From what I’ve come to understand, a majority of people assume traveling to be extremely financially-burdening, unsafe, and just an overall hassle. In all honestly, such assumptions are true- if you don’t know what you’re doing.
SAFETY
When I told my parents I was accepted to study abroad in England, my dad was far from excited. Perhaps that was because the movie Taken had just been released in theaters the day before. If you’re not familiar with the film, the storyline is of a teenage girl that goes to Paris and gets abducted into the sex-trafficking industry. The morning after I had told my parents, I went out to get the mail and there was a package from my dad. I opened it to find a burned DVD: Taken. Taped to the DVD was a small note that read, “You’re not going anywhere until you watch this three times. After the third time, I want a paper on what you’ve learned from it.” Yes, my father had illegally burned a newly released movie and had overnighted it to me.
A few months ago a UCSD student, Austin Bice, went to study abroad in Spain for a semester. Austin was a 6 foot 4 athlete with a good head on his shoulders. He went out one night and never returned home the following morning. While that might be typical for a majority of the college world, Austin’s friends knew he wasn’t the type of person to simply not come home. Ten days later, they found Austin’s body in the Madrid River.The autopsy said that he died of a heart failure while walking home. Clearly, many people objected to this seeing as that his body was found submerged under water. Anyone who is interested in reading more about the story can read it here.
All-in-all, I can say that the most essential aspect to take with you whenever you travel anywhere is your awareness.
- Always have a phone on you and know the country’s emergency code (calling 911 is useless…)
- Be aware of what you are allowed and not allowed to do in specific countries. For example, it’s illegal to carry mace with you in the United Kingdom.
- Leave behind all unnecessary credit cards- if you get your wallet stolen, you don’t want to go through the hassle of replacing more than you have to.
- Understand the culture. A UK journalist went to Africa and was arrested for wearing shorts. You don’t want to get yourself in a situation like that solely for not doing the proper research.
And my favorite: DON’T BE AN IDIOT (personal experience).
- This previous January, I was flying from London to Munich, Germany. When I landed, I rushed off the plane without thoroughly checking that I had everything. When I got to the border patrol, I didn’t have my passport. Clearly they weren’t going to let me in the country without it and I couldn’t just fly back to England without it either. I was 50% sure (by sure, I mean desperate) that I had left it on the plane. However, this is Germany- a country that takes their security VERY seriously. I wasn’t allowed back on the plane to check, so the polizei detained me (yes, detained) while they had their police force check the plane. Sure enough, I was an idiot and left it in my seat pocket and didn’t check it before exiting the plane. All the guards laughed at me, but it was, without a doubt, quite embarrassing. Sorry, America- I think I made a solid contribution to the “stupid American” stereotype.
FLIGHTS:
Last year, I spent a week in Ireland celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. As anyone knows (or can assume), St. Paddy’s Day is Ireland’s busiest and most expensive week to take part in. However, Europe has multiple airlines that allow you to travel for pennies (or pounds, I should say). My flight from London to Belfast that week cost me a grand total of $20 through a company called RyanAir. RyanAir is ideal for anyone looking for a quick trip in Europe at any one of their routes. Below is a copy of their flight map:
Cons of traveling with RyanAir:
- Typically, RyanAir flies you about 45 minutes outside your desired location. So if you’re on a budget, make sure to book your bus/train into the city BEFORE you depart for your trip, because it can be pretty costly once you get there.
- It isn’t first class. Or second. Hardly third. Don’t expect to be served a meal or have a ton of space. It’s an extremely basic airline, so if you’re traveling anywhere over 2 hours- I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it.
- PACK LIGHTLY. Typically, every bag is about 15 pounds to check. Every time I have ever used RyanAir, I have only brought a carry-on. No fee, no waiting, and I can get to my flight thirty minutes before it leaves.
I’ve used RyanAir for: Barcelona, Belfast, Munich Paris, and Malta.
Other cheap airlines to check out for Europe travel: Easy Jet, Student Universe (site), STA, Thomas Cook
THE HASSLE:
If you’re someone who doesn’t know where to start planning your trip and budgeting isn’t your prime priority, try going through a travel program. I currently do part-time work for a company called EF College Break. EFCB is for young people between 18-26 that want to go on a pre-planned trip with other young people from throughout the country. Prices vary between $1200 to $4500. Trips can be as short as 9 days to 35 days to South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Every trip has a preset itinerary including departure dates, travel between cities, and activities along the way. This summer, I am going through EFCB to Italy and Greece. Here is an example of our itinerary:
The Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral is better known as the Duomo, after its famous dome that dominates the Florentine skyline. The dome, designed by sculptor and architect Brunelleschi, was a real technological and architectural marvel at the time of its construction.
Travel to Pisa, home of the legendary Leaning Tower, and snap some photos of the 12th-century architectural misfit. The tower has been aslant ever since the third floor was built, and legend says Galileo dropped weights from its top to test his theories of gravity. Also visit the Baptistery, known for its interesting acoustics, and Pisa Cathedral.
Visit this country within a city, home to the Pope. Walk through the incomparable St. Peter’s Basilica, built on the site where the saint was martyred. Also visit the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo’s stunning ceiling frescos have amazed visitors for centuries.
Continue on to coastal Brindisi, where you’ll board your overnight ferry bound for Greece.
Your tour director will show you some of the other can’t-miss spots of Athens, including the bustling Plaka district. Check out Hadrian’s Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus—construction on the temple began in 515 B.C.
Share some last laughs (and maybe shed a few tears) over a farewell drink with the group.
Whether you choose to go through a program or on your own, I always recommend checking out program itineraries. They always have secret spots and places to go that not everyone knows about.
Hostels
It seems that every time I tell my friends in the United States that I stayed in hostels all throughout my traveling, they make some tragic connotation to the movie “Hostel.” Ironic, because I always felt much safer at hostels than I did hotels. In fact, my most pleasurable experiences traveling can be directly related to my hostel stays. The people you meet, the connections you make, and the experiences you gain from staying in hostels opposed to hotels cannot compare. The two most beneficial websites to find a safe, central, and clean hostel would be Hostel Bookers and Hostel World. Here, you can read reviews from other travelers, see pictures of the hostels, and most importantly- find out their location. For families, I recommend the Youth Hostel Association. The YHA is the international equivalent to the YMCA and offer some immaculate locations for a very good price. For younger travelers on a budget, get in touch with the hostels you’re looking at before hand. A majority of hostels are willing to let young travelers stay for free in exchange with domestic duties around the hostel.
Photo Credit: Traveller's House
Vagabonds Hostel Ireland
Katie Fuhrman 