© Maria Schwartzman 2009

I have traveled to 6 different countries (will be 7 within the next 20 hours) and over a lot of the United States, so I thought I would share some travel tips I’ve gained over the years.

•  Pack light.  You really don’t need the blow dryer and curling iron. Honestly, though, I pack a minimum number of clothes and accessories so that my suitcase is about half empty. I tend to buy a lot of souvenirs (including shirts, jewelry, etc) that I can wear and use on the trip. And by only packing half a suitcase I have plenty of room to bring everything home!
• Remember to bring your student ID. Either bring the one from your college or university, or get an International ID. You can get big discounts if you show your ID.
• Take your camera and plenty of storage space. I end up taking my computer too so that I can download my photos and, if I’m lucky, upload them to the web as soon as it happens.
• Bring an extra bag. I keep an extra carry on sized bag in my checked suitcase for the return trip home. (I really like souvenirs.) Usually you’re allowed two carry on bags, so my extra bag is considered my “personal” bag.
• If you wear glasses or contacts, bring an extra pair. You never know when you’ll lose or break something.
• Bring snacks for the plane. Depending on how long your flight is, you might get hungry and they might not feed you anything! Being hungry is one of the worst parts about traveling, especially if you can’t find a place to eat (or it’s super expensive).
• Go with the flow, and have fun. You’ll enjoy the trip more if you’re not stressed out.

Last but not least, enjoy the trip and have a great time!

Feel free to leave any other tips in the comments!

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