If you love to travel but have yet to venture outside your own country, it might be time for you to start planning and preparing for your first international trip. While going to new cities within your country of residence can be fun, there’s something so much more exciting about going to a new country and experiencing a culture that’s completely different from your own. However, going beyond your own border can also make your travel plans more complicated. So if you’re feeling a little intimidated about the prospect of traveling to a foreign country, here are three tips for planning your first international trip.

Figure Out The Legalities Early

In order for you to be admitted into a foreign country and then readmitted back into your own country, you’re likely going to have to bring along with you some form of legal paperwork. Depending on where you live and where you’re planning to travel to, the paperwork will vary. But according to Melissa Lambarena, a contributor to Nerdwallet.com, everyone traveling internationally should try to figure out this paperwork well in advance of their trip. Getting passports and visas can take some time, so make sure you know what you’ll need and how long it will take to get it before you really get into the reservations for your trip.

Consider How Much Time You Have To Spend

One of the biggest differences between traveling domestically and traveling internationally is the time commitment that’s usually required. If you have a long weekend, traveling within your own country can be pretty easy. But if you’re wanting to go somewhere that’s very far away and will require a lot of travel time and time changes, Davyee Sutton, a contributor to U.S. News and World Report, suggests that you only make the trip if you have six to ten days to spend over the course of your trip. The last thing you want is to be rushing around on your trip, which could cause you to get into some type of car accident or result in you missing flights or simply being too stressed out over the entire experience.

Give Your Bank A Phone Call

Traveling anywhere is going to be an expense for you. Because of this, it’s important that you have the funds available to spend throughout your trip. To ensure that you don’t have any financial issues when you’re traveling abroad, Valerie Stimac, a contributor to GoOverseas.com, recommends that you call your bank in the days leading up to your departure and inform them of where you’re be traveling and for how long. This will ensure that your accounts and cards don’t get frozen due to potential fraud.

If you’re planning your first trip abroad, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you prepare for an amazing time.