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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career or improve your current job. Search eCollegeFinder.org today and
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Hooray for college — you have freedom and a place to call your own. But now you’re faced with the daunting task of decorating a dorm! From specific items to helpful insights, we’ve gathered the top 25 resources for rocking out your dorm space.
- IKEA: Every young person’s home-decorating haven for affordable, practical furniture.
- Craigslist Free Section: Savvy college kids have been known to decorate entire houses with quirky items found here, ranging from vintage furniture to wide-screen movie projectors.
- The Green Dorm: All the essentials you need to make your dorm eco-friendly.
- The Suitcase Dorm: If you happen to be abroad for the semester, check out this helpful article on the art of decorating out of a suitcase.
- Dorm 411: All things dorm-related, from shopping and packing to moving in.
- Target: Boasting both physical and online stores, this superstore is a great dorm decorating stop. One of our favorite picks is the laundry drying rack — because sometimes it’s nice to go a little green and let your clothes air dry.
- Bike On!: Depending on your campus’ layout, you may want to invest in a bike. Many campuses even offer bike-shares.But beware, bike theft can be a problem. Before you take your new ride out for a spin, consult this article for tips on buying an appropriate lock.
- Etsy: For do-it-yourself advice from chic, young and urban artists, check out this pieceabout adding craft touch to your new abode.
- Appliances: Maybe you can’t bring Mom and Dad’s flat-screen TV, but here are some electronics that will make the stay away from home a whole lot sweeter.
- Headphones: A really awesome pair of noise-blocking headphones can be an invaluable dorm accessory. Many models exist, like this reasonably-priced pair featured on Amazon.
- Fan: Depending on how old your dorm is, you may need a fan to get some circulation going in your room during the early fall and late spring months.
- Dorm Room Décor for Non-Design Majors by Lauren Joffee!: This article breaks it down for the decorating-challenged.
- Wall Ware: As Lauren suggests in the above article, when putting anything up on your wall, investigate what kind of wall you’re dealing with, and don’t leave home without some sticky putty. Check out this guide to hanging postersand this high quality sticky putty.
- Desk Calendar: Found at any major office supply store, these desk accessories are a great way to keep track of your busy schedule.
- Dry Erase Board: College students love to leave and receive messages in written form, so get in on the fun! This model leaves space to customize your board with your favorite photos.
- Night Light: You can find these handy fixtures everywhere from art stores to large chains. This is our favorite light for all you girly-girls out there.
- Second-hand and Antique Stores: If you want to add character and a bit of color to your dorm without dropping piles of money, try picking up some vintage stuff at an antique store. Find one close to home with this handy tool.
- Bodum: Throw the pot out the window and say hello to (near) instant hot water. See what this blogger has to say about the classic kettle model.
- Micro-Mini-Fridge: Most rooms come equipped with these appliances, but if not, you may want to consider purchasing one.
- Extra-long Sheets: Because it is actually important to change your sheets! Check out this selection of bedding essentials.
- Mattress Pads / Bed Foam: Dorm mattresses aren’t exactly know for being well-maintained, so if you need a plush place to lay your head at night look into getting either mattress padding or bed foam.
- Decorative Lights: Spruce up the drabbest of rooms with some festive lighting, like these Chinese lanterns or Christmas lights.
- Over-the-Door Hangers: These babies can save you space and help protect your walls from nails and hooks.
- College Life - Cheap Dorm Room Decorating Ideas by Susan Johnston: This is a great piece on living cheaply in college. It offers advice both classic and innovative—like hanging “sheer fabric across the window or over a bed” to create “a soft, romantic look.”
- And For Laughs: When your roommate hasn’t washed her dishes or you’re low on money and need to do your laundry, here’s a little college, dorm-living humor to raise your spirits.
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career or improve your current job. Search eCollegeFinder.org today and
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