We’re all for a little spontaneity, but some trips require a little more prep-work than a loaded backpack and a language app. Before you go and “wing it” on your next adventure abroad, take a peek and see if your destination made it onto our list of destinations you need to do your homework on before booking that flight! FYI: We’ve done our best to bring you some useful tips for each destination mentioned to get you started, but don’t stop there! Before travelling, make sure you cover your bases and do a little research on everything from local laws to seasonal climates. Never overestimate your knowledge of foreign countries – travel smart and exercise common sense always!
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Mexico
To get you started: in spite of its reputation for being a place where spring-breakers let loose, Mexico is more buttoned up in its conventions than you may think. Openly cursing, public nudity and marijuana (even prescription-accompanied doses) are firmly banned here. Another cautionary tip? Don’t drink the water. If the locals themselves avoid drinking from the tap, then it’s safe to assume that tourists should follow suit.
The good news: Mexico city is one of the most inexpensive trips to take from Canada now!

Germany
To get you started: if you’re looking to brave the cold winters of beautiful Germany, be wary of the layers you pack. For safety reasons, things like ski masks and other face-covering layers are seriously frowned upon throughout Germany by police officials. Pack bulky scarves instead and avoid any issues with local authorities.
To get you started: in spite of its reputation for being a place where spring-breakers let loose, Mexico is more buttoned up in its conventions than you may think. Openly cursing, public nudity and marijuana (even prescription-accompanied doses) are firmly banned here. Another cautionary tip? Don’t drink the water. If the locals themselves avoid drinking from the tap, then it’s safe to assume that tourists should follow suit.
Did you know Cologne, Germany is one of the top 10 best cities for millennials?

Russia
To get you started: unfortunately, Russia’s stand on homosexuality (in a general sense) is not quite where you’d hope for 2017, with the government having many laws in place to ban what they consider “gay propaganda” - which can really include anything from politically-charged statements on t-shirts to public affection between same-sex couples.
That said, it has been ranked one of the 20 best places to work abroad in 2017.

Uganda
To get you started: a few local laws you might want to keep in mind include a ban on photography of any area deemed military, no illegal drugs (even those considered prescription must be disclosed or you could risk facing jail time!) as well as failing to carry a passport.
Uganda was also found to be one of the cheapest countries to live in 2017.

The Middle East
To get you started: in a region where there’s so much to see, there’s also a lot to know, and we would strongly advise you to do extensive research into where exactly you plan to go and your itinerary while there. While some of the local laws are common sense, many are in total contrast to what most Americans might be used to. When visiting a foreign place, understanding your status as a guest and doing your best to be aware of local policies and laws is a great place to start in ensuring a safe journey.

The United Arab Emirates
To get you started: a Muslim country, their local laws are fixed and strictly enforced. Things you may not expect to get you into trouble, such as taking photos in areas that may be considered off-limits or public cursing, can land you some hefty fines and in some cases, jail time.
For more weird laws, check out 20 strange traffic laws around the world that actually exist.

Thailand
To get you started: before you overwhelm your itinerary with a never-ending must-see list for your trip to Thailand, you may want to spend a little time familiarizing yourself with some of the laws of this fairly conservative country where, for example, any offense towards the royal family could land you in prison stat.

Colombia
To get you started: like any place undergoing change, Colombia is still in the early days of becoming as tourist-friendly as other destinations, and the tensions lingering between the segregated class systems of the wealthy and poor are still very much present in the local society. Be wary of where specifically you plan on visiting in this beautiful country, taking care to understand just what kind of local culture to expect and how to best prepare.