How to Make the Most of Weekend Trips While Studying Abroad
Studying abroad is a great opportunity for college students to explore another part of the world. It’s awesome to get to know a new culture and a new way of life. While you are abroad, you can take advantage and visit other cities on the weekend. You can even take weekend trips to different places, so that you not only get to see the city your school is in but also explore other places.
So how can you make the most of these weekend trips while you study abroad?
Bring friends
There’s a reason they say “the more, the merrier.” Weekend fun trips are always more enjoyable when you have friends around to share it with. Round up a group of friends and plan your weekend trip together! Not only is going in a group more fun, but it is also safer. (Bonus points if you have a friend local to the country going on the trip with you!) Ask your friends to join you so you can all have an adventure together!
Visit local places
Of course, visiting tourist-y places is great. It is nice to see a famous site in a movie and remember when you saw it in person. But don’t count out visiting local places, either. Local places might be the cutest, best, most fun places you visit on your trip. This is another reason it’s a good idea to have a local friend join you on your trip. They can recommend nice places that you, as a guest, might not know about! So while you plan to visit tourist locations, don’t forget to visit local places, too.
Document it
One way to make your trip special is to document it. After all, you might never get the opportunity to study abroad again, so capture these special moments while you still can! Take pictures and vlog it. In a few years, you will be thankful you did.
But at the same time, don’t spend so much time documenting your trip that you forget to actually enjoy it in the moment. Find a balance between documenting your trip and living in the moment. (For example, only allow yourself to film or take pictures for a few minutes each day.) Striking a balance between documenting and enjoying your trip will make it much more enjoyable.
Make arrangements before you leave
Making arrangements before you leave means knowing how you will get to your destination, where you will stay while you are there, and how you will get back. Having these arrangements made ahead of time will save you money and the stress of being stranded in a strange city without a place to stay!
Don’t be afraid to meet people
Don’t be afraid to make new friends on your weekend trip! Take advantage of your new and exciting environment by talking to the locals. (Of course, stay safe while you make new friends! Use your common sense and trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. That goes for your entire time abroad.)
Studying abroad is a great opportunity to explore a new place. But don’t stay in the city your school is in! Branch out and explore new cities in the area. Have fun and stay safe while you are adventuring!