College acts as an incubator for academic training and new experiences. While in college, it is important to take yourself out of your comfort zone and an easy way to do that is to travel. Attending a university supplies ample opportunity to travel both stateside and abroad, however being a young adult allows for the chance to branch out independently and go wherever a person pleases. Whether it is for study abroad, or your first solo trip, here are a few tips to keep in mind before you embark.
Make a Travel Plan
When traveling with family or with school, you do not have to worry logistical things such as transportation, but when you are traveling alone you have to be on top of it. Before you book your flight, plan out how you will get to and from the airport, (if you are traveling through an airport). If you’re going to a city with more than one airport, make sure your flight is landing at airport closet to the place you’re staying at. And if you are going to a smaller sized town or rural area, make sure Lyft and Uber are operating there. Same goes for your sleeping arraignments. Even if you find a beautiful place to stay, if it’s going to cost an arm and leg to Uber from your hotel to your point of interest every day, it might not be worth it. Making a plan for transportation before you leave home can take a lot of stress off your back while you are enroute.
Stick to Your Budget
Going on your first major travel expedition will definitely be exciting, but you still have bills to pay once you get home so don’t blow the bank. It’s understandable to want to visit all of the museums, all the bars, and all the restaurants, but all of those things cost. Save money where you can, beforehand by using websites like Airfordable or CheapOair to save money on your flight. Airfordable allows you to book a flight and pay for it in installments instead of all at once, and CheapOair allows you to find empty seats on flights and book for a discounted price. Also, Services such as AirBnB and FlipKey offer comfortable and aesthetically pleasing rental spaces that can cost less than many hotels.
Aside from finding travel and sleep arraignments that you can afford, it is imperative to set a realistic budget for your trip. Prior to packing your bags, decide on how much you have to spend on food, entertainment, shopping, travel, local transportation, and emergencies. Look up the full cost of everything while you’re still at home. See if the hotel you want to stay at places a hold on your debit card before you stay with them, or if your rental requires an additional cleaning fee. Know how much it will cost to fly with luggage, and how much it will cost to reserve that special window seat. You don’t want to be hundreds of miles away from home and run into a surprise cost. Having and keeping a budget will be the most important part of your travels.
Look Out for Yourself
Part of being outside of your comfort zone is leaving the security of what is familiar. There is definitely a need to be aware of your surroundings and the people you encounter when you are traveling alone. You’re not in Kansas anymore, and not all people have good intentions. However, this doesn’t mean you should be scared of seeking out an adventure. Go confidently into the world and take in all the new experiences however don’t be naïve and remember to keep an eye on what is going on around you.