So how do you select the location for your first independent trip? If you have never travelled on your own, I'd suggest somewhere where you can manage the language differences. I've been to a lot of countries, and have been able to get by without speaking the native languages but its certainly a lot more difficult. For me, China, Morocco and Egypt were the most challenging as Arabic and Chinese letters are not decernable by me. Getting a cab to go to a specific hotel or location can be the big
gest challenge. This can be overcome by working with your initial hotel to arrange for a taxi pick up from the airport or having the hotel send you the name and address of your hotel in their native language. Make sure they are in large enough letters for the cabbie to read as most do not have reading glasses. If there is a tourist site near the hotel, that also might be helpful to get you to the right general location. As last resort, the cabbie many need to find someone who speaks English or whatever language required. Most cabbies are willing to try. I prefer to make sure the cabbie understands where we need to go and agree on a price BEFORE we start off. This can save a lot of frustration at the end destination, but sometimes that just doesn't happen.
When taking public transportation like trains and buses, its important to confirm you are on the right subway/bus/train and going in the correct direction. You will need to know what station or stop you need to get off. Once you can confirm that, knowing the stop right before the final stop is helpful to get yourself to the door and ready to disembark. If you are not sure, someone on the subway, bus or train will usually be willing to help. I've met some really nice people who are more than willing to help. Don't panic if you figure out you aren't going the right direction...just get off at the next station and get on the next train going the right direction. You may need to deal with ticketing issues.
Safe Travels!
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