Written by: Caitlin Moore, Study Abroad Advisor and Communications Manager<\/p>\n
Before You Go<\/b><\/p>\n
You use it every day and rarely think about it, but now you\u2019ll have to make a plan in advance! Read <\/span>this article <\/span><\/a>to learn more about what to do with your <\/span>cell phone<\/b> before you leave to go abroad and while you\u2019re there to ensure you have the best service possible!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n How to Avoid International Roaming Charges on your iPhone<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Financials Abroad<\/b><\/p>\n Money on the mind? Don\u2019t worry, there are some great resources to help you navigate a new financial system while abroad.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Best Credit Cards for Studying Abroad: Stay Safe and Save Money<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Managing Money Abroad<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Booking a Flight<\/b><\/p>\n Booking a flight abroad can make even the most experienced traveler a bit nervous. Luckily for you, there are some great resources that can help you make the most informed decision possible for your study abroad experience.<\/span><\/p>\n 8 Ways to Snag Cheap Study Abroad Flights<\/span><\/a>– article<\/span><\/p>\n Hopper<\/span><\/a> is a way to track flights and predict when they\u2019ll go on sale and how much you can save. You can use it to sign up for alerts.<\/span> *It\u2019s always best to book directly through the airline\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n STA Travel<\/span><\/a> is a site specifically for student travelers. Discounts you\u2019ll find here are not available to anyone but students! STA Travel also offers flexibility in payments- you may be able to make payments instead of paying all at once.<\/span><\/p>\n Skyscanner<\/span><\/a> has some helpful search functions and criteria. Once you\u2019ve found a good flight, it\u2019s always best to book it directly through the provider you\u2019re going with. Skyscanner typically redirects you to the airline itself, which is what you want. Watch out for redirects to third-party sites that book the flight on your behalf. You may not be as protected in the event of a flight cancellation or other issue if you book through those sites.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Public Transportation<\/b><\/p>\n If you\u2019re not accustomed to navigating public transportation, no worries- many other students are in the same boat as you. And although it may be a bit intimidating and everyone is bound to make a couple of mistakes, public transportation is often the most time and cost-effective way to get around major cities while abroad. At first, it may seem overwhelming or even impossible to navigate, but eventually it may become one of your favorite things about your study abroad location!<\/span><\/p>\n The bare bones explanation of how to use public transportation:<\/b><\/p>\n How to Navigate a Subway Map<\/span><\/a>– video (this video provides a helpful overview to public transportation beginners.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n *Although this video is used to describe how to navigate a subway map, it can be applied to any form of public transportation, including trains, metros, buses, and trams in any location.<\/span><\/p>\n *Subway, metro, and tube can be used interchangeably to describe a mostly underground train system<\/span><\/p>\n After you\u2019ve watched the above video for a bare bones explanation of how to use public transportation, these resources may be helpful to answer additional questions:<\/b><\/p>\n *The following resources are helpful to students going to any study abroad destination and using most forms of public transportation*<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n How to Use the Metro in Paris & Best Apps for Paris Metro Maps<\/span><\/a>– video<\/span><\/p>\n Navigating Metro Stations<\/span><\/a>– article<\/span><\/p>\n Rick Steves\u2019 City Transit Tips<\/span><\/a>– article<\/span><\/p>\n A Beginner\u2019s Guide on How to Navigate a Metro System<\/span><\/a>– article<\/span><\/p>\n How to Use the Bus and Metro in Barcelona<\/span><\/a>– video<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n During Your Semester Abroad<\/b><\/p>\n Traveling throughout your host country or to other nearby countries: One <\/span>Skyscanner<\/span><\/a> hack is instead of flying in and out of the same location, look at the \u201cMulti-city\u201d function to see which places you can fly back from. Book your travel plans by choosing the cheaper option (if you\u2019re going to Germany and Norway, maybe it\u2019s cheaper to fly to Norway first and fly back from Germany than vice versa.) Skyscanner also allows you to look at the whole month of costs instead of just a specific date, so if you\u2019re flexible, you can really book a bargain!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another travel tip is to travel light (sometimes you can even take a \u201cpersonal item\u201d backpack instead of paying for a carry-on. If, however, you do take a carry on or larger luggage but want somewhere to store your things so you can explore before you\u2019re able check into your hostel\/Airbnb\/hotel, use <\/span>NannyBag<\/span><\/a> or its equivalent at your travel destination to store your luggage!<\/span><\/p>\n Take the time to learn some <\/span>travel hacks<\/span><\/a>!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Written by: Caitlin Moore, Study Abroad Advisor and Communications Manager Before You Go You use it every day and rarely think about it, but now you\u2019ll have to make a plan in advance! Read this article to learn more about … Continue reading