Traveling is always fun. You get to see new places, meet new people, and make new memories. When visiting a place you’ve never been to, it’s worth reading about some tips to ensure you know some essential things about the destination and make your trip much more convenient. If you’re a first-time tourist in any country near the equator, some advice from experienced travelers can help you enjoy your travels while ensuring you’re always safe and healthy. If you’re ready to visit the equator and enjoy tropical fun, keep reading!
Find Safe Storage
No matter where you’re going, you should always ensure safe storage for your belongings. As a first-time tourist, you don’t know the people around you and are unfamiliar with the area. You should find a way to secure your luggage, money, passport, essential documents, and other expensive items. This will protect you from burglars, pickpockets, and other people who take advantage of clueless tourists. Before you even get on the plane, make sure you have a plan for safe storage.
Start with your accommodations. Call the establishment to see if they have any security storage boxes, like a safe or vault, where you can leave valuable items as you roam the city. Make sure you can trust the staff, as some establishments can easily open those security boxes without your permission. It also pays to do your research about these hotel safes and vaults. See customer reviews and see if there are any complaints about lost belongings during their stay.
If you plan to stay long, you can also rent specific spaces or rooms to secure your stuff. For example, you might rent a utility shed to store expensive and larger items. You may also find lockers that you can secure with your own padlocks. Whatever it is, ensure you know some smart ways to keep your belongings safe. This will save you from many headaches and allow you to enjoy your trip.
Visit a Tropical Island
One of the best things you can do as a first-time tourist on the equator is to visit a tropical island. The warm climate lets you maximize the beaches and sea views, providing the perfect setting for island explorations. Imagine walking on pristine sand beside clear waters shaded by palm trees and rainforests, then snorkeling diving to look at turtles and corals. It’s the perfect vacation for many people, and it’s easily doable with some planning.
Make sure you set a schedule for your island tour. Plan this on a weekday to avoid crowds of tourists as much as possible. Look out for boats offering day trips to nearby islands and discover what sights you might see and activities you can try. You can usually talk to boatmen about these things to ensure you’re visiting an interesting place and not just a sandy hill in the middle of nowhere. You should also check their boats to see if they’re comfortable enough for a few minutes or hours of sailing. Look for boat upholstery to sit comfortably, a sunshade to avoid getting fried under the sun, a cooler or fridge to keep your drinks nice and cold, and a locker or trunk to store your backpacks.
Because of how hot it will be while crossing the waters to get to different islands, you should pack the right things for your health and comfort, from wide-brimmed hats to polarized sunglasses. You also want sunscreen to slather on your skin to avoid absorbing too much UV rays. Ensure you have enough drinking water, and take a pill if you get seasick easily. This will give you as much comfort on the way to those exotic islands.
Visit Local Markets
Tropical countries also have lively marketplaces that you can visit. These local markets sell many different items and offer various services to keep tourists engaged and happy. Make sure you set aside at least half a day to explore tropical markets. You’ll surely be in awe of all the bustling stalls with colorful souvenirs, unique spices, and tantalizing food.
If you want to explore the local culture, these markets are some of the best places to learn about the people and their way of life. Talk to local barbers, vendors, and craftsmen, and they’ll tell you all about the beautiful (and ugly) things about their country. They can also suggest various things and activities you should try, from sampling weird street foods to trying a dying art like textile weaving.
Of course, you should also do some shopping to support the locals. However, make sure you haggle! Many sellers will increase the prices of their products when they see you’re from another country, so try to get the lowest price for all your purchases. Negotiating prices of various goods and services is a custom in many tropical countries, so don’t be afraid to bargain a little as a first-time tourist because the worst they can do is say no.
Find a Quality Hotel
Your accommodations can significantly impact your trip, making you happy with good amenities and friendly staff or stressed out because of their poor services. Your hotel room should be a comfortable space where you can crash after a long day of exploring the city, so make sure you only book a stay in a high-quality hotel that keeps you satisfied, depending on your needs.
For example, you can stay in a more affordable hotel that might not have everything you need. However, many places still strive to give you a good room at a fraction of the cost compared to larger, more popular hotels. Call the establishment and inquire about things they offer and don’t offer so you can decide if their business is right for your trip. If they’re nice enough to give you all the details and help you with your booking, you might be on the right track.
On the other hand, you can book a luxurious hotel that might be more expensive but offers a lot more for a first-time tourist if money is not an issue. You can usually find hotels with luxury amenities like a pool installation, an events place, dining spaces, and outdoor recreational areas. A bit of splurging on the accommodations can turn your trip into a memorable life event. Again, research well to ensure they provide good services to their guests.
Prepare for Emergencies
No one wants to think about something bad happening during their travels, but there’s always a chance that you might encounter some inconveniences or disasters in the tropics. You don’t have to keep your mind occupied with worries that you can get into an accident or get robbed while traveling. Still, a bit of precautionary preparation can give you peace of mind, knowing you’ve done everything you can to avoid these emergencies as a first-time tourist.
One of the most important preparations to focus on is gathering your essential documents. Bring your passport, ID, travel insurance, and other papers showing you legally visiting your destinations. Make copies of all these documents and keep them in a folder or binder separate from the original documents. This will help verify your identity even if you lose the original copies.
You also want to prepare for smaller issues you might encounter while touring. For example, if you’re renting a vehicle to drive around the city, you should have the contact details of local auto mechanics, towing services, and roadside assistance. You should also keep a compact first aid kit with you at all times, just to be ready for minor scratches or scrapes from all the walking around. Don’t forget to set up international roaming or buy a local SIM card to keep in contact with your family or the authorities when necessary.
Try Local Cuisine
Next, make sure you try the local foods and delicacies. Different places will have different cuisines that will excite your palate. With so many options, you can practically spend your entire stay trying something new for every meal. As a first-time tourist, aim to explore as much as you can about your tropical destination so you can make beautiful memories and develop a diverse taste.
Try to research before diving into the local delicacies, especially if you have some food sensitivities. This will help you avoid foods that don’t suit your taste buds, from spicy to bitter or fishy items. There may also be some exotic food products that contain unlikely ingredients that you should be aware of, like poisonous seafood or not-so-hygienic animal droppings.
To make the most of your trip, check food and travel blogs before going on the trip. You can also ask fellow travelers for suggestions. They can recommend must-try food places, from 5-star restaurants and lively bars to hole-in-the-wall eateries that don’t even have countertops! Make sure you only try food you’re comfortable with, and you’ll surely experience the many delicious flavors of the equator.
Keep Cool in the Heat
The equator is famous for the warm and sunny weather, but you may not be ready for how much heat there is, especially during the summer season. You must be fully equipped to handle the heat to avoid passing out under the blazing sun. Start with sunscreen to protect your skin from the harmful UV rays. You also want to have as much coverage as possible with lightweight hats, breathable cotton long-sleeves, and umbrellas. Consider visiting your local eyewear store for polarized glasses that will prevent glare and make you look cool.
You should also keep a water bottle with you wherever you go. This will prevent heat stroke and keep you hydrated throughout the day. Always opt for clean water, and avoid too many sweet juices and alcohol, which can make you thirstier. Drink as much as possible when the heat rises, and constantly refill your bottle as needed. This ensures your health and safety as a first-time tourist.
Your accommodations should also have good air conditioning. You don’t want to stay in a place where you constantly have to call the main desk for air conditioner repair. You can also ask for cooling refreshments or take a dip in a cold pool. There are many ways to beat the heat, so always be creative and find something to let you have fun. Just ensure you listen to your body when under the sun to avoid heat-related injuries.
Plan Ahead
Planning ahead is the best way to prepare for any trip abroad. This is especially important when setting up how to get from one place to another. For example, you want to ensure you can find an airport transportation service that won’t scam you after landing at your destination. You want to research tips to ensure local taxi drivers won’t take advantage of you because you’re a first-time tourist.
You should also plan how to communicate with people when traveling somewhere less popular with tourists. English might not be enough to get your point across to the locals, so consider learning a bit of the local language and studying basic phrases to help you get around. You can also install a translation app on your phone to help you with more complex conversations.
Visit Interesting Museums
Finally, you want to explore the area’s history and culture by visiting their museums. These spaces hold many historical items that point to the colorful story of the land. The equator also has many cool museum displays you’ve never seen before, allowing you to see a different side of the country and understand its society.
Make sure you plan how you will visit these locations. Look online for nearby museums and check out their amenities, from a convenient parking lot for drivers to interactive tours that let you touch and play with various displays. You should also bring your camera to capture all the unique sights and bring them back for family and friends to enjoy.
Going on a trip to the equator as a first-time tourist requires some careful planning to make the most of your visit. From ensuring your safety to beating the heat, these tips keep you in the best condition to explore the local space and enjoy your stay. Remember to pack wisely and do your research to avoid unwanted surprises. If you do your due diligence and get out of your comfort zone, your visit to the tropics will surely be a memorable one you will treasure forever.
