and the type of tour. If this is a beach holiday, then you need to take swimsuits, a hat, comfortable summer clothes that are convenient for moving in the heat, and you can also take a cocktail group and heels for the evening. Do not forget that on vacation you also need to look good not for someone else, but for yourself. Going to winter resorts, stock up on warm clothes and comfortable shoes. If you are going to a ski resort, you should not bring skis with you, much less buy them specifically for the trip. This is an additional and not very small weight that you have to carry with you. It is easier and cheaper to rent equipment on the spot.

One of the important things to take with you is a first aid kit. It should contain means: painkillers, antiseptics, iodine, bandages, cotton wool, napkins, a thermometer, a remedy for improving digestion and from the throat. You can add to the list yourself, assuming what problems may arise with health.

On a rest. To quickly get used to a new place, use maps and guides to navigate the area. Maps and brochures can be picked up at the airport, in the lobby of the hotel or at the specialized tourist center, as a rule, they are free of charge. Often, host representatives or guides provide their services in advising tourists where to go for dinner, shopping and other "advice" and services, up to escorting purchases for which they receive interest. Be vigilant, prices can be several times higher than usual for the same product, but sometimes such help turns out to be an easier solution than looking for something on your own.

Consider the norms of behavior of the country where you arrived, be polite when communicating with the locals. And if you are more concerned about the language barrier and lack of knowledge of the local language or even English, you should not be upset either. Usually on sightseeing tours you are accompanied by a Russian-speaking guide, most Turkish hotels have Russian-speaking staff at the reception. In any case, take a phrasebook with you and learn a few phrases. Always have a hotel business card with you so that you can show it to the driver and get to the hotel. Shopping and bargaining with the locals takes place in the language of gesture, involving a calculator. If the tourist does not understand English or the local language at all, usually the seller shows the desired price for the goods on the calculator, and the tourist, in response, shows his own option on it, everything happens in a busy environment, everyone expresses arguments for bargaining in their own language, as a result, the price decreases , and the persistent tourist gets his trophy. But do not abuse shopping and buy all the curiosities in incredible quantities - this is typical for novice tourists. It is best to make a list of relatives and friends in advance, to whom you would like to bring a souvenir and not deviate from the plan.

Don't go to extremes: try to embrace the immensity or sit in a hotel room. In any case, you will not be able to see absolutely everything, plan your time correctly and do not make the day excessively oversaturated, so that instead of the received charge of positive emotions, you become exhausted and exhausted, and then take a vacation to recover. But both excessive idleness and lying on the beach around the clock can lead to apathy and a lack of desire to return to the usual rhythm.

The most important thing that you will need first of all on vacation is, of course, a good mood! It invariably follows positive people wherever they go, and leaves the bores, leaving them alone with their problems!

For the first trip, it is better to choose the most popular resorts among Russians - the coasts of the Red and Mediterranean Seas, as well as the Black Sea in Bulgaria. These countries have many advantages for those who travel abroad for the first time. Firstly, in hotels there are always compatriots to whom you can turn for advice. Secondly, local residents living in tourist areas, for the most part, know the basic phrases in Russian, and they can always be explained what is required. Thirdly, package tours are organized to these countries, the cost of which already includes a transfer from the airport to the hotel, guide accompaniment, insurance, etc. This is very convenient for those who have decided to go somewhere for the first time, and are not yet oriented in a foreign country. An inexperienced tourist will be met, put on a bus, helped to check into a hotel, etc.

To save on a ticket, you can purchase an early booking tour. Then the cost of living in a hotel will be lower by 25-30 percent.

Which country to choose

Which one depends on the time of year. From February to the end of May and from September to the beginning of November, the weather is comfortable and warm in Egypt. The sea warms up enough, and the air temperature is 29-33oC. In winter (from late November to mid-February), even in this African country it is quite cool, a strong wind blows, the water temperature in the sea drops to 20-23 ° C.

It is better to go to Turkey in the period from mid-May to the fifteenth or twentieth of September. It is then that the Mediterranean Sea warms up enough for a comfortable swim. In Bulgaria, the season is from early July to mid-September.

The advantage of popular resorts is that charter and regular direct flights run from Moscow almost all year round. That is, six to ten hours after leaving the house, you can be near the warm sea.

In terms of the level of hotels and service, these countries popular with Russian tourists are almost equal. The only thing that Bulgaria loses in is that there are practically no closed beaches owned by hotels. The coast is open to everyone, the plots are leased to entrepreneurs who install sunbeds and umbrellas there and take money for their rent. But there are hotels in which the use of beach facilities is already included in the price. All this should be clarified when buying a tour.

Another disadvantage when choosing Bulgaria as a holiday destination is the need to apply for a visa. This increases the cost of the tour. In addition, when obtaining a visa, you yourself need to provide some documents - a salary certificate, an account statement, hotel and ticket reservations. For inexperienced travelers, this may be too difficult. Therefore, if the choice fell on Bulgaria, it is better to do a visa through an agency. Then you only need a foreign passport, and the employee of the company will receive the coveted stamp on his own.

Probably the fastest way to get anywhere in the world is by air. Even if your work is in no way connected with constant movements around the globe, then you are definitely going somewhere on vacation.

Sooner or later, every person will face the need to fly by plane. Even to such already ordinary tourist countries as Turkey or Egypt, this is the shortest way. Therefore, the question of what to put in a suitcase concerns every adult.

It is best to start packing a few days before your flight. And then on the last day, as it suddenly turns out, you will need to finish something urgent, and the fees will be held in an emergency manner. So take care of parking for three days and it is advisable to write a list of necessary things before that.

Fees

It is clear that the number of things depends on how many days you are traveling. The longer the period, the more things you need. If you fly for 2-3 days, you can limit yourself to the standard minimum. This applies to clothes, cosmetics, shoes and what accessories (exercises, umbrellas, extra bags / packages).

In addition, there are obligatory things that you must have with you regardless of the length of your stay away from home. First: this is a ticket (if it is not electronic), documents (passport, insurance, voucher for accommodation in a hotel) and money. You won't be flying anywhere without this, so pack these things first and check again before you leave the house. In addition, it is better to change money in advance, if doing it in your home country will be much cheaper. And it’s easier, you won’t need to run around and look for an exchanger.

Second: medicines. Here you need to remember about your chronic sores (what if an exacerbation?) And try to predict possible problems. Sunburns, cuts and food poisoning are the most common tourist ills.

All large items must be placed in a suitcase. Its weight should not exceed 20-23 kg, otherwise you will pay extra for overweight. All the things you need to sing, such as: documents, medicines, a reader, headphones, a player, a laptop and a pillow - put in a small carry-on bag that you will take on the plane.

And remember, there is no need to fill a suitcase to the eyeballs. Leave room for things bought during the trip.

Flight

The microclimate in the cockpit is special. The air is highly conditioned with low humidity. This can cause passengers to dry out the mucous membranes (eyes, nose) and even the skin itself. So take a nasal spray, eye drops, moisturizer and germicidal gel in your hand luggage.

If you're on a 10-hour flight, it's a good idea to bring a neck pillow. Inflatable or plush, it doesn't matter. The main thing is to be comfortable.

Shoes should be worn without heels. Maybe it's not so beautiful, but it's convenient! And this is the most important thing. You can take a jacket with you to the salon. What if it’s cool there, but blankets are not provided? In extreme cases, the jacket can be used instead of a pillow under the back.

You can also grab your favorite cookies, snacks, protein bars, candies. Of course, during long flights they are fed. But if you're flying for the first time and don't know how your body will perceive airplane food, you need to have a fallback option.

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We all do something for the first time. When you do something for the first time, you are very afraid or not even afraid, but you internally strain from the fact that you will have to experience something new. It's the same with traveling abroad for the first time. Before my first trip abroad, I was very worried and asked many questions to those who had already been there. And I think it's right. If you are planning to travel abroad for the first time and you have questions, we will try to help you.

What's better? Buy a tour from a tour operator or go wild?

You must have often heard from friends and acquaintances that it is cheaper to go abroad as a savage. Is it true? From ourselves, we note that if you are traveling abroad for the first time, then it is better to buy a tour from a tour operator. At least you will see with your own eyes what a foreign country is. And then decide whether to go wild or through a tour operator.

What is cheaper? Buy a tour from a tour operator or go on your own? It all depends on the direction and time of your trip. Sometimes it's much cheaper to go through a tour operator, sometimes you travel on your own. In any case, you can compare the two travel options and choose the cheapest option.

If you buy a tour from a tour operator, then everything will be organized for you. You pay for the hotel, the plane and provide a transfer (they take you from the airport to the hotel and back). Also around the clock you are in touch with a representative of the tour operator, who can drive up to you at any time. If you are traveling as a savage, then you yourself book a hotel, pay for the plane and get to the hotel. And no one is responsible for you! Also keep in mind that you may have problems with air tickets. The plane may be canceled, or there will be no tickets. And you will have to solve this problem yourself. In addition, the tour operator insures you, which is especially important if you are traveling to an exotic country where you can "catch an infection."

Travel alone or with someone?

During my second trip abroad, I was tormented by the question of whether I should go alone or not. What to say? Feel free to go to Europe alone. It is better to travel together to Egypt, Turkey, OAU, the countries of Southeast Asia.

Traveling alone has its perks. No one will interfere with you, discover the country for yourself. You can go where you want and do what you want. By the way, a lot of Russians go to European resorts alone, and you can find yourself a couple to relax there.

Air travel questions

If you are not allowed to fly on an airplane, or you are pregnant, then it is better not to risk it. After all, flying by plane is a load on all body systems. And it is not clear how your body will behave. If you have a problem of motion sickness in transport, then be sure to buy special pills for motion sickness, in any pharmacy they will tell you. In addition, on vacation you may have boat trips, where you will need tablets.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes on the plane. Take a warm jacket with you, it is often cold on planes. Buy yourself a neck pillow. Also remember that you cannot carry piercing and cutting objects, water bottles, glass objects with you on the plane. Therefore, leave all cosmetic bags (for ladies) in a bag that you check in your luggage.

For entertainment, take interesting books or a tablet to watch your favorite movies. Also, take a small backpack or bag with you on the plane, where you put the necessary medicines and documents.

Also, be aware that after checking documents and customs clearance, you find yourself in a special area where there are duty-free shops and cafes. Here you can drink tea or coffee, buy alcohol, perfumes and other things inexpensively.

Is it necessary to know the language?

One of the most common questions for those who travel abroad for the first time is, do you need to know the language of the country you are going to, or English?

If you plan to constantly travel, then it is worth learning English at a conversational level. In all countries, people who are associated with the tourism industry know English and are explained in it. So learn English if you want to travel the world.

For those who buy tours to Turkey, Egypt, Spain and Greece, Thailand, we hasten to assure you that it is not necessary to know English. In general, employees of hotels, travel agencies and the entertainment industry can speak some Russian. And in many cafes and restaurants you will find a menu in Russian.

In OAO, the Canary Islands, Southeast Asia and other countries less popular with tourists, knowing English is a must. Otherwise, you will not be able to “normally” eat and navigate the terrain. Of course, our tourists often go to these countries without knowing English, but it's better to explain yourself a little.

For example, if you want to travel around the country not along tourist routes, but as a savage, then be sure to learn English!

Do you need to know the language of the country where you are going? If you are going to an exotic country where the tourism industry is poorly developed, then yes, be sure to learn. If you are going to a country where the locals feed on “tourism”, then you can learn colloquial phrases, they will not interfere. And, perhaps, knowing the language of the country will help you discover it from the other side.

By the way, you can learn the language for travel on your own with the help of video courses. Recommended video course “Express English course for travelers (3 hours of video).

Fundamentals of Security Abroad

If you are traveling abroad for the first time, then pay attention to security issues. First, be sure to read the information about the country where you are going. On the site of the tour operator for each country where there are tours, there is a memo that tells about the basic laws and customs that will ensure your safe vacation. You can ask a travel agent to print you such a memo. And of course, do not go to areas where foreigners are not recommended to be. Strictly follow all the recommendations of the tour operator regarding safety!

As soon as you check into the hotel, be sure to rent a safe. This is usually inexpensive. Store documents, phones, money and valuables in a safe. Every hotel has safes.

If you plan to actively travel around the country, then buy yourself a tourist backpack with secret pockets where you can put all your valuables. And don't leave this backpack unattended! In general, even if you are going to "lie" on the beach, then take a backpack. It is easier to pull things out of the bag, or tear them out of your hands. As you already understood, watch your things abroad!

Are you going on vacation to an exotic country? Buy tours from tour operators. Still, they guarantee your safety. When buying tours from the "left" agencies, there is a risk of suffering financially and harming health.

And remember that all insurances are canceled if something happens to you while intoxicated. You will pay for all treatment and so on, and all these services abroad are quite expensive. So don't drink too much! In addition, in a state of intoxication, you can lose money and documents.

Take on a trip abroad medicines that you personally need, also for the treatment of the stomach, intestines, anti-inflammatory and colds, temperature. Often, from climate change and cuisine, tourists have a fever, or there are problems with the intestines. This is called acclimatization. Or because of ignorance of the kitchen, you can simply eat something from which your digestion is disturbed. So get ready!

Money

Another question that tourists who go abroad for the first time ask is what to do with the money. Firstly, ask your friends who have already been to this country, how much money they spent on the trip, or read the reviews of tourists on the Internet.

Literally plan all your travel expenses. Determine the budget and emergency stock. Here is the amount of money and exchange in Russia. And when traveling, strictly follow the budget. You can also take your bank card with you. But suddenly you will not be able to withdraw money abroad?

As we have noted before, it is better to keep money in a hotel safe. Carry small amounts of money with you. Firstly, you will spend less on various trifles, and secondly, in case of theft, loss of money from a backpack or clothes, the money will remain in your hotel safe.

And we also note that do not be afraid and boldly go abroad for the first time. The same people live there as in Russia. If you follow their rules and respect, everything will be fine. And you will discover another world. And never lose your vigilance!

It is possible that you have more questions, but before my trip abroad for the first time, I was interested in all this. And after my first trip, I answered my questions exactly like that.

Do you have plane tickets to another country in your hands, but you have never flown or even left the territory of your native land? Your head is spinning, your hands do not understand what to grab onto? Calm down, you are not the first to fly abroad for the first time. You can close the main part of the questions raging in your head. I will share my personal experience.

A few months ago I was lucky - for the first time in my 25 years of life - to fly for the first time abroad. Alone, without knowledge of English and without travel experience. Yes, this happens too. This experience was not just interesting. But I think that here the details of my experiences should be omitted, and I will share the advice collected from all the travelers I know, which should be adopted by a beginner.

Baggage. Weight and Quantity

Let's start with what you should generally start with. First of all, you need to find out (if you didn’t find out when buying a ticket or tour) what weight of hand luggage and luggage is allowed by your airline for transportation. No, it's second. And first you need to know what happens main luggage(unless you have purchased a budget ticket where only hand luggage is allowed), which you check in at the airport, and hand luggage that you take with you to the salon.

The average weight of the main luggage varies within 20 kg per person, hand luggage - about 5 kg (sometimes 7-10 kg, but it's better not to risk it). Some carriers allow you to take only one bag / suitcase / backpack with you as hand luggage. In this case, the camera on your neck is already considered the second item, for which you will have to pay extra, even if the total weight of the two units is included in the established limit for hand luggage. Therefore, it is better to find out everything in advance, so as not to look for a way out of a difficult situation later.

Short: There are two types of baggage - the main one, which is checked into the luggage compartment of the aircraft (weighing about 20 kg) and hand luggage, which is taken with you on the plane (weighing about 5 kg).

Hand luggage. What is forbidden to take with you

It is not allowed to carry deodorants and other gas-forming substances in hand luggage. spray cans, gels, cosmetics(mascara, gloss, etc.), medications(if there is an urgent need for this, then a prescription and an extract from a doctor are needed), any liquids over 100 ml. That is, water, perfume, and in some cases creams may be asked to be transferred to the main luggage or even left. Therefore, it is better to pack such things immediately in a suitcase.

Also, in no case should you take in hand luggage manicure (and even more so sewing) scissors, sharp nail files and in general everything that one way or another can be used as a weapon. Well, of course, it is forbidden to take compact folding knives And weapon.

By the way, if your keys quite sharp, it is better to immediately send them to the suitcase. Personally, they did not try to take away the keys from me, but there were cases. Think about this when you close your apartment or house. Special attention to such items may arise from checking airports in those countries where the likelihood of terrorist attacks and assassination attempts is increased. There, people and their luggage are especially carefully checked. This is worth considering. (In my case, the super-tough security check at the Egyptian airport was very unbalanced and made me nervous.)

Sometimes it is not allowed to take in hand luggage scotch And cling film. Again, this is my personal experience. In Ukraine and Turkey, they missed it, and in Egypt they took it away.

Doubts can be caused by autonomous charging device(power bank), autonomous columns. In Egypt, we were detained because a square stand-alone speaker seemed suspicious until I showed that music was playing in it. In the main luggage, such an item will cause no less suspicion. Therefore, decide whether you definitely need this thing in another country or whether headphones will suffice.

Short: it is forbidden to carry weapons, sharp cutting and piercing objects (needles, corkscrews, knives), adhesive tape, cling film, water, any gel-, gas-, cream- or water-like liquid with a volume of more than 100 ml (allowed maximum 5 containers of 100 ml).

If you are flying abroad for the first time, then you definitely take with you money, passport, phone, Maybe, camera and laptop. All this should be packed in hand luggage, because. no one is responsible for the perfect safety and "unbroken" of your things in the luggage compartment of the aircraft (and at the airport too).

Also, if you are bringing any fragile items(but oversized), it is better to carry them in hand luggage. Including jewelry, valuables, medical certificates and extracts.

If your trip is business, important and valuable paper, of course, it is also recommended to pack in hand luggage.

Even if you are on vacation, you must have vouchers for transfer to the hotel and check-in at the hotel. They must be taken with you so as not to look in your luggage.

Also, if the flight is long (and it can be considered long from two hours, especially for the first time), then you should take a little products to satisfy your hunger (you can buy something edible even after passing the control). It is desirable that your supplies do not have a too strong smell - people will sit next to you, and the windows in the plane do not open. And it is better to stick to the snacks you have tested that will satisfy your hunger, but will not lead to digestive problems.

Special mention should be made of accumulators for cameras. To be honest, I could not figure out exactly where you can take them. The experience that I had says that it is possible both in hand luggage and in checked baggage. Although, according to the experience of acquaintances, in China, batteries were forced to be laid out from hand luggage. It may be easier to pack the batteries, but only they should not come into contact with each other, so as not to cause a fire or explosion. Since I was not 100% sure what to do, the part packed one set in the main luggage, and took the second one with me (in the camera itself). I decided that in this case they would not take everything away :) As a result, both sets remained intact. But if I had got to the airport of Egypt with them, then most likely they would have been confiscated from me from my hand luggage. Therefore, it is worth additionally consulting how things are with this issue at the airports of the country where you are flying.

Also, for convenience, especially if you are flying at night, an inflatable pillow. This is a great way to sleep alone, and not fall asleep on the shoulder of an unfamiliar neighbor.

There are cases (more often when these are flights with transfers) when the main luggage is lost or your flight is late. Do not worry, they will definitely find him in a day or two, and he will come to you. But so that this does not become a disaster for you and does not spoil the first days of your stay in a new country, take the most necessary things with you in hand luggage. It can be glasses, a hat, a swimsuit (if you are going to the sea). Or a clean shirt and sweater if it's a business trip. Such things will not take up much space, but you will be calm.

Short: it is recommended to take valuables and papers (money, passports, documents, telephones, medical certificates), life-saving medicines, food, wet wipes, an inflatable pillow, the necessary minimum essentials (change of underwear, swimsuit, shirt, etc.) .P.).

Packing of the main luggage

You should not carry perishable products, fragile items and valuables in your main baggage. You have already read the explanation above. That is, checked baggage should not contain everything that is recommended to be carried in hand luggage. Everything is simple.

It is also forbidden to transport caustic substances that can cause corrosion (mercury, all types of alkalis, etc.), all types of gases in canisters, substances and objects that can cause fire (matches, lighters, varnishes, paints, etc. .), and of course no weapons can be transported. And once acquaintances had a chance to sit in a chair next to a climber holding an ice ax in his hands. Those were carefree times...

And so you packed your suitcase. Now be sure to weigh it so as not to get a surprise at the airport itself. I must say right away that 20 kg is quite a lot, an ordinary girl can hardly lift such a suitcase. This is in case you don't have a scale.

If everything is in order with the weight of the luggage, then it's time to pack the suitcase itself. Some do it at the airport (the service is paid, in November 2016 the cost was 70 UAH at Boryspil airport, terminal D), and some do not do it at all.

Personally, my opinion is that the suitcase still needs to be wrapped with a film. Firstly, it will protect it from the intervention of intruders, and secondly, it will preserve its appearance during loading and unloading. For this, ordinary cling film or one that is sold in hardware stores is suitable. One roll per 100 meters is enough for several trips.

Long roll can be cut in half. So it will be more convenient to wind, and you can take the second part with you to pack your suitcase on the way back. But there is a chance that it will eventually be taken from hand luggage, but it will still be cheaper than packing a suitcase there.

On top of the film, you can paste over the suitcase with colored tape. This will help not to tear the film during transportation and immediately recognize your luggage upon receipt at the airport.

By the way, when checking into a hotel, it’s better to immediately ask for scissors so as not to spoil your beautiful manicure and not get hurt by tearing the film manually.

Short: it is forbidden to pack any items and substances that can explode, ignite, or break into checked baggage. As well as especially valuable items and papers. You can not transport weapons and perishable products.

Make sure you bring the essentials for your trip. If it is the sea, then a swimsuit, sunglasses, a hat / cap, beach slippers and a bag, sunblock. Due to the fact that I was traveling almost in winter and was already preparing to "hibernate", I took only a bathing suit. Well, thanks for that.
If your trip is business and includes evening wear, make sure you take enough of them. It is understood - with a margin. It's worth taking a couple extra just in case.
The same goes for shoes. One pair of shoes or sandals may not be enough. Especially when the heel breaks at the most inopportune moment, and the hotel shoemaker has already left. I speak as a victim - the situation was not the most pleasant.
Find out also about the iron in the hotel. Will he be there, is this service paid. And if you have a business meeting, then keep in mind that, most likely, you will need to pay from 5 to 20 dollars for ironing. Or (weather permitting) the night before, you can thoroughly wet the thing, smooth it with your hands and hang it on a hanger. If this is a summer chiffon dress, or a T-shirt that does not require strict “smoothness”, then this option will help save a little. If the meeting is important, and the outfit must be perfect, you should ask for help. Or you can take a travel iron with you if you have one. Great option.
If you are traveling to hot countries, bring hair protection with you. This is especially true for girls with braids. The hot sun burns your hair quite strongly, after which you remember a couple more months of rest “not with an evil, quiet word.”
So that mosquitoes, flies and other insects do not spoil your trip, stock up on protective equipment. On my trip there were many different “flyers” on the beach - I was saved by a spray from mosquitoes and insects.
Be sure to pack a first aid kit (you need to pack it in your main luggage). Focus on your weak points first. But the following list can serve as a basis:
- painkiller (be sure to see contraindications, because my bitter experience shows that it is better to buy the drug more expensive than to hide in the shade for the whole vacation due to the reaction of the drug to the sun);
- a remedy for diarrhea (even if you don’t eat anything “such”, it may just be acclimatization, so it’s better to protect yourself);
- sorbent (activated carbon, sorbex, white coal - at your discretion);
- allergy remedy (for food, water, sun, insects);
- heart medications (weather fluctuations and a change in the climatic zone can affect well-being);
- cotton wool or cotton sponges;
- patch;
- bandage;
- hygiene products.
Before leaving home, double-check your plane tickets, hotel vouchers and insurance (you should have taken it out when buying a tour).
Also, it would not be superfluous to take cash with you, which will be an emergency reserve and, in case of force majeure, will help you get home or pay for the necessary assistance. Usually they remain unclaimed, but it is always better when there is an "airbag".

Well, and most importantly - stock up on a good mood and free memory on your gadgets, because you have new discoveries ahead of you!

Have a good flight (by the way, you should not drink alcohol before the flight - it still won’t relieve anxiety, but it will spoil your well-being).

I think more experienced travelers can add to this list of tips for those who go abroad for the first time, much better, so I suggest sharing life hacks in the comments.

Alina Derkach