First-Time Traveler Advice: 9 Essential Tips for Exploring New Places

The first thing I recommend new travellers to do when getting ready to explore a new place is to research the destination they are going to. Why is this important? The place you’re going to might have different laws, specific crimes to be aware of, cultural differences and even dangers that you may never have needed to consider at home. You wouldn’t want to do something in your new destination that is deemed a breach of law or disrespectful to the locals, even if it is something that is perfectly okay to do at home. It wouldn’t be worth getting yourself into trouble due to ignorance. Not to mention the safety aspects. You might be heading to a place with dangerous wildlife that, unless you actively research what’s around, you might never know about, which puts you at great risk. Research should be a priority so that you can enjoy your trip while staying safe; you’ll be grateful you did it.

First-time travelers, listen up: my top advice from 100+ safaris and travel trips? Pack light, but never skimp on binoculars. I learned this the hard way on my debut Jim Corbett trip, lugging a massive bag through jungle trails, missing tiger tracks because my hands were full.

Ditch the extras; one backpack max. Binoculars? Game-changer for spotting distant elephants or birds without disturbing them. In Corbett’s Bijrani zone, they’ve revealed 3x more wildlife than naked eyes alone.

But the most important thing to remember when exploring anywhere new? Respect sets you free: local rules, nature’s rules, everyone’s rules. Wildlife travel hammered this home: in Corbett, one honk or step off-trail can scatter herds for hours.

First-timers blasting music or feeding monkeys? Ruins it for everyone. I’ve seen tourists fined in Rajasthan for temple selfies, or lost in reserves ignoring guides. Respect local customs, park laws (slow jeeps only), and silence: 82% better sightings come from stillness.

This mindset shifted my travels from tourist to explorer. Jungle Revives bookings thrive because guests get this: patience + respect = unforgettable sightings (tigers at dusk, anyone?). Ignore it, and you’re just noise. Embrace it, and new places welcome you.

Grab those binoculars, pack smart, respect deep: your adventures level up instantly.

The biggest mistake I see first-time travelers make? Picking destinations based on Instagram photos without checking the actual weather patterns.

I work with 30 years of historical weather data, and the number of people who book Bali in November (peak monsoon 45% daily rain chance) or Iceland in January (4 hours of daylight) is staggering.

My advice: Before you book anything, spend 5 minutes checking historical weather for your exact dates. Not just “average temperature in July,” but the actual day-by-day patterns. There’s a massive difference between Rome on June 1st vs June 25th.

Also – shoulder seasons are your best friend. You get 90% of the weather quality at 50% of the price. Late September in Greece is still 26degC, barely any rain, but empty beaches.

Have a plan, but also allow yourself time for flexibility. It’s always helpful to plan out your trip ahead of time so that you can research what you want to do and figure out when and how to do it. For example, if you really want to visit a particular building but it’s only open on certain days, you’ll want to know that ahead of time so that you can specifically plan to visit it on a day that’s open. At the same time, you also want to make sure that your trip isn’t planned out to the minute, because you never know what cool experiences or things you’ll discover when you’re there that you’ll want to check out more, plus you never know if something will happen that will throw a wrench in your plans and force you to have to change things around.

My biggest tip is to allow yourself to disconnect more from your daily life. The social media scrolling, the calls, the emails, all that can wait until you go back home.

Don’t be afraid to ask the locals for recommendations rather than spending hours reading reviews on Google. The first time you go travelling, you may feel apprehensive thinking that people may want to scam you, and this is indeed a possibility, but in the vast majority of cases people are genuinely happy to help tourists and show the best of their hospitality.

If you’re going to a place where there’s a different language than your spoken, learn how to say “hello” and “thank you”; go with a smile and all the doors will be open for you!

If you’re curious about solo travelling, head to planetofadventures.com for tips and tricks on how to travel the world on a budget.

Do your research!

Know what the climate is like in your destination. Think about mannerisms, languages, and local customs. Pack appropriate clothing for the activities you’re going to do — that includes footwear.

Compile a loose itinerary before you go to help guide your exploration. Ask locals for recommendations on things to do to supplement.

Always remember to be open to new experiences when you’re exploring a new place. That’s why you’re there, right? Say yes and try things. Get out of your comfort zone.

Digitally network before you jet off. In today’s social media world, making friends is effortless, so don’t wait till you land. Weeks ahead, hit up Instagram, X, or niche hobby groups to link with locals or expats at your spot.

It lets you live like a true local, the ultimate way to roam.

You can skip the algorithm traps, because your new pal will show you how to skip touristy top-10 lists for the real pulse, from hidden cafes and secret gigs to lesser-known neighborhood gems.

Hit the ground running as you arrive with a soft landing, a friendly face, and insider tips all waiting for you. Way better than fumbling as a lost newbie.

Remember, epic trips are about relationships, not checklists. A guidebook in your hand only points to landmarks; a local you can call a friend will unlock the soul of the place!