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Think about the weather
Depending on the time of year and part of the world, weather can drastically change. It may be sunny in California but rainy in London. With the internet, it is now easy to predict the weather and plan accordingly.
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“When in Rome do as the Romans.” There are certain culturally nuances to take into consideration when traveling internationally. For example in rural China, people do not wear shorts as that is considered rude. In Saudi Arabia, women must be fully covered and they cannot show their faces in public.
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Customs regulations
There are strict guidelines to what you can bring across borders. The TSA outlines rules for bringing liquids, sharp items, etc. Also, keep in mind that there are agricultural regulations, as well as food regulations (beef, fruits).
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Time zone changes
Time zone changes can affect your body’s natural circadian rhythm. For example, when I went to Japan, I felt tired. We left 1:00 PM LAX and then got to Japan around 4:30 PM. I only had to stay awake for 5 hours, so it wasn’t bad. However, when I came back, our flight left Japan at 6:30 PM and we arrived in Los Angeles at 12:00 PM, which would have been 4 am (Japan time). Since it was an overnight flight, I felt tremendous jet lag.
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Organize and pack up
Having a travel checklist can help you stay organized. Also, think about specific things you will need to travel internationally. These include passports, hotel information, etc.
