For Spring Break, we took a trip to Toronto. Ideally, the first place to go should have been Miami, Mexico, or any place that would have heat. Since we’re all broke college kids, we opted for the cheaper option. This may have been the best decision we have made all year, but hey, it’s still early.
So the next thing to address is, how did you manage to not kill any of your friends past day 3? Now that’s a question that even I can’t answer truthfully (Okay, kind of kidding. There was alcohol involved). I do have some tips that made our trip a success.
1. Always Do a Headcount
This feels like a major throwback to kindergarten with this tip, but it really is helpful. When you’re in a new city, in a new country, staying together is a priority. Leave nobody behind by any means. Count up, count down, count in a different language, doesn’t matter. Just make sure everyone is present.
2. Don’t Forget to Sleep
You’re on break and it’s an exciting time. You want to tour the city, eat at all the cool restaurants, and just watch the locals do their daily routine. You have to remember that without sleep, you won’t be able to do that if you’re tired the entire time. When you’re body wants to sleep, it will make you sleep whether you are ready for it or not.
3. Be Open-Minded
People have their own plans on what they want to do during vacation. However, it may not be what everyone else has in mind. It doesn’t make what they want to do less important but you do have to accommodate for everyone. Consider everyone’s ideas and who knows, you might like it in the end.
4. Sharing is Caring
Save space, share a bed. Being in a small apartment with limited bed space doesn’t give you much privacy or room to breathe. Learning to divide things between multiple people is a must. It saves time, money, and headaches. Except with alcohol. You will be called a thief.
5. Go to a Gay Bar
Honestly, they’re a lot more fun than straight bars. Something about them just makes them more fun. I mean, they have drag queens perform and its constant karaoke time. Who doesn’t love a good sing-a-long session?
6. Take Pictures
You never know when you might ever come back so take in all of the experience. This is a memory that will last a lifetime. Take group pictures, silly pictures, scenic ones, artsy ones that were meant to be on Instagram. Do everything in your power to preserve this moment.
7. Bring an Extension Cord
With the amount of technology we have at our disposal, we need to take time to recharge them all after every use. There will never be enough plugs for everyone to use. Packing an extra 5 outlets will make you the hero of the trip.
8. Don’t Feel Bad About Overpacking
You never know what to expect on a trip so it’s best to prepare for all sorts of scenarios. Got a swimsuit even though the temperature will only ever get up to 40 degrees? Well, you got yourself an extra pair of underwear. Packed a book because you thought you might read it during the ride over only to see it be used as a paperweight? Well, that was just a poor decision on your part.
9. Have Fun! Remember, the point of all this is to get away from school and just relax for a week. Don’t schedule in fun, let the fun happen on its own. You earned this break, why not spend it in the best possible way.