When your morning routine consists of walking to a different bakery to try a new croissant every day, you know life is pretty good. Study abroad has been one of the most challenging yet ultimately rewarding experiences. Studying abroad provides students with the unique opportunity to become fully immersed in one country and easy access to so many other cities. Traveling independently during my time abroad has been life changing, as I have seen innumerable historical monuments, visited many countries, and experienced a plethora of cultures, all in the span of two short months.
There are many elements that come along with independent travel that can be difficult. For one, budgeting can be an issue. Second, balancing time spent in your host country with time traveling is more difficult than I imagined. And third, having an itinerary for the place you are visiting can be complicated, but you certainly do not want to waste any time. Let’s tackle these three issues.
Budget
Everyone has their own individual budget for independent trips, so if traveling with friends, making the budget clear from the beginning can help avoid any tension or miscommunications.
Here is a brief list of things you should consider in your budget:
- Transportation (flights, train, bus, transfer to/from airport)
- Housing (Airbnb, hotel, hostel, staying with friends)
- Food
- Shopping
- Activities
One of the best areas to save money in is housing! If you have a friend living in the city you are visiting, ask if you can stay with them. Airbnb can also be cost effective if you are traveling with many friends. Just be sure to look for ones that are centrally located. That way, you can save money by walking to your destinations.
Balancing Time
For the first two months abroad, I traveled for eight weekends straight. Although I loved seeing new places, I chose to study in Paris so that I could be fully immersed in the culture. I was getting anxious about not being able to experience all the local things I had in mind, so I decided to take more weekends off from traveling.
To avoid this, plan in advance, but not too far in advance. I planned my first two months abroad before even touching down in Europe. I had no idea how hectic all the back-to-back trips would be. Thus, my best advice is to book everything one month out. This way, you are able to have discounted prices for flights and hotels but still be flexible with your plans. Don’t forget why you chose to study abroad in the city you did and make an effort to immerse yourself in the culture there!
Itineraries
Time flies while you are abroad, so make a list in advance of everything you want to see and do in each place you want to visit, including your host city.
My friends and I recently visited Lisbon without any prior planning. We left feeling as though we did not see everything we could have since we had not done our research first. The city was so beautiful, we regretted not planning better.
So the next weekend, headed to Florence, we planned out each of our days. We picked a restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (making reservations when needed), made a list of gelato places, booked a wine tour, and made a list of “must-see” destinations. By the time we left Florence, we were much more satisfied with our visit.
And as for your home country, make a list, by category, of everything you want to do by the time you leave! The categories I recommend are the following:
- Dining (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Museums
- Free activities (gardens, neighborhoods to visit, picnic locations, flea markets)
- Going out (bars, clubs)
- Monuments
- Day trips
- Other
For example, my friends and I planned for a day trip to Versailles last week. It was one of the best experiences I have had abroad, and I am so grateful that I stayed home the weekend we went.
Life abroad provides students with the time and opportunity to visit many places in a short period of time, while also diving deep into the culture of one location. Follow these tips to avoid wasting time and to learn how to balance your schedule while abroad!
Cate Frist is a student at UCLA and an ISA Featured Blogger. She is studying with ISA in Paris, France.
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