Last Updated on October 5, 2023 by AIFS Abroad Customized Faculty-Led
Planning a weekend trip but don’t know where to start? Here are six things to look into before you depart.
1. Where do you want to go?
Once you’re in Europe it’s easy to travel around. Sometimes it’s too easy making it hard to decide where you want to go. When looking at locations, take the time of year into account. Some places can be cold during the winter and others hot. Seasons also dictate if shops will be open or not. Often times, in European countries, shops will close or be open less hours during off-peak or less touristy seasons.
2. How to get there?
Now that you have a place in mind it’s time to look into how to get there. Plane? Bus? Train? The best way to find cheap tickets is to completely clear your cookies on your computer. After you do this, ticket prices should be cheaper because there is no history on you searching for particular flights. In addition, also look for tickets on different websites. Some examples are GoEuro and Skyscanner.
TIP: Start planning early so you have time to look into all of your options and make arrangements.
3. Where to stay?
Hostels are a young travelers best friend. Hostels is the best way to stay close to the city without having to pay an arm and a leg. Hostels are also a great way to get recommendations from locals who work there. If you are traveling with a bigger group, think about booking an airBNB. Sometimes renting a whole house can be cheaper that individually staying in a hostel.
4. What to do?
If you’re staying in a different city for a weekend it can be difficult to try to plan what you want to do. Start with your must sees/ bucket list then if you have time you can add extra places. Make sure you have enough time to see everything.
5. Where to eat?
Often times restaurants in the center of a city or tourist area are a lot more expensive. Don’t be afraid to leave the radius of the city. You might encounter better and less expensive food.
6. How to get around?
Public transportation is your best friend. Most cities have weekend passes for you to purchase to use public transportation. Other cities, such as Paris, have booklets with tickets that you can use at anytime. Uber, during off peak times, can be an easy way to travel too.
Elizabeth Soto is a Student Ambassador and Student Blogger who is studying abroad this Fall on an AIFS Customized Faculty-Led program in London, England through the Southern California Foothills Consortium.
