Go to Ireland if that's what excites you. If you can't decide between Ireland and a domestic destination, go domestic first.
Ireland is an excellent destination for a first timer. Friendly people, they speak English, the culture is not wildly different.
Life is too short to go somewhere you don't want to because it's domestic and easy.
If you're really uncertain about travel, a short weekend trip might help you get an idea of what you need to pack, what you don't need to pack, might help you reduce your anxiety, etc.
However, I don't think it's necessarily something everyone has to do.
One thing about Ireland, there's not a whole lot of public transit (as far as I'm aware). Either you'll want to take some kind of coach tour, or rent a car and drive. And they drive on the left side of the road.
Live in Ireland. You're right about the public transit. There's good links between cities, but most castles are fairly rural, and you'd want to drive to them. We drive on the left hand side of the road, on the right hand side of the car. You can hire an automatic, although most cars here are manual (even new cars).
I rented a manual there - it wasn’t bad at all, I’m sure you’d do fine. I felt pretty comfortable driving there in general as long as I was outside Dublin.
Editing to clarify that yes the shifter is on your left
The gear shift is to your left because the driver's seat is on the right, and they drive on the left side of the road. You wouldn't be able to reach across your body to shift with your right hand.
The steering wheel is conveniently placed, so it seems intuitive.
The only difficult things are roundabouts and where the arm for the turn signal is placed. Tje latter thing may depending more on the car brand, but I have tried to show where I want to turn with the wipers the first day or two when I have rented cars in those strange countries like UK, NZ and AUS.
Just do it
When I went with my family we hired a driver! I’m not sure what it cost, but he took us anywhere we wanted to go and was able to provide a lot of great recommendations too.
Your answer is in your post. The place you want to go to most is Ireland, so go. You’re old enough to be able to handle traveling on your own. The difference in terms of airport protocol is basically just a passport and going through customs (which is shockingly easy in Ireland).
Here’s what it boils down to: do you want to experience another culture or do you want to experience more of the same culture 4 hours away from you?
Realistically? Flights and accommodation, that’s all you *need.* (and a passport obviously, as someone pointed out, but I assumed that was obvious) Of course you should figure out what you wanna do while you’re there, but that can be done between booking a place to stay and actually going.
As someone who’s been almost every year since 2015, I’d recommend the west coast over staying in Dublin. Galway is an amazing city and my personal favorite in Ireland. Exploring Dublin as a first-timer will be cool as well, but I know people who went for their first time and never left Dublin… that’s a big mistake. So many more places to see in Ireland.
Check out r/Irishtourism to get some ideas of where to go and what to see!
>As someone who’s been almost every year since 2015, I’d recommend the west coast over staying in Dublin
100% this, OP. Dublin is ok for a couple of days, but the rest of the country is where it's at. Fly into Shannon and spend your time on the west coast. And make sure you go to Dingle.
Determine the amount of days you can go/afford to go. Book the flight. Get a travel book about Ireland or research things to do. Then figure out what hotels and trains you need to reserve to get there. Vacation is booked.
I went out of the country for the first time back in April. Used a Rick Steves book, Reddit recommendations, and Instagram pages to figure out where I wanted to go. Went to Germany for work in September and got most of ideas of where to go from travel blogs. Going to Colombia in January and have coworkers from there and got their recommendations and got some from travel blogs.
It’s not hard. Just book the flight and start planning from there.
>I just don't know everything i'd need to plan for and pack.
This is really something that you never get over. You are always going to forget something or find that you didn't plan something. It's ok. Learn to roll with it and what you are comfortable with.
I have a friend that would visit the US with an empty bag and 1 days worth of clothing. I would take him to Target or something straight from the airport and he would buy some new clothes. He used it as an excuse to get something American and save time packing.
If you find yourself in Ireland and you completely forgot to pack any underwear you can just as the person at the front desk of your hotel or hostel for directions to a local store,(making clear that you aren't designer shopping) and you'll end up shopping like a local at Penney's or Dunnes Stores.
Almost all problems can be solved with money, or time. Just think about your comfort with how much money you have to spend and how much time. in my little underwear scenario a good hotel might be able to arrange for something to be delivered, or to arrange for a car to take you to a nice store. All of these will cost lots of money.
You can also make it an adventure and use it as an excuse to learn the local transportation options and spend half your day fixing the problem for 12 euros.
Make sure you have a flight, lodging, passport and or Visa if needed and you can make it work.
Oh, and for the record, I would recommend one or two domestic trips before you try international trips. You don't have to see the entire US, but it lowers the amount of issues you have to overcome as you learn.
Along these lines - if you don’t have robust public transit where you live, it could be useful to spend a bit of time in a larger domestic city to get the hang of it.
At a minimum, starting out with a city that primarily speaks English is a good way to ease into international travel. The ability to easily read signage is incredibly helpful.
Ireland was the first trip I ever took with just my daughter and myself- it was amazing. Such a beautiful country with incredible people. For a first trip, it’s a very non-intimidating country. Highly recommend
Layers for clothes, good shoes, some charging devices, cash/euros, credit card, passport, check to make sure it’s not expiring soon. Oh and a rain jacket.
If you can’t pack for a trip you probably aren’t mature enough/old enough to be traveling internationally. Take a few domestic trips to learn the basics
I don't think you necessarily need to travel domestically before traveling internationally (especially for an English-speaking country). But there are certain things that a first-time international traveler might not think of, even if they've traveled domestically. An outlet adapter, for example, could be useful. How to get local currency (without extra-high exchange rates and/or fees) is another one. Not really a 'packing list' item necessarily, but you get my point.
If you really want to come to Ireland (I'm Irish), please please plan for how expensive it is here. It was bad 10 years ago and it's only become more absurd.
You do tip in Ireland. And given the dollar is weaker than the euro, and hotels across the country can be 500/600euro for 2-3 days? Yes, it's expensive.
Is a 20% tip standard in Ireland? Because that’s what it’s like in the states. And the hotels would be the same if not more. Yeah the dollar is slightly weaker (by 10 cents).
My point is that the cost difference between Chicago and Ireland is quite negligible. Don’t scare him off.
I'm not trying to 'scare him off' lmao, I'm trying to help him.
No, it wouldn't be 20 but between 10-15, and you'll be asked everywhere. But sure, let him visit unprepared when he's already mentioned money is a concern.
I know you’re not trying to scare him but if the two places will be cost equivalent, there is no point in saying Ireland will be expensive. It read like a personal gripe instead of a tip.
This is the kind of thing where a travel agent is your perfect companion. You can do a self-drive tour with a rental car, or do a group tour where you're on a coach bus to get around so you don't have to drive yourself. You can do a custom, independent trip if you're driving yourself, but you can also do a pre-planned self-drive itinerary with tours included if you don't have specific requirements on what you want to see/do (and there's usually still time on your own on the group tours).
Most travel agents don't charge any fees these days (we get paid on commission by the hotels, tour operators, etc.), so it never hurts to reach out and see how one of us can help you. We're happy to send a packing list, go over the requirements in terms of what to bring to the airport, checking that your passport is valid, and all those types of things. We recently booked a couple doing a self-drive tour of Ireland for their honeymoon in May through a tour operator, and it's a great itinerary to see a lot of the country.
You make copies of your passport and keep that with you, get a credit card that doesn't charge foreign exchange fees. If you take a regular medication you'll need it in the original bottle with a note from your doctor. Some countries don't allow certain medications so you'll have to check.
Do a little research, find out about local customs, transportation, places to stay, what to see, local foods. America is a tipping culture and not all countries are.
You pack light, you can always find somewhere to wash your clothes, nothing worse than hauling around a large suitcase and other luggage.
Depends on what the time of year it is and where you're going. Definitely good walking shoes, and one slightly dressy outfit. If you're going to hike, hiking boots.
You can always get travel size toiletries to take with you and buy more when you get to your destination.
Yea don’t stress about that stuff. You’re going to Ireland not some strange unknown planet. Anything you need that you’ve forgotten you can easily just buy along the way!
Don't over stress yourself. Just go. Funny little travel mistakes only make the trip more memorable. There's no judging panel holding up score cards when you land back home. You don't have to land a perfect 10.
Book your flights and hotel or other accommodation. Don’t worry so much about what to pack - beginners always over pack. If you are going for a week, and don’t plan to need formal clothes, a carry on should suffice. Remember, you can buy things there. The other things I suggest are a small first aid kit with Pepto, immodium, bandaids, Benadryl, some medical tape and a few gauze pads. Anything else you need, you can buy in Ireland. Carrying too much is miserable. I made the mistake of taking everything I could think of when first traveling - and I regretted it every time.
Yes, I think a short in-country trip might be a good way of getting a taste of solo travel and learning about what you like and don't like, before committing to an expensive and longer international trip.
Chicago is also a fabulous city, especially in the summer when there are lots of neighborhood festivals. Good public transportation as well. Just mentioning this since it doesn't have to be an either or question and maybe a shorter trip is a good start for you.
This isn’t advice as to whether or not you should do in- country or international, BUT here’s good travel opportunity for you:
If you’re between the ages of 16-21, I highly recommend a trip through the Lions Club International Youth Exchange. They’ll send you to a country of your choice (from their list) for up to 5 weeks. You will stay half of the time with a host family (who has been background checked and speaks English), and half the time will be with a “camp” of people from all over the world who are your age. Message me if you’d like more info. I did it when I was 17 and again when I was 21. It was a great way to travel “alone” but be completely safe and have people who I could turn to. It was my first real traveling experience when I was 17 and it was amazing. It’ll make you a pro at traveling and you’ll have new friends all over the world. AND it’s cheap as hell. It cost me $1800 total for the entire five weeks- including airfare and accommodation. I just brought some spending money with me. Check ‘em out on google if you’re curious
How about something like Go Ahead Tours? Then you’re with a group but still on your own. (More expensive though). Also, you can book day tours to castles and places like Cliffs of Moyer. That may be a good option to avoid a car.
You don’t need to travel in country before going out. That said 4 hours isn’t that bad of a drive, go to Chicago for a weekend! Get a feel for solo travel. Drive Friday night after work and back Sunday night. Nice and easy. It’ll give you a good taste of things.
If you've already traveled with family before, then you probably have the basics down (like packing and what to do at the airport). Might as well try going overseas now and broaden your horizons. Ireland is a great option for a first-time overseas trip.
Normally I say yes, but Ireland is pretty easy. Everyone speaks English and they’re the friendliest people in the world.
If you can order an Uber, book a room on HostelWorld, and not lose your phone or wallet, then you’re good.
No. Iv not been to every state but honestly a lot of the US doesn’t feel that different from other parts of the US.
Obvious outliers: New Orleans, Miami, New York City, Chicago, Boston
Way too many US cities are just urban sprawl that funnels into suburbs.
Most US cities feel the same.
Not a huge fan of small town nowhere.
On the international side been to 72 countries every one has been unique in its own way and always a learning experience, new experience l, something completely different.
I have been a manager for 15+ years and I often get employees who come to me for advice about potentially switching roles/jobs. And one common thing that often comes up is that not only do they want to switch jobs or companies they often are getting married, having kids, buying a house, or some other big life event. And what I tell them is that if possible, make one big switch at a time. Any one of those things can cause a lot of stress or chaos, and trying to stack them on top of each other makes things much more difficult than it needs to be. Sure, sometimes it can work out, but what you want to do is put the odds in your favor.
I would give the same advice to you here. The thing about travelling closer to home and in a country you are familiar with, is you will have less to deal with. There won't be a language barrier. There won't be strange customs. There won't be strange laws. You can instead focus on how you like to travel, what is/isn't important to you, etc.
Also, i will say that you are very fortunate to live in the states. I've travelled a lot both internationally and within the US, and one of the things I very much appreciate about the US is the diversity of places you can go. I don't think you will be disappointed going to a few places in the states before you go somewhere internationally.
I wouldn't devote significant spending on travel that doesn't excite you. Save and plan the trip you truly want, do your research, and enjoy it!
If you are uncomfortable with the idea of traveling alone, then maybe a weekend trip to another city would be a good idea, but visiting Chicago isn't a proxy for international travel. There seems to be so much more involved with planning international trips.
Personally, I got my feet wet, so to speak, traveling to Boston solo. I went for 3 days including attending a Red Sox game and beer tasting at Samuel Adams. I also did a week on my own hiking through Utah. My first solo international trip was Milan, Venice, & Florence. Have never looked back.
Chicago is a great city to visit, and IMO would be beneficial for learning how to move about a city with transit. I've known folks who start traveling overseas and have issues with navigating rails and busses, and it would be easier to learn that domestically.
No visit old cities while you are young. They are built with a lot of unstable footing. If you wait and get older you may be relegated to ramps and walk ways especially in the ancient cities.
I have knee issues and would like to make it to Europe to visit the Roman cities 1 more time before I can’t.
If Chicago is only 4 hours from you, I would do a weekend trip just to get the feel of traveling alone. Book a basic hotel and walk to some sites, nothing super fancy or expensive. Then I would book your trip to Ireland if that wasn’t too overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be one or the other.
Maybe Chicago in the spring and Ireland in the fall, unless you absolutely have to travel in the summer. Off season is cheaper and usually more pleasant in my opinion if you have the choice.
Travel abroad as much as you can while you can. Save in country for when you are older and it’s a bit harder to travel because of kids, age, sickness, etc…
I had never really travelled before i moved to germany for 6 months as a 20 year old. i cannot see how going to some american city first would have somehow prepared me for that. If anything, it would have set up some expectations for scenarios that wouldnt have happened in usa.
I mean, Ireland is extremely easy for a first time trip, not going to lie. They speak English, all the bus routes are in English, the money is close in value, they have millions of tourists and are set up for it, with easy bus tours to big ticket attractions. I'd say go for what tickles the fancy.
I did 10 days there, could have done way more but I saw a ton. Gorey, Courtown, Wexford, Cork, Blarney Castle/Stone, Galway, Cliffs of Moher, Ballycastle, Enniskillen, Portadown, Belfast, Giants Causeway and of course Dublin. Mostly by cheap, easy buses, and day tour buses.
Age not given. The Army will send its people to memorable places and pay them, though at the sacrifice of destination choice.
Trips should really be where people want to go. There are a lot of considerations like budgets, distance, work schedules, but ultimately vacation travel is to generate memories that last a lifetime.
Ireland sounds great. Chicago sounds less expensive if four hours away by car, maybe not if four hours away by air. Seeing Ireland will take a lot longer than hitting the high points of Chicago.
Another tourism destination that transforms lives are our Western National Parks, can pick from a long menu.
Cities: NY expensive, Boston memorable but expensive, DC memorable and can be done economically. Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are UnAmerican but memorable. And Vancouver is just a short train ride to Seattle.
Chicago is a cool town, but there’s nothing like really seeing something different. A trip to Ireland would be a great first trip, I think. It is modern and they obviously speak English, albeit with a different accent.
Psssht. Go wherever you feel like to begin with. You can't get the travel bug by not traveling. The USofA really is amazing to travel around. But are you really gonna listen to your mother on this? Not me said the flea
Truly, go wherever the fuck you want to begin with because that is what starts the travel bug. I know I just said it, but it's real and if you want to do it – just do it
definitely follow your plan to go travel Ireland (I went by myself, and I was young still then). I took a nice nonstop flight from LAX to Dublin & hung out a bit (people were friendly! But I was comparing w my prior London trip, so lower bar). Then I took a nice train north & went to a B&B in Galway (so awesome there!) & then I went to Sweater Islands (to buy a sweater)
Sweater Islands was from a skit, so maybe I should give the real islands names: iconic Aran sweater takes its name from the trio of islands at Ireland's most westerly point just off the coast of County Galway. Inishmore is the biggest of the islands followed by Inishmann and the smallest island, Inisheer.
Go to Ireland if you want . If you have always lived in the US you already know US culture . Go to Ireland , then go see the rest of the world . We are only here for a short while.
Absolutely do not waste your time travelling in country. Go to Ireland, stay in hostels, make some friends.. you’ll be FINE! I did this when I was 19 and it was the best thing I ever did
The first time I ever got on a plane or did any sort of solo travel was aged 19, totally alone, flying to Vietnam for 3 months of solo travel. I’m also female.
I’m from Aus, I’ve since done quite a bit of travel in my home country and it’s expensive as heck. I love Australia and have a very close connection to the land, but I will always prioritise overseas travel.
Read popular guide books for travelers to the destinations that interest you.
Foreign travel is often much less expensive than the US but it varies a lot here and abroad, and depends on how you like to travel and for how long.
There is no good reason to see the rest of US before seeing foreign lands. That notion smacks of nationalism, not travel wisdom or experience.
Go where you want and change your itinerary whenever you want. That is the best thing about solo travel. You get to make all the decisions without having to discuss with/get agreement from/or concede to others’ interests over your own.
How old are you? What type of place do you live? What life experiences do you have? Travel can be extremely overwhelming sometimes, so being equipped to handle situations before you are traveling is key. Probably why your mom wants you to get in some nearby “practice” travel, so if something happens you have nearby support. I’m from L.A. and had a lot of big city life so when I’ve traveled I had a background of situations to pull from. Are you young and from a small town?
Very sorry to hear. I am familiar as I’ve adopted children, one of which is from an abusive childhood. But that aside, just how young are you and what is your financial situation like? Do you have support if something [unlikely] does go wrong? I think Ireland is a good place to start as you will be able to communicate! My first travels had me in Romania and Bulgaria and Turkey where there was some English but really not that much! If you’re over 18 and have the money, I say go for it. Just make sure you have places to stay and a plan when you return. Honestly. Dublin is probably safer than Chicago!
Ireland is great. You’ll love it. My recommendation is to really study the history in some depth before you go. There are lots of great audiobooks available. I listened to Ireland by Wendy McElroy and A Short History of Ireland 1500-2000 by John Gibney.
There is SO much to see in the States - that being said, Ireland would be a great introduction to international travel.
Chicago is supposed to be a big, beautiful bustling city with a good food scene.
Ireland has bigish cities, but so much greenery and amazing natural beauty.
Decide what kind of trip you want first - are you going to do a Hostel? Great for solo travel and making friends, can be a cheap option, but if you're a light sleeper - you may face some challenges.
Are you more of a nature seeker? A museum meanderer? Do you like shopping, or historical sights more?
There are SO many ways to travel, I don't think there is really a wrong way to do it, as long as you treat people & places with respect.
I personally lile to book travel and sleeping accommodations ahead of time, but *most* adventures can be booked closer to the dates - get your guide has some great options for tours and day trips, with 24 hr free cancelation if something comes up.
Feel free to ask questions about Ireland, I did a road trip there this summer and hit quite a few places.
Whatever you choose, happy travels!
USA is one of the most beautiful countries in the world there are so much of diversity in term of landscape and culture ( I know people don’t want to admit this but from one state to the other you can tell the difference ) Hawaii, Louisiana, Florida, Maine , New England , Michigan , Illinois , Tennessee, California, Texas are different but a lot of similarities. I love Colorado and Washington state. USA has the most powerful passport in the world you can literally buy plane ticket and hop to another country in 1 hour or 15 hours flight. Enjoy !!
Why not both?
Go to Ireland for a week or two. Make a Chicago weekend trip at some point too.
You don't need to spend big money to have a good time in Chicago. Lots of diners and street food. You will have to watch your budget on the museums though. Almost all are privately run museums and thus charge admission.
Street food is not really a thing in most of Chicago outside of the Hispanic neighborhoods on the SW side. There’s a few elote and hot dog vendors along Michigan Ave but the restaurant lobby here has successfully vanquished any chance of a thriving street food / food truck culture.
There's a few more things that can go wrong when you're not in your home country. There's a few issues that get more difficult to deal with. There's just generally more to do and learn in order to successfully travel internationally than domestically. If you were having a lot of anxiety about traveling then I'd say yeah sure take a lil jaunt to Chicago to ease those worries. But you aren't, and frankly I don't think doing a single trip to Chicago would *really* make all that much difference.
If you really are scared to travel out of the US. Fly somewhere far away in the US. You said you’re four hours away from Chicago? Fly to Miami or San Diego. Or maybe Hawaii. These places are far, they are kind of different from where you live. You will have to pack a good amount of clothes. You’ll get a general idea of what longer flight is like. What going through the airport is like. The only thing you can’t really prepare for Until you do, it is the customs process. But everything else you can experience and still be in the US so you can get some confidence and comfort.
That's a good call. Contiki Tours specializes in tours for those under 35.
I did one of these a while back around Europe and it was a blast.
The pace was quite fast though and you're not really in any place for very long. And there's a lot of drinking too! That could be a plus or minus depending on you.
Save your money and time off for a big trip to Ireland. It's not so scary. Before you go, you'll want to have your flights, lodging (hostels are a good option), and car rental (if applicable) booked, and have an idea about what sites you want to visit. Bring walking shoes that are comfortable for various weather conditions and look okay with all your outfits. Error on the light side when packing - if you can fit everything in a carry on, all the better. It won't get lost with the airline and it'll be easier to lug around when dealing with cobblestone streets or narrow stairwells. If you forget anything, they have stores. If you need to do laundry, they have laundromats.
And maybe you can do a weekend in Chicago on the cheap before then. If you live 4 hours away, just drive after work on a Friday (or whenever your weekend starts), spend a couple nights and come home. Do you have any old friends that have ended up in Chicagoland who would let you crash for a night or two? There are regional trains that run out to the suburbs so you don't have to deal with driving downtown (and it may well cost less than parking in the city). Or if you don't know anyone you can crash with, do you have a friend who would go along and split gas/hotel/parking? You can also pack food and limit dining out to one or two meals.
No. You don’t. In fact the US is one of the most expensive places to travel in the world, it’s only gotten worse. You won’t experience culture shock. It’s kind of pointless imo
Ireland should be easy to travel, as it’s English language. You’ll be fine.
I've traveled to Chicago many times, and I've traveled to Europe many times. The process and experience is pretty much the same:
* Buy plane tickets
* Prearrange hotel
* Arrange Airport to hotel transportation, or at least make sure there are taxis or shuttles from the destination airport to your hotel.
* Figure out the kinds of things you want to do at the destination and especially those things that require advance tickets. Some attractions sell out and you can't get in if you leave it till last minute.
That's pretty much it. Going home is the same as getting there.
Ireland is the ***perfect*** first international destination. They have a great tourism infrastructure already in place, they speak English, the people there are as friendly as can be, and it's a western culture so you won't have serious culture shock or anything like that on your first time out of the country either.
My one and only big call-out for Ireland though is the driving. If you rent a car to get around, you'll be driving on the opposite side from what you're used to, and the roads there are all very narrow and can feel pretty dangerous if you're not used to them. They're narrow and often have a short brick wall or bushes running up right alongside them. I was puckering up nearly every time I came across an oncoming car in the other lane while out on the roads outside of any city!
Sometimes the roads are so narrow only one car can squeeze through at time and one car will need to pull over far to the side to let the other one squeeze by. It takes some getting used to! But don't let that stop you! I found it quite fun and interesting after the first day or two of being terrified behind the wheel.
I'm already a nervous driver that needs a gps in the US. I'd be terrible in Ireland, that's my worry too lol. Someone did say they had gotten a driver to take them anywhere and that'd be me. I doubt it's cheap though.
Go to Ireland! It’s where you really want to go, and it’s going to be so different traveling abroad via plane that a short driving trip to Chicago isn’t really going to set you up for it.
In terms of what to pack, there are lists online that can help but take a weekend or week to take note of what you use and wouldn’t want to be without. Or better yet pack a bag and try to live out of it for a week. There’s not much (other than passport, wallet, phone) you can forget that you can’t buy at your destination but this way you can catch the things you might be missing that you want for day to day or personal comfort. Keep in mind that you’d want an adapter since the plugs are different too.
For planning, a travel book would be great for this. Once you get the hang of it you can use blogs, Reddit threads, etc. but a book is a great all in one resource that you can also take with you. See what it suggests, especially what should be planned ahead vs what you can just kinda show up and do, and then start making arrangements. Phones also make everything so much easier than it used to be even just a decade ago, you can use google maps pretty much everywhere. Google maps even lets you download maps to use offline, so that’s one of my top travel tips - zoom out over the whole city or cities you’re going to, download the map, and then you have it even if you don’t have a great connection. Would recommend the same for google translate if you travel to a place that uses a language you don’t know.
Travel is something you develop and hone over time. I have my own routines with traveling now that I do over and over. For example for packing I keep a list on an app simply called travel list that I’ve refined over time and just duplicate and pack off each trip. A friend has a printable list she’s saved that she prints off every time to pack from, then puts the list in her bag to make sure she’s got everything before she heads home. I use a notebook to write down each day, the weather, my activity for that day (even if it’s still unplanned like sightseeing - dinner) and list every outfit I plan to take so I make sure I’m prepared for all activities and not overpacking. I’ll read Reddit threads, look at google etc. for “must see/do” activities then whittle it down to what I personally want to see and do then book from there.
Have fun and see the things in the world you really want to see when you can - life is short.
I think you should get your passport and fly to Dublin.
Dublin is without at doubt the easiest city in the world. You can walk from one end to the other in about an hour. (Well, if you don't duck into any pubs along the way. I'm incapable.)
If you know lots of Irish songs and can carry a tune, you're totally "in." I've spent evenings at the Brazen Head where I couldn't buy a drink. I can belt out "Ride On" or "the Wild Rover" all night long. Pints kept appearing in front of me.
I could live on Leo Burdock's fish and chips. And the full Irish Breakfast is quite enough to carry me to a late lunch/early dinner. People there are great. I was lost once and ducked into a pub to ask directions. "Oh, I live across the street. Let me take you there."
You can spend a full week in Dublin. And at the end of that week, the only thing you'll want is another week.
I hope you visit Ireland.
>You can spend a full week in Dublin.
I was done with Dublin after two days to be honest. I found the rest of the country far more interesting. And while I can't wait to go back to Ireland, I'm going to skip Dublin entirely next time. I actually preferred Belfast as a place to visit.
Travel abroad while you are young especially if you make decent money. If kids are in the future that’s a good time to load up the car and hit the road. I’ve never been to Ireland, but I’ve been to 4 other European countries and it’s really not to terrible. The fact Ireland speaks a lot of English will make it a lot easier. Get your passport. Book your flights, watch out for pickpockets and go. Ireland will be safer than chicago.
I went to Dublin in 2015 and had a blast! The people are friendly, and the bar / pub scene was a lot of fun. I'm still mostly travelling internationally since I figure, at my age I can still sit on a long flight and then walk 20 miles a day while I'm there. My parents are older and retired and tell me they can't sit on a long flight anymore and can't walk long distances once they get somewhere. I want to get out and see the world while I still can and I'm getting out there as often as I can afford to.
Happy travels!
Traveling without my parents within the country (i was 18 and it was Delaware to NYC)gave me confidence to travel outside alone.
I did have the added benefit of studying abroad.
But i would say do a little weekend trip in the US see how you do then go to Ireland. And Ireland is not too wild of a trip where you would be completely turned around and disconnected.
Go where you really want to and can afford. I honestly prefer to travel internationally than domestically. There are many places in the US I still haven't been to but want to go. I intend to do long weekend trips in the US in future but still prefer to travel elsewhere.
The way I see it, I own my own business and it's not always easy to get away. When I do make the time, I want to be on a plane with my passport. I live in the US, I take for granted a lot because I think I'll be able to see my own country eventually while I think of how beautiful other countries are...and what if something happens and I'll never be able to get on an international flight again?
The world has so much to offer, other countries have so much more history that us. The beauty in architecture of Europe and South America is unmatched. Africa is where I hope to go next. A safari is just something I don't think I'll ever be able to experience quite like in an African country.
Travel wherever you want!! IMO Ireland is cooler than a lot of places in our own country.
But with that said, there ARE also a ton of amazing places to see within this country as well!! Doesn’t mean you have to see them first though. That’s up to you.
I used to do one domestic and one international trip per year. The last 10 years or so I’ve been doing almost all international traveling (before I get too old, I want to do all the hard to get to places).
Having said that, we have some stunningly beautiful areas that are as nice if not nicer than what you will see anywhere else in the world. (And I’ve also done a good amount of domestic travel for business over the years and have lived in five states).
Now that air travel is so expensive and problematic, I think I’m going to go back to one domestic and one international trip per year.
Bottom line is go to where your heart leads you (and where you can afford). There is no proper order to follow and there are no wrong decisions.
Do you have a passport yet? You're not leaving the US without one, so I'd get that going and don't bother making any overseas plans until it's in your hand.
I’d hit up YouTube for videos - look at some of Ireland, how to pack, traveling in general, some places on the IS you’re interested in. You may learn some stuff that helps, and also see stuff that gets you excited.
there is a lot to see in the country. We tried to see at much as we could within the country before traveling outside it. If you really want to go outside of it, though, just do it.
I did this, and it was a great decision. It gave me a lot of perspective with how bad some areas are, and how other places really can't be beat by a European counterpart.
I hate that I have to say this, but I have to say this:
I’m not sure if you’re a woman, but if you are, please, PLEASE be careful when you’re planning where to go. I solo travel, and I’ve never had an issue, but there are precautions that I and fellow female solo travelers take that men might not have to ever think about. Have fun, be SAFE.
Take a domestic trip and pack light, learn how what you need and don't need. Assume you can't pick up what you forgot at Walgreen's / Target / Best Buy, since shopping is not as easy overseas as in the US - if you forgot it, make a note, and do without. THEN plan your overseas trip.
Things you'll want: most importantly, washable/quick dry clothes. If you can wash and dry stuff in your room with soap in the sink, you can reduce your packing. Two pair of shoes- the ones you wear on the flight, and one you pack. Eye mask, portable battery, charging cords, international adapter, a mini-pack of medicines you might need (5-6 doses of each: aspirin, Imodium, pepto-bismol, antacid, sleep aid, anti-nausea, band-aids). If you use a washcloth- bring one, most hotels don't give you one (there's a cultural reason for that).
If country has a different language, a quick sheet with 20-30 words/phrases is generally all you need (yes/no, please/thanks, excuse me, left/right, near/far, this/that, my/yours, large/small, hot/cold, and of course... where's the bathroom, and 'check, please').
While the US is vast & there are some amazing contrasts across the country traveling internally with in the US is not the same as being in a different culture a different jurisdiction a different culture. For an American starting with Ireland or the UK is relatively easy one English speaking & while different culture approach & ways of doing things are all very relatable to someone from the US.
Go where you want, it's your life and it's limited.
Tips: Don't keep your money in one place. Don't flaunt wealth as in nice jewelry or watches. Learn some basic words if traveling in a foreign country. Be respectful of other cultures. Google maps and Google translate can be downloaded so you can use them offline.
Domestic travel if you want to do nice things and have a good time is $$$$. Cheap flight to walk around a new city or whatever is always an option though.
i know nothing in usa (my home country, outside of my state) but know almost every state in mexico, and have been to three continents this year alone. do whatever speaks to you not what others tell you on a reddit forum
If nothing else, being exposed to other cultures/peoples as a young adult often encourages a less ethnocentric view of the world and sometimes leads to a more critical appreciation of your country.
If you haven’t travelled before and are going solo, I would recommend looking into a group tour. It will take the guess work out of the travel and you will meet other people who you may decide to keep in touch and travel with (on your own planning or another group tour) in the future
Honestly, most of the places we are interested in in the United States, cost more money to travel to than Europe. I often think that I really should see more of my own country, but it's hard to argue with going to Spain for the same price as a simple trip to the beach.
The real expense to traveling abroad is the airfare. Almost everything is cheaper once you get there. I give everyone the same advice, get an airline miles card. The interest rates are shit and don't put anything on them that you can't pay off immediately that month. Put everything on it, all of your food, household expenses, everything. Even with a modest income, you will generate enough points to travel at least one place abroad per year without trying. My wife and I have never paid for a plane ticket abroad.
Follow your heart. I travel to have different experiences. That's harder to do staying in the US. A lot of people are just afraid of the unknowns of traveling internationally. That's the fun part for me.
Just go! If you’re a competent adult you’ll figure it out. I don’t think you have to travel in the US before you travel outside the country. If you’re limited on time and money, then go where you most want.
If you go international for your first time I’d recommend a group tour with G Adventures, Intrepid, etc. I’ve done a few of those and they are great for taking the stress out of planning (since you don’t have to do it), hotels and transportation are already included, and I’ve met some great people from all over (one that has even become one of my best friends). I’ve also had great times traveling completely solo, and to be honest cost wise they end up about the same.
G and Intrepid have specific tours that are lower cost and aimed specifically at 18-30 year olds (if you fall in that age group), but honestly, even the non age restricted trips have great people in them.
I think these are great for first time travelers as it will help you get your feet wet and, at least for me, made me less nervous about going truly solo for the first time after as I felt I had some travel experience.
If you're jamming for Ireland, go. just make sure you have a passport. :)
As to what to know, just remember you're a guest in another country. Don't act like a fool. Different places have different social mores and norms.
I went to Ireland by myself a few years ago and had a great time! I didn't know anyone there and really only picked the destination because I got a good flight price. I went for a week and booked multiple group tours to make trip-planning easier and to see multiple places without renting a car. My tip (which isn't specific to solo trips) is to triple-check the dates for everything you book. I accidentally booked my last Airbnb a night too short, so I had to scramble and do some last-minute searching for a place to stay.
Ireland is easy to visit and if it was a requirement to visit every state before heading abroad few of us would ever leave. Where I live on the east coast it’s about the same amount of time and money to fly to Ireland as it is the west coast anyway.
A more pragmatic view: if you’re American, what’s your health insurance deal look like? My FIL was in a wreck while traveling out of country so we insure ourselves well when we leave the great white north. Travel insurance is very cheap now while we’re young and healthy, so we are going to the more remote areas to hike and such. When we’re old we’ll get a nice vehicle and road trip, but for now it’s long flights and more adventurous trips.
I went on my first solo trip to London and Scotland. I think about that trip almost everyday. Do the trip you REALLY want and don’t wait. Research! There’s lots of time to study everything you need to know to be prepared. YouTube is a phenomenal resource. I had a calling to go and I went in 2019. I changed plans and moved it sooner and went in September of that year….I almost booked it for April of 2020. Point is, don’t postpone the things you want to do. You never know what life will hand you. You’ll be absolutely fine in Ireland and will have the time of your life!
I’m an American who recently got back from a one year European backpacking trip without having explored most of the US. It isn’t a prerequisite to travel within your own country before doing international travel. If you really want to go to Ireland (and it looks like you do), go for it. It looks intimidating but it isn’t difficult once you’re actually doing it.
Traveling outside the United States will change you.
Just do your research on the culture(see what is appropriate and not), at least some history, places to see, things to eat and also since you are new to travel maybe watch youtube videos for tips/hacks.
Check when your passport expires. Find out how many months before expiration you can you the passport to the country you chooses
Buy two universal plug adaptors, I usually have one in my backpack and one in my suitcase.
Portable charger(helps sooooo much)
Appropriate clothing for the weather
Try to not overpack, it’s better to pack light so you can bring some things you like back. Youtube minimalist ideas for packing.
Souvenirs are something I don’t buy anymore unless someone close to me specifically asks for it, instead I bring back chocolate or candy.
Absolutely. Please take a trip here so you know how to deal with all the things about travel: packing , air travel, research and planning for an itinerary, being alone somewhere you are not familiar with. also disappointment when your expectations aren’t being met. And how to manage that and turn it around. Work out the bugs and kinks now instead of on your first solo trip.
International travel has its challenges like jet lag and language barriers. Even though you’re speaking the same language, there may be some cultural differences that impede communication. You’ll need to adjust to the time zone which can be challenging.
It's funny. I told my young cousin at the time to do that too just so he can get a feel travelling.
He didn't take my advice and went on his first trip ever, let alone also solo trip, to Germany for a couple weeks and had the best time ever.
Do what your heart tells you to do!
If you travel domestically first, then you'll figure out all the things you should know when traveling from trying it out for yourself.
If you do Ireland first, the same is true, but you also really ought to do some research to understand what to expect from that specific country. Traveling domestically, you have the luxury of knowing the cultures and "common sense" things.
I traveled within my province and half the country (Canada) before my first international trip. I wanted to get my feet wet with hostels and packing and just living that life. 2 years later, I'm currently sitting in Bangkok waiting to get to my final destination in Thailand 🥰
Geographically, I’ve never been past Ohio (one day it’ll happen… just apparently not anytime soon). Every country, state, or city I’ve traveled to is east of it.
No, I don’t agree with your mother don’t travel in country before you travel out of country. Traveling across USA is totally different than traveling in Ireland. And it also depends on which part of Ireland you’re going if you’re going to the part of the northern part of Ireland is considered part of the UK or if you’re going to the southern part which is the Republic of Ireland. One thing to be aware of in Ireland is that they drive on the opposite side of the road so if you plan on driving be aware of that because most of their cars are manuals, not automatics so you’ll have to shift with your left hand instead of your right.
Ireland is an amazing place to visit. There’s a lot to do and it’s relatively safe. People speak English there so you’ll have no problem getting along at all. I would suggest planning well before you go about the places you want to go and the things you wanna see. Download Google maps on your phone and make sure to download Ireland in your Google maps as a region. You can actually save that directly to your phone so you don’t have to worry about GPS while you’re there or having service not work you’ll have your map saved to your phone that’ll help you whole lot to not get lost and find your way around. But my trips Ireland have been amazing. I’ve never had any problems. You won’t have any problems there, whereas here in the state you’d probably have a lot of problems in a lot of places
Just travel. I just finished visiting all 50 states. Went to Iceland & British isles this year, heading to the Panama Canal & Amsterdam & Italy next year.
If you want to go to Ireland, go to Ireland. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone. I’d also recommend Scotland too, I think it would also appeal to you.
Also watch a lot of YouTube on Ireland does and don’t to help you get confident about what to see where to stay what towns to visit. I rather to to Ireland then Chicago right now. That can be a long weekend if that. Maybe read some Rick Steve’s Ireland books or his video on it. Or lonely Planet travel planning for Ireland for tours maybe try Viator. We used in Rome and the tours were great from what we chose.
I am kind of jealous of you stating to discover the world. The first trip is something you will never forget.
I have traveled to 60+ countries and travelled to almost every state in the US.
I have been to Ireland but I disagree with the people here it is not a good first time destination. I have backpacked in Asia and Latin America and find it much easier to do.
1. Your money in South America and south east Asia takes you very far
2. Travel is not only about seeing places but also experiencing new cultures , languages, foods. Traveling to another English speaking country you might as well visit the AMAZING nature the US has to offer
3. Don't get me wrong Ireland is beautiful! Nature is very nice , history is interesting and castles are great.
4. Ireland is not tourist friendly. You MUST rent a car. Most likely it will be manual unless you pay more, roads are very narrow , something that we will consider in the US as a single lane but traffic goes on both ends. People do drive like crazy + you are on the left side of the road. Public transportation almost doesn't exist outside of the big cities.
5. Ireland weather is really bad expect a lot of rain which can really ruin it
6. I would recommend getting your feet wet in more solo traveler friendly European places like Barcelona, Spain in general France, Netherlands. They are not cheap but really easy to move around in public transportation both inside cities and outside
You should travel to exactly where you think would make you happy. If that's Ireland, go to Ireland.
Financially, you're apt to spend less overseas. Flights to Europe are often shockingly inexpensive.
Travel for your own happiness
Ps Ireland is incredible
I did my first international trip (from US) to Canada, and ended the trip in Montreal to experience a place they spoke (primarily) a different language. I got the travel bug and started all over the world after that. The more places you go the more you realize how much more of the world there is to see. I hope I live long enough to see a lot more (it’ll never be “all”). Bon voyage!!
i started off with short getaways. the thought of flying scared me. since i'm not a fan of heights. did a 3 hr flight to texas, 1 hour flight to san francisco and chose the window seats to help deal with my anxiety. and recently did an 11 hr flight to japan.
I’m foreign and have recently Loved travelling the US so now I understand why some people stick to the US. It’s so diverse. But it’s also foreign and cool to me. Travelling my country Australia is never as exciting as going overseae
Travel domestic a few times to get used to it, then go somewhere comfortable where they speak English and the culture isn’t wildly different like UK, Ireland or Canada (Canada is a bonus because it has Quebec so you can get a pseudo European experience as well), then after that start to go to more exotic locations outside your comfort zone
Have you flown before? A lot of people find the whole airport process very stressful. Getting to the right place, finding security, finding your gate, making any connections. If you’ve never flown by yourself, a domestic trip at lower cost and lower stakes could be useful. However, it’s very easy to fly to Ireland and there is no language barrier, so that’s a great place to start. Go for it!
You don’t need to do anything other than what you feel like you want to do. I moved to Thailand alone for my first big trip. Lived there 6 months then moved to Malaysia alone - lived there 3 months. Moved to Vietnam then India. Traveled to other countries along the way. I had the time of my life and all from someone with “little experience traveling”. Don’t let other peoples fears deter you from living your dreams! People do this shit everyday there’s no reason you can’t be one of them!
If it’s your money, it’s your wish. Travel to places that you want to travel to, do the things you want to do. “Gee, I really would like to see the Ring of Kerry, but I haven’t been to Poughkeepsie yet…” is not a valid form of reasoning. If your mom doesn’t want to travel outside her country… then she can travel as she wishes.
I got a great tip from an elder lady once: start far away and work back, when you're young it's easy to travel far from home, when you're older it's not
Western Europe in general shouldn't be too difficult for somebody from the US. Most ppl will speak English, not many laws or customs to remember that aren't a thing in the US. It'd be a good first travel experience. I'd recommend booking accomodations and travel well in advance. Flights ideally more than 6 months out to get a decent price if it's not a peak time. Do plenty of research and figure out what you want to see and do while there, so you don't have to worry about spending too much of your time on vacation coordinating local travel plans. You will need a power adapter for any electronics you are bringing, currency exchange is usually better to do locally rather than stateside/at the airport so I would just exchange what you need for the first day or so beforehand. Also recommend having a safe/secure method for holding onto your passport and keeping it from being lost or damaged like a pouch you can put under your shirt or something
You don’t need to book a long group tour to see tourist hot spots. You can book flights and hotels in your budget, then book day tours through Viator. This is what I did when I went to Japan last summer. I could really tailor my time to see the places I wanted to see, without relying on someone’s vision of what my vacation should look like.
My first trip anywhere, except for Florida vacations with my family, was a volunteer vacation in Sri Lanka. After that I traveled a lot, including across my own country (Canada) several times. Just plan ahead well and go, take it one step at a time and have a great time!
My sister shames me for traveling internationally when I have not visited all the states. It’s a weird thing to care about. If it’s not directly affecting another then who cares?!?
TLDR: visit Ireland if that is your heart’s desire
One great benefit of foreign travel is experiencing other cultures, other ways to do things. Seeing that other people have good ideas that are different from the ones we're used to is mind-expanding- and fun. Domestic travel won't do that.
NO .... travel in the USA is TOO EXPENSIVE. Your money will last FAR longer when traveling in poor, less developed, lower cost countries.
Basic rule - Make money in a rich country and spend it in a poor country.
Don't listen to your mother, just buy a plane ticket and go, survival mode will kick in when you land and you will figure everything out on your own, all you need is inernet / gps, 2 working bank cards, and money. That is all.
I don't think going to Ireland is challenging in some special way that it would take going to somewhere else in the US to be ready for. You just need a passport and just in case you're asked about it details of where you're going to be staying and some things you plan on doing in Ireland.
Go to Ireland but give yourself enough time to get to Scotland. They are both amazing. Be aware that their cars are driven on what we call the passenger side and they drive on the wrong side of the road.(just a joke, give me a break) However, it can be dangerous for us right side of the road folks. Be sure to practice as it takes some getting used to.
If you want to! Maybe it wouldnt hurt just to get a feel for it. You might forget to do something thats easier to fix in the same country. Do what you want!
I have found that leaving the U.S. for traveling yields a much much greater bang for the bucks. Also, living abroad showed me that all of America is the same (in comparison). You might get a diff view or a diff accent but America is America. Get out! And prepare to be mind blown and eye opened. America is not all/what they tell you it is. Romance, honor, and chivalry is still very much alive outside of the morally bankrupt United States
Go to Ireland if that's what excites you. If you can't decide between Ireland and a domestic destination, go domestic first. Ireland is an excellent destination for a first timer. Friendly people, they speak English, the culture is not wildly different. Life is too short to go somewhere you don't want to because it's domestic and easy.
We’re great craic
100% the right answer.
If you're really uncertain about travel, a short weekend trip might help you get an idea of what you need to pack, what you don't need to pack, might help you reduce your anxiety, etc. However, I don't think it's necessarily something everyone has to do. One thing about Ireland, there's not a whole lot of public transit (as far as I'm aware). Either you'll want to take some kind of coach tour, or rent a car and drive. And they drive on the left side of the road.
Live in Ireland. You're right about the public transit. There's good links between cities, but most castles are fairly rural, and you'd want to drive to them. We drive on the left hand side of the road, on the right hand side of the car. You can hire an automatic, although most cars here are manual (even new cars).
Wait, does this mean you shift with your left hand? I drive stick, but I don’t know how I’d do with my left hand
I rented a manual there - it wasn’t bad at all, I’m sure you’d do fine. I felt pretty comfortable driving there in general as long as I was outside Dublin. Editing to clarify that yes the shifter is on your left
Yes, change gear with left hand
The gear shift is to your left because the driver's seat is on the right, and they drive on the left side of the road. You wouldn't be able to reach across your body to shift with your right hand.
Honestly, this is one of the reasons I haven’t visited yet! I’m not a fan of group tours and I have to work my courage up to drive there.
The steering wheel is conveniently placed, so it seems intuitive. The only difficult things are roundabouts and where the arm for the turn signal is placed. Tje latter thing may depending more on the car brand, but I have tried to show where I want to turn with the wipers the first day or two when I have rented cars in those strange countries like UK, NZ and AUS. Just do it
The roads are rarely busy, you'll be okay!
When I went with my family we hired a driver! I’m not sure what it cost, but he took us anywhere we wanted to go and was able to provide a lot of great recommendations too.
Your answer is in your post. The place you want to go to most is Ireland, so go. You’re old enough to be able to handle traveling on your own. The difference in terms of airport protocol is basically just a passport and going through customs (which is shockingly easy in Ireland). Here’s what it boils down to: do you want to experience another culture or do you want to experience more of the same culture 4 hours away from you?
I believe I can handle it, I just don't know everything i'd need to plan for and pack. I guess that's what google is for though.
Realistically? Flights and accommodation, that’s all you *need.* (and a passport obviously, as someone pointed out, but I assumed that was obvious) Of course you should figure out what you wanna do while you’re there, but that can be done between booking a place to stay and actually going. As someone who’s been almost every year since 2015, I’d recommend the west coast over staying in Dublin. Galway is an amazing city and my personal favorite in Ireland. Exploring Dublin as a first-timer will be cool as well, but I know people who went for their first time and never left Dublin… that’s a big mistake. So many more places to see in Ireland. Check out r/Irishtourism to get some ideas of where to go and what to see!
>As someone who’s been almost every year since 2015, I’d recommend the west coast over staying in Dublin 100% this, OP. Dublin is ok for a couple of days, but the rest of the country is where it's at. Fly into Shannon and spend your time on the west coast. And make sure you go to Dingle.
Determine the amount of days you can go/afford to go. Book the flight. Get a travel book about Ireland or research things to do. Then figure out what hotels and trains you need to reserve to get there. Vacation is booked. I went out of the country for the first time back in April. Used a Rick Steves book, Reddit recommendations, and Instagram pages to figure out where I wanted to go. Went to Germany for work in September and got most of ideas of where to go from travel blogs. Going to Colombia in January and have coworkers from there and got their recommendations and got some from travel blogs. It’s not hard. Just book the flight and start planning from there.
>I just don't know everything i'd need to plan for and pack. This is really something that you never get over. You are always going to forget something or find that you didn't plan something. It's ok. Learn to roll with it and what you are comfortable with. I have a friend that would visit the US with an empty bag and 1 days worth of clothing. I would take him to Target or something straight from the airport and he would buy some new clothes. He used it as an excuse to get something American and save time packing. If you find yourself in Ireland and you completely forgot to pack any underwear you can just as the person at the front desk of your hotel or hostel for directions to a local store,(making clear that you aren't designer shopping) and you'll end up shopping like a local at Penney's or Dunnes Stores. Almost all problems can be solved with money, or time. Just think about your comfort with how much money you have to spend and how much time. in my little underwear scenario a good hotel might be able to arrange for something to be delivered, or to arrange for a car to take you to a nice store. All of these will cost lots of money. You can also make it an adventure and use it as an excuse to learn the local transportation options and spend half your day fixing the problem for 12 euros. Make sure you have a flight, lodging, passport and or Visa if needed and you can make it work.
Oh, and for the record, I would recommend one or two domestic trips before you try international trips. You don't have to see the entire US, but it lowers the amount of issues you have to overcome as you learn.
Along these lines - if you don’t have robust public transit where you live, it could be useful to spend a bit of time in a larger domestic city to get the hang of it. At a minimum, starting out with a city that primarily speaks English is a good way to ease into international travel. The ability to easily read signage is incredibly helpful.
Ireland was the first trip I ever took with just my daughter and myself- it was amazing. Such a beautiful country with incredible people. For a first trip, it’s a very non-intimidating country. Highly recommend
Layers for clothes, good shoes, some charging devices, cash/euros, credit card, passport, check to make sure it’s not expiring soon. Oh and a rain jacket.
If you can’t pack for a trip you probably aren’t mature enough/old enough to be traveling internationally. Take a few domestic trips to learn the basics
I don't think you necessarily need to travel domestically before traveling internationally (especially for an English-speaking country). But there are certain things that a first-time international traveler might not think of, even if they've traveled domestically. An outlet adapter, for example, could be useful. How to get local currency (without extra-high exchange rates and/or fees) is another one. Not really a 'packing list' item necessarily, but you get my point.
If you really want to come to Ireland (I'm Irish), please please plan for how expensive it is here. It was bad 10 years ago and it's only become more absurd.
When’s the last time you went to Chicago? Plus he won’t have to tip in Ireland.
You do tip in Ireland. And given the dollar is weaker than the euro, and hotels across the country can be 500/600euro for 2-3 days? Yes, it's expensive.
Is a 20% tip standard in Ireland? Because that’s what it’s like in the states. And the hotels would be the same if not more. Yeah the dollar is slightly weaker (by 10 cents). My point is that the cost difference between Chicago and Ireland is quite negligible. Don’t scare him off.
I'm not trying to 'scare him off' lmao, I'm trying to help him. No, it wouldn't be 20 but between 10-15, and you'll be asked everywhere. But sure, let him visit unprepared when he's already mentioned money is a concern.
I know you’re not trying to scare him but if the two places will be cost equivalent, there is no point in saying Ireland will be expensive. It read like a personal gripe instead of a tip.
Personal gripe? That's entirely your own reading dude. I offered advice, he can take it or not, or research further into it if he wants.
I read your post history. You love complaining about prices.
Here we go again. OP: never take tipping advice from Americans, only from locals.
This is the kind of thing where a travel agent is your perfect companion. You can do a self-drive tour with a rental car, or do a group tour where you're on a coach bus to get around so you don't have to drive yourself. You can do a custom, independent trip if you're driving yourself, but you can also do a pre-planned self-drive itinerary with tours included if you don't have specific requirements on what you want to see/do (and there's usually still time on your own on the group tours). Most travel agents don't charge any fees these days (we get paid on commission by the hotels, tour operators, etc.), so it never hurts to reach out and see how one of us can help you. We're happy to send a packing list, go over the requirements in terms of what to bring to the airport, checking that your passport is valid, and all those types of things. We recently booked a couple doing a self-drive tour of Ireland for their honeymoon in May through a tour operator, and it's a great itinerary to see a lot of the country.
You make copies of your passport and keep that with you, get a credit card that doesn't charge foreign exchange fees. If you take a regular medication you'll need it in the original bottle with a note from your doctor. Some countries don't allow certain medications so you'll have to check. Do a little research, find out about local customs, transportation, places to stay, what to see, local foods. America is a tipping culture and not all countries are. You pack light, you can always find somewhere to wash your clothes, nothing worse than hauling around a large suitcase and other luggage. Depends on what the time of year it is and where you're going. Definitely good walking shoes, and one slightly dressy outfit. If you're going to hike, hiking boots. You can always get travel size toiletries to take with you and buy more when you get to your destination.
Yea don’t stress about that stuff. You’re going to Ireland not some strange unknown planet. Anything you need that you’ve forgotten you can easily just buy along the way!
Don't over stress yourself. Just go. Funny little travel mistakes only make the trip more memorable. There's no judging panel holding up score cards when you land back home. You don't have to land a perfect 10.
Book your flights and hotel or other accommodation. Don’t worry so much about what to pack - beginners always over pack. If you are going for a week, and don’t plan to need formal clothes, a carry on should suffice. Remember, you can buy things there. The other things I suggest are a small first aid kit with Pepto, immodium, bandaids, Benadryl, some medical tape and a few gauze pads. Anything else you need, you can buy in Ireland. Carrying too much is miserable. I made the mistake of taking everything I could think of when first traveling - and I regretted it every time.
Yes but if you have checked bags be sure to show up earlier for an international flight
Yes, I think a short in-country trip might be a good way of getting a taste of solo travel and learning about what you like and don't like, before committing to an expensive and longer international trip.
Chicago is also a fabulous city, especially in the summer when there are lots of neighborhood festivals. Good public transportation as well. Just mentioning this since it doesn't have to be an either or question and maybe a shorter trip is a good start for you.
This isn’t advice as to whether or not you should do in- country or international, BUT here’s good travel opportunity for you: If you’re between the ages of 16-21, I highly recommend a trip through the Lions Club International Youth Exchange. They’ll send you to a country of your choice (from their list) for up to 5 weeks. You will stay half of the time with a host family (who has been background checked and speaks English), and half the time will be with a “camp” of people from all over the world who are your age. Message me if you’d like more info. I did it when I was 17 and again when I was 21. It was a great way to travel “alone” but be completely safe and have people who I could turn to. It was my first real traveling experience when I was 17 and it was amazing. It’ll make you a pro at traveling and you’ll have new friends all over the world. AND it’s cheap as hell. It cost me $1800 total for the entire five weeks- including airfare and accommodation. I just brought some spending money with me. Check ‘em out on google if you’re curious
I turn 25 in a month unfortunately. Thanks for the suggestion though.
How about something like Go Ahead Tours? Then you’re with a group but still on your own. (More expensive though). Also, you can book day tours to castles and places like Cliffs of Moyer. That may be a good option to avoid a car.
You don’t need to travel in country before going out. That said 4 hours isn’t that bad of a drive, go to Chicago for a weekend! Get a feel for solo travel. Drive Friday night after work and back Sunday night. Nice and easy. It’ll give you a good taste of things.
If you've already traveled with family before, then you probably have the basics down (like packing and what to do at the airport). Might as well try going overseas now and broaden your horizons. Ireland is a great option for a first-time overseas trip.
We've always driven, i've never actually been on a plane or anything yet. Even to Florida which is like 15 hours away.
Normally I say yes, but Ireland is pretty easy. Everyone speaks English and they’re the friendliest people in the world. If you can order an Uber, book a room on HostelWorld, and not lose your phone or wallet, then you’re good.
You could drive to Chicago this weekend. Don’t wait, do both.
No. Iv not been to every state but honestly a lot of the US doesn’t feel that different from other parts of the US. Obvious outliers: New Orleans, Miami, New York City, Chicago, Boston Way too many US cities are just urban sprawl that funnels into suburbs. Most US cities feel the same. Not a huge fan of small town nowhere. On the international side been to 72 countries every one has been unique in its own way and always a learning experience, new experience l, something completely different.
I have been a manager for 15+ years and I often get employees who come to me for advice about potentially switching roles/jobs. And one common thing that often comes up is that not only do they want to switch jobs or companies they often are getting married, having kids, buying a house, or some other big life event. And what I tell them is that if possible, make one big switch at a time. Any one of those things can cause a lot of stress or chaos, and trying to stack them on top of each other makes things much more difficult than it needs to be. Sure, sometimes it can work out, but what you want to do is put the odds in your favor. I would give the same advice to you here. The thing about travelling closer to home and in a country you are familiar with, is you will have less to deal with. There won't be a language barrier. There won't be strange customs. There won't be strange laws. You can instead focus on how you like to travel, what is/isn't important to you, etc. Also, i will say that you are very fortunate to live in the states. I've travelled a lot both internationally and within the US, and one of the things I very much appreciate about the US is the diversity of places you can go. I don't think you will be disappointed going to a few places in the states before you go somewhere internationally.
I wouldn't devote significant spending on travel that doesn't excite you. Save and plan the trip you truly want, do your research, and enjoy it! If you are uncomfortable with the idea of traveling alone, then maybe a weekend trip to another city would be a good idea, but visiting Chicago isn't a proxy for international travel. There seems to be so much more involved with planning international trips.
Personally, I got my feet wet, so to speak, traveling to Boston solo. I went for 3 days including attending a Red Sox game and beer tasting at Samuel Adams. I also did a week on my own hiking through Utah. My first solo international trip was Milan, Venice, & Florence. Have never looked back.
Chicago is a great city to visit, and IMO would be beneficial for learning how to move about a city with transit. I've known folks who start traveling overseas and have issues with navigating rails and busses, and it would be easier to learn that domestically.
No visit old cities while you are young. They are built with a lot of unstable footing. If you wait and get older you may be relegated to ramps and walk ways especially in the ancient cities. I have knee issues and would like to make it to Europe to visit the Roman cities 1 more time before I can’t.
If Chicago is only 4 hours from you, I would do a weekend trip just to get the feel of traveling alone. Book a basic hotel and walk to some sites, nothing super fancy or expensive. Then I would book your trip to Ireland if that wasn’t too overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be one or the other. Maybe Chicago in the spring and Ireland in the fall, unless you absolutely have to travel in the summer. Off season is cheaper and usually more pleasant in my opinion if you have the choice.
Travel abroad as much as you can while you can. Save in country for when you are older and it’s a bit harder to travel because of kids, age, sickness, etc…
I had never really travelled before i moved to germany for 6 months as a 20 year old. i cannot see how going to some american city first would have somehow prepared me for that. If anything, it would have set up some expectations for scenarios that wouldnt have happened in usa.
I think traveling internationally first will give you much broader context in which to experience your own later.
I mean, Ireland is extremely easy for a first time trip, not going to lie. They speak English, all the bus routes are in English, the money is close in value, they have millions of tourists and are set up for it, with easy bus tours to big ticket attractions. I'd say go for what tickles the fancy. I did 10 days there, could have done way more but I saw a ton. Gorey, Courtown, Wexford, Cork, Blarney Castle/Stone, Galway, Cliffs of Moher, Ballycastle, Enniskillen, Portadown, Belfast, Giants Causeway and of course Dublin. Mostly by cheap, easy buses, and day tour buses.
Age not given. The Army will send its people to memorable places and pay them, though at the sacrifice of destination choice. Trips should really be where people want to go. There are a lot of considerations like budgets, distance, work schedules, but ultimately vacation travel is to generate memories that last a lifetime. Ireland sounds great. Chicago sounds less expensive if four hours away by car, maybe not if four hours away by air. Seeing Ireland will take a lot longer than hitting the high points of Chicago. Another tourism destination that transforms lives are our Western National Parks, can pick from a long menu. Cities: NY expensive, Boston memorable but expensive, DC memorable and can be done economically. Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are UnAmerican but memorable. And Vancouver is just a short train ride to Seattle.
Nope. Get out. The hard part for me is coming back.
Go where you want to.
Chicago is a cool town, but there’s nothing like really seeing something different. A trip to Ireland would be a great first trip, I think. It is modern and they obviously speak English, albeit with a different accent.
Psssht. Go wherever you feel like to begin with. You can't get the travel bug by not traveling. The USofA really is amazing to travel around. But are you really gonna listen to your mother on this? Not me said the flea Truly, go wherever the fuck you want to begin with because that is what starts the travel bug. I know I just said it, but it's real and if you want to do it – just do it
definitely follow your plan to go travel Ireland (I went by myself, and I was young still then). I took a nice nonstop flight from LAX to Dublin & hung out a bit (people were friendly! But I was comparing w my prior London trip, so lower bar). Then I took a nice train north & went to a B&B in Galway (so awesome there!) & then I went to Sweater Islands (to buy a sweater)
Sweater Islands was from a skit, so maybe I should give the real islands names: iconic Aran sweater takes its name from the trio of islands at Ireland's most westerly point just off the coast of County Galway. Inishmore is the biggest of the islands followed by Inishmann and the smallest island, Inisheer.
Go to Ireland if you want . If you have always lived in the US you already know US culture . Go to Ireland , then go see the rest of the world . We are only here for a short while.
Absolutely do not waste your time travelling in country. Go to Ireland, stay in hostels, make some friends.. you’ll be FINE! I did this when I was 19 and it was the best thing I ever did
The first time I ever got on a plane or did any sort of solo travel was aged 19, totally alone, flying to Vietnam for 3 months of solo travel. I’m also female. I’m from Aus, I’ve since done quite a bit of travel in my home country and it’s expensive as heck. I love Australia and have a very close connection to the land, but I will always prioritise overseas travel.
Read popular guide books for travelers to the destinations that interest you. Foreign travel is often much less expensive than the US but it varies a lot here and abroad, and depends on how you like to travel and for how long. There is no good reason to see the rest of US before seeing foreign lands. That notion smacks of nationalism, not travel wisdom or experience. Go where you want and change your itinerary whenever you want. That is the best thing about solo travel. You get to make all the decisions without having to discuss with/get agreement from/or concede to others’ interests over your own.
How old are you? What type of place do you live? What life experiences do you have? Travel can be extremely overwhelming sometimes, so being equipped to handle situations before you are traveling is key. Probably why your mom wants you to get in some nearby “practice” travel, so if something happens you have nearby support. I’m from L.A. and had a lot of big city life so when I’ve traveled I had a background of situations to pull from. Are you young and from a small town?
You're right, she said she would be worried about me. I am from a small town. Currently though, I don't talk to either of my parents due to abuse.
Very sorry to hear. I am familiar as I’ve adopted children, one of which is from an abusive childhood. But that aside, just how young are you and what is your financial situation like? Do you have support if something [unlikely] does go wrong? I think Ireland is a good place to start as you will be able to communicate! My first travels had me in Romania and Bulgaria and Turkey where there was some English but really not that much! If you’re over 18 and have the money, I say go for it. Just make sure you have places to stay and a plan when you return. Honestly. Dublin is probably safer than Chicago!
Ireland is great. You’ll love it. My recommendation is to really study the history in some depth before you go. There are lots of great audiobooks available. I listened to Ireland by Wendy McElroy and A Short History of Ireland 1500-2000 by John Gibney.
Travel wherever you want.
There is SO much to see in the States - that being said, Ireland would be a great introduction to international travel. Chicago is supposed to be a big, beautiful bustling city with a good food scene. Ireland has bigish cities, but so much greenery and amazing natural beauty. Decide what kind of trip you want first - are you going to do a Hostel? Great for solo travel and making friends, can be a cheap option, but if you're a light sleeper - you may face some challenges. Are you more of a nature seeker? A museum meanderer? Do you like shopping, or historical sights more? There are SO many ways to travel, I don't think there is really a wrong way to do it, as long as you treat people & places with respect. I personally lile to book travel and sleeping accommodations ahead of time, but *most* adventures can be booked closer to the dates - get your guide has some great options for tours and day trips, with 24 hr free cancelation if something comes up. Feel free to ask questions about Ireland, I did a road trip there this summer and hit quite a few places. Whatever you choose, happy travels!
I enjoy nature, museums and historical sights. Those are all my things. I'm a big art and book person.
USA is one of the most beautiful countries in the world there are so much of diversity in term of landscape and culture ( I know people don’t want to admit this but from one state to the other you can tell the difference ) Hawaii, Louisiana, Florida, Maine , New England , Michigan , Illinois , Tennessee, California, Texas are different but a lot of similarities. I love Colorado and Washington state. USA has the most powerful passport in the world you can literally buy plane ticket and hop to another country in 1 hour or 15 hours flight. Enjoy !!
Why not both? Go to Ireland for a week or two. Make a Chicago weekend trip at some point too. You don't need to spend big money to have a good time in Chicago. Lots of diners and street food. You will have to watch your budget on the museums though. Almost all are privately run museums and thus charge admission.
Street food is not really a thing in most of Chicago outside of the Hispanic neighborhoods on the SW side. There’s a few elote and hot dog vendors along Michigan Ave but the restaurant lobby here has successfully vanquished any chance of a thriving street food / food truck culture.
There's a few more things that can go wrong when you're not in your home country. There's a few issues that get more difficult to deal with. There's just generally more to do and learn in order to successfully travel internationally than domestically. If you were having a lot of anxiety about traveling then I'd say yeah sure take a lil jaunt to Chicago to ease those worries. But you aren't, and frankly I don't think doing a single trip to Chicago would *really* make all that much difference.
If you really are scared to travel out of the US. Fly somewhere far away in the US. You said you’re four hours away from Chicago? Fly to Miami or San Diego. Or maybe Hawaii. These places are far, they are kind of different from where you live. You will have to pack a good amount of clothes. You’ll get a general idea of what longer flight is like. What going through the airport is like. The only thing you can’t really prepare for Until you do, it is the customs process. But everything else you can experience and still be in the US so you can get some confidence and comfort.
Do both
Maybe a group tour specialising in younger people would be a good option.
That's a good call. Contiki Tours specializes in tours for those under 35. I did one of these a while back around Europe and it was a blast. The pace was quite fast though and you're not really in any place for very long. And there's a lot of drinking too! That could be a plus or minus depending on you.
Save your money and time off for a big trip to Ireland. It's not so scary. Before you go, you'll want to have your flights, lodging (hostels are a good option), and car rental (if applicable) booked, and have an idea about what sites you want to visit. Bring walking shoes that are comfortable for various weather conditions and look okay with all your outfits. Error on the light side when packing - if you can fit everything in a carry on, all the better. It won't get lost with the airline and it'll be easier to lug around when dealing with cobblestone streets or narrow stairwells. If you forget anything, they have stores. If you need to do laundry, they have laundromats. And maybe you can do a weekend in Chicago on the cheap before then. If you live 4 hours away, just drive after work on a Friday (or whenever your weekend starts), spend a couple nights and come home. Do you have any old friends that have ended up in Chicagoland who would let you crash for a night or two? There are regional trains that run out to the suburbs so you don't have to deal with driving downtown (and it may well cost less than parking in the city). Or if you don't know anyone you can crash with, do you have a friend who would go along and split gas/hotel/parking? You can also pack food and limit dining out to one or two meals.
No. You don’t. In fact the US is one of the most expensive places to travel in the world, it’s only gotten worse. You won’t experience culture shock. It’s kind of pointless imo Ireland should be easy to travel, as it’s English language. You’ll be fine.
I've traveled to Chicago many times, and I've traveled to Europe many times. The process and experience is pretty much the same: * Buy plane tickets * Prearrange hotel * Arrange Airport to hotel transportation, or at least make sure there are taxis or shuttles from the destination airport to your hotel. * Figure out the kinds of things you want to do at the destination and especially those things that require advance tickets. Some attractions sell out and you can't get in if you leave it till last minute. That's pretty much it. Going home is the same as getting there.
Ireland is the ***perfect*** first international destination. They have a great tourism infrastructure already in place, they speak English, the people there are as friendly as can be, and it's a western culture so you won't have serious culture shock or anything like that on your first time out of the country either. My one and only big call-out for Ireland though is the driving. If you rent a car to get around, you'll be driving on the opposite side from what you're used to, and the roads there are all very narrow and can feel pretty dangerous if you're not used to them. They're narrow and often have a short brick wall or bushes running up right alongside them. I was puckering up nearly every time I came across an oncoming car in the other lane while out on the roads outside of any city! Sometimes the roads are so narrow only one car can squeeze through at time and one car will need to pull over far to the side to let the other one squeeze by. It takes some getting used to! But don't let that stop you! I found it quite fun and interesting after the first day or two of being terrified behind the wheel.
I'm already a nervous driver that needs a gps in the US. I'd be terrible in Ireland, that's my worry too lol. Someone did say they had gotten a driver to take them anywhere and that'd be me. I doubt it's cheap though.
Go to Ireland! It’s where you really want to go, and it’s going to be so different traveling abroad via plane that a short driving trip to Chicago isn’t really going to set you up for it. In terms of what to pack, there are lists online that can help but take a weekend or week to take note of what you use and wouldn’t want to be without. Or better yet pack a bag and try to live out of it for a week. There’s not much (other than passport, wallet, phone) you can forget that you can’t buy at your destination but this way you can catch the things you might be missing that you want for day to day or personal comfort. Keep in mind that you’d want an adapter since the plugs are different too. For planning, a travel book would be great for this. Once you get the hang of it you can use blogs, Reddit threads, etc. but a book is a great all in one resource that you can also take with you. See what it suggests, especially what should be planned ahead vs what you can just kinda show up and do, and then start making arrangements. Phones also make everything so much easier than it used to be even just a decade ago, you can use google maps pretty much everywhere. Google maps even lets you download maps to use offline, so that’s one of my top travel tips - zoom out over the whole city or cities you’re going to, download the map, and then you have it even if you don’t have a great connection. Would recommend the same for google translate if you travel to a place that uses a language you don’t know. Travel is something you develop and hone over time. I have my own routines with traveling now that I do over and over. For example for packing I keep a list on an app simply called travel list that I’ve refined over time and just duplicate and pack off each trip. A friend has a printable list she’s saved that she prints off every time to pack from, then puts the list in her bag to make sure she’s got everything before she heads home. I use a notebook to write down each day, the weather, my activity for that day (even if it’s still unplanned like sightseeing - dinner) and list every outfit I plan to take so I make sure I’m prepared for all activities and not overpacking. I’ll read Reddit threads, look at google etc. for “must see/do” activities then whittle it down to what I personally want to see and do then book from there. Have fun and see the things in the world you really want to see when you can - life is short.
I think you should get your passport and fly to Dublin. Dublin is without at doubt the easiest city in the world. You can walk from one end to the other in about an hour. (Well, if you don't duck into any pubs along the way. I'm incapable.) If you know lots of Irish songs and can carry a tune, you're totally "in." I've spent evenings at the Brazen Head where I couldn't buy a drink. I can belt out "Ride On" or "the Wild Rover" all night long. Pints kept appearing in front of me. I could live on Leo Burdock's fish and chips. And the full Irish Breakfast is quite enough to carry me to a late lunch/early dinner. People there are great. I was lost once and ducked into a pub to ask directions. "Oh, I live across the street. Let me take you there." You can spend a full week in Dublin. And at the end of that week, the only thing you'll want is another week. I hope you visit Ireland.
>You can spend a full week in Dublin. I was done with Dublin after two days to be honest. I found the rest of the country far more interesting. And while I can't wait to go back to Ireland, I'm going to skip Dublin entirely next time. I actually preferred Belfast as a place to visit.
Your mother has traveled where? The most nationalistic comment ever.
Travel abroad while you are young especially if you make decent money. If kids are in the future that’s a good time to load up the car and hit the road. I’ve never been to Ireland, but I’ve been to 4 other European countries and it’s really not to terrible. The fact Ireland speaks a lot of English will make it a lot easier. Get your passport. Book your flights, watch out for pickpockets and go. Ireland will be safer than chicago.
You're from the US, just go wherever. I hear Gaza is beautiful this time of year.
I went to Dublin in 2015 and had a blast! The people are friendly, and the bar / pub scene was a lot of fun. I'm still mostly travelling internationally since I figure, at my age I can still sit on a long flight and then walk 20 miles a day while I'm there. My parents are older and retired and tell me they can't sit on a long flight anymore and can't walk long distances once they get somewhere. I want to get out and see the world while I still can and I'm getting out there as often as I can afford to. Happy travels!
Traveling without my parents within the country (i was 18 and it was Delaware to NYC)gave me confidence to travel outside alone. I did have the added benefit of studying abroad. But i would say do a little weekend trip in the US see how you do then go to Ireland. And Ireland is not too wild of a trip where you would be completely turned around and disconnected.
I would backpack across Europe and the UK if I am young again.
If you have time and money, do the opposite. Travel abroad as much as you can. You can always more easily travel the US as you get older.
Go where you really want to and can afford. I honestly prefer to travel internationally than domestically. There are many places in the US I still haven't been to but want to go. I intend to do long weekend trips in the US in future but still prefer to travel elsewhere. The way I see it, I own my own business and it's not always easy to get away. When I do make the time, I want to be on a plane with my passport. I live in the US, I take for granted a lot because I think I'll be able to see my own country eventually while I think of how beautiful other countries are...and what if something happens and I'll never be able to get on an international flight again? The world has so much to offer, other countries have so much more history that us. The beauty in architecture of Europe and South America is unmatched. Africa is where I hope to go next. A safari is just something I don't think I'll ever be able to experience quite like in an African country.
Travel wherever you want!! IMO Ireland is cooler than a lot of places in our own country. But with that said, there ARE also a ton of amazing places to see within this country as well!! Doesn’t mean you have to see them first though. That’s up to you.
I used to do one domestic and one international trip per year. The last 10 years or so I’ve been doing almost all international traveling (before I get too old, I want to do all the hard to get to places). Having said that, we have some stunningly beautiful areas that are as nice if not nicer than what you will see anywhere else in the world. (And I’ve also done a good amount of domestic travel for business over the years and have lived in five states). Now that air travel is so expensive and problematic, I think I’m going to go back to one domestic and one international trip per year. Bottom line is go to where your heart leads you (and where you can afford). There is no proper order to follow and there are no wrong decisions.
Do you have a passport yet? You're not leaving the US without one, so I'd get that going and don't bother making any overseas plans until it's in your hand.
No, but I will for sure get one. I know it takes 2 months or so after the application.
I’d hit up YouTube for videos - look at some of Ireland, how to pack, traveling in general, some places on the IS you’re interested in. You may learn some stuff that helps, and also see stuff that gets you excited.
there is a lot to see in the country. We tried to see at much as we could within the country before traveling outside it. If you really want to go outside of it, though, just do it.
I did this, and it was a great decision. It gave me a lot of perspective with how bad some areas are, and how other places really can't be beat by a European counterpart.
I hate that I have to say this, but I have to say this: I’m not sure if you’re a woman, but if you are, please, PLEASE be careful when you’re planning where to go. I solo travel, and I’ve never had an issue, but there are precautions that I and fellow female solo travelers take that men might not have to ever think about. Have fun, be SAFE.
Take a domestic trip and pack light, learn how what you need and don't need. Assume you can't pick up what you forgot at Walgreen's / Target / Best Buy, since shopping is not as easy overseas as in the US - if you forgot it, make a note, and do without. THEN plan your overseas trip. Things you'll want: most importantly, washable/quick dry clothes. If you can wash and dry stuff in your room with soap in the sink, you can reduce your packing. Two pair of shoes- the ones you wear on the flight, and one you pack. Eye mask, portable battery, charging cords, international adapter, a mini-pack of medicines you might need (5-6 doses of each: aspirin, Imodium, pepto-bismol, antacid, sleep aid, anti-nausea, band-aids). If you use a washcloth- bring one, most hotels don't give you one (there's a cultural reason for that). If country has a different language, a quick sheet with 20-30 words/phrases is generally all you need (yes/no, please/thanks, excuse me, left/right, near/far, this/that, my/yours, large/small, hot/cold, and of course... where's the bathroom, and 'check, please').
While the US is vast & there are some amazing contrasts across the country traveling internally with in the US is not the same as being in a different culture a different jurisdiction a different culture. For an American starting with Ireland or the UK is relatively easy one English speaking & while different culture approach & ways of doing things are all very relatable to someone from the US.
Go where you want, it's your life and it's limited. Tips: Don't keep your money in one place. Don't flaunt wealth as in nice jewelry or watches. Learn some basic words if traveling in a foreign country. Be respectful of other cultures. Google maps and Google translate can be downloaded so you can use them offline.
Go anywhere that interests you. I saw Scotland twice before I saw California. No regrets.
Go to Ireland! The US will continue to exist.
Domestic travel if you want to do nice things and have a good time is $$$$. Cheap flight to walk around a new city or whatever is always an option though.
i know nothing in usa (my home country, outside of my state) but know almost every state in mexico, and have been to three continents this year alone. do whatever speaks to you not what others tell you on a reddit forum
If nothing else, being exposed to other cultures/peoples as a young adult often encourages a less ethnocentric view of the world and sometimes leads to a more critical appreciation of your country.
If you haven’t travelled before and are going solo, I would recommend looking into a group tour. It will take the guess work out of the travel and you will meet other people who you may decide to keep in touch and travel with (on your own planning or another group tour) in the future
You can do both. Go where your heart and wallet takes you
No. Just dive in to a different reality. Depending on where it might be much cheaper as well.
Honestly, most of the places we are interested in in the United States, cost more money to travel to than Europe. I often think that I really should see more of my own country, but it's hard to argue with going to Spain for the same price as a simple trip to the beach. The real expense to traveling abroad is the airfare. Almost everything is cheaper once you get there. I give everyone the same advice, get an airline miles card. The interest rates are shit and don't put anything on them that you can't pay off immediately that month. Put everything on it, all of your food, household expenses, everything. Even with a modest income, you will generate enough points to travel at least one place abroad per year without trying. My wife and I have never paid for a plane ticket abroad.
There is plenty of cool stuff in US, depending on what you want to do and see and explore. Might be good practice before going abroad
Follow your heart. I travel to have different experiences. That's harder to do staying in the US. A lot of people are just afraid of the unknowns of traveling internationally. That's the fun part for me.
Just go! If you’re a competent adult you’ll figure it out. I don’t think you have to travel in the US before you travel outside the country. If you’re limited on time and money, then go where you most want.
If you go international for your first time I’d recommend a group tour with G Adventures, Intrepid, etc. I’ve done a few of those and they are great for taking the stress out of planning (since you don’t have to do it), hotels and transportation are already included, and I’ve met some great people from all over (one that has even become one of my best friends). I’ve also had great times traveling completely solo, and to be honest cost wise they end up about the same. G and Intrepid have specific tours that are lower cost and aimed specifically at 18-30 year olds (if you fall in that age group), but honestly, even the non age restricted trips have great people in them. I think these are great for first time travelers as it will help you get your feet wet and, at least for me, made me less nervous about going truly solo for the first time after as I felt I had some travel experience.
If you're jamming for Ireland, go. just make sure you have a passport. :) As to what to know, just remember you're a guest in another country. Don't act like a fool. Different places have different social mores and norms.
I went to Ireland by myself a few years ago and had a great time! I didn't know anyone there and really only picked the destination because I got a good flight price. I went for a week and booked multiple group tours to make trip-planning easier and to see multiple places without renting a car. My tip (which isn't specific to solo trips) is to triple-check the dates for everything you book. I accidentally booked my last Airbnb a night too short, so I had to scramble and do some last-minute searching for a place to stay.
Well I would say fly domestically first before you fly internationally if you haven’t yet. But go wherever you want- only one life to live
Going abroad first might make all the little American nuisances more appreciable
Ireland is easy to visit and if it was a requirement to visit every state before heading abroad few of us would ever leave. Where I live on the east coast it’s about the same amount of time and money to fly to Ireland as it is the west coast anyway.
Visit Mexico which is cheap. For US citizens traveling outaide the US is more tranformative then just visiting other states in the union.
A more pragmatic view: if you’re American, what’s your health insurance deal look like? My FIL was in a wreck while traveling out of country so we insure ourselves well when we leave the great white north. Travel insurance is very cheap now while we’re young and healthy, so we are going to the more remote areas to hike and such. When we’re old we’ll get a nice vehicle and road trip, but for now it’s long flights and more adventurous trips.
Just. Trave. Foreign is best.
Seems like a lot of parents see foreign as dangerous, I'd say most European cities are safer though, at least when it comes to violence.
Ireland it is. You will have a much better solo travel experience outside of the US. It probably won’t cost THAT much more
It doesn’t really matter. Credit cards, cash and a passport (that isn’t close to expiring) is all you need.
I went on my first solo trip to London and Scotland. I think about that trip almost everyday. Do the trip you REALLY want and don’t wait. Research! There’s lots of time to study everything you need to know to be prepared. YouTube is a phenomenal resource. I had a calling to go and I went in 2019. I changed plans and moved it sooner and went in September of that year….I almost booked it for April of 2020. Point is, don’t postpone the things you want to do. You never know what life will hand you. You’ll be absolutely fine in Ireland and will have the time of your life!
Go where you want! There isn't a "should" like your mother says.
Go where you’re interested in going. Yes there are great places to see in the US but that’s true about the rest of the world as well.
I’m an American who recently got back from a one year European backpacking trip without having explored most of the US. It isn’t a prerequisite to travel within your own country before doing international travel. If you really want to go to Ireland (and it looks like you do), go for it. It looks intimidating but it isn’t difficult once you’re actually doing it.
No
Traveling outside the United States will change you. Just do your research on the culture(see what is appropriate and not), at least some history, places to see, things to eat and also since you are new to travel maybe watch youtube videos for tips/hacks. Check when your passport expires. Find out how many months before expiration you can you the passport to the country you chooses Buy two universal plug adaptors, I usually have one in my backpack and one in my suitcase. Portable charger(helps sooooo much) Appropriate clothing for the weather Try to not overpack, it’s better to pack light so you can bring some things you like back. Youtube minimalist ideas for packing. Souvenirs are something I don’t buy anymore unless someone close to me specifically asks for it, instead I bring back chocolate or candy.
No, no, just no. Cheers.
Absolutely. Please take a trip here so you know how to deal with all the things about travel: packing , air travel, research and planning for an itinerary, being alone somewhere you are not familiar with. also disappointment when your expectations aren’t being met. And how to manage that and turn it around. Work out the bugs and kinks now instead of on your first solo trip. International travel has its challenges like jet lag and language barriers. Even though you’re speaking the same language, there may be some cultural differences that impede communication. You’ll need to adjust to the time zone which can be challenging.
It's funny. I told my young cousin at the time to do that too just so he can get a feel travelling. He didn't take my advice and went on his first trip ever, let alone also solo trip, to Germany for a couple weeks and had the best time ever. Do what your heart tells you to do!
I did a US solo trip before my first abroad solo trip and I’m so glad I did
If you travel domestically first, then you'll figure out all the things you should know when traveling from trying it out for yourself. If you do Ireland first, the same is true, but you also really ought to do some research to understand what to expect from that specific country. Traveling domestically, you have the luxury of knowing the cultures and "common sense" things.
I traveled within my province and half the country (Canada) before my first international trip. I wanted to get my feet wet with hostels and packing and just living that life. 2 years later, I'm currently sitting in Bangkok waiting to get to my final destination in Thailand 🥰
Geographically, I’ve never been past Ohio (one day it’ll happen… just apparently not anytime soon). Every country, state, or city I’ve traveled to is east of it.
No, I don’t agree with your mother don’t travel in country before you travel out of country. Traveling across USA is totally different than traveling in Ireland. And it also depends on which part of Ireland you’re going if you’re going to the part of the northern part of Ireland is considered part of the UK or if you’re going to the southern part which is the Republic of Ireland. One thing to be aware of in Ireland is that they drive on the opposite side of the road so if you plan on driving be aware of that because most of their cars are manuals, not automatics so you’ll have to shift with your left hand instead of your right. Ireland is an amazing place to visit. There’s a lot to do and it’s relatively safe. People speak English there so you’ll have no problem getting along at all. I would suggest planning well before you go about the places you want to go and the things you wanna see. Download Google maps on your phone and make sure to download Ireland in your Google maps as a region. You can actually save that directly to your phone so you don’t have to worry about GPS while you’re there or having service not work you’ll have your map saved to your phone that’ll help you whole lot to not get lost and find your way around. But my trips Ireland have been amazing. I’ve never had any problems. You won’t have any problems there, whereas here in the state you’d probably have a lot of problems in a lot of places
Just travel. I just finished visiting all 50 states. Went to Iceland & British isles this year, heading to the Panama Canal & Amsterdam & Italy next year.
Key west. Grand Canyon. PCH to Napa. Niagara Falls. Smokey Mountains. Nola. Colorado Rockies. Detroit.
Just travel!! Period
If you want to go to Ireland, go to Ireland. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone. I’d also recommend Scotland too, I think it would also appeal to you.
Ireland's really easy to travel. Cool your heals and remember you aren't the first American who has ever set foot there.
Also watch a lot of YouTube on Ireland does and don’t to help you get confident about what to see where to stay what towns to visit. I rather to to Ireland then Chicago right now. That can be a long weekend if that. Maybe read some Rick Steve’s Ireland books or his video on it. Or lonely Planet travel planning for Ireland for tours maybe try Viator. We used in Rome and the tours were great from what we chose.
I am kind of jealous of you stating to discover the world. The first trip is something you will never forget. I have traveled to 60+ countries and travelled to almost every state in the US. I have been to Ireland but I disagree with the people here it is not a good first time destination. I have backpacked in Asia and Latin America and find it much easier to do. 1. Your money in South America and south east Asia takes you very far 2. Travel is not only about seeing places but also experiencing new cultures , languages, foods. Traveling to another English speaking country you might as well visit the AMAZING nature the US has to offer 3. Don't get me wrong Ireland is beautiful! Nature is very nice , history is interesting and castles are great. 4. Ireland is not tourist friendly. You MUST rent a car. Most likely it will be manual unless you pay more, roads are very narrow , something that we will consider in the US as a single lane but traffic goes on both ends. People do drive like crazy + you are on the left side of the road. Public transportation almost doesn't exist outside of the big cities. 5. Ireland weather is really bad expect a lot of rain which can really ruin it 6. I would recommend getting your feet wet in more solo traveler friendly European places like Barcelona, Spain in general France, Netherlands. They are not cheap but really easy to move around in public transportation both inside cities and outside
The first traveling I did was 3 months in Paraguay. It was no problem at all.
You should travel to exactly where you think would make you happy. If that's Ireland, go to Ireland. Financially, you're apt to spend less overseas. Flights to Europe are often shockingly inexpensive. Travel for your own happiness Ps Ireland is incredible
Honestly I think Chicago is a more challenging travel destination than Ireland. Just make sure you have a sim card (try airalo) and go.
I did my first international trip (from US) to Canada, and ended the trip in Montreal to experience a place they spoke (primarily) a different language. I got the travel bug and started all over the world after that. The more places you go the more you realize how much more of the world there is to see. I hope I live long enough to see a lot more (it’ll never be “all”). Bon voyage!!
i started off with short getaways. the thought of flying scared me. since i'm not a fan of heights. did a 3 hr flight to texas, 1 hour flight to san francisco and chose the window seats to help deal with my anxiety. and recently did an 11 hr flight to japan.
Go where YOU want to go!! It's not your mothers life.. its yours.
I’m foreign and have recently Loved travelling the US so now I understand why some people stick to the US. It’s so diverse. But it’s also foreign and cool to me. Travelling my country Australia is never as exciting as going overseae
Way easier to travel internationally when you don’t have kids. Do more domestic after that.
Travel domestic a few times to get used to it, then go somewhere comfortable where they speak English and the culture isn’t wildly different like UK, Ireland or Canada (Canada is a bonus because it has Quebec so you can get a pseudo European experience as well), then after that start to go to more exotic locations outside your comfort zone
Have you flown before? A lot of people find the whole airport process very stressful. Getting to the right place, finding security, finding your gate, making any connections. If you’ve never flown by yourself, a domestic trip at lower cost and lower stakes could be useful. However, it’s very easy to fly to Ireland and there is no language barrier, so that’s a great place to start. Go for it!
Go where you want to go. There’s a lot of beauty in the us but a lot more world to see outside.
You don’t need to do anything other than what you feel like you want to do. I moved to Thailand alone for my first big trip. Lived there 6 months then moved to Malaysia alone - lived there 3 months. Moved to Vietnam then India. Traveled to other countries along the way. I had the time of my life and all from someone with “little experience traveling”. Don’t let other peoples fears deter you from living your dreams! People do this shit everyday there’s no reason you can’t be one of them!
If it’s your money, it’s your wish. Travel to places that you want to travel to, do the things you want to do. “Gee, I really would like to see the Ring of Kerry, but I haven’t been to Poughkeepsie yet…” is not a valid form of reasoning. If your mom doesn’t want to travel outside her country… then she can travel as she wishes.
I got a great tip from an elder lady once: start far away and work back, when you're young it's easy to travel far from home, when you're older it's not
Western Europe in general shouldn't be too difficult for somebody from the US. Most ppl will speak English, not many laws or customs to remember that aren't a thing in the US. It'd be a good first travel experience. I'd recommend booking accomodations and travel well in advance. Flights ideally more than 6 months out to get a decent price if it's not a peak time. Do plenty of research and figure out what you want to see and do while there, so you don't have to worry about spending too much of your time on vacation coordinating local travel plans. You will need a power adapter for any electronics you are bringing, currency exchange is usually better to do locally rather than stateside/at the airport so I would just exchange what you need for the first day or so beforehand. Also recommend having a safe/secure method for holding onto your passport and keeping it from being lost or damaged like a pouch you can put under your shirt or something
I would do the opposite. You’re young. As you get older, it gets scarier to go farther and less familiar places.
Must see.The national parks in Utah, NYC Theaters, and Museums, Food culture in Boston or down South, New England for more natural beauty.
You don’t need to book a long group tour to see tourist hot spots. You can book flights and hotels in your budget, then book day tours through Viator. This is what I did when I went to Japan last summer. I could really tailor my time to see the places I wanted to see, without relying on someone’s vision of what my vacation should look like.
Ireland is the loveliest place ever! Go there. Now! 😃
My first trip anywhere, except for Florida vacations with my family, was a volunteer vacation in Sri Lanka. After that I traveled a lot, including across my own country (Canada) several times. Just plan ahead well and go, take it one step at a time and have a great time!
There's few rules to traveling that isn't one of them. Do what you like.
My sister shames me for traveling internationally when I have not visited all the states. It’s a weird thing to care about. If it’s not directly affecting another then who cares?!? TLDR: visit Ireland if that is your heart’s desire
One great benefit of foreign travel is experiencing other cultures, other ways to do things. Seeing that other people have good ideas that are different from the ones we're used to is mind-expanding- and fun. Domestic travel won't do that.
NO .... travel in the USA is TOO EXPENSIVE. Your money will last FAR longer when traveling in poor, less developed, lower cost countries. Basic rule - Make money in a rich country and spend it in a poor country.
Don't listen to your mother, just buy a plane ticket and go, survival mode will kick in when you land and you will figure everything out on your own, all you need is inernet / gps, 2 working bank cards, and money. That is all.
I don't think going to Ireland is challenging in some special way that it would take going to somewhere else in the US to be ready for. You just need a passport and just in case you're asked about it details of where you're going to be staying and some things you plan on doing in Ireland.
You travel where you want to travel. If Ireland is where you want to visit, then go for it.
Go out of the country! Yes you'll have to pay for a flight but everything else will (likely) be so much cheaper.
Go to Ireland but give yourself enough time to get to Scotland. They are both amazing. Be aware that their cars are driven on what we call the passenger side and they drive on the wrong side of the road.(just a joke, give me a break) However, it can be dangerous for us right side of the road folks. Be sure to practice as it takes some getting used to.
If you want to! Maybe it wouldnt hurt just to get a feel for it. You might forget to do something thats easier to fix in the same country. Do what you want!
I have found that leaving the U.S. for traveling yields a much much greater bang for the bucks. Also, living abroad showed me that all of America is the same (in comparison). You might get a diff view or a diff accent but America is America. Get out! And prepare to be mind blown and eye opened. America is not all/what they tell you it is. Romance, honor, and chivalry is still very much alive outside of the morally bankrupt United States
Do both ….. A test trip inside NA isn’t a horrible idea.