Are you thinking of travelling over the summer? Whether you are taking part in study abroad, travelling for work, or just fancy a holiday, we asked our well-travelled Study Abroad Team for their top 10 tips to help you along the way:
Nia, Study Abroad Manager (Outbound): There are loads of tips to make your summer travel brilliant, but here are a couple of things to sort out in advance…
- Make sure you have a comfortable pair of shoes – it is inevitable that you’ll get lost a few times.
- Take a photocopy of your passport and keep it in a different place to your passport – just in case!
Rich, Deputy Head of Study Abroad: You can pack a lot into a summer of travel, but here are my top tips to make sure you don’t get overwhelmed with all that choice…
- Pinpoint somewhere to finish. If you know where you need to catch your flight home from or where you’re going to start on your exchange, then it can help you to make a logical itinerary.
- Avoid the popular hot spots. It seems obvious, but if everyone is heading to the same spots for summer, maybe this is the time to check out those less crowded colder destinations or less well travelled spots.
Aimee, Study Abroad Co-ordinator (Inbound): Making sure you don’t get caught out unexpectedly on your summer travels just takes a little bit of planning…
- Don’t pack too much stuff! Most things you need will be available where you are travelling. If you have a brand preference or are planning to travel in very rural areas, you might want to think about taking some toiletry essentials along with you.
- Take a notebook and record important information such as the name of your hotel/hostel and the address just in case your phone dies or you have no signal/data when arriving at your destination or when you’re out exploring for the day.
Niall, Study Abroad Co-ordinator (Marketing & Events): Get out of your comfort zone and take every opportunity that arises. The best stories often come from spontaneity…
- Immerse yourself in local culture. Whether it’s trying local cuisine, listening to local music or learning about the history of your destination, immersing yourself in local culture will make the experience more rewarding. You never know, you could even discover a new interest or a skill that you never knew you had!
- Try and learn the local language. Even brushing up on the basics can go a long way – and will be appreciated by the locals.
Rachel, Study Abroad Assistant: Once you’re abroad, don’t forget to share your experiences to inspire others (and buy a plug!)…
- Record your experiences in a way that works for you – whether on Instagram, a blog or a travel diary. Why not share your photos with us at @livunistudyabroad or see our Study Abroad blog for inspiration from other study abroad students. You will never regret recording your experiences and will have memories to look back on for a lifetime.
- Make sure you check the type of plug you need and that your electronics will work!
Other useful things to consider:
- Note down the contact details of your Embassy in the country you are travelling to before you go – your Embassy can help you if you lose your passport, are a victim of crime or face other difficulties while you are abroad.
- Check the UK foreign travel advice website for helpful information about the country you are travelling to.
- Check what vaccines you need in good time before you travel – some vaccines will need to be administered weeks or even months in advance of travel to be effective so make sure you check with your GP or contact Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine for assessment well in advance.
- Check customs rules for the country you’re planning to visit – some countries will only allow you to bring in cash under a certain value and most ban visitors from bringing in certain foods and plants, so it is best to check before you travel.
- Make your own personalised Google map to save places you want to visit. You can then save the map offline to be able to find your way even when you don’t have mobile data. Or, even better, use a paper map and ask a friendly local for directions if you get stuck.
- Pack a padlock and lock away your valuables, passport and a spare credit card in a locker or safe so that you can go out and explore worry-free.
If your travels this summer inspire some serious wanderlust, why not check out our amazing study abroad opportunities when you get back to campus! Depending on your degree and your year of study, you could find yourself spending next summer at one of our partner universities or even taking part in an amazing year in China!
However you choose to spend the summer, have a great time!