Home
Blog
Travel Inspiration
Pros and Cons of Travelling Internationally

Pros and Cons of Travelling Internationally

Weighing up the pros and cons of travelling internationally is important if you are looking to escape to far-flung destinations. Even if you love the comforts of your home country, nothing beats escaping from it all and venturing further afield to new and exciting climes. However, there are many things you need to seriously consider before booking a flight and packing a bag. You need to overcome the apparent obstacle of a foreign language and think more about immersing yourself in a new culture. You may also want to mitigate the added costs of travel insurance, visas and vaccinations with long-term travel plans. Here are things to remember when assessing the perks and drawbacks of international travel.

Overcoming the language barrier
Picking the right travel insurance
Factoring in additional travel costs
The cost of spending abroad
Investing in new experiences

Overcoming the language barrier

Overcoming the language barrier is an obstacle you will have to deal with when travelling internationally. Even if you are venturing to a destination where English is recognised as an official language, communicating with the locals can still be daunting. However, see this is a challenge to rise to rather than a brick wall. Getting to grips with the local lingo and brushing up on a foreign language can in fact make your international trips a more enriching experience.

Picking the right travel insurance

If you are looking to travel abroad, travel insurance is definitely something you should be looking into. Travel insurance has distinct advantages and drawbacks. If you plan on travelling abroad infrequently, single trip travel insurance is the practical way to go, if an expensive option. Regular adventurers will be best served by annual travel insurance. Annual insurance cover can be rather costly, but it yields big savings if you regularly jet off to international destinations. Both types of travel insurance provide you with peace of mind when you travel, allowing you to enjoy your excursions without worrying about unexpected costs piling up.

Factoring in additional travel costs

Once you have paid for international flights, there are other costs to consider when travelling abroad. Airport transfers are some of the first additional costs you will encounter. If you are unfamiliar with your destination, it is easy to pay over the odds for a simple trip from the airport terminal to your accommodation. If you want to make significant savings when travelling internationally, you should aim to use public transport as much as possible. The lower overall cost of living in many foreign countries can help minimise this expense. Depending on where you travel to, you may also need to budget for the cost of travel visas and vaccinations. These can be expensive, but once you have paid for them, they can provide coverage for a considerable amount of time. This is ideal for those who travel abroad frequently and want to make savings in the long run.

The cost of spending abroad

One great thing about international travel is that many foreign countries have a relatively low cost of living. This means you can expect to pay far less for things like food, accommodation, and local travel. This is ideal if you want to enjoy longer stays in faraway climes. However, the way you spend your money can cost you more than it needs to. If you use debit and credit cards abroad, you may have to pay for additional transaction costs. Using cash in the local currency is preferable as this form of payment will be more readily accepted, allowing you to enjoy more experiences. Just ensure you pick up local currency at a good rate of exchange.

Investing in new experiences

Nothing beats the escapism offered by international travel. Before you book your trip, it's worth remembering that you can't put a price on the experience of immersing yourself in a new culture and exposing yourself to richly rewarding experiences. You can enjoy festivals and celebrations unlike anything you have encountered. Food lovers can also look forward to unrivalled culinary discovery when they travel internationally. If you are eager to visit iconic landmarks and natural wonders, you will almost certainly need to venture further afield than your home country. You may want to stick to a budget when travelling, but be careful not too limit yourself too much and deprive yourself of once-in-a-lifetime experiences.