The Perfect Destinations for First Time Travellers

For your first adventure, look no further than Argentina. This enormous country is perfect for a new traveler to explore. Argentina has everything to offer, from a large metropolitan city to the mountains of Patagonia. It may seem intimidating. Travel itself can be scary for first timers and South America even more so. But never fear, Buenos Aires is a great city for the inexperienced traveler. People are friendly and the food is great for all palettes (along with all the steak, vegetarian options are becoming more and more prevalent every year). Argentina is a very affordable destination for visitors from North America and Europe. The cost of a steak dinner will be a fraction of the same meal in say, New York City. The country itself has a lot to offer, such as hikes in Patagonia, massive waterfalls in Iguazu, wine tasting in Mendoza, the lesser known desert in Jujuy and Salta or the wetlands of Iberá in Corrientes. There’s truly something for everyone, this is a nature lovers’ dream. This massive country used to be very expensive to traverse, but recently budget airlines (like the new FlyBondi) have brought prices down significantly. Now is the perfect time to see the many natural wonders Argentina has to offer, so don’t think twice, come to Argentina!

By Erin from Sol Salute

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• Twitter: @SolSalute

Bali

Bali, Indonesia is the perfect destination for your first big adventure! The Instagram haven provides an opportunity to experience a culture that differs greatly from what we are used to. Locals leave offerings for the gods and beautiful temples can be found around every corner. Meanwhile, terraced rice fields, palm forests and more waterfalls than you can dream of, make the landscape simply breath-taking.

However, what makes Bali such a great location for first time travellers is the fact that, while remaining authentic, towns such as Ubud have a sense of familiarity. Smoothie bowls, westernised restaurants and locals who all speak English make the ‘culture shock’ of Bali a lot less than that of other Southeast Asian Countries. This said, the fact that Ubud now has a Starbucks may be taking this a little far… but we’ll gloss other that fact.

By Rachel from Earth’s Magical Places

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• Twitter: @MagPlaces

Thailand

I know it seems cliche, but my first big adventure was in Thailand and I thought it was perfect. The culture shock is severe and you can really immerse yourself in another world while also feeling safe and secure. Thailand is set up for tourists so you’ll never be too far from a helping hand, and a lot of places will have English speaking staff and translated menus. There is also a huge variety of activities from stunning beaches to jungle hiking to bustling cities so you won’t have time to worry!

I would recommend taking a tour with G Adventures or Intrepid for the first part of your trip to find your feet before taking flight on your own. These tours come with incredible local guides, inside info on the best things to do and really smooth out the entire experience. My time on the tour was easily the best part of my trip and I’d do it again in a heartbeat!

By Katie from Real World Runaway

• Twitter: @RealWorldRun
• Instagram: RealWorldRunaway

New Zealand

New Zealand was the first country I travelled to. I was travelling alone, I knew nothing of New Zealand other then it was close (I’m from Australia), technically overseas, they spoke English and they used dollars. So I booked it as my first solo trip. What I discovered from New Zealand was the most beautiful, friendly, easy to travel country I have ever been to. It is so very underestimated.

The typical way to travel New Zealand is with a car or campervan. There are many tours such as Topdeck and Contiki which will make your first trip easier. There isn’t a need to take these as you will find many friends along the way and information about the country and where to travel is easy to come by.

New Zealand has something for everyone; From the adventure and nightlife of Queenstown to the culture and hot springs of Rotorua. You can find wine regions, farm life, skiing, hiking, mountains, lakes and beauty at every turn!

The “Kiwis” are a very friendly bunch and New Zealand is well travelled by Europeans so there will be no difficulty finding a pub to chat to people or hostel conversation to join in on. A lot of the activities you will be with groups so there is always a way to strike up conversation with other travellers and meet new people.

By Rebecca from She Roams Solo

• Twitter: @SheRoamsSolo
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Interested in travelling New Zealand? Check out my 8 NZ must-dos here.

Central America

I chose Central America as my first solo trip destination for two reasons.  One, I didn’t want to go to Southeast Asia.  Two, a book.  It was also pretty reasonable to get to from the US.  It was cheap and wasn’t going to take two days to get there.  So, off I went!  

There are a few things that made this such a great region for a first solo trip.  First, it’s super easy to get around.  If you want to challenge yourself, you can take local buses all over the region, in one country and over to the next.  If not (like me) there are backpacker/tourist shuttles going to all of the main towns and cities, which is my next point.  

There is a very well worn “gringo trail” from Mexico to Panama making it even easier to get around and to meet fellow backpackers.  It’s easy to get off of this path, but if it’s your first trip, you may not be interested in that.  I know I wasn’t really.

Finally, it’s pretty cheap (Costa Rica, a little less so) and Spanish is super easy to learn and pick up along the way.  So, porque, no?  

By Megan from Red Around the World

• Twitter: @RedAroundWorld
• Instagram: RedAroundTheWorld

Mexico

Okay, so I know what you’re thinking. It’s your first big trip and you have NO IDEA where to go. Don’t worry, that’s perfectly normal. There’s a LOT of really dope places out there, so you can’t really go wrong. But, I hands down recommend the same country to everyone I know. Mexico. Specifically the state of Quintana Roo. Lemme break down the why for you. First of all, in general, the people are friendly. Mexico has a very welcoming and fun atmosphere. Everyone is very encouraging of you trying to communicate in Spanish. But also, if you only speak English, you’ll probably be fine getting around too.

Two, there’s something for everyone. On your first big adventure, you might not know what type of traveler you are just yet. If you just want to relax at a nice all-inclusive resort – BOOM, done. If you want a wild jungle adventure ziplining through trees and snorkeling with whale sharks – BOOM, done. From club hopping in Cancun (nicknamed the Mexican Vegas heyooo) to yoga retreats in Tulum, and everything in between. Quintana Roo got you. Try everything! Three, WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT MEXICAN CULTURE BRUH?? There are Mayan ruins everywhere, including one of the Seven Wonders of the World : Chichen Itza. HOW FRIGGIN FUEGO IS THAT?? Mexico has rich history, art that breathes life into you, the freshest tequila you will ever taste in your life, and buildings that paint the streets every color under the rainbow – it’s magical. So go.

By Kay from The Awkward Traveller

• Instagram: TheAwkwardTraveller
• Twitter: @AwkTravels

Japan

Japan is one of my favourite countries to visit and a great destination for first time travellers. I love Japan for many reasons including the food, the people, the culture, its efficiency and its interesting mix of modern and traditional. There are so many things to do in Japan, you can easily just visit Tokyo and Kyoto for a week in Japan or you can stay longer and explore the rest of this fascinating country. Tokyo highlights include walking across Shibuya Crossing (the world’s largest and most famous intersection), watching a sumo wrestling match or practice, hanging out in one of its quirky themed cafes and making an early morning visit to the fish market for fresh sushi. Full of Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and Zen gardens, Kyoto is also a must on any Japan itinerary. In addition to its interesting cities, Japan is full of natural beauty especially if you catch the beautiful cherry blossoms in the spring and autumn leaves in the fall. Japan is easy to explore – it has comprehensive, efficient and on-time rail system which takes you all over the country and is one of the safest countries in the world for tourists.

By Matilda from The Travel Sisters

• Twitter: @Travel_Sisters
• Instagram: TheTravelSisters

Where did you go on your first big adventure and would you recommend it? Let us know in the comments!

Katie x