Prepping for International Travel

Where did the time go?! I feel like I’m always asking this, but with only a month and a half left until I leave to explore Europe on my own, I have been repeating this over and over again

Prep for the trip has been happening since I decided to go, but it is especially getting to crunch time now on my itinerary and travel plans. Here’s some of the prep I’ve been doing; as advice for fellow travelers jumping out of their comfort zone and for my own insurance to stop procrastinating!

Flights

I booked my flights way in advance! Pro tip: the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (dubbed “Travel Tuesday”) is stock full of travel deals and percentages off of flights. I booked flights to and from Europe then, and not only did it save me money but it really helped with my planning. 

Knowing in advance exactly which dates to plan between makes the decision making process that much easier when it comes to my day-to-day itinerary. It also prevents me from the ever present thought of “maybe I’ll stay”... I do need to come back to finish my degree. 

Itineraries (with prices!)

I currently have two documents in progress, a solidified itinerary and a “rough plan” doc. On the solidified itinerary are my exact dates and must-do plans, while the “rough plan” is filled with ideas and recommendations I have collected for each city and town I am visiting. Not only does this help me plan ahead when meeting up with family and friends, but it makes my trip a lot less up in the air. I didn’t want to pay the extra fees for a booking service to plan the trip for me, so I am essentially acting as my own travel agent and giving myself all the resources a travel agent would provide! 

I also priced out each hostel stay, ticket, train ride and flight on my itinerary and rough plan. This gives me a good idea of a grand total for the trip, and I can start budgeting for it now! Being able to add up the total cost gives me a savings goal to aim for by the time I leave for the summer, and also lets me know where my finances will be sitting when I return. Much less to stress about in the future! 

Pre-Europe to-dos 

I also have together a list of things I need to do before I leave the country. I hope to book at least most of my transportation, hostels and tickets in advance so as to save on last-minute increased prices. By having a list of what to get done before I board that first flight, I know that there isn’t a risk of ending up stranded in a city where I don’t speak the language! 

Additionally, I have a list of all of the outside-of-travel things to get taken care of before I leave. I always like to leave my apartment spotless when I go on a trip, even a long weekend, so that I come back to a place to relax with no chores resting on my head. I know I’ll be moving right after I get back (with a possible short stay in Vegas, I fly into there late at night and might take the weekend to relax with friends first), so having most of my belongings already boxed up and ready to move is a goal of mine. 

Personal care

Of course I am going to Europe for the adventure, but who doesn’t like to look their best? I am making sure to book out appointments in advance as well as run through my wishlist of products I need to refresh before I begin packing. 

For instance, I’ll be getting my hair retouched right before leaving so as to avoid trying to communicate the parameters of a fresh haircut to a stylist in a foreign language. I already have a hard time trusting stylists that I can fully communicate with!

I’ll also be getting acrylic nails filled right before I leave. I am a lover of press-on nails, but they tend to only last a week or two, and I don’t know how prevalent finding a new set will be in Europe. Taking some with me is extra baggage room that I don’t need filled! Instead, I’m opting for acrylics in the hope that a month and a half won’t be too long to go without a fill, or that I can find a few salons across the major cities. I just don’t feel like myself without nails done! 

Packing wish list

I am not a fan of buying a whole new wardrobe for every vacation. You should always have in your closet what makes you feel best, and if it works as intended there is no need to change it that much! However, there are a few things I know I would like to source before heading to Europe.

I am in search of a comfortable pair of linen pants for the coastal cities especially! I know buying a new pair will be an investment that I am going to wear for years, not just a trendy piece for a picture. My go-to pants currently are jeans, which not only feels a little too American for a few of my destinations, but also promise to be way too hot to wear comfortably in the south European summer months. 

I’m also in search of a pair of walking sneakers that match well with my style and will prove comfortable for the whole trip. I think I found a good pair, and you should check out my TikTok for more information on what I’m starting to pack! 

Journaling 

Finally, I’m not neglecting myself for this trip. It isn’t just about seeing cool things and checking off a bucket list item, it is also about connecting with myself. I’ve been calling my plan my “Eat, Pray, Love” trip, and I want that to hold true. I have been working in my journal and in my therapy sessions to really figure out what I want to experience and learn about myself from being in a foreign place (of my dreams!) all alone. 

Travel is an important way to connect with yourself, and in a world where most information is straight at our fingertips, experiencing something new isn’t done as often. I am excited to discover more about how I learn, and find more to love about the world!