Know where you're going before you land. It seems really simple, but a lot of people think they can "wing it" for their first big trip. Maybe you're someone who can, but for those who get nervous easily, have a plan, addresses, phone numbers, and know what the best local transportation is.

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Do your research! If you keep reading that it's not worth seeing the waterfalls that are a 5km uphill hike, you don't need to go! It's OK to miss out on a few things in order to see other places!

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Too much can be a bad thing. There's always more to see, more to eat, more to drink, and do. If you're in an adventure-rich area, you can't tackle everything without exhausting yourself into misery. Choose a few top things to do and see, and go all-out on them. Enjoy the wine, but make sure you're OK to get back to your room safely. Eat as much as you want, I won't tell you too much food is a bad thing; unless you didn't bring stretchy pants!

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Agree on itineraries, hotels, transportation, restaurants as much as you can before the trip! Conflict on the road makes everyone miserable. The bigger the group, the more planning that needs to happen. Look up the best restaurants in the area you're visiting, and be ready to rattle them off! You'll not only be the hero, you'll save time for more activities! 

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Get a Google Map going before you leave. Being able to research and pick out all the locations you want to go to, then saving them on a map is great. What's even better? Saving the places you've been to once you're on your trip! You'll be telling someone about that one spot you ate at with the best tapas, and be able to open your saved places and pinpoint the exact place! If you leave your location on and allow tracking, you'll also be able to see the exact path you went on.

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