International travel and domestic travel are inherently different, at least from the United States. For one, unless starting in a border state, it’s a lot longer flight than most domestic destinations. Then there’s the challenge of coordinating, from flights to luggage.
The world is a big place, and I want to see as much of it as possible in my lifetime. Narrowing down the list is a struggle. A lot of the time, it ends up coming down to navigability and ticket prices. I’ve also traveled internationally for a job before.
Ticket hunting when flying international is its own special maze. A lot of the international carriers fly from the coastal cities, so I have to travel there first, and then I can catch an international flight. That two-stage planning usually requires a bit of finagling.
There’s a lot of research that then has to be put into packing. For example, hair care products (hello #curlyhair) are not universal. This usually means I pack my own products versus being able to pick them up when I land from a local store. That doesn’t even factor in researching the weather for while I’m there.
Then it’s on to making everything fit. International flights tend to have different bag regulations for one. Figuring out how to pack into what’s usually a smaller space is like solving a jigsaw puzzle. Of course, it also involves figuring out how to get to everything while on the trip without having to unpack and repack each time.
International flights involve a lot of food and comfort packing. Most airlines offer a variety of special meals if asked, however, that doesn’t cover snacks or some dietary restrictions. I’ve also found that neck pillows are also essential for overnight flights.
Being someplace different is an adventure in and of itself. That’s the really enjoyable part of the trip. Coming back usually involves trying to figure out where I want to go next. Granted, that’s not always a very fast process to go on another international trip. It’s always in the back of my mind though.