This last semester, I received some AMAZING news. I will be studying abroad in Granada, Spain for the entire month of July! I’ve dreamt about traveling abroad for as long as I can remember, and I’m thrilled that it’s finally coming true!
Along with this exciting news, I thought it’d be handy to touch up on some summer travel tips because I know plenty of you will be/already are traveling this summer. Here are a few tips that might help.
- Go through a travel agency.
It saves you time and money. Having someone who works with traveling on a daily basis, at the very least, will give you peace of mind. They can also compare the different prices offered by hotels, airlines or whatever you need.
- Be flexible.
In order to get the best deal, you have to be flexible with your vacation dates. So before you take time off of school/work, see when the cheapest day/time to travel is. Airfare can be cheaper on certain days of the week in comparison to others, so keep your eyes out. - Arrive early. Always.
You never know when you will run into traffic or have a flight time change. If you arrive early, you will be prepared for anything. - Pack lightly.
Hauling a huge suitcase from state to state or country to country is too much of a hassle. Who wants to spend time acting like a U-Haul when they can be site-seeing or meeting new people? - Pack overnight stuff (including all medications) in your carry on.
Every system has flaws, so be prepared to lose your suitcase in the mix of plane rides. (But let’s cross our fingers that doesn't happen!) - Keep a close eye on your belongings.
Especially when you are in a culture that you’re unfamiliar with. Just be careful with what types of baggage you carry. Only take purses with zippers and don’t keep your wallet in your back pocket. Be over-cautious with your belongings. It’s important to explore and have fun, but it’s necessary to keep your belongings safe in order to do these things. - Make a list of the places you want to see before you travel.
That way, when you actually arrive, you won’t spend hours looking around for things. You can see all the things you want to see and have no stress trying to decide last minute. - Most importantly, HAVE FUN.
Don’t let your comfort zone draw you in. Go to places you’ve never been, make friends with new people (which could come in handy later when you want to travel more!) and realize that vacations only come around every so often, so take advantage of everything you can get your hands on.
But seriously, take it all in.
I heard this quote the other day and think this is the perfect opportunity to share it.
“I’d rather see something once, than hear about it a million times.”
