We Asked 6 Travel Pros Where They’d Send First-time International Travelers—and They All Picked the Same Place

By Stacey Leasca, Published on April 27, 2026

Ireland is a top pick for first-time U.S. travelers because it’s easy to navigate, has no language barrier, and offers a welcoming culture.

While traveling the world and seeing new places never gets old, there’s just something special about getting that very first passport stamp. The excitement of touching down somewhere new, where the streets are unfamiliar, the food is a bit different from what you’re used to, and the local accents catch your ear, is a magic that can’t be replicated. Jetting off on your first international trip certainly comes with plenty of upside. The only downside is having to choose a place to start. Luckily, all the travel professionals we spoke to said they know exactly where first-time international travelers should go: Ireland.

All six of the travel insiders we spoke to had remarkably consistent answers as to why the small European nation makes such a good fit for first-time international travelers coming from the U.S. In Ireland, they all explained, there is no language barrier for American travelers, it’s a short flight from the East Coast, and a culture so warm and welcoming that even the most nervous of travelers tends to find their footing within hours of landing.

“For U.S.-based travelers taking their first international trip, Ireland is often one of the best places to start,” Bryan Lewis, founder and CEO of Tenon Tours and a European travel expert with more than 25 years of industry experience, said. “The shared language, welcoming culture, and relatively short flight times from the East Coast make it feel accessible, while still offering a distinctly different sense of place. The pace of travel is manageable, distances are short, and travelers can experience a mix of vibrant cities, coastal scenery, and countryside within a single itinerary.”

As for where to start your trip, most of the experts we spoke to suggest starting in Dublin. 

“Dublin is an ideal starting point, offering walkable neighborhoods, historic sites, and a lively food and pub scene,” Lewis said. Janet McLaughlin, an Envoyage travel advisor, agreed, calling it “English-speaking and not too far” from the U.S., adding that within an hour of the city, travelers can visit castles, 5,000-year-old neolithic tombs, eat fresh oysters with a pint while sitting outside at Howth’s harbor, and get out to Wicklow Mountains National Park and Glendalough. For those looking for a historic base, McLaughlin recommends The College Green Hotel Dublin, a former bank with character and history right in the middle of everything, or The Shelbourne for something a little quieter near St. Stephen’s Green.

The Essential Guide to Dublin

But the real draw of Ireland, the pros said, is what happens once you leave the capital.

Ellie Friese-Cave, owner of Ellie’s Travel Bug and a boutique travel agency specializing in Europe, mapped out her ideal Ireland itinerary as a loop from Dublin down through the South Coast around Cork, then back up along the Wild Atlantic Way to the Cliffs of Moher and Galway. On this route, she sends clients to Adare Manor or Dromoland for a classic castle stay, paired with whiskey tastings at the Jameson Distillery and a sheepdog demonstration. “A private visit to the Cliffs of Moher before heading off to the coastal city of Galway,” she said, is an essential part of the journey.

And then there is Galway, which Courtney O’Neil, founder of The Long Way Travel, says is “the kind of place that feels easy in all the right ways, but still gives you that ‘I’m really somewhere else’ feeling from the start,” she said. “Galway is compact, walkable, and incredibly welcoming, which takes a lot of the pressure off if it’s your first time abroad.” 

For where to eat like a local, O’Neil said Ard Bia is a must, sharing that it’s as good for a slow breakfast as it is for a long dinner, the kind of place “you end up thinking about after you get home.” 

Further west, Friese-Cave said travelers should stop in at the Connemara National Park, where they can partake in a private oyster tasting with Champagne and afternoon tea at Kylemore Abbey, which feels like the ideal send-off for first-timers.

“Ireland is also very easy to navigate, has so many things to do, and has something for everyone,” Lisa Emmerman, founder of Wild Poppy Travels, succinctly shared. And Richard Campbell, founder of 10Adventures, echoed the sentiment, noting that what makes Ireland so ideal for first-timers is that here, there “is limited confusion. Even better, conversations with locals are easy.”

Furthermore, visiting Ireland first, O’Neil said, will only set you up for success on all your future international journeys. “Ireland builds confidence quickly. You figure things out without stress, but still feel completely immersed in a new place. It’s the kind of trip that makes you want to book the next one as soon as you get home.”

Story from Travelandleisure.com

Stacey Leasca

Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist with nearly two decades of newsroom experience. She is also the co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, Men’s Health, GlobalPost, LA Confidential, and many more. Stacey also served as an adjunct professor of journalism at the University of Southern California teaching feature writing and visual journalism. She is now pursuing her Ph.D., specializing in building resiliency to disinformation in early-career journalists.

• 17+ years of journalism experience
• 5+ years covering travel
• LA Press Club award-winning feature writer
• LA Press Club finalist in the travel, sports, and, soft feature categories
• NATJA honorable mention, culinary travel

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