Do Your Homework!

Educating yourself on where you are going is paramount. It is important to research the country's current issues so you know what you may be getting yourself into. The website http://travel.state.gov is a good first source of information about regions considered dangerous to Americans. Here you will find the latest travel warnings and alerts. In addition, there are Consular Information Sheets for every country. These sheets include information on the location of the US embassy or consulate, health conditions, areas of instability, political disturbances, as well as crime and security information. It is also important to research the culture of the countries you are going to. It is common courtesy to be aware of what is considered polite and appropriate versus what may be rude and disrespectful. Educating yourself on the culture can make for a smooth and easier transition into a new country.

As college students, a travel agent is not really in the budget when it comes to booking a trip. As an alternative, I would recommend visiting Barnes and Noble or a local bookstore like to buy books and gather information on your destination. Barnes and Noble has an entire section dedicated to traveling with books and maps titled by country. Endless amounts of information regarding dining, lodging, excursions, site seeing, history and so much more are right at your fingertips!

Another site that you may want to visit is the http://www.nationsonline.org/. This site provides a wealth of advice for the world traveler, including information on each country's government, culture, business, and tourism.

Happy researching!

Traveler's Reality Check

After the travel bug hits, the first instinct is to go everywhere. When going to Europe, the urge to experience every town, city and crevice possible is strong … how are you going to choose just one place?

Look into an itinerary and a reality check. First, make a list of places of all the places you want to go. Just brainstorm. Then come back and see what draws you and categorizes as a “must see”.

If you are venturing to Europe the amount of places to go is overwhelming. You. Can’t. Do. Everything. Recognizing your inability to do everything is the first step. According to the Journal of Education for Business, in 2011,  in the article “Using Typologies to Interpret Study Abroad Preferences in American Business Students”, college students want the full cultural experience. We want high interaction with the locals and culture: To look, see, smell and be, where we are. You can’t smell the roses if you are rushing to the next airport or train station.

The last, almost refreshing, reality check is that this is not the last time you will go to Europe. Our long life will provide other opportunities to return. If not, then fully be where you travel and take in every minute of it. Opportunities to travel are fleeting but embracing where your interests have drawn you without distraction will bring the adventures that exceed expectation.

Packing Tips for the Student Traveler

2 suitcases packed tightly with clothes and shoes for 3 months abroad in London during the Fall and beginning of Winter.

When preparing to travel, one of the first things you need to do is pack your bag. When packing, it's always important to decide what you need to take, and what isn't a necessity. This can all be determined by how long you will be traveling, what seasons you'll experience, and where your destination is.

According to an article in USA Today by Caroline Costello, packing is pivotal and forgetting an essential item leaves one disappointed and scrambling to find the nearest store in your destination. If you pack too much you could risk a disorganized bag that's too heavy leading to baggage fees from the airline. She goes on to give 10 packing tips every traveler should know, some of which I'd love to share with you.

The first tip is roll, don't fold. Tightly rolled clothes will take up less space than folded ones. This was true when I packed for 3 months in London, but to increase packing space even more add space bags for extra measure. If you roll the clothes and shrink them in space bags, it makes for great room for souvenirs and the bag feels lighter without all the extra air.

Next make yourself a list, because if you procrastinate with your packing then the process will be more difficult. Make a list based on destinations, locations, weather, etc. It's important to figure out what you'll need such as an umbrella for London, a dress for Spain or some shorts for Rome

Figure out your airline's baggage policies so that you don't get held up at the airport. Check the extra weight charges and limits, and see how many carry-on bags your plane allows. Make sure if you have any liquids in your carry on they follow the 3-1-1 rule in the clear plastic containers, and see what your airline allows in checked bags.

If possible and comfortable layer for you flights, less clothes in the bag means more room, and the more you can fit on you, the more you can take! Packing wisely will make your travels easier whether it be for a few days or a few months.

How to Beat Mobile Technology Shocks Overseas

When traveling abroad there comes the struggle of communicating with family and friends because phone charges can be overly expensive in foreign countries. Between texting, calling, and social networking, the costs of mobile technology can skyrocket in seconds. 

Using a smartphone overseas is said to be the in the top causes of mobile plan bill shock. This is because uninformed travelers use international roaming with no idea what checking those emails and Facebook are really costing them. International roaming means that while overseas, your phone will use the network of a mobile phone carrier in your destination country. Just loading one webpage is using about 1 megabyte of data and can cost up to 4 dollars. 

The easiest way to avoid high mobile bills is to take advantage of free WiFi wherever you can. Free WiFi can be available in hotels, restaurants, cafes and other free hotspots. Cell phone users are not billed for their data used on WiFi. However, be aware that free WiFi is not common everywhere in foreign countries like it is in America. 

Another mobile phone option that is fairly new and available in the app market is Viber. Viber is an application that can be used on any smartphone or computer. It features FREE calling, texting, picture and location sharing technology with other Viber users. It also instantly integrates your contacts from your phonebook. When my friend was traveling in China this past summer, we communicated over Viber. It was so quick and easy to use and one of the best ways to communicate while using a smartphone!

The key to communicating with family and friends overseas is to find out the communication options of your destination before you go. Being prepared will come in handy when you avoid hundreds of dollars in cell phone bills back in America! 

Banking Abroad!

Currently, $1 in United States currency, when exchanged, would give you 0.73 euros. 

These discrepancies in currency can lead to problems when traveling and it is important to keep track of your bank account.  This can help you catch potential overdrafts or identity thefts, which are common problems that can arise while abroad.  

With the expansion of mobile technology, many major banking branches now have cell-phone applications that allow you to bank on the go!  These are extremely helpful when you are abroad and do not have the convenience of your local bank.  These applications allow you to complete many important banking activities; such as transferring money, tracking purchases and checking your balance. 

Personally, I have fallen victim to the pitfalls of spending abroad.  I love to shop and traveling opens your mind and wallet to many interesting experiences and purchases.  Having your card declined is embarrassing when you are at the mall at home, but it is far worse when you are in Australia and didn't realize that you had over-drafted your account.   These differences in currency amounts through exchange rates can cause you to miscalculate just how much money you have left to spend! 

By downloading these applications to your mobile device, you can save yourself time and hassle and make the most out of your travel! 

https/www.wellsfargocom/mobile/apps

Are you Ready...?

...WELCOME TO READY, SET, ROAM!

Chances are that you’re visiting our website because you are a college-aged student with big dreams of traveling the world! If not, that’s great too and we are so happy you’ve stumbled upon Ready, Set, Roam! We hope you’ll find enjoyment in following our blog and maybe even find us a little entertaining. 

This website will provide personal travel stories and experiences from each of our bloggers. Each week, we will have a different theme related to travel that will allow us to share advice, tips and information we have obtained from traveling around the world. We will also feature a “traveler of the week” every week to highlight other student’s travel experiences, in addition to our own. 

The blog will be updated on a daily basis so please check back as frequently as you wish! We invite your questions, comments and insights regarding travel and hope to be a resource for you as you explore the idea of traveling abroad!

Now, READY, SET, ROAM our website!