I like a lot of the answers you have gotten so far (especially using one-hour B&W film). I would suggest:(posted 8650 days ago)* One roll a day. Ordinarily, I shoot 24 exposure rolls (I hate having film sit in a camera) but on trips, having the extra 12 per roll can have its merits. You basically get three rolls (24 exposure) of film with two cans of 36 exposure. You have less to carry!
* Use ISO 400. You might run into a day where it is really bright out but chances are, you will want to have a good all-around film that you can shoot with available light (and not have to lug around a flash). Less of a need to bring a tripod too. Also great landscape shots won't have to suffer from shallow depth of field because you had to open the aperture wide to get a decent (handheld) shutter speed.
* Don't pack your film in your luggage. X-rays for checked-in baggage can be a lot more powerful than what you will get at a security checkpoint. Put your film in a clear ziploc baggie and when you get to the checkpoint, ask to have your film hand inspected. Budget extra time to go through security as many of them will check your film, each and every roll. (Also, try not to rip the ziploc baggie, thus sending your rolls scattering everywhere like I just recently did at an airport!) Also try to have your camera empty (no film) when you go through. That way, any x-rays from the machine won't damage already exposed photographs sitting in the camera.
* Act like you're from New York. :-) I'm not saying that you have run around like a Sopranos extra but expect an inspection. It can be an inspection of your equipment, film or you! If you expect it, there is less of a chance of you not handling the situation confidently. Sometimes security personnel key off of the nervousness of an individual. If you expect some sort of inspection, you can approach it with "business as usual" attitude. Case in point: My girlfriend and I just went on a short trip. To ease our trip through security, we put all of our cameras (3 film, one digital) into one backpack (better than having her bag AND mine ripped apart for inspection). My girlfriend gave the security officer the ziploc full of film (the one I ripped-see above) for hand inspection. The backpack full of equipment went right through the conveyor belt inspection. It didn't even get a second look by security. They did inspect every roll of film (including opening the plastic canisters). A woman behind us had one camera and a DV recorder in a small camera bag. The security officer practically disassembled her equipment for inspection. She looked scared stiff. Remember, HOW you present is as important as WHAT you present.
* Carry a copy of your sales receipts (for your camera, lens, flash, etc). If there is a customs snafu, you can prove that you didn't buy your equipment abroad (and have to pay duty tax for equipment you already own).
* When you say you're a beginner, what do you mean? Beginner to B&W? Beginner to photography in general? What shows up in color photography doesn't necessarily show up the same in B&W. It takes a different frame of mind to do B&W. I would suggest bringing some color film (gasp!) as well. That way, you are not entrusting a once in a lifetime event to "something new". If you need help visualizing a scene in B&W, I'm told that if you look at the scene through a Wratten #90 filter, you can see what it will look like when it is on B&W. Don't shoot with said filter on the camera. Just hold it up to your eye to see the scene.
* Labeling? Bring along a small notebook (and pen!) or a digital note taker/cassette recorder. Write/record the rolls of film, exposure information and memos about the scene itself. The latter can serve you when you are putting your prints into albums to show others. It might jog your memory of important details. As for a labeling system, I have started to use the format of year-month-roll number (ie: 01-1-2 for 2001, January, 2nd roll exposed that month) If you want to record dates for that roll, write/record them in the notebook. I have gotten into the habit of writing information on the film canister and the plastic container. When I go to have them developed at the none-hour (sometimes aptly named!), I will write the same label number on the development bag. How do I get around the issue of mixing films up with my girfriend? I put my initial as a prefix (J-01-1-2 or A-01-1-2).
* Most importantly, have a great time and shoot lots of photos! ;-)
Johnny