My name is Michael Preziosi. I'm a Cybersecurity major at Stevens Institute of Technology, and I have always been interested in traveling in any capacity, so I knew studying abroad was for me. During my participation in CIS Abroad’s Summer on the Italian Coast program, I had the opportunity to visit several of Italy’s famous destinations. I look forward to what the future holds for my travel endeavors.
You’ve made it to your study abroad destination. Everything is new and exciting, and you’re ready to explore all that you can during your program. After some time, you become comfortable with what your host city has to offer, but you want to go further. You want to see as much as you can before you return home. I’ve been there.
Traveling while abroad can have some complications to it, though. I remember being so excited about the travel opportunities available while studying abroad that I would overlook some details when it came to actually planning trips. However, now I can share tips that I’ve gained so that you can maximize your travel experience while studying abroad.
Start Planning Early
Now, this one may seem obvious, but there are several benefits to planning trips as soon as possible. For one, ticket prices for public transportation are way cheaper when bought a couple weeks in advance than a couple days in advance, giving you more money to book more trips! Also, planning forces you to spend time figuring out where you can feasibly travel to during your time abroad. You may learn of new places you wish to visit upon arriving in your host country, so proper planning can help you to get there as well as to places you had originally anticipated on visiting. Lastly, having your trips planned in advance gives you something to look forward to during times where you may not have many plans, keeping you uplifted during your time abroad.
Research Each Location
You only have a certain amount of time in each place you visit, so it’s important to be effective with your time. Knowing what there is to see in these locations can help you organize your trips so that you can visit every landmark, monument, and piece of nature that you can. Plus, you may discover hidden gems that you may not have thought of visiting otherwise, adding more sights to your list and increasing the time you need in certain locations. Which leads me to…
Give Yourself Enough Time
Quick story: while I was studying abroad in Italy, I planned a day trip to the islands of Ischia and Procida (pro tip: don’t do this, give each island its own day). I started in Ischia, and I had my list of things I wanted to do/see while there. However, the main port was on the opposite side of the island as most of the things on my list, and I didn’t have enough time to cross to the other side of the island and back before my ferry to Procida left, so I missed out on seeing several of the island’s notable features.
Small factors, such as travel time and time spent at each location, add up quickly while traveling, so make sure to account for these during your travel plans so that you don’t have to skip seeing certain places like I had to.
Gather a Group (or don’t)
The people you travel with can make or break your travel experience. If you’re one to visit as many places as possible without much time for rest, your travel partners should also travel in this manner, and vice versa. Traveling with friends is a wonderful experience that can create lifelong memories. However, you shouldn’t repeatedly have to sacrifice your travel desires for the sake of the group you’re with. Plan accordingly, and you all can have an amazing time in your travels!
Have Fun!
Traveling can get pretty hectic, but it’s important to stop and take in the sights and wonders of these new locations. After putting in all that work to finally get to these places, you’ve earned the right to enjoy them to the fullest. Odds are that you may never visit that location again, so don’t let the chaos of the little details distract you from the beauty of what lies in front of you.
Hopefully these tips help you as you plan your upcoming travels while studying abroad. I encourage you to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime experience by seeing and doing anything you can. I certainly don’t regret it, and I’m sure you won’t either.