Our Most Googled Questions When Visiting A New Country
We were only a few countries into our year of travel when we stumbled across a habitat we had unknowingly developed. We Googled the same, random list of questions before each visit as if we were doing it for the first time. When I realized that there was a potential list to put together, I jumped at the chance. We deemed it our “Next Destination List” and it became a system to run through before heading to a new country. Sure, it was helpful. Some of the items are practical to look up (e.g. “What language do they speak in…”). But most items on the list are random, non-necessities that when viewed as a whole are very much a reflection of our family and our travel style.
Below is our Next Destination List, the random, non-necessary, yet super helpful list before heading somewhere new.
What is the official language in _______?
What currency is used in _______?
Do you tip servers? What about taxi drivers?
Can you drink the tap water?
Holidays and events in ______ in (the month you are traveling there)?
Do kids ride free on public transportation?
Does Uber operate in ______?
Can you drink alcohol in a park or while walking down the street?
What’s the best food delivery app?
How do you say “hello”, “thank you”, “excuse me” and “beer” in the country’s language?
Where’s the closest playground to (our accommodation)?
What are the eating rules to know in ______?
Recent news for _______? (Stay up on current events in the country that you’re headed to. Also, signing up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program with the government is important too.)
Clothing norms in ______? What do I need to wear to enter (any religious sites you are visiting)?
Where is the (your home country) Embassy in ______?
What is the 10 day forecast for ______? (Or if further out, what, historically, is the weather like during the month that you will be traveling?)
What laws should I know about when traveling to ______? (Many countries have different laws then you’re used to in your home country. Look them up before you go!)
Is our list missing anything? Do you have questions that you research before traveling somewhere new?
I share about this list and many other travel prep topics in my book, How to Travel the World: Long Term Travel Planning. Check it out on Amazon or Apple Books!
