European Travel on a Budget

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 12:47:01 +0000

My brother-in-law, Josh, is preparing for a study abroad semester in Italy, and he asked if I’d share some insight into traveling Europe on a limited budget. Whether you’re studying abroad like Josh, or simply working with a tight budget, there are tons of ways to see Europe while making the most of your greenbacks! Low Season Travel. If possible try to plan your trip during your destination’s low season as not only will your lodging be more affordable, but you’ll bypass the crowds and enjoy a more authentic experience. Europe’s low season is usually October-March, but there are a few exceptions, so do some research. Free with student ID! If you’re studying abroad or taking a trip abroad while in college, don’t forget your college ID. Most State Museums are free to students in Paris & London, and I bet they’re free in other cities as well. Many national landmarks are free for everyone (for example the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Borghese Gardens, etc. in Rome are all free), so stick to the free landmarks, and you can get by pretty inexpensively exploring your chosen city, leaving your major costs to be lodging and transportation. Eat cheaply by buying food from street vendors (rather than eating at sit-down restaurants). Baguette […]

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Travel’s Eve

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 01 May 2014 12:50:30 +0000

It’s hard to believe we leave for Paris tomorrow. Eeek! From the day I stepped off the plane 8 years ago, post-return flight home from a 6 months study abroad in London, I’ve been yearning to go back. It’s true what they say about how travel changes you. It opens your eyes to the beauty and adventure that’s out there in this big world, sometimes forcing you out of your comfort zone and helping you celebrate new experiences and differences in people, scenery, food, and ways of life. When I arrived back home in 2006 I had a new view, a different, richer lens in which I saw my “everyday,” noticing things I’d become immune to, and appreciating them in a new light. My time in London (and Europe) shaped my daily American life, and I took comfort in my fantastic memories knowing I wouldn’t be back for awhile. 8 years later, and I’m ready and hungry for this trip more than ever; I’m a different person than I was at 20 years old. I’ve begun to grown into myself, and I know who I am so much more than at 20 when (as I look back) I was really struggling to figure out who I was as a woman. And so I […]

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European Travel on a Budget

Travel’s Eve