International Travel

Practical guides and cultural insights for traveling beyond US borders.

A Country-by-Country Look at Tipping Culture: What Travelers Often Get Wrong
Featured · International Travel

A Country-by-Country Look at Tipping Culture: What Travelers Often Get Wrong

Tipping expectations range from mandatory to actively discouraged depending on where you are. This regional breakdown helps you navigate the differences.

By Travel & Places Editorial Team · 6 min · Feb 25, 2024
Cultural Etiquette Principles That Transfer Across Many Countries
International Travel

Cultural Etiquette Principles That Transfer Across Many Countries

Tipping norms, dress codes, greetings, and dining customs vary widely. These foundational etiquette principles help you navigate unfamiliar…

By Travel & Places Editorial Team · 7 min · Oct 22, 2024
Currency Exchange Abroad: When Airport Kiosks, ATMs, and Local Banks Each Make Sense
International Travel

Currency Exchange Abroad: When Airport Kiosks, ATMs, and Local Banks Each Make Sense

Not all currency exchange methods cost the same or work everywhere. Learn the trade-offs between each approach before landing in a new country.

By Travel & Places Editorial Team · 6 min · Mar 19, 2024
How Entry Requirements Work — and Why You Can't Rely on a Single Source
International Travel

How Entry Requirements Work — and Why You Can't Rely on a Single Source

Visas, eTA systems, biometrics, and onward-ticket rules: a clear explanation of how entry requirements are structured and where to verify them.

By Travel & Places Editorial Team · 9 min · Mar 16, 2023
Jet Lag Is Not Just Tiredness: The Science Behind Your Body Clock Crossing Time Zones
International Travel

Jet Lag Is Not Just Tiredness: The Science Behind Your Body Clock Crossing Time Zones

Jet lag disrupts more than sleep. Understand the circadian biology behind it and general strategies commonly used to help your body adjust.

By Travel & Places Editorial Team · 9 min · Oct 4, 2024
Long-Haul Flights: How Experienced Travelers Approach Comfort and Wellbeing in the Air
International Travel

Long-Haul Flights: How Experienced Travelers Approach Comfort and Wellbeing in the Air

Seat selection, hydration, movement, and sleep strategy all influence how you feel on arrival. Here's what seasoned long-haul fliers tend to prioritize.

By Travel & Places Editorial Team · 6 min · Dec 8, 2023
Making Sense of International Phone Plans, SIM Cards, and eSIMs
International Travel

Making Sense of International Phone Plans, SIM Cards, and eSIMs

Roaming charges, local SIM cards, and eSIM profiles each work differently. Here's what American travelers need to know about staying connected abroad.

By Travel & Places Editorial Team · 6 min · May 24, 2024
Slow Travel vs. Itinerary-Packed Trips: What Each Style of International Travel Actually Involves
International Travel

Slow Travel vs. Itinerary-Packed Trips: What Each Style of International Travel Actually Involves

Spending weeks in one place versus hitting many destinations in one trip each offer distinct experiences, costs, and trade-offs worth weighing before you plan.

By Travel & Places Editorial Team · 7 min · Jun 2, 2024
The Pre-Departure Checklist Every International Traveler Should Run Through
International Travel

The Pre-Departure Checklist Every International Traveler Should Run Through

Documents, health prep, financial notifications, and device settings — a structured checklist to work through in the weeks and days before you fly.

By Travel & Places Editorial Team · 7 min · Nov 12, 2024
Things First-Time International Travelers Assume About Safety That Aren't Quite Right
International Travel

Things First-Time International Travelers Assume About Safety That Aren't Quite Right

Outdated assumptions about "dangerous" destinations and overconfidence about "safe" ones can both lead travelers astray. Here's a clearer picture.

By Travel & Places Editorial Team · 6 min · Jul 6, 2023
Travel Insurance Explained: What Policies Cover and the Gaps That Catch Travelers Off Guard
International Travel

Travel Insurance Explained: What Policies Cover and the Gaps That Catch Travelers Off Guard

Trip cancellation, medical evacuation, and baggage loss sound comprehensive — until you read the exclusions. Here's how to read a policy clearly.

By Travel & Places Editorial Team · 9 min · Oct 16, 2025
Traveling During Shoulder Season: The Trade-Offs Between Crowds, Cost, and Conditions
International Travel

Traveling During Shoulder Season: The Trade-Offs Between Crowds, Cost, and Conditions

Shoulder season promises fewer crowds and lower prices, but it comes with weather and availability trade-offs worth understanding before you book.

By Travel & Places Editorial Team · 5 min · Jul 14, 2023
US Passport vs. Passport Card: Which Document Actually Gets You Where You're Going
International Travel

US Passport vs. Passport Card: Which Document Actually Gets You Where You're Going

A passport card costs less and fits in your wallet, but its use is limited. Understand exactly where each document is accepted before you apply.

By Travel & Places Editorial Team · 6 min · Feb 10, 2026
Why Travelers Underestimate Layovers — and How Transit Rules Actually Work
International Travel

Why Travelers Underestimate Layovers — and How Transit Rules Actually Work

Transit visas, airside vs. landside connections, and minimum connection times are misunderstood more often than you'd expect. Here's how to read them correctly.

By Travel & Places Editorial Team · 5 min · Apr 21, 2024
Your First International Trip as an American: What Nobody Tells You Beforehand
International Travel

Your First International Trip as an American: What Nobody Tells You Beforehand

From customs forms to currency exchange, here's the practical groundwork first-time American travelers abroad often wish they'd laid sooner.

By Travel & Places Editorial Team · 10 min · Mar 8, 2025