What's Next?

First and foremost, a big thank you goes out to all of our fans and followers! Our site would not be what it is without all you awesome readers! As our semester here is coming to an end, many of you may be wondering what is next for Ready, Set, Roam? In a perfect world we would continue to keep blogging everyday, however, since we are all going our separate ways this summer it is easier said than done.

My next journey is jet setting to study abroad in Italy. Another fellow blogger, Summer and I will be going to Urbino, Italy with a JMU study abroad program for four weeks. Our goal is to post about once or twice a week updating you all on our experiences, stories and post some cool pictures. Currently, we are trying to figure out how to pack efficiently and effectively for our trip. If you or anyone you know is also embarking on a study abroad trip this summer, here is a useful site we have found to assist you in your packing:

http://www.collegefashion.net/fashion-tips/how-to-pack-for-study-abroad/

We hope you continue checking in with us this summer! Happy traveling!

All Aboard Air Twitter

In today's world, technology and social media can give huge benefits to many companies, including airlines. United Airlines recently committed to heavily utilizing Facebook and Twitter as means of communicating with their passengers.

On March 21, passenger Marybeth Cadotte was aboard a United airplane when the plane experienced mechanical issues. She tweeted the predicament at United's twitter handle and received a reply minutes later. They tweeted, “We hope to have you on your way soon.” United followed her case to ensure she had a successful end result. Soon after a mechanic showed up to the scene and Cadotte was off to catch her connecting flight. “The United app crashed, and people were on their phones talking to United. Twitter was definitely the way to go", said Cadotte.

This is just the beginning of large companies adopting social media as a way to connect with their consumers. Social media platforms provide customers with a magnified voice that can have a huge impact on a company's reputation.

Battling FOMO

FOMO. Fear of Missing Out. Urbandictionary.com defines FOMO as “The fear that if you miss a party or event you will miss out on something great”. It manifests itself in the anxiety you get when your body wants to fall into bed but there is some social event happening that you can’t bring yourself to miss. FOMO occurs where ever you are. In another country, however, it amplifies.

During my study abroad there were people who went out every night with no shame and intense FOMO.  In a group of excited Americans anything becomes a party or an adventure. A small mojito bar becomes a happening spot. Missing Tuesday night at the salsa club is a sin. The town fountain becomes the occasional swimming pool. And even if no one across Europe goes out on Sunday night, you can at least grab a nightcap before going to sleep.

Eventually you have to choose: sleep, drink coffee or die. I started drinking coffee to balance out the nights when I gave into my FOMO and hit the town. Setting curfews and drink limits were the next steps for my roommate and I to maintain our sanity. Lastly, we decided to forget about our FOMO. We allowed ourselves a couple nights to stay home to be with our host family and be with each other. Having a partner to weigh the options of whether we needed to force ourselves out of the house, or to leave the party early, or to breathe for the night and enjoy the culture under our own roof, will make decisions for your nightly game plan easier.

Each night there is 100% chance that something exotic is happening where you are. Most of the time you should take advantage of everything! However, when you stop functioning, you have to face the facts that some nights are better spent working on your health. The presence of FOMO will always be there, but considering the options and allowing yourself to take a break will give you more energy when faced with the next adventure.

Tips on defeating FOMO

1.      Find a battle buddy. The person to pump you up and help you out.

2.      Examine your options. Is it worth going out? What day of the week is it? What is your plan for the next day? Will you be able to do this again? Can/ would you do this at home? Have you slept recently?

3     Suck it up and just drink coffee tomorrow

Long-Term Travel Confessions

Blogger, DangerousBiz, confesses her disappointment regarding her long-term travel adventure in a recent blog post. Unfortunately, her sixth-month travel journey did not meet her expectations of falling in love with long-term travel like many of her friends.

DangerousBiz's previous travel experience consisted of short trips with other people, never a long journey by herself. In her blog post, entitled, A Confession, A Change of Plans, DangerousBiz describes her feelings of excitement before embarking on the journey. However, her excitement was met with immediate challenges that left her re-evaluating her plans after two months. Midway through, DangerousBiz found herself exhausted and running low on money, energy and enthusiasm. After carefully reflecting on her experience, DangerousBiz decided to end the trip early, heading home to the United States and postponing the rest of her journey. She struggled with the question of whether or not she was "giving up," but concluded that her decision to come home early wasn't giving up, but listening to her gut feeling. DangerousBiz recognizes that long-term travel didn't quite fit her lifestyle, but doesn't rule out travel altogether. She states you can still fit traveling into your lifestyle even if it consists of a job, permanent home, etc.

For those of you who may not be interested in spending months away from home long-term traveling, we hope you find DangerousBiz's blog inspiring. A large focus of Ready, Set, Roam is on study abroad, but this type of travel may not be for everyone. As DangerousBiz writes, there is no right or wrong way to travel and it is important to find the way that is right for you. Ready, Set, Roam hopes you find what works best for you and are inspired to travel, whether it be short-term or long-term!

Delta Narrows Bathrooms to Add 6 More Seats to Plane →

According to the blog, The Ticket, authors Chris McGinnis & Ramsey Quebein discuss many recent changes Delta Airlines has come out with. They talk about changes in SkyMiles vs SkyPpoints, Award Charts, sky snacks, Amex fees, and a new and improved bathroom with much narrower sinks. Just when you thought there was not enough bathroom space already, it gets smaller.

This article first caught my attention because my family and I are Delta regulars due to my dad being a frequent flyer who always has tons of SkyMiles. However, what ended up really capturing my attention was the new bathrooms Delta has recently been installing in their new planes. They figured out that when they narrow their sinks, they are able to add 6 more seats in the economy cabin. The designers removed the counter space to increase the room around the toilet. While it may seem narrower around the sink area, it is not so tight that an average-sized person will feel uncomfortable

If you have flown Delta recently and have experienced these new and perhaps not so improved bathrooms, comment below and tell us about your experience!

To read more about the Delta bathrooms and other Delta Airline changes, check out the rest of their blog! http://theticket-atlanta.com/skymiles-award-chart-skypoints-new-lavs-sky-club-snacks-amex-fees/

Travel with a Luxury Travel Job →

Luxury Travel Intelligence/VeryFirstTo.com

Many students are not looking forward to sitting behind a desk from 9 to 5, every Monday through Friday or more for the rest of their lives. That bland desk job doesn't have to be for everyone, as many companies are now offering travel jobs and opportunities. ABC News has an interesting article discussing a chance to take a $1 million luxury trip around the world, for free.

Luxury Travel Intelligence and VeryFirstTo.com have teamed up to make this dream travel job reality for one couple or person. The job posting states that the position entails spending one year travelling in "uber luxurious style; visiting the world’s most glamorous locations; and casting a refined eye on the latest hotels, restaurants and entertainment that each has to offer. You will also be testing various luxury modes of travel including yachts, jets and Japan’s Kyushi Seven Stars luxury train."

This specific job is technically unpaid, but Luxury Travel Intelligence will cover all travel-related costs including food, accommodations, and entertainment up to $1 million over a year period. Some destinations discussed are Maldives, Miami, and Venice.

This is just one example of an opportunity to go abroad for work experience. Many students study abroad and intern during school, and if they make a good impression, some are offered a permanent job with the internship. There also are jobs for au pairs, nanny's, international corporations, cultural communications, and now luxury travel job listings.

If interested in travel, it is easy to return abroad. Whether it's for part of your life or long term, now there are job opportunities to open more doors for the world traveler.

Protect Your Pockets

Did you know that each day an estimated 400,000 pick pocket incidents occur around the world? This statistic puts pick pocketing as one of the most frequent crimes inflicted upon tourists. You may think you’ve done a good job at disguising yourself from appearing as a tourist, but pick-pocketers do it for a living and are great at spotting tourists.

Being robbed is miserable regardless of where you are, but is even worse when you are in a foreign country: Especially if you are stripped of the only copy of your credit card, or even worse, your passport. Therefore, it is imperative that tourists are aware of the regularity of pick pocketing and do the best they can to avoid becoming a victim.

Unfortunately, pick-pocketers have mastered the tricks of the trade and have more than one trick up their sleeves. There are many approaches to pick-pocketing, so the best thing for you to do is to always be aware of your belongings and your surroundings. While I was abroad, I was extremely paranoid about pick-pocketers and always walked around with my hand on my satchel. Another satchel tip is to wear the satchel with the pockets facing inside, rather than the outside. This ensures people don’t have easy access to zippers or pockets. I know it may not be the most fashionable way to sport your satchel, but I promise it is worth it!

So, remember, pick-pocketers are everywhere and especially present in Europe! Be sure to pay close attention to your surroundings so that you don’t end up with empty pockets during your trip!

Check out the list below of the ten worst cities for pick-pocketers around the world before you embark on your next adventure!

1.     Barcelona, Spain

2.     Rome, Italy

3.     Prague, Czech Republic

4.     Madrid, Spain

5.     Paris, France

6.     Florence, Italy

7.     Buenos Aires, Argentina

8.     Amsterdam, Netherlands

9.     Athens, Greece

10. Hanoi, Vietnam

Credit or Debit

When traveling abroad, one of of the first things you'd obviously need is money. Without money, a traveler would not get very far. Whether it be cash, credit or debit, it's important for one to acknowledge travel safety. 

Almost all banks and credit card companies will deny spending if you do not alert them of your travel plans. The first step is calling the help number listed on the back of the card, or on the bank's website. They will direct you to the proper person to aid in keeping track of travel plans. For my bank, I had to call and list every destination I considered traveling to. They asked how many months I would be abroad and said if my card was used in any country besides my listed England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy, and Germany, that they would deny it. They also warned if it went missing or stolen to call their toll free international line to cancel the card. 

There is no excuse not to protect your money while abroad. Another tip is to not carry too much change on you. Whether it be euros, dollars, or pounds, the more you have on you, the more you have to potentially loose. Many people get pick-pocketed or their purse stolen. It's easy to deactivate cards, but that cash will never run back. 

To try and avoid pickpocketing it's a good idea to have a purse or clutch that zips, buttons or closes tight and to keep it close to your side, tucked under the arm. All these precautions will keep you, and your spending money safe. 

It would be easy for a trip to get ruined if you lost your money, it was stolen, or your cards do not work. So take these tips, alert your bank, carry small change, and have a reliable purse to keep close. With these money travel safety tips, it will be easy to protect your cash, debit, or credit, and have a great time abroad. 

All-inclusive or not?

Upon researching spring break destinations, you and your friends had a decision to make: Is it better to book an all-inclusive resort or a non-inclusive hotel?

However, I’m here to tell you the answer to your question is: it depends. If you are planning on traveling for spring break, your hotel/resort accommodations are most likely already booked (at least I hope so!) In that case, you have already made the decision whether or not to go for an all-inclusive resort, but I hope this tidbit of information will be helpful when planning your next beach getaway!

From personal experience, I have come up with four important factors to help you decide whether an all-inclusive resort or a non-inclusive hotel is right for you! 

#1: Budgeting

Personally, the money factor is always number one when planning a vacation because hey, I’m working on a college budget! If you are, like me, anxious and apprehensive every time you pull out money, an all-inclusive resort may be the way to go! After paying the all-inclusive lump sum, money won’t be a worry anymore. However, if you aren’t bothered by the amount of times you will need to pull out your wallet, then a non-inclusive hotel may be best because you will know exactly how much money you are spending and on what. This will ensure you aren’t overpaying for some things, which may happen at an all-inclusive resort.

#2: Food

At an all-inclusive resort, you have the ability to eat whenever and whatever you want without worrying about the price! The quality of the food, however, can’t be guaranteed and may vary from resort to resort. If you are interested in trying local restaurants, you might want to explore non-inclusive hotels. Since the food is included in the all-inclusive price, most people eat of all their meals at the resort.

#3: Alcohol

At most all-inclusive resorts, the sheer sign of a wristband will provide you with drinks at any time of the day. For those who hope to indulge in a large number of drinks during their stay, all-inclusive resorts may be much more affordable in terms of alcohol consumption. If alcohol isn’t a big part of your vacation, a non-inclusive hotel might be a cheaper option for you!

#4: Exploring

All-inclusive resorts are generally designed so that guests don’t have to leave the property during their stay. Some all-inclusive resorts aren’t even in a safe location for guests to leave the resort and explore. If you can’t seem to fathom the idea of staying in one location the entire vacation, then an all-inclusive resort may not be right for you. Non-inclusive hotels are generally better for those travelers who hope to do some exploring in the area!

All in all, these are four important factors to me, but there are many other factors to consider when deciding which type of resort/hotel will be best for you!

Happy and safe travels over spring break!!

Trying To Decide Which Study Abroad Program Is Right For You?

Choosing which study abroad program is right for you is often a very hard decision for students. Nearly all universities around the country offer various study abroad programs depending on your course of study. Many students take advantage of these amazing programs without exploring external study abroad programs. Often, students believe that class credits will not transfer to their home university, discouraging them from exploring the option of an external study abroad. Although I can’t make any promises, you would be surprised at how many universities are willing to work with you to transfer credits if you find a program not associated with your home campus. And remember, it never hurts to ask!

At my university, my major offers a fall, spring and summer study abroad program in London, England. However, before making the decision to study abroad through this program, I wanted to explore other study abroad options as well. I was hesitant about spending an entire semester in London because I had never traveled to Europe before and was afraid the program would limit my ability to travel. There are certainly many positives about choosing a program centralized in one place, but I was hoping to visit a multitude of cities and countries while I was across the pond.

The University of Virginia offers a study abroad program called Semester at Sea, which numerous family friends had recommended to me. I began researching the program and exploring the website to find out what Semester at Sea was all about. I was sold after learning that I would have the ability to visit at least 10 countries and 11 cities in just 66 days abroad. As a student, your home becomes a ship, which travels from country to country porting every few days in a new country. Classes are conducted while “at sea” on board the ship in rooms that have been renovated into classrooms. This program is extremely unique, allowing students to visit a vast amount of countries in a small period of time, unlike most study abroad programs that are focused in one place.

In the 66 days I spent abroad with Semester at Sea, I visited England, Morocco, Turkey, Greece, Malta, Italy, Crete, France, Spain and Portugal. I was also able to visit numerous cities in each of these countries. My experience through the Semester at Sea study abroad program was unforgettable and truly life changing. Of the 600 students, I was one of two students from my particular university, which granted me the opportunity to meet people and make friends from all over the country and even the world. I don’t believe I would’ve had the same opportunities if I had chosen to study abroad with a program through my university.

However, it is important to keep in mind, both internal and external study abroad programs have positive and negative elements. So, when it comes time for you to consider the option of studying abroad, I strongly encourage you to explore external study abroad programs, as well as internal programs, to ensure you pick the best program for you! Also, don’t forget to seek help from your university’s study abroad office if you ever have any questions or need advice!