How to plan your first trip abroad
With all those photos of exotic countries, historic cities and breathtaking landscapes filling your feed, it’s only natural to start wondering what it would be like to plan your first trip and experience it all yourself.
But what if you’ve never travelled before – and even the idea of planning a trip feels overwhelming?
You’re not alone. Many people feel exactly the same, even those who seem like experienced travellers. Honestly, I still get stressed when planning a trip to a country I haven’t visited yet – and I’ve been to more than 20 countries across Europe and beyond.
The good news is simple: you don’t need a perfect plan. A few clear decisions are enough to get you started – and the rest can fall into place along the way.
Read on, and I’ll show you how to plan your first trip in a calm, simple and completely doable way.
1. Choose a comfortable destination
Your first trip doesn’t need to be somewhere far away or exotic. You can save that for later – once you’ve built some confidence (and maybe collected a few passport stamps).
For now, choose a place where you’ll feel comfortable. Maybe a neighbouring country with similar culture or language. If the language barrier worries you, consider a country where most people speak English.
My first real trip was to Italy, and now it feels like a second home. (Childhood trips to Latvia don’t count – we lived near the border and it felt like a long drive with a few extra signs.)
Try to choose a country with good public transport. Driving can sound adventurous, but on your first trip, you really don’t need the stress of navigating foreign roads or arguing with a GPS in three languages.
Italy’s train system was perfect for me and made everything smoother. If you’re still deciding, check out my guide on how to choose your first travel destination.
2. Keep it short and simple
Think of your first trip as a tryout. You’re simply testing what it feels like to be somewhere unfamiliar – seeing signs you don’t recognize, hearing languages you don’t speak, and living slightly differently than usual.
The easiest way to do that? A short weekend break or a 3–5 day trip.
My first trip to Italy wasn’t like that – it was a two-week blur of cities and train tickets. You really don’t have to go that route. In fact, you shouldn’t.
Start small, go slow, and build your confidence step by step. A short, simple trip can be exactly what you need to fall in love with travelling – without falling apart in the process.
3. Book flight and stay first
Once you know where you want to go, your trip only needs two things to become real:
a flight and a place to sleep.
Everything else can be planned later – or not at all.
Booking your flight and accommodation can take a while (I often spend more time on this than planning the itinerary), but these two decisions set the tone for your entire trip.
If you’re travelling to Italy, remember that transport strikes are quite common. Before choosing your flight or planning connections, it’s worth checking whether a strike is scheduled. You can read more in my guide on what to do if you run into a strike in Italy.
Picture this: you land after midnight and suddenly realise there’s no transport to your hotel. Taxis in some countries can be more expensive than the flight itself. In Italy, for example, a late-night airport taxi can cost more than €200.
So don’t book flights just because they’re cheap. Check the arrival time, the airport location and how you’ll get to your accommodation.
Sometimes spending a little more saves you a lot of stress.
A quick tip: when searching on Skyscanner, Kiwi.com or Momondo – book directly with the airline whenever possible. If your flight changes or gets cancelled, dealing with the airline is much easier.
Accommodation is just as important. You don’t need anything fancy – a clean B&B or apartment in a central location is more than enough. I use Booking.com for the filters, real reviews and discounts.
Once you book these two things, you can officially start obsessively checking the weather forecast – like a real traveller.
4. Don’t overplan your days
When planning your first trip, resist the temptation to fill every moment. One to three main things per day is usually enough.
You might visit a castle in the morning, wander pretty streets in the afternoon, and end your day with a relaxed dinner somewhere that smells amazing.
Set your own pace. Only you know whether you want to keep walking or sit with a coffee and watch daily life around you.
Feel free to get off the beaten path – the best moments often come from small surprises.
And remember: you don’t need to see everything. There are no must-see places. No checklist to complete. You decide what matters.
Just relax, take it easy and enjoy.
5. Pack only essentials
I’m definitely not the only one who packs at the last minute. But if being prepared helps you feel calmer, go for it – just don’t overpack.
You only need the essentials:
- passport or ID
- travel insurance
- your phone
- a downloadable map, your accommodation details and Google Translate
And don’t worry if you forget something small, like a toothbrush – you can buy one when you land. (Unless you’re heading into the jungle… and if that’s your first trip, you’re already much braver than most.)
6. Feeling nervous is normal
It can already feel like a lot – even just reading all this. So yes, feeling nervous is completely normal.
I still catch myself thinking, “Why am I doing this?” when I have to pack, wake up early or double-check everything.
But then… I get to the airport.
That moment – hearing the announcements, seeing other travellers – is when I finally feel like I’m on holiday.
I won’t tell you “don’t stress, it’ll be fine”, because I still get nervous even travelling within my own country. But I will tell you this: it gets better.
The nerves are just a small hurdle. Once you’re past them, the good moments start.
7. Take your time after landing
After landing, don’t rush. Take your time – use the restroom, grab a snack, buy a local SIM card if you need one, and figure out where the bus or train leaves from.
Follow the signs. Airports are designed to guide you. If you get confused, look around – most people are heading the same way.
If something unexpected happens, don’t panic. With today’s technology, it’s easier than ever to figure things out. Take a breath and keep going.
You’ve already done the hardest part: you started.
You’re more ready than you think
Planning your first trip might still feel a bit scary. That’s okay.
But you’ve already taken the first step – you’re thinking about it. You care. You’re curious. And curiosity is where every great trip begins.
You don’t need to be an expert. You don’t need a perfect plan. All you need is a place to go, a way to get there, and the courage to take the first step.
Once you do, you might wonder what took you so long.
