How I Prepare for a Family Trip in a New Country

When my family and I plan a trip, my husband and I divide the responsibilities in a way that works perfectly for us. He takes care of the logistics—finding apartments, checking transportation options, and making sure everything is in place. Meanwhile, I focus on something equally important to me: preparing to communicate in the local language.

For our upcoming trip to Madrid, for example, I’ve been dedicating my time to improving my Spanish. My goal isn’t perfection; it’s about feeling confident enough to order food, ask for direction and interact with locals without relying on English. 

Since I already have a good foundation in Spanish, my focus has been on speaking.

I’ve found that the best way to prepare is through daily exposure and here’s what I’ve been doing in the weeks leading up to our 

trip.

First of all I practice repeating phrases out loud with YouTube videos, especially from native speakers with accents I love and then 

I surround myself with the language by listening to podcasts during my commute. I usually tune in to Spanish podcasts to get used to different speeds and expressions.

Then come reading and speaking aloud. Whether it’s short news articles or book passages, I make a habit of reading out loud to improve my pronunciation.

I'll be honest with you. I also try to think in the language throughout the day by  challenging myself to describe what I’m doing in Spanish; so it feels more natural when I need to speak.

I've noticed — and I don't know why it happens — but my brain naturally switches to French, so it's a bit more complicated for me to find the right words to use.

Anyway, by doing this, I know that once we'll land in the Country we're going to visit, I won’t feel lost or hesitant when ordering in a restaurant or asking for recommendations.

Why this approach works for us?

Well, having my husband handle the logistics while I focus on language learning, allows both of us to contribute in ways that play to our strengths. He ensures we have a comfortable place to stay and a smooth travel experience, while I make sure we can interact with locals in a way that makes the trip more immersive and enjoyable.

For me, learning a language isn’t just about traveling—it’s about truly experiencing a place. 

Speaking even a little of the local language opens up so many opportunities, from having casual conversations with shop owners to understanding cultural nuances that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Not to mention that with every trip, I get to test my progress, and that’s something I truly love about our travels.

Do you prepare for trips in a similar way? 

Let me know in the comments!