One thing I looked forward to doing the most when studying abroad was going away on weekend trips to different countries! Since I have been abroad, I have had the opportunity to travel to various places such as Hungary, Portugal, Morocco, Austria, Croatia, and Montenegro, as well as many places around Italy such as Florence, Amalfi, and Naples. I still have a couple more weekends left and am looking forward to both traveling a little more as well as staying in Rome. It is extremely rewarding to be able to experience different cultures in various countries. One of my favorite parts is trying different local foods! It is hard to choose a favorite among the places that I have traveled so far, as they have all had different aspects about them that make them so unique.
I do have a couple tips and tricks I have learned along the way that I would like to share. First, book trips in advance if possible! This is when they will be the cheapest. The longer you wait, the more likely that the price will rise. Second, be sure to check websites such as Google Flights or Skyscanner to find the most affordable options for airlines. They compare all airlines including discount airlines to give you the best possible price. My last piece of advice is that budgeting is key! It is likely that when you first go abroad it will feel like a vacation. Make sure you keep track of your spending. It is easy to get caught up in trying all of the restaurants, buying souvenirs, booking excursions, etc. Therefore, it is important to keep track of how much you are spending in order to budget for the entire length of your stay. A few dollars here and there may not seem like a lot, but it really adds up before you know it!
Lastly, a common misconception is that you MUST travel every weekend abroad. I disagree with this statement. As exciting as traveling and visiting all of these new places has been, it is great to take the time to really get to know your home base country. In my case, it is Rome, Italy. Rome has so many neighborhoods and things to see that I wouldn’t even be able to see it all even if I did stay every weekend! Embrace where you are and don’t stress over traveling everywhere you may have envisioned yourself going to. Enjoy your home country and enjoy every moment!
