In today's post we conclude our four part series on international travel. We've talked about packing, safety, where to stay and how to get around. Now we'll cover perhaps the most important part of traveling abroad – having fun! Here are some simple tips that can help you and your friends have the time of your lives.
- Plan out a list of your "must see" destinations for your trip. Check which days attractions are open to make sure you don't miss out on anything you want to see.
- Don’t try to pack in too much – exhaustion isn’t any fun. Pick one or two activities for each day.
- Get suggestions on favorite attractions from people who have previously traveled to your destination country.
- Try new foods and regional dishes (like Spain's hanging ham) – you’ll find that some of the best foods are the ones that sound a little unfamiliar to you. One traveler recommends seeking out restaurants where the locals eat for the best dining experience.
- Open air markets are a great place to delve into the local culture and pick up some cheap souvenirs. Remember, bargaining is practically a national pastime in many other countries, so embrace the local culture and haggle a little bit for that scarf or didjeridu.
- Be open to everything, from visiting historical Japanese shrines to traveling through vineyards in Argentina to surfing off the coast of Iceland
- The World Events Guide provides travelers with a plethora of fun activities happening at every corner of the globe.
- Keep a journal of all of your adventures so you can remember them forever. Check out this guide to writing a travel journal for some tips.
- The Travel Year is a site that details the adventures of two friends and their round-the-world excursion. Though their trip took place nearly a decade ago, the site remains a great place to go for general long term travel tips and photo inspiration to spark your wanderlust.
As we wrap up this travel series, we hope some of these tips prove to be helpful and wish you happy and safe travels this summer!
Summer International Travel Series: Part 1
Summer International Travel Series: Part 2
Summer International Travel Series: Part 3
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Today we bring you part three of our four part summer travel abroad series. In this installment we'll take a look into the best places to stay, and how to get from point A to point B.
Transit and Accommodations Tips
It is always important to make sure that you are comfortable where you are staying and that you are only paying as much as you want to pay. Figure out what priorities matter to you when booking a hotel or hostel – close to local attractions, a comfortable bed in the room, nearby nightlife. Reading reviews about your chosen accommodation can help give you a good feel for the place. Below are some tips to help guide you with your travel bookings.
What do you mean it’s the running of the bulls this weekend? Who knew that Australian summer break starts in December? Unexpected events can cause accommodations to fill up quickly, so book your hostel or hotel in advance to ensure that you have a place to stay when you arrive. Two of our favorite hostel booking sites are Hostelworld and Hostelmania.- Research the hotels or hostels where you will be staying so you know whether or not you will be given the specific amenities you desire such as air conditioning, private rooms, internet access or free breakfast. If your hostel has a kitchen, read these tips on cooking a hostel dinner.
- An ultra-budget-friendly alternative to hostels is CouchSurfing. This is also a great way to meet people and immerse yourself in the local culture.
- In the same vein, many organizations abroad will offer volunteers free food and lodging in exchange for some work. Check out Help Exchange or this article on volunteering your way through Central America for some ideas on the topic.
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If in Europe, get a Eurail pass for your train rides. This pass is a fixed price (depending on the amount of days you plan on traveling), and once it is purchased, train tickets are significantly cheaper, saving you lots on train fare
- Trains abroad are cancelled randomly, and at the last moment, so be sure to double check your travel plans before leaving
- For cheap flights, we recommend EasyJet and Ryan Air. They mainly service Europe and are no-frills carriers, which results in big savings for you.
- According to blogger Nomadic Matt, flying into smaller airports is another great way to save money on flights.
- Whether you're going to South Africa, New Zealand or Kyrgyzstan, you can find great deals on flights on Vayama
- There might be a catch with ultra cheap airfare, so be sure to do your research. Read this traveler's article about a potential pilot strike driving down flight costs.
- Many airlines charge for checked baggage and some have very strict weight requirements - another argument for packing light
Tomorrow we'll bring you the last installment in our four part travel series, tips for having fun on your trip abroad.
Summer International Travel Series: Part 1
Summer International Travel Series: Part 2
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Welcome to part two of our four part summer travel series. Yesterday we focused on safety while traveling abroad. Today we're going to talk about one thing that you can do before your trip to make sure your travels are a whole lot more pleasant - packing.
When you're traveling abroad, make sure to pack light, and pack right. Here are some key tips that can help you make your trip less of a hassle by packing the right suitcase filled with everything you need, and avoiding the things you don’t.
What to Bring With You
Clothes and Accessories
- If you are backpacking, it’s nice to have two backpacks – a smaller one for day trips and a larger one that you can leave behind in the hostel
- A smaller purse, bag, knapsack or fanny pack to take out when you don’t want to carry all of your luggage
- Non-wrinkling, easy to roll clothes (cotton and microblend shirts, jeans, jersery material dresses are a good place to start). Rather than packing bulky items, focus on clothes that lend themselves easily to layering
- Enough underwear and socks to last the trip – if you are traveling in a hot climate, you’ll want to change these items often
- Comfortable walking shoes - to avoid looking like a tourist, choose something sleek as most other countries don't wear sneakers in public
- Rain gear – jacket, umbrella, etc.
- Swimsuit
- Flip-flops – some hostel showers may be less than pristine, so it’s always a good idea to have a pair of these in your suitcase
- Sunglasses - make sure to pack these, they're easy to forget
- Toothbrush
- Sunscreen – this can be very expensive in European pharmacies, so if you burn easily, plan ahead
Electronics and Books
- Watch or travel alarm clock - your cell phone may not work abroad, so it’s good to have another time piece to make sure you don’t miss your flight to Prague or your train to Chang Mai
- Camera
- Guide books for your destination - Lonely Planet, Let's Go and Frommer's are some of our favorites because of their focus on budget and off-the-beaten-path travel
- iPod – you might want to consider buying a case or wall charger to keep the music flowing during your trip. We like this SuperCharger.
- A good book to keep you occupied on train rides or during layovers
Hostel Necesscities
- Combination locks to secure suitcase zippers and lockers in hostels
- Electrical plug adaptors – each region has their own style of plugs, so research ahead of time to see what you will need
- Toilet paper – some countries prefer bidets to toilet paper, so if you’re partial to this western amenity, pack your own
- Towel – most hostels will rent you a towel, but they are usually very worn and could be all rented out. Check out this backpacker's review of a travel-friendly PackTowel.
- Pillowcase – this is very lightweight and can help you sleep easier in a foreign hostel room
- Gallon-size, sealable Ziploc bags - if your clothes get wet and you have to pack them while they are still damp, they can make everything in your bag smell like mildew. Sealing the wet clothes in the Ziploc bag will save the rest of your luggage.
Don't Leave Home Without These!
Passport
Credit Card
- You can get the best exchange rates by using your credit card
- Before you leave, make sure your credit card company operates overseas
- Make sure your credit card company knows that you will be using your credit card overseas, otherwise they may shut off your card, thinking that the charges are fraudulent
ATM Card
- Notify your bank that you will be traveling
- Make sure that your card will work oversees - not all banks provide this service
- Ask your bank about your PIN number – if your code begins with a zero, it may not work in some countries
General Packing Tips
- Depending on your length of stay, it may be cheaper and easier to buy your toiletries abroad. Unless you are very picky about brand, most countries offer a selection of shampoos, toothpastes and other necessities.
- Pack a change of clothes in your carry-on in case your checked luggage is misplaced by the airline
- Keep your valuables, identification, and itinerary information in your carry-on bag
- Many backpacks or suitcases look the same, so be sure to identify your luggage with name tags, ribbons, blue tape, or any other distinctive mark you can devise
- After packing your suitcase, go outside and walk around a couple of blocks with it. You might decide to ditch some of your gear after feeling the weight of your bag.
- Pack light – you will be able to find laundry services abroad that will make it easy to live on a small amount of clothing. (Or you can always opt for washing clothes in the sink.) Check out these packing tips from people who literally travel for a living.
- Pack a snack bag in your carry-on. Planes and trains can get delayed, so it's always good to have a little snack in tow.
Tomorrow we'll bring you the next installment in our four part travel series, tips on transit and accomodation.
Summer International Travel Series: Part 1
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It’s officially summer, school is out, and you have vacation on the brain. College students and excited high school graduates are all looking forward to upcoming travels. With international travel becoming increasingly affordable for young people, more vacationers are going abroad and experiencing the world outside of the United States. With that in mind, here's a list we’ve compiled of the best tips for having a great time during your international travels.
When it comes to traveling abroad, it’s always a good idea to seek the advice of other recent international travelers. Each country offers different attractions and a unique flavor. Traveling abroad can be one of the best times of your life, but to ensure an enjoyable trip, it’s a wise idea to brush up on your chosen destination before you embark on your trip. So ask your friends, neighbors, relatives and classmates for their advice – and read on to find out our favorite tips – and you’ll be well on your way to having an incredible trip.
General Traveling Safety Tips
Let’s start out with the nitty-gritty stuff. It might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of vacation, but safety is one of the keys to having a good time. Think about it – could you imagine having fun after your wallet was stolen or if you turned around and your luggage had vanished? I don’t think so. So here are some quick tips to make sure you stay safe and sound during your journeys.
- Sign your passport and fill in the emergency information
- Make copies of your passport – one to leave at home with family or friends in the states, one to take with you during your day travels (many hotels require you to leave your passport at the front desk during stays)
- Some countries pose different health problems (malaria or yellow fever, for example), so make sure that your shots are up-to-date for your country of travel
- Know what paperwork you will need to travel within your destination country. The U.S. Department of State provides great visa and travel safety information.
- Have printed copies of all of your itinerary information. Leaving an extra copy at home with family or friends can also come in handy.
- Research overseas medical insurance. Nothing puts a damper on foreign travels like realizing that your insurance doesn’t cover medical care for a sprained ankle abroad.
- Familiarize yourself with the local laws of the country you are visiting, as they can vary greatly from what you are used to in the United States. Women traveling alone in conservative countries will want to pay special attention to local laws.
- Know what items you can and cannot bring back to the U.S. – it’s no fun getting detained in customs
- Stay away from areas of high crime. Check out this global crime site for more information on your destination.
- Learn a few phrases such as "please" and "thank you" in the local tongue. Being polite and making an effort may just win you some insider travel tips from friendly locals you meet during your travels.
- Pick-pocketing is far more prevalent in foreign countries than in the U.S., so leave your back pockets empty
- Make sure you are able to carry all of your luggage comfortably. If you're unsure whether you packed too much, spend some time walking around with your bags before you depart.
- Bring a guide book and maps to help direct you (better yet, just rip the pages out of the travel book that you'll need and pack them, and leave the bulky thing at home)
- Be aware and alert to avoid falling prey to tourist traps – strangers offering unsolicited information may be directing you to pricier stores geared toward fleecing unaware travelers
- Watch out for scams - a popular one involves con-artists dressing up as a police officer and demanding to check your wallet
- Strangers offering to take your photo may in turn ask for payment for their services
- Ask cab drivers what the fare is beforehand – some cab drivers take advantage of tourists, so if the fare sounds too steep, do not be afraid to bargain for a more reasonable price
Tomorrow we'll bring you the next installment in our four part travel series, tips on packing for your trip.
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career or improve your current job. Search eCollegeFinder.org today and
find the right online degree for you!