Pre-Departure
Hey guys! My name is Anna Grace Smith and I am a rising Senior at Alabama. My major is Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science on a Pre-Physical Therapy track with minors in Liberal Arts, (through the Blount Scholars Program), and Psychology. This summer, I will be studying abroad for three weeks in Italy. I wanted to create this post in hopes that it would help others who are going abroad plan and pack for your trip! Below, I discuss a planned budget, helpful tips and tricks, and a mini packing list.
The first thing I did to prepare for my trip was create a detailed budget on Google Sheets. In total, I budgeted $1,500 for my trip overall, with a target to spend around $1,000 if possible. This was broken down into $735 for food, $420 for coffee and alcohol, $75 for souvenirs for my family and friends, and $270 of extra spending money for myself. When broken down by each day, this equates to $35 for food, $20 for coffee and alcohol, and an extra $13 a day for personal spending money.
My best tips for funding your ideal budget would be to find a part-time job that pays well and save even just a portion of that money every chance you can. This past semester, I took 21 hours of classes and had little time to apply for extra scholarships for studying abroad. However, by completing every scholarship I could find over Christmas break, I had less stress about balancing classes and completing applications during the actual semester.
Another way I prepared for my visit to Italy was by adding a few key pieces to my wardrobe. Style in Italy is different than your typical Bryant Denny, SEC, Saturday game day outfit, so I enjoyed branching out and finding new, affordable items to bring with me on my trip. Everything I bought for Italy came from the Thrift Store, a local consignment store, or TJ Max. For visiting places of worship, women must cover their shoulders, and dresses or pants must go below the knees. To eliminate any possible issues, I am borrowing a lightweight scarf from my Grandmother to drape over my shoulders.
For the clothes I am bringing on the trip, I tried my hardest to keep things light, but I have always been a chronic over-packer. Remember that you will probably have to carry your luggage through cobblestone streets and up flights of stairs when deciding what to bring! In total, I plan on bringing seven tops, two pairs of linen pants (one black, one white), three long midi skirts, one swimsuit, and five long midi or maxi dresses. I tried to pack for about two weeks’ worth of clothes, even though our trip spans 21 days. An important thing to consider is your accessibility to a washer and dryer, as that helped me to consolidate things better. I am bringing three pairs of shoes, a comfortable pair of sneakers to walk around in, my running shoes for working out, and a small pair of sandals for the beach.
One essential item I made sure to have for this trip was an anti-theft purse. I purchased mine from Amazon, and the brand is Travelon. If you’re anxious like me about having your wallet stolen, I would highly recommend investing in one. The bag has a slash-resistant crossbody strap, RFID technology, and two large pouches with zippers that clasp shut. Regardless of whether you purchase an anti-theft purse, make sure your wallet has RFID protection to prevent anyone from stealing your information. I got mine on Amazon for $12.
Lastly, I want to share a fun and useful hack I recently learned. After booking your flight information, text yourself the flight number along with the airline code. For example, if I was flying Southwest Airlines flight 674, their airline code is WN, so I would send myself a message that says, “WN674.” This should be included in your ticket confirmation. When you do this, a link is automatically generated. If your flight is delayed, arriving early, or your gate changes, it will update automatically through that link. You can send this to any family members who might be picking you up to avoid rushed texts after your flight lands. The link also shows you your baggage claim number and a real-time airplane flying across the country to your destination.
I hope this post helped a few people prepare for any upcoming international travel, and I look forward to updating everyone during and following my three weeks in Italy!
