With spring and summer break right around the corner, it seems like everyone is planning some sort of vacation. If you haven’t come up with any traveling plans and want to find some, then you should check out your school’s study abroad program. Many deadlines are quickly approaching for the summer sessions, so if study abroad is something you are interested in, I would suggest you look into it now! If you are traveling or are dreaming of future travels, then I have compiled a list of the most helpful tips to get you through your journey.
1. Start saving early.
This one might seem like a given, but it is a really important aspect of travel. Traveling anywhere, by plane or by car, is expensive. The average domestic plane ticket cost this last year was $400. International travel is much more expensive, tickets vary depending on your destination, but most tickets are around $1,500. Not only should you start saving early to cover the basic costs of travel, but you should also start saving so that you can splurge a little here and there. Vacations are about making memories and having fun; having to worry about money constantly is definitely a downer.
2. Take lots of pictures!
You’ll only regret the ones that you didn’t take! When I go on vacation, I take pictures of just about anything. Road trips are, in my opinion, the best vacation to take to get a lot of weird pictures. There are always pull-over worthy photo stops!
3. Meet and eat with the locals.
One of the best things regarding traveling is the ability to experience an entirely new culture. The best way to do this is to talk to anyone and everyone that you come into contact with. Learning the local way of life can help you anywhere. You can find places that are less tourist-filled and learn more about the real happenings of your vacation spot. Food seems to be an international bonding point, so finding new places to eat is a great way to meet locals.
4. Don’t over-plan.
Spontaneity is what makes a vacation a vacation! Plans are fine to have on some days, but every trip should have a couple open-book days. Freely exploring makes for a fun and relaxing trip.
5. If you’re flying, make a checklist for the airport.
Passport, photo ID, itinerary, and the check-in number are all necessities to start your travel adventure. Without these items, you can’t even get past security. Make sure you keep all of these items handy in case you have a connecting flight or they need to be rechecked when boarding the plane.
6. Pack light.
This goes for plane or car traveling. I always pack way too much and by the end of the trip, I am mad at myself for taking basically every article of clothing that I own. Dragging around all of the luggage around is an annoyance in and of itself. Keeping track of everything throughout the trip is a whole other issue. I always end up leaving stuff behind that I shouldn’t have brought in the first place. Also, if you are flying, the more you take is the more you spend!
7. Take advantage of your iPhone (or…whatever you may have).
There are so many traveler-oriented apps available that make the otherwise frustrating aspects of travel easy. Examples are Yelp for restaurant reviews, Kickmap for Subway routes, or Lonely Planet for travel guides.
8. Go with the people that you know you would have the most fun with.
Family vacations are always fun, however, vacations with friends can provide some of the best times of your life. Just make sure that the friends you pick to go with are ones that you won’t get sick of or have any drama with. The best way to ruin a vacation is with drama.
