Travel Gadgets to Take Abroad

You’re getting ready for that big trip abroad. With all those airline regulations, the cost of extra bags, the temptations of lugging more rather less, planning can be daunting.      

Packing for international travel requires careful thought. You need to take the necessities but you also want some comfort items. Suppose there were some gadgets on the market that could serve both need and comfort? Might that ease the planning stress syndrome?

Clothes, shoes and toothbrush aside, what does everybody take on their trip abroad? Hint: Something to help them share the trip’s memories with family and friends. That’s right, a camera. Certainly cellphones are good in a pinch, but for those special moments, you want a decent piece of equipment to capture what most cell phones miss - details:

Crowd Funding Your Trip

Traveling can be very expensive. In some cases, depending on where you decide to go, you can easily spend over a thousand dollars on transportation, entry fees, and visas before you even set foot in another country.

For many aspiring travelers, financial limitations are a seemingly insurmountable obstacle to overcome in order to realize their travel ambitions. But thanks to people’s generosity and the increasing popularity of crowd funding, those dreams are able to become reality.

Crowd funding has been around for centuries, but its essentially an effort to raise a funds for a project or endeavor by collecting money from a large group of people, typically from the Internet, according to Forbes Magazine.

Using Foursquare Abroad

To say Foursquare is a popular app is an understatement. Within three years, it has grown to a community of 25 million registered users worldwide. Due to its popularity and breadth, the location-based app is filled with countless check-ins, specials and tips. While checking in may be second nature to you here in the United States, you may not expect to get much mileage — if any at all — with the app when you’re studying abroad.

But you’d be wrong! Aside from the obvious badges and mayorships, Foursquare can actually be useful during your time abroad, for obvious reasons and some not so much. Here are five ways in which Foursquare can enhance your study abroad:

How I Struggled With the Decision to Travel Abroad

If you’re a college student considering a travel abroad program, I strongly encourage you to sign up for it.

I can tell you from personal experience that traveling abroad—especially during your college years—can be one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever have. During my tenure as an undergraduate I traveled to several countries in Western Europe, an amazingly eye-opening time that helped make me the person I am today. I learned to appreciate different cultures and peoples, I learned a heck of a lot about myself, and I made some of the best friends of my life.

And to think that such a transformative moment in my youth almost never happened.

5 Ways to Travel Cheaply

Whether you are travelling aboard or domestically, travelling is expensive. It is a luxury for those who are able to afford it, but there are 5 ways that you can cut down the cost before you hit your next destination. 

Timing: Consider the location that you want to visit and find out when their off season is. An off season is typically a time period where the destination doesn’t see a lot of travel and money coming in. A lot of different destinations try to keep travel going through these times to bring more money into their economy, so costs are dropped considerably. Tropical destinations tend to be slower during their ‘cooler’ months and cooler places like Colorado, typically offer discounts during the summers. 

5 Things You Should Know Before You Board

Traveling isn’t always easy, especially if you plan on going abroad. There are all sorts of odds and ends to check before you head over. Here are 5 things you should take notes on before you get to your destination.

Weather: Check the weather. Believe it or not, a lot of travelers forge to check the weather, which makes packing interesting. Check the forecast for your time you will be there and pack accordingly. Remember if you forget something not to panic, that most places you will head too will have some sort of market or store you can get that missed item. 

Tips for Daily Living in a Foreign Country

After you’ve gotten your tickets, packed your bags and leased your foreign apartment; you may be surprised to find the little things in life may be more complicated than advanced grammar. 

Grocery Shopping

You will soon discover that the student budget doesn’t cover dining out for every meal and a trip to the grocery will be in order. Many countries have street markets, like Rome’s Campo dei Fiori. The market is a perfect place to practice your communication skills as you haggle price and discover new foods. Bring cash and a sturdy bag to carry your goods. 

Walking down the aisle of a foreign grocery store is an interactive vocabulary lesson, but it could present cultural challenges as well. Some grocery stores require communication over deli counters, and you may also may be required to weigh and price your produce selection.