Study abroad is widely considered a time to have adventures! Traveling while studying abroad is one of the best parts, and often more feasible than traveling to other continents from the US. The 10 tips below have helped me travel in a way that minimized expenses and stress and maximized fun! I am currently studying abroad in Germany, so these tips are (unfortunately) quite Euro-centric, but the general principles can be applied around the world!
1. Getting There
Despite what you might have heard about Europe, trains do not go everywhere, and they aren’t always the most cost-effective option for traveling. Budget airlines often are the cheapest way to get to your destination, even if you’re traveling within the same country. I use Google Flights to compare fares, especially if my dates are flexible. It’s good for making sure that you’re getting the best deal, with the calendar feature telling you which days are the cheapest to fly on. Once you have some dates nailed down, cross-check them with other websites to make sure you’re really getting the best deal. Skyscanner is especially good for flights within Europe, and I’ve also used Kayak to find cheap flights between the US and Europe.
2. Sleeping
IMHO, location is the most important factor when choosing where to stay! Hotels/hostels close to a major city’s center are going to be more expensive, but staying waaaay outside the city could really rack up costs in public transport to and from the stuff you want to do. I always check that my hostels are either close to most of the destinations I want to see (under 10 minutes walking) or next to a public transport stop. No one wants to talk 10 minutes to the bus stop, then take a 30 minutes trip on public transport just to see one museum!! Strike a balance between close and cheap, and don’t just immediately go for the cheapest place you find. Read some reviews, and decide what’s most important to you! Additionally, check-in and -out times, breakfast (whether it is included or not), lockers (if they’re provided and whether or not they’re BYOL-- bring your own lock!), and WiFi availability are important factors to take into consideration! Maybe WiFi doesn’t matter to you much, but breakfast does! Or vice versa. Personally, I want to stay somewhere with a complimentary breakfast and lockers-- everything else I can live with. Figure out what’s right for you! Also be sure to check out Airbnb for potential deals, as well as websites that compile hotel/hostel listings (they can sometimes have discounts that the hostel’s website itself doesn’t have). I use Kayak, Hihostels and Hotels.com.
3. Eating
If you’re lucky enough to be staying in a hostel with kitchen space, use it! Restaurants, especially those in the center of touristy areas, can be super expensive. Going to a grocery store and buying some pasta or sandwich fixings and making dinner in the hostel will almost always be the cheaper option. However, if you’re a super foodie, or really want to try this one restaurant, never fear! Decide on a couple places to try and have fun! But don’t eat out for every meal. Also, if your dream restaurant is open for lunch, that'll generally be cheaper than grabbing dinner. Another tip: take advantage of the hostel’s free breakfast (if they have one)! If possible, put some portable foods from breakfast (fruit, hard-boiled eggs, peanut butter sandwiches) in your backpack for lunch or a snack during the day. Food can easily break the bank, so save your money for a few special things, and/or treating yourself to drinks!
4. What to Do
Some people love to plan. For others, the idea of making a schedule for each day of your vacation sounds boring and too constricting. Either way, it’s always good to have at least a general idea of what you’d like to do. Whether this is as vague as wanting to explore a certain neighborhood or as specific as a list of museums, it’ll give your trip some semblance of structure and save you from spending the whole time deciding where to go. Knowing a little about what you want to do is also helpful for figuring out how to get around. You don’t want to be surprised by finding out that something you really wanted to see is actually outside the city proper, and it’ll take a whole day to get there, see the thing, and get back. If you know this info ahead of time, you can plan to dedicate a certain day or time to this area, giving yourself ample time to explore. Similarly, if there are many attractions you want to see in the same area, you can plan to spend a day going there before moving on to somewhere else. Traveling entirely without a plan can be fun for some, but you don’t want to miss some really great things that can be found by a little digging. Sites I use for finding out what to do: Tripadvisor, Lonely Planet, the city or country's website (they typically have a section dedicated to tourism), and just Googling "things to do in X"
The following 6 tips are more specific things less related to planning a trip, and more related to what to do once you're there. Enjoy!
5. Walking Tours
Free walking tours of a city are a great thing to do your first day there! Simple Googling "Walking tours" and the name of your destination will usually bring up tons of options! Be sure to check that the tour is provided in a language you understand, and then show up at the meeting point and prepare to experience a new city on foot! This not only allows you to get a feel for the city and have a good time, it can show you some major tourist destinations or interesting historical places that you might’ve missed in your research! Some places even have themed walks, if you’re interested in certain neighborhoods or topics! Be sure to tip your tour guide, if appropriate.
6. Student Discounts
This isn't the quintessential study abroad travel tip for nothing! Many, many museums and tourist attractions in Europe have discounts either for students or visitors under 25. Always make sure that you ask for the discounted price if it applies! Bring your abroad student ID, your American student ID, and any other student card you may have (I have the International Student ID Card, for example) when you travel. Some places also have dedicated days where attractions are free/reduced for students/young people so do some research if a specific attraction seems out of your price range! These discounts can save you a lot of money in the long run. Other discounts can be useful too! For example, if your hostel has a pub or restaurant attached, they’ll often provide discounts to guests. There’s never any harm in asking-- the worst someone will tell you is no!
7. Languages
Chances are, at some point you’ll be traveling to a country where you don’t fluently speak the local language. In large tourist cities (Rome, Brussels, Berlin, etc.) this might not be a huge problem, as many people speak English. However it’s always useful and polite to at least know how to say “I don’t know” or “I don’t speak [insert language here]” or “I can speak English [and whatever other languages you speak].” This is useful in 2 senses: First, you can figure out whether someone speaks English or not without awkwardly beginning a conversation in (what might be to them) some random language. Being able to ask someone in French, German, Italian, etc. whether or not they speak English is super useful! If they say no, you can turn and try to ask someone else! It’s much more polite than just barging in somewhere, speaking nothing but English, and it is less embarrassing and awkward. The second way this is useful is if someone starts talking to you and you don’t understand them. Depending on where you’re from, having strangers strike up a convo with you could range from perfectly normal to deeply uncomfortable. Knowing how to say that you don’t understand or that you don’t speak the local language saves you from having to awkwardly wave your hands and try to speak English to the person talking to you. This also tells them, if they’re trying to ask you a question, to either ask someone else or speak in English! Being polite and at least attempting to explain your situation in the local language gains you brownie points with whomever you’re talking to, and makes you seem like less of a loud, insensitive tourist.
8. Be a Cautious Tourist
Have no shame in taking pictures (provided it’s allowed), asking others to take a photo of you, asking locals for advice on where to go, or doing the most typical tourist things in a city. It’s your adventure, do what you want, even if what you want is stereotypical! Just be careful, especially in areas where pickpocketing is common. Needless to say, until you have a handle on the local vibe, don’t walk around alone at night, except in crowded, well-lit areas. Don’t go off somewhere unknown with strangers. Be wary of pickpocketing. If you carry a bag or purse, try to wear it across your body (less easy to snatch) and keep it zipped closed. Personally, when walking through major pickpocketing hotspots (mainly train stations), I wear my backpack on my front, to prevent anyone behind me from unzipping it unknowingly. Just be smart, and don't let excitement over your trip dampen your common sense. Another tip: it’s easy to feel uncomfortable asking for help, especially if you’re worried about getting scammed. Here’s a tip I always follow that, though not foolproof, always puts me at ease: if you need to ask something that obviously marks you as a tourist, like directions or advice or for someone who can speak your language, I always ask either a young woman or a mother with children. Sure, there are people who look like this who might be dangerous, but it makes me feel more at ease.
9. Crowdsource
Whenever I travel, I make it a point to post where I’m going on Facebook and ask for advice! If you have friends or family who have lived/traveled/studied in your destination, send them a text/email/whatever and ask for tips. Or just post a general call for suggestions on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, etc. These are great ways to find out things to do, eat, and see that you might not have otherwise known about. Use forums like Tripadvisor if you have a burning question-- someone who has been to your destination can answer, and generally quite quickly! The power of multiple brains can be used to make your trip fantastic and answer any pressing concerns you might have!
10. The Buddy System
Some of my best trips were destinations I knew little about or had little initial interest in, but wanted to explore with friends! Whether this be visiting fellow abroad friends or going with other students from your town, traveling with friends can be cheaper and more fun! Plus, someone always has your back, and being confused with a friend is always less scary than being confused alone. Make sure that you either have similar interests as your friend, or the both of you are okay splitting up to see different sights, and meeting back up for dinner or at midday. As long as you’re upfront and discuss what you want out of the trip before you go, traveling with a friend can be fun, no matter your personal travel preferences!
