Overall Abroad Tips

Helpful Hints on a Semester Abroad

*I'll continually update throughout the semester :)

Things to bring:

• Laundry bag 
• Medicine
• At least in Spain, you have to have a prescription for almost everything, which requires you to visit a doctor at a hospital (not fun). So bring everything you think you may need (advil, allergy medication, ect.)
• Small duffels & a carryon bag for weekend trips
• Get a card that has the “tap” function or use Apple Pay
• Consider getting a card that has no foreign transaction fees
• Long coats (trench coat)
• Anything from Zara
• Water bottle
• Camera if you have one
• Vaccine card & masks
• UK / EU / USA / AUS adapter
• Here's the one I have: https://www.amazon.com/EPICKA-Universal-Travel-Adapter-Power/dp/B07K66SY7M/ref=sr_1_3?crid=5CP0IKD3TNKY&keywords=universal%2Badapter%2Bepicka&qid=1645472844&sprefix=universal%2Badapter%2Bepik%2Caps%2C147&sr=8-3&th=1
• Portable charger
• Ski clothes if you plan to go skiing (which I 100% recommend)

Things NOT to bring:

• A lot of loungewear
• "Jeans" is about the most casual Europeans get...only wear your workout clothes & sweatpants when you are actually working out

Apps to download before you leave:

• Currency Exchange
• City Mapper — great for navigating big cities & using metro systems
• Apple Maps works too, but sometimes I think City Mapper is more accurate with arrival times of metros
• Uber (if you don't already have it)
• Omio — the best way to book buses & trains
• Rome2Rio — helpful to see the best modes of transportation between cities or countries

Travel tips:

• Always try to stay within walking distance of the night life of a city (if you’re looking for that kind of trip)
• Overall reduces the cost & stress of the trip so you're not worried about Ubering or calling a taxi late at night
• Get to train stations at least 30 mins before departure
• Get to the airport around 1.5 hours before boarding time
• Always ask your AirBnb host when the earliest time you can drop off your bags is
• If you can’t drop them off before the stated check-in time, ask them if they have recommendations for the best place to store your luggage
• Most of the time, it would be a train station or possibly a local hotel
• When booking flights....
• “Handbag” = a backpack / tote / anything that can fit in the seat in front of you
• “Cabin bag” = carryon (almost always for additional fee)
• “Hold bag” = checked bag (always or additional fee)
• Roll your clothes to help with space
• Try to book trips 2 weeks in advance to avoid price increases
• Go ahead and book trips that are on the top of your bucket-list, then work in other places around it
• SPEND WEEKENDS IN THE CITY YOU ARE STUDYING IN!!! or at least in the country you are studying in
• Overall, most people agree that traveling around half of the weekends is best
• Airlines like EasyJet and Iberia won't release your gate number until around 30 minutes before your boarding time (so just continue to check the updated gate TV screens)

Miscellaneous: 

• Most restaurants don't like to split the check, so usually one person pays then you need to Venmo each other
• Use Currency Exchange (euros to dollars) and always be sure to add the local tax too
• You don't have to tip at restaurants! Maybe 1 or 2 euros max if you really enjoyed your dinner
• ADJUSTING TO A NEW COUNTRY IS EMOTIONAL AND THIS IS NORMAL
• It's hard getting used to a new culture & most people experience anxiousness, sadness, loneliness & are extremely tired. It is 100% normal & it will eventually get better:)