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Things I Wish I Knew: Tips for Improving Your Travels While Studying Abroad

By Nina Prenosil

April 8, 2024 Student life

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Photo of a bridge in Florence, Italy

As a student living abroad, traveling internationally may come as a challenge. It’s important to know a few important aspects about international travel before you embark on your journey. Here I'll outline a few insights gained from my travels abroad that I wish I knew beforehand. 

Check-in at the service counter rather than just online

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Photo of an airplane wing surrounded by clouds

Checking in at the in-person counter in the airport is likely a good idea, especially if you think your carry-on luggage will be overweight. While it seems more convenient to simply check in online, the airline will offer to weigh your luggage and if it is overweight, they will check it for no extra cost. When I traveled to Portugal I opted to only check-in for my flight online, and ended up having to pay 100 euros as I boarded the plane because my carry-on was too heavy. This could have been easily avoided had I weighed it beforehand, so keep that in mind. 

Register for the STEP program 

STEP is a free service offered by the U.S. government that allows you to register your travel with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Once registered, the service will alert you of important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your current country of residence. It also helps the U.S. Embassy, your friends, and your family to contact you in case of an emergency. This program makes traveling safer and gives you the chance to make informed choices. 

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Photo of cars parked on a street in Florence, Italy

Be aware of transportation strikes

One aspect of international travel I was not aware of was the frequency of transportation strikes. Italy for example is often a location of train strikes, which means during a one or two day period most trains will be delayed or canceled. Fortunately, all strikes are planned in advance and you will be given several days' notice if there is a train strike happening soon. Some countries will also participate in airline strikes as well. When I was traveling to Ireland, I had a layover in Munich, Germany, where airline workers were striking. The strike led to a few small delays but ultimately led to me missing my connecting flight. Managing the strikes is very doable, as long as you stay updated with current information regarding them. 

Take advantage of day trips 

One thing I wish I did more of was embarking on day trips! Florence is surrounded by easily accessible, famous destinations, and I wish I had taken it upon myself to travel on my free days. You may find yourself lucky enough to have an open day during the week which would allow you to travel. I have no class on Thursdays, and some of my peers have no Wednesday classes – which gives us the opportunity to travel a bit outside of Florence to explore. The railroad system in Europe is unlike anything we have in the United States and it makes traveling doable when you do not have a car. 

Photo of a road in Florence, Italy

Be smart about hostel stays!

Staying in a hostel while traveling is a convenient and cost effective way to travel, but it’s important to keep in mind the type of hostel you choose. As college students, my friends and I usually opt for youth hostels, which makes the experience more comfortable and is a great way to meet new people. Before you book your stay, be sure to keep in mind if you want a private or shared bathroom, common areas for doing work or common areas for a lively hangout scene, and anything else you know would be important to make your stay as comfortable for you as it can be. 

Work while you travel

This one might seem like a given, but bringing your homework with you while you travel is a great way to stay on top of your work. By this I don’t mean breaking out your laptop on the beach in Barcelona, but rather having it accessible if you have a long plane or train ride ahead of you. I am actually currently writing this article while on a three-hour train ride to the southern coast of Portugal! Managing your time is very important while abroad, as every student is required to complete coursework during their stay. 

I hope that these tips and tricks for international travel were helpful and be sure to keep them in mind if you are studying abroad and plan to travel around. 

Article posted in Student life for Prospective students and Current students

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Portrait of Nina Prenosil at the University of Massachusetts

Nina Prenosil

Communications Assistant

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