Where do I even start to plan a trip?

Travel can be overwhelming, especially if you are new or a solo traveler. I start by planning out my flight & hotel—bundling the two is almost always cheaper & most of the airlines offer packages if you have a rewards account (no credit card necessary though sometimes they do have great incentives with miles for opening a new card). You should always have a total budget in mind before you start planning so that you stick to that budget & I recommend putting together a spreadsheet of your expenses to help keep track.

Hotels, I try to keep central to where I want to spend the most time. I do also factor in proximity to public transportation (Ubers add up quickly) and I personally don’t usually book any hotel with less than a 4.5 star rating in customer reviews. As a solo female, I prioritize my safety (especially abroad) and comfort—I’ve found that you do pay more but the service is usually better. Staff are more friendly & willing to help you with anything you may need, and many places will arrange cabs/drivers for you if you need to go anywhere.

Flights, I recommend a Nonstop flight if possible. In my opinion, this lessens the chance of your baggage getting lost and you don’t have to stress about making a connecting flight. However, if you do not have the luxury of a direct flight, I recommend having at least a 1.5 hour layover for domestic flights and a 3 hour layover for international for your return flights. You will need to go through Customs upon arrival to your connecting airport & that is a whole process that I’ve detailed below.

What’s the process for going through Customs?

As mentioned above, I recommend a 3 hour layover for international flights when coming back to the States. Both times I’ve flown home from Edinburgh, I’ve connected through Dulles (DC) and both times we faced major delays.

If you’ve never taken an international trip before, when you arrive back to the US you will have to go through US Customs. This is very easy, they ask you what purchases you made & how much you spent. There are restrictions on what you can bring back with you so please check out their website before traveling. Once you pass through here, you’ll enter a mini-baggage claim area that has only the luggage for international connections. You’ll have to grab your bags and place them on another conveyor belt then proceed through Security again. They did not make us take off our shoes or take any liquids/electronics out of our bags but this could very by airport. Once through there, you can make your way to your gate & connect to your flight. From time of stepping off the plane to getting through security, I’d say plan for an hour.

What documents do I need to travel abroad?

While it varies by country, you can always find that information on Travel.State.Gov

You will always need a valid Passport—many countries require that it not expire within 6 months of your visit, so be sure to check your expiration date in advance.

Some countries require a Travel Visa or other documentation. For instance, the UK requires an ETA if staying for less than 6 months.

Do I need to convert money?

From my experience in England & Scotland, I’ve not converted either time that I’ve visited. Nearly every shop & restaurant is cashless, and they prefer tap-to-pay cards. I was given some lovely advice from a driver to be cautious with where you get your money converted because a lot of tourists do not pay attention to the exchange rates & the companies will take advantage. So I recommend exchanging limited amounts of cash—tipping is very different in the UK and drivers or tour guides are accepting of dollars.