Do as I say, not as I do...
While my travels may have been limited, I learned a lot about the do's and don'ts of hitting the road while studying abroad and driving the 19 hours it takes to get to New Jersey--the adventures I mention in my travels section.
I'm all for sharing the wealth, so hopefully after reading this section, you won't make the same mistakes I did.
The things I learned while traveling:
- Make arrangements before you leave:When I went to Berlin, my professor, John Freeman, booked all of our tours before we even landed on foreign soil. That was a big relief because when you're in a new place, you want to start experiencing everything right away instead of wasting time finding and planning tours.
- Read reviews: Maybe the reason you're hesitant to book activities before you get to your destination is because you want to scope out the scene for yourself. Well, lucky for you, there have been many-a-traveler before you at any destination you're planning on traveling to. Read online reviews of activities such as tours and museums so you can plan before you land!
- Don't go it alone: There are a few reasons for this tip. For one, safety. While in Berlin, one girl from our group decided to explore by herself. A few wrong turns later, she was stranded in a country with an unfamiliar language and wandering down streets that all started to look the same. Luckily we ran into her by chance, and together we all went back to the hotel. Aside from safety, it's more fun to travel with friends! I learned that last summer when I drove to New Jersey with my roommates.
- Become a tour guide: I've been visiting New Jersey my whole life. After you've been to a place so many times, it starts to lose its thrill. An excellent remedy for this is to bring along someone new to the destination. When I brought my roommates to New Jersey, feeling their excitment about being in a new place made me feel excited, too. It was as if I were experiencing everything for the first time again.
- Most importantly, stay positive: As fun as traveling can be, when things start going wrong (which they do), it's easy to let the stress of the situation get you down. It's hard, but keep smiling! Think of it as part of the adventure.