Alright, let’s do this again because apparently I still sound too polished or something. Here’s the less robotic version—me, sitting on my couch in Austin with a dying phone battery, dog snoring next to me, trying to type this before the La Croix goes flat. International travel tips are mostly bullshit unless they come from someone who’s actually cried in an airport bathroom at least once.
I’m not kidding. I’ve done it. Twice. Once in Heathrow because my connecting flight got canceled and the rebooking line was longer than my entire life expectancy, and once in Narita because I thought “I’ll just power through the jet lag” was a personality trait. Spoiler: it’s not.
The Packing Part Where I Always Lie to Myself
Everyone says “pack light” like it’s easy. It’s not. I still bring too much every single time.
What I actually do now (after years of 50-lb overweight fees):
- One carry-on. That’s the goal. I usually fail and check something small anyway.
- Wear the heaviest crap on the plane: giant hoodie, clunky boots, the jeans that barely zip after Thanksgiving. I look like a walking laundry pile but who cares.
- Dollar-store Ziplocs for everything. Liquids in one, electronics cables in another, gross socks in the third so my clean clothes don’t smell like feet.
- One pair of “going out” shoes. One. Not four. I’m still working on believing that.
I used to bring six pairs of underwear “just in case.” Just in case of what? A underwear apocalypse? Now it’s four max and I wash them in the hotel sink like an adult. Sort of. International Travel Tips
Airport & Flight Stuff I Wish I’d Known Sooner
Three hours early for international flights leaving the U.S. Minimum. I used to do two and paid for it in Frankfurt. Security line snaked forever, gate agent gave zero sympathy, and I sprinted like an idiot only to watch the door close. Never again.
Random things that actually matter:
- Download offline Google Maps + city public transit app before you leave American cell service.
- Screenshot your whole itinerary, passport data page, hotel booking. Phone dies = instant panic attack. Learned that in Lisbon the hard way.
- Bring a power bank. A good one. Mine died in Reykjavik and I almost cried in a Subway.
- Change of clothes + underwear in carry-on. Always. Lost bags happen and you don’t want to be wearing yesterday’s shirt when you finally get to your hotel.
Also: earplugs + eye mask + neck pillow. I fought the neck pillow for years because it looked stupid. It is stupid. But it works.
Money Screw-Ups I Still Cringe About
Used a debit card with 3% foreign transaction fees my first few trips. Every coffee, every train ticket—boom, fee. Switched to a no-fee travel card and suddenly felt rich.
Other wallet pain:
- Tell your bank you’re leaving the country. Forgot once in Madrid. Card declined at Zara. Had to call from a random street corner while people stared.
- Carry $100–200 in local cash. Small bills. Uber might not take cards, street vendors definitely won’t.
- Venmo/Zelle won’t work abroad. Shocking, I know.
Jet Lag Is Evil and I’m Still Bad at It
I’m 37 now. Jet lag hits like a truck. Used to think I could “tough it out.” Ended up asleep on a random bench in Seoul with tourists taking pictures of me.
Current survival mode:
- Stay awake till at least 9–10 p.m. local no matter how dead I feel.
- Get outside in daylight ASAP. Even if it’s just walking to a convenience store.
- Melatonin + caffeine strategic timing. Don’t mainline coffee at 3 a.m. local. Rookie move.
Food-wise: stop trying to find “American” food the first day. Just eat whatever everyone else is eating. You’ll live.
Look, I’m Still Figuring This Out
I still forget adapters sometimes. I still overthink packing lists at 1 a.m. the night before. I still get annoyed when the airport Wi-Fi is slower than dial-up.
But I’m out there doing it anyway.
If you’re sitting there right now googling “international travel tips” because your flight’s in three weeks—breathe. You’ll screw some stuff up. It’s fine. The good parts (random street food that blows your mind, views that make you shut up for once, people who are kinder than you expected) are worth the dumb mistakes.
Drop your own travel horror story or hack below. I’ll probably be reading it at 4 a.m. somewhere over the Atlantic, wide awake and regretting my life choices.
Links to stuff I actually use:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred – no foreign fees, points I actually redeem
- Anker power bank – hasn’t let me down yet
- Trtl neck pillow – looks ridiculous, works great
