To tip or not to tip? Should I say hi to strangers on the street of a small town? Is it okay to shake hands? These are questions many travelers ask before traveling internationally.

Researching the etiquette, customs and language of your destination is a good way to make friends with your hosts and show your respect. It’s also essential for avoiding potentially embarrassing situations for both parties.

Equally important for having a stress-free journey is planning, being flexible and protecting your health and safety. Don’t over pack or over schedule!

To ensure you have the most fun, fulfilling and safe vacation possible, follow our list of do’s and don'ts for you next trip. 

Don’t forget to purchase travel insurance

This is a big one. Purchasing travel insurance is one of the smartest ways to protect your health and financial investment in your trip.

An Allianz Travel Insurance plan with trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits can reimburse non-refundable expenses if your trip is canceled, interrupted or delayed for covered reasons. We can also provide emergency medical care and transportation benefits and accommodate a wide range of budgets. You can purchase protection for a single trip or protect a year’s worth of adventures with one payment for an annual plan.

You should know that your domestic health insurance plan may not fully cover you abroad and most health care facilities expect upfront payment for services. Travel insurance that reimburses medical expenses can save you from major financial losses. 

And in this age of uncertainty, it’s highly likely you’ll experience a weather or service-related travel delay at the airport, or a family illness that gets in the way of your plans. Travel insurance with trip protection can mean the difference between canceling your trip and postponing from a better day. 

Do research on local customs

This can help you feel not as much like a fish out of water and shows respect to your hosts. Common customs to research include tipping, making purchases, greetings and language faux pas.

Did you know that in street markets in many countries it’s common and even expected to haggle, or negotiate a lower price? Depending on your destination, there is an informal etiquette on how to score the best price while ensuring the seller gets fair payment. Check out this destination guide on haggling.

You should also research your destination’s customs on tipping.  While North America has a tipping culture, it is considered unnecessary or rude to tip for services in many other regions of the world. Be sure you know whether to tip or not and the amount expected.

Making a good first impression is important! Do your reading on how to greet your hosts. In some countries, including a number in the Middle East, shaking hands with members of the opposite sex in casual settings is taboo. And in Japan, bowing instead of shaking hands to greet is more common.

Brush up on your language skills. Learn some of the everyday phrases and colloquialisms of where you’re going. Being aware of the language can help you avoid mistakes, as some words that are part of everyday speech in one country may be vulgar in another.

And did you know that there are at least 11 different words for straw across Spanish speaking nations? At the very least, knowing the difference can help you communicate your needs clearly!

Don’t over pack

This simple tip can save you a lot of stress. A single traveler can easily fit a week’s worth of clothing into a single carry-on — two week’s if you use packing hacks or have access to a washer and dryer at your destination.

Considering the cost to check baggage, packing your luggage into a single carry on that’s easy to schlep between gates is convenient and frugal.

Make your space go further by purchasing packing cubes or use the Navy hack of rolling your clothing instead of folding it. And if you can easily and quickly purchase an item at your destination, considering doing so instead of packing it. 

Do more flexible planning

Life rarely goes as planned and that’s often the beauty of it. While traveling, learn to embrace the unexpected instead of letting it frustrate you or derail your plans. You do this by practicing slow travel and not overpacking your itinerary.

For example, instead of a trip spanning Italy from north to south, try exploring a single region or a few towns. Immerse yourself in the culture and do as the locals do. By not rushing to see as many places as possible, you’ll have more time to reflect on your journey and feel less rushed. 

Wherever you roam, don’t forget to protect your trip with travel insurance. Get a quote and find the right plan for your trip.

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