A great way to learn about a city before you arrive is to download a walking tour of the city to your MP3 player or smart phone.
Many destinations, particularly in Europe, offer free downloads of maps, audio tours, and podcasts through official city government and tourism websites. Self-guided sightseeing tours of cities and major attractions, such as the Louvre, may also be available through Apple’s iTunes website. Some tours may require a small fee to download, but they’re usually less than $15.
The advantage of learning about the city before your arrival is that you can maximize your time by doing those things you really want to do, rather than trying to figure out your schedule while on the ground. Also, being oriented upon arrival just makes you feel more confident and excited about your adventure.
Whenever I travel internationally, I always carry a few small gifts from my hometown that other people might be interested in — things like chocolates, pens, dress shirts and basic housewares like vegetable peelers. These kinds of gifts are appreciated in many developing nations.
Even though India, for example, exports many of the clothes we purchase in developed countries, those clothes are not available for sale domestically.
High-quality, everyday items provided to your host family or helpers or service workers will ensure you get a personal touch, and they mean as much or more than a generous tip.
If you’re going abroad, getting local currency from an ATM attached to a bank is cost effective and easy, but the problem is that you only get large bills, and many times the attached bank is not open to exchange for smaller bills.
When traveling, especially in South America and Africa, I have found it helpful to bring American one dollar bills for tips. There’s nothing worse than trying to ask someone who you want to tip to make change.
Dollar bills are almost always greatly appreciated, and are typically very tough to find once you’re abroad.
Counterpoint: Don’t pay in dollars – International travel tip
Utilize the U.S. Department of State‘s Travel Registration service. Yes, it seems like an invasion of privacy and feels like Big Brother is watching. However, in the case of natural disaster or political unrest, there is no better group of people to share your travel plans.
It also works in reverse — if you must be contacted in case of an emergency stateside.
Travelers register their personal information, where he or she will be staying, and emergency contact information.
The State Department adheres to the Privacy Act and will not share a traveler’s itinerary or other information with anyone.