Well hello to you my reader chums! As many of you know, travelling is my biggest passion in life; I love nothing more than jetting off somewhere new or researching and booking a trip. I've spent all of my twenties so far prioritising travel and planning trips, and with that comes lessons I've learned and wisdom to share.

If you're new to travelling, going on your first holiday as an adult or keen to plan a trip, here is my guide to everything you should know and prepare as a first-time traveller.

Know your budgets and timeframe

Every trip is different and every traveller is different. Some people have the budget for lavish holidays for longer periods and others are on a smaller budget. I've always travelled on a budget, ensuring I could visit more places, more often, rather than go to more expensive destinations. However as I've got older, I've started to spend a little more on holidays, with bigger budgets. I can imagine if you're a first-time traveller and young, you may be on the lower end of the budget scale which is more than doable. Set your budget, pick your time frame and begin your research for your desired destination with the budget in mind. 

Check visa and entry requirements

Every country has different visa and entry requirements across the world and when you've decided on a destination, research what these are. If you do it as soon as possible, you'll have more than enough time to apply for visas or fill out entry forms before your trip. You don't want to leave any of these down to the last minute because you'll only cause excess anxiety and worry.

Research, research, research

Research is key with travelling, especially when you're going somewhere new. Every country has its cultural norms and top things to see and do. The more you research and gauge an understanding of the destination you're visiting, the easier it can be to book activities, tours, and excursions and create an itinerary for your trip. It can also help with knowing which attractions you need to book in advance and an estimated amount of spending money based on what you'd like to do.

Booking independently vs package holidays

There are two ways to book your holiday and the pros and cons to each, either booking independently or booking a package holiday. Booking independently includes booking the flights and accommodation directly, usually on a flight website (after doing a comparison search on Skyscanner) and accommodation on websites, such as Booking.com, Hotels.com or HostelWorld. If you like to have more of a choice and do the research and planning yourself, then booking independently may be for you.

A package holiday is what it says on the tin: booking a trip where flights and accommodation are booked together for one price (and usually transfers are included too). Many first-time travellers use this option for ease and stress-free experience, as it's down to a travel agent to organise the trip for you.

Check-in your flights (the difference)

Checking in for a flight can be done online via the airline's website. You'll need to use your confirmation number and email usually to locate your booking and can go from there to check in the flight, adding your passport number and personal details. You can also add in any extra extras here, such as food. Check-in online can open between 30 days to 24 hours before depending on the airline you've chosen and if it's short haul/long haul. Your airline will let you know when online check-in is open. You can also check in at the airport, however, leaving it until then can be a little stressful in case the airport is busy and you can't check in on time.  

Pack like a pro

Mastering the skill of packing can take time and I don't think many people do it efficiently on your first go, however, keeping these tips in mind will help.

My best packing tips include:

• Use packing cubes - it can help you organise each type of item in your luggage
• Roll up clothing to fit more in your suitcase
• Wear your heaviest clothing
• Look at what you've packed and remove unnecessary items
• Write a packing list to prevent you from forgetting anything

When you fly to a destination, you'll have the option of cabin and hold luggage. Cabin luggage is what you bring with you when you get on the plane and hold luggage is the luggage you check in and goes in the back of the plane. With cabin luggage, you'll generally have cabin-size a small bag included and have to pay for a cabin-size suitcase. Hold luggage options can vary in size and weight too. Every airline will have its rules on the size and weight that's allowed for cabin bags and hold bags - ensure you check that before getting to the airport. 

Getting through the airport advice

Getting through the airport can be overwhelming for your first time, especially if you're travelling at peak season. These are some things to keep mindful of when going through the airport: 

• Go to the airport check-in desk first if checking in hold luggage
• Head towards security, putting your bags through 
• Enjoy the airport - grab some food and shop duty-free
• Wait until your gate number appears on the screen and head to the gate
• The airline crew will check your boarding pass and passport, letting you on the plane

I hope you enjoyed this post. When is your first trip?

Thank you for reading <3