Is it possible to be a seasoned traveler on your first trip?

You may think that the first time you visit a new country is always going to be trial by fire. I’m happy to share that, with enough research and learning from good resources, you’ll be able to feel like a seasoned traveler on your very first trip to a new country. To explain how this is possible, I’d like to share an example from my friend’s first trip to Japan.

My friend and I discuss frequently about travel with each other. (It’s one of our shared hobbies.) As soon as he decided to plan a trip to Japan, he asked everyone questions so he could be prepared. While I let him and his travel partner handle their own trip itinerary, I prepared some tips and advice for making his first Japan trip perfect.

Many of the things I told him are already on Upgraded to Economy:

• Preparing for your first trip to Japan
• Some unspoken rules in Japan
• Checklist for traveling to Japan

With these tips in mind, he landed in Japan for the first time, as prepared as any repeat traveler to Japan could be.

While still in Japan, he told me:

I feel like a seasoned traveler even though it’s my first time in Japan

He attributed his preparedness to, among other things:

• Obtaining a debit card (before departure) that he could use to withdraw yen at Japanese ATMs
• Having a Google Voice number that lets him call +81 phone numbers in Japan
• Booking a seat on the Shinkansen that allows the stowage of large suitcases
• Having a Suica ready to go
• Setting up SmartEX before entering Japan
• Getting an Ubigi eSIM

It’s always heartwarming for me to see the travel tips on Upgraded to Economy making a big difference. You can only have a first time once, so it’s important to make it as perfect as possible!

My friend may make a guest post on Upgraded to Economy soon, so stay tuned for his post-trip insights!