Have you ever traveled out of state? How about out of country? If not, stay with me for 5 minutes. I am here to prepare you for your first trip out of country. I am not a hardcore traveler but I do posses some experience in traveling. So bare with me, you'll want to know this for your future trip.
One of the most important part of traveling is timing. Timing is everything. Buy your plane tickets early, book your hotels on time and always check in advance. Thankfully, I never had any problems with timing but I've heard of some people who got into serious trouble because of it.
Take care of your passports and other travel documents like a baby. If you plan on coming back home, you'll need them for sure. Next important item is money. You need money to do anything so make sure your bringing plenty. Quick Tip: Bring cash and credit card. Some places will only accept cash while others can accept both. But use credit card when you can it's always a better way to pay in foreign countries that use a different currency.
Always bring a map. Last summer in Singapore, there were technical difficulties with our electronic devices however we were saved by our trusty map. Even on my recent trip to Korea, I had a map of Seoul on me the entire time. Thankfully I didn't have to use it but just in case.
My next tip to you is to always make friends with natives of the country. Who knows they might take you somewhere amazing that weren't on the guide book. In summer of 2010, my family and I were in Lisbon, Portugal. We met this wonderful portuguese couple who took us on a night tour of the city (which was not originally a part of our tour) the city of Lisbon was so different during night than day. It was a wonderful experience.
Lastly, understand the culture of the country. What you might to daily in America, may be considered rude in other countries. So make sure you understand the custom and culture before you go. For example, in Korea, it is considered rude if you don't bow down when greeting someone older than you. I know that sounds ridiculous but it's just part of a culture.
Most importantly, enjoy yourself!! You are paying a lot of money for your trip so make it worth every penny. Good Luck out there champs!!