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IAESTE United States staff have traveled all over the world. Read below for our top suggestions on making the most of your trip abroad, whether it be for an internship, vacation or study program.
Great Fares: Where Do I Find Them?
"As a budget traveler, I usually search Web sites such as cheaptickets.com, cheapflights.com, travelocity.com, orbitz.com, and priceline.com. I use the 'flexible dates' options when available; you can usually get better fares than when you have a particular date of departure."
--Jenny Oliver
"I also use www.tripadvisor.com to check out hotels and best airfares - they have discussion groups and reviews on many of the destinations which I find very helpful. You can select your hotel by the number of stars, or select hostels, B&B, etc. It also searches on many Web sites (Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, etc.)."
--Elizabeth Chazottes, AIPT
"Check in with the major carriers to see if they have any special deals. Icelandair, (www.icelandair.com), for example, sometimes has really low fares to continental Europe if the traveler spends a day or two in Reykjavik."
--Sara Allen
"In Europe, be flexible with your travel dates, get a Eurorail pass, and enjoy the low-cost airlines. Ryan Air has a "find the best fares" feature on their Web site, where you can find fares as low as $.25 per each way, though fares average more like $30 each way. But, you should remember that most of the airports the airlines fly into are in small towns outside of the major cities they list. For example, Paris is served by Ryan Air at Beauvais, which is about an hour by train from downtown Paris."
--Sara Allen
"If possible, buy the "change of fare" option on your airfare ticket. Most student travel agencies, like STA, etc., will offer an option for you to be able to change your departure date of location for only $25. Be sure to ask about this when booking your international airfare as your plans may change."
--Lauren Alexander
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Where Should I Crash?
"Hostels, hostels, hostels! Making reservations online is really easy, but doesn't always give the best prices. It's worthwhile to call. Always confirm your reservation!"
--Sara Allen
"Hostels are a great option for the budget traveler. Some hostels go to great lengths to create a sense of camaraderie and companionship amongst the travelers that stay there. Try to find out how many people share a room before you book into the hotel. More than 10 people per room can become a problem when there are people coming and going at all hours of the night. You should try to take advantage of any extra security measures a hostel has to offer (lockers, luggage storage, etc.) since you never know what type of person you will be sharing a room with. My favorite hostel? Baggies Backpackers in Brighton, United Kingdom."
--Jenny Oliver
"Whatever you do, make arrangements for your accommodation before you arrive. I failed to do so once and spent the better part of a day dragging my suitcase around Barcelona seeking a hotel with vacancies."
--Jenny Oliver
"If you're traveling during high season, always call ahead for reservations at hostels as they can book up quickly."
--Lauren Alexander
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Keeping it Light: Packing and Preparing
See our Packing Checklist page!
"When packing for an international journey, I always make sure to have essential toiletries (such as toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant) with me in my carry-on bag. You may need to freshen up onboard the aircraft, or when you arrive at your destination after the long trip. You also want to have these things with you in case your luggage gets lost."
--Jenny Oliver
"Create a packing list and check items off as you pack them. I lay all the items to be packed on a bed before I begin putting them into bags. Then, as you begin packing items, you can fill the bags thoroughly, using socks and underwear to fill in small gaps that appear. Pack photocopies of your passport and both sides of credit cards in your suitcases (if the lining of your suitcase can be removed, put these items behind the lining, otherwise, put them in an inside pocket."
--Sara Allen
Bring antidiarrheal medicine with you if you are heading to a destination known for causing stomach problems in travelers. You will likely need it.
Put EVERYTHING relating to logistics (tickets, reservations, directions, etc.) in your carry-on bag. Again, you don't want to be without these things if your luggage is lost.
"Pack an empty book bag for day trips."
--Pamela Ruiz
"PACK LIGHT - generally bringing a lot of black allows lots of mix and match options, hides dirt, and may help you blend in a bit more."
--Pamela Ruiz
"One of the best things you can do to learn about the country/city/school/job you will be visiting is to talk to someone who has been there before. Remember, everybody's experience will be different! But this will give you a general idea of what it might be like to live/go to school/work there."
--Catey Heimerl
"Pack a keychain light - you'd be surprised how handy this is."
--Catey Heimerl
"If you're backpacking, bring gallon-sized plastic baggies or plastic grocery bags and a small roll of duct tape. The baggies keep wet stuff away from dry stuff or vice versa, and duct tape is always useful. I used to duct tape a travel alarm clock to the wall in hostel bunkbeds."
--Jenn Lambert
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Surviving the Loooong-haul Flight
"Wear loose, comfy clothing. Don't bring a book - instead indulge in a magazine that you wouldn't ordinarily buy - People, for example. That way, when finished, you can leave it behind. Get a window for an overnight flight to sleep up against."
--Pamela Ruiz
"When you get on the flight, go ahead and set your watch to the time zone of where you are traveling."
--Lauren Alexander
"Drinks lots of water and stretch/walk around frequently. There is nothing worse than arriving not only tired, but completely dehydrated and stiff from the flight."
--Jenny Oliver
"Avoiding jet-lag: Melatonin! This is an all natural supplement that is available at any vitamin store, take one 3mg tablet the night before you go, and when it's time to sleep on the plane. You will feel very tired, and if you're not able to sleep on planes, you will at least relax. Also, there is no negative interaction with alcohol, like there might be with prescription pills, so you can feel free to enjoy a glass of wine as well."
--Sara Allen
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Upon Arrival
"Anticipate that there will inevitably be at least one problem relating to your trip abroad. Try not to let minor problems like lost luggage, lost reservations, or confusing directions ruin your time abroad. Keep a positive mindset and laugh off the minor issues. The problems will make for great stories when you get home."
--Jenny Oliver
"If you arrive in the morning, it's okay to take a nap, but not more than 2 hours, and be sure you wake up before about noon. Then, stay up until at least 9:00 before going to sleep. (If your nap was too long, melatonin can help here, too.) If you arrive after about noon, do not take a nap; simply dive into your activities. Check into your hotel and leave right away. Don't go back to your room until you're ready to go to sleep. Hanging out near a bed will only make you more tired."
--Sara Allen
If you need to take a taxi to your accommodation, be sure to agree to a price for the journey before you get in the cab.
Deal only with authorized persons if you need to exchange money.
"To find a cybercafe or public internet access pretty much anywhere in the world, to send e-mail, or check your e-mail try www.cybercaptive.com."
--Elizabeth Chazottes
"Don't expect to be 100% comfortable while traveling - learning how to adapt to different environments and situations is part of the adventure."
--Catey Heimerl
"It's OK to indulge every once in a while - go to an original version English-language movie or check out that American Diner. This can help to appease those nagging feelings of homesickness."
--Catey Heimerl
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Getting the Best Deal Now That You Are Abroad
The introduction of budget airlines to Europe has made travel within Europe amazingly cheap. Easyjet.com, ryanair.com, bmibaby.com, gofly.com, www1.flybe.com, jet2.com, transavia.com, and airberlin.com can offer great rates. For a complete listing of budget airlines in Europe, visit www.thebigproject.co.uk/budget.
"Always get the student fare for train tickets, museums and events. Take the ISIC card; it is universally accepted proof that you are a student."
--Lauren Alexander
"This Web site is great for finding the lowest airfares on low-cost airlines inside Europe: www.low-cost-airline.info".
--Elizabeth Chazottes, AIPT
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Staying Safe
"Do not wear clothing or accessories that scream American - no LL Bean backpacks, baseball caps, college t-shirts, shorts...etc."
--Pamela Ruiz
"Don't visit secluded cash machines alone, even if it is day time. I was mugged at an ATM in broad daylight at an empty square in Amsterdam."
--Jenny Oliver
Keep alert on trains, buses, and other modes of public transportation; these can be frequented by thieves just waiting to grab your belongings.
Register with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country you are visiting, if you have not done so before you depart the United States.
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Where Has the National Office Been?
As you may have surmised by now, the National Office has done its share of traveling. If you have questions about a particular country or region that one or more of us has visited, drop us a line and we'll do our best to help you out.
Current countries that the National Office has visited:
- Aruba
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bosnia Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Canada
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Egypt
- England
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Lichtenstein
- Lithuania
- Macedonia
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Russia
- Scotland
- Serbia and Montenegro
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Spain
- St. Maarten
- St. Thomas
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- Vatican City
- Wales
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