Erin's Thai Travels

Congrats! If you’re looking at this, you’re probably in preparation for study abroad, which is truly the experience of a lifetime. I studied abroad in Siena, Italy for four months and in addition to having the time of my life, I learned SO much about studying abroad and tips for traveling the world. I hope they help you out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This could be you! {Paris, France}

 

1. DO NOT OVERPACK. Bring just one (large) suitcase and a carry-on.

a. Okay, I know everyone has told you this, and you’re thinking, “How the heck am I going to survive for 4 months out of one suitcase?!” Well, it’s much easier than you’d think. I personally brought two large suitcases and a carry-on. Not only was it extremely difficult to lug to and from the airport, but I didn’t use half of the stuff I brought! Only bring the essentials. I’d also recommend leaving a little extra space in your bag so you can bring things back for yourself/friends/family.

 

2. CLOTHES

a. I brought about 7 dresses and wore only one of them. Don’t bring 7 dresses.

b. Take into consideration the weather/climate of your region while you’ll be abroad.

c. Layering will become your best friend.

d. Pack basic but cute clothes that can be mixed and matched easily, or put with a new scarf or necklace

     to create a whole new look. It’s not hard.

e. If you wear the same outfit every week, no one is going to care. No one will look at your facebook and think “Ew, she wore that last week,” trust me, they’ll think “wow, she’s at the Eiffel Tower, I’m jealous of her life.” Also remember that wherever you are, you will most likely have access to a washing machine, so it’ll all be okay. Side-note: always overpack underwear.

 

3. SHOES

a. I brought about 7 pairs of shoes. Too many. Fashion may seem most important, but it’s comfort that really matter. Depending on your climate, bring a good pair of boots(leather boots rule and go with almost everything). My observations have told me that most Europeans wear shorter boots (mid-calf). Boots can also go with a skirt or a dress if you want to get fancy. Bring a good pair of sneakers because you’ll be doing lots of walking. I’d also recommend a pair of flip-flops for showering in hostels. Then I’d say a pair of flats that are comfortable (I chose TOMS and have also had good experiences with Vans). If you think your study abroad destination will require dressing up, sure bring the heels. However, most places in Europe have cobble stone roads. Cobblestones+ stilettos=ouch. Try a heel with a thick heel or wedges. Much easier. If you do choose stilettos and need to walk on cobblestone, try to walk on the balls of your feet, you’re much less likely to wipe out/break your ankle.

 

4. PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS

a. Remember that wherever you are, they probably sell toothpaste, shampoo, razors, body wash, tampons, etc (not exactly the case in Asia, but definitely in Europe). I recommend buying your personal products wherever you are. Shampoo and conditioner take up a lot of space and are heavy. Remember that your bags to be checked on the plane are weighed and have a weight limit. HOWEVER, if you’re addicted to your shampoo or lotion or whatever it may be, just bring it. As far as tampons go, bring a few for “just in case” and buy what you need when you arrive. For makeup, I recommend bringing it from home. Makeup can be very expensive and you never know what you’re going to get, so stick with your home brand, trust me it’s worth it.

 

5. MEDICATIONS

a. Bring your medication. If you have any prescriptions, go to your doctor and ask them to give you enough for your stay (birth control, ladies). In many countries, it’s illegal to have medicine sent to you from outside of the country, so your parents can’t really help if you run out.

 

b. Expect to get sick. Being in a new country with new people can take a toll on you. I was sick about 5 times in my experience. If you get sick, there are plenty of pharmacies around where you can get medicine. However, from my experience, the medicine here is not as strong as American (over-the-counter) medicine and it’s also much more expensive. I paid 4 euro (about 6 USD) for 12 tablets of Ibuprofen. I recommend bringing your go-to medicine from home. I, personally, brought Ibuprofen, DayQuil, NyQuil, allergy medicine and cough drops. They were such lifesavers when I was sick, definitely take these meds into account.

 

6. REMEMBER TO PACK:

a. Converters

b. Snacks from home—yeah this sounds like a waste of space, but when you feel homesick, nothing will be better than tasting your favorite snack from home. In Europe, I never once saw Cheez-its or Pop Tarts. I brought those and it was such a great choice.

c. A cross-body purse big enough to fit your wallet, passport and maybe a snack and water bottle. Perfect for nights out/travelling.

 

7. GENERAL TIPS

a. Do a bit of research on your country. Mostly social norms and laws. For example, I didn’t do this. In America, it’s normal to smile at strangers when you make eye contact. Not so much in Italy. Men take it as a flirtatious move, and they will move in on you. It would have been nice to know before, because I attracted lots of unwanted attention in this way.

 

b. When communicating with locals, try to use their language. Even if you sound stupid and it takes a while, they will really appreciate your effort. This will create a much more friendly relationship with the locals.

 

c. Watch your wallet/phone. Especially at train stations and bus stations/metros. There are pickpocketers and they target tourists. Don’t keep valuables in your pockets or on the top of your bag. Always keep your bag zipped and by your side. When I feel that I’m in a sketchy place, I either hold my bag in my hands or put my jacket over it.

 

d. Be aware of your spending. If you’ve got money to blow, you can skip this step. It’s easy to spend money abroad. Spend wisely. Try to follow some sort of budget so that you’re not stuck at the end with no money to do things with your friends. Of course, if you want a cappuccino, buy it, but buying one every day can add up. Save your money for more important/memorable things. Think about it like this: 100 euro on coffee for two months or 100 euro going to Paris!

 

e. Public Transport. Buses and trains are far cheaper than taxis! If you need a bus to get around, look into getting a pass and you’ll save money because taxis are not cheap!

 

f. Keep a journal. It’ll be awesome to look at later in life and show your kids.

 

g. Take lots of pictures (with you in them). Okay I know a lot of people hate pictures, but trust me on this one, you’ll want them later in life, so if you have to ask a stranger to take one of you, just do it! Have your friends take cool artsy pics too, they’re worth the awkward moment of posing.

 

h. Ask the locals where to eat. The places in the popular areas are very touristy and pricey. Ask the locals where they like to eat and you’ll probably be directed to a not-so-well-known Mom and Pop kind of place with delicious food and fair prices.

 

i. Homesickness. It’s bound to happen. When it does, don’t let it consume you or ruin your experience. Always keep a positive attitude because if you don’t, you’ll be miserable. There’s nothing worse than wallowing. Don’t just sit in your room crying all day. To combat the homesickness, talk to your family/friends for a little bit but then go out with your friends who you’re abroad with! Having a good time with the people you are with will make the homesickness disappear.

 

j. Be safe. Okay, not to sound like your mom, but be safe. There’s safety in numbers, so stay with a friend, especially at night. In most big cities, there are lots of pickpockets. Be aware of your cell phone, purse and valuables. Many pickpockets come up to you asking you to sign something for some made up charity. While distracting you with the clipboard, they (or a friend) are pickpocketing you.

 

8. NIGHTLIFE ABROAD

a. If you’re trying to get drunk, don’t rely on the bars. Nothing wrong with drinking at the bars, I normally get a drink or two but that’s it. Pre-gaming is a beautiful thing. My first night out, I spent over 40 euro. I purchased all of my drinks out and was kicking myself the next day. Go to the grocery store and buy your alcohol. You can find a liter of wine anywhere from 1 euro up. Gather with your friends and drink a bit before you hit the clubs/bars. This will cut your spending by over half, I promise.

 

b. Go out with your guy friends. Many European men can be persistent and at times, creepy, when they want to dance with you at the club. If you want to, dance sure, if not, it’s nice to have a guy friend around to save you. It sounds very childish, and is super annoying and sexist that we have to do this in this day and age, but having someone pretend to be your boyfriend can work magic and get the creeps to back off.

 

c. Don’t be the stereotypical loud, obnoxious Americans. That’s how many Europeans view Americans. Many guys think American girls are easy (that’s why they try so hard) and most people think all we do is party and get sloppy drunk. We’ve all had those nights, but don’t be the girl who gets up on the bar and starts dancing. You’ll be judged, hard.

 

9. BANKS/ CELL PHONES

a. Do not use your cellular carrier from home for abroad. I have the iPhone 5S, which is an international phone so I can use it in other countries. My carrier tried to sell me their international plan which was 99 cents per minute to call internationally. DON’T DO THAT. In Italy I have a SIM card and a plan where I pay 12 euro a month for 1000 minutes to any carrier in Italy, 200 texts to any carrier, unlimited talk and text to my carrier (TIM), 2 GB of data and 16 cent international calls. This is far cheaper and easier.

 

b.Choose a bank that has branches abroad. For example, Bank of America has quite a few branches abroad/banks that it works with. If there’s one near you, you could avoid some hefty ATM charges.

 

c. Let your bank know you’re going abroad and where you’re going. There could be nothing worse than having your cards shut down while you’re abroad and having no money. Let them know exactly where you’re going and when to avoid this!

 

d. Get an ISIC card. It will cost you $22 but it’s so worth it! You get so many discounts at museums, restaurants, etc. and you also can add money onto it like a debit card. It has your picture on it so if it’s stolen, no one else can use it. You can also use it at the airport to get foreign currency commission free! There’s way more to it, look at all it’s perks online.

 

10. TRAVELING WHILE ABROAD

a. Make a list of places you want to travel to. There were many weekends I stayed in Siena doing nothing because I didn’t know what to do or where to go. Having some sort of plan will make things happen much easier.

 

b. Look up student discounts before you do anything. There are so many museums and places that give you free or discounted admission for being a student, however, it’s not always advertised unless you look online. You just show some Student ID and you’re in! This will save you tons of money. If you have a visa or ID card for our host country, there are also many places that will accept that for discounts.

 

c.Book flights and hotels at least a month in advance. If you don’t, it’s okay, but booking in advance is much cheaper. For example, I went to Dublin and booked the week of. I paid about 150 dollars one-way. Had I booked it a month earlier, it would have been only 40 dollars.

 

d. When booking flights, be aware of the bag size and weight restrictions. Many airlines, especially RyanAir have cheap prices but strictly enforce these restrictions. If you don’t abide, you will be charged fees that may make the cheap flight not so worth it. RyanAir allows a carry on for free, so make sure it abides by the restrictions to make the most out of your money!

 

e. Go on Sandemans New Europe free tours. These tours run every day in many big, European cities. They offer a great tour where you learn a ton of history and culture. They normally last about 2.5-3 hours. They’re free, they just ask (no pressure) for a tip at the end. Totally worth it. They also offer pub crawls for about 14 euro where you get to meet people from all over the world and get tons of free drinks, super fun I recommend it.

 

f. If you’re travelling in Europe travel with Bus2alps. Bus2alps is a travel program for students. You can travel to a number of awesome places across Europe for great prices! Bus2alps will provide you transportation to and from your destination, transport while you’re there, all sorts of excursions, your hotel and breakfast. Plus, you’ll meet tons of new friends! If you want to travel somewhere where your friends don’t want to go, go with bus2alps because you will make friends and it will be awesome, I promise.

 

11. USEFUL APPS (click the links to learn more)

a. Google Maps. This is the most useful app. With maps, you can type in your destination and it will show you what bus to take, the route it goes, what time it is and where it leaves from. This is so useful and free! It’s a must have.

 

b. Airbnb. Airbnb is an app/website that allows you to search for apartments. If you’re travelling with a group of friends or even with just one other person, this is often the best way to go. They’re normally quite cheap and very nice. I recommend searching a place and make sure they have wifi and a washer machine so you can wash your clothes and you don’t have to overpack!

 

c. Booking.com, hotels.com, Hostelword. Simliar to Airbnb, these allow you to search apartments, hostels, hotels, etc. All are websites and apps.

 

d. GoogleTranslate. This makes using a foreign language much easier, as it almost always accurately translates.

 

e. Viber/WhatsApp. With these apps, you can call and text people with smartphones for free as long as they too have the app. You also need to have wifi or 3G to use it, but this is how I communicate with my parents for the most part. (If you have iMessage,you can still iMessage your friends and family at no charge as long as you have WiFi/ 3G).

 

f. Skyscanner. This is an app and website. Type in your destination/leaving airport and Skyscanner will show you the cheapest flights from all airlines. Very useful in trying to find a cheap flight.

 

g. Trip Advisor. This website/app is GOLD. Not only can you look up everything and anything about your destination (hotels, restuarants, things to do, reviews, etc.), but you can also download your city (or cities you will visit) while you have Wifi and you can access lists of great restaurants, attractions (along with addresses) when you don’t have Internet access. It’s convenient and the best way to find good places in your area!

 

That's it for me! I hope this was helpful. Good luck and have fun :)