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Preparing for Departure
Travel Arrangements
Note: While on your program abroad or participating in program sponsored activities, you are expected to use program sponsored transportation and/or commercial transportation. Your insurance may not cover you if you rent a vehicle and have an accident.
Get a Good Guidebook
- Let’s Go - geared to student travel.
- Lonely
Planet - another great resource.
How Will I Communicate?
- E-mail - least expensive method
- SKYPE or similar computer based programs
- Cell phone rental or purchase on site
- Check online application for other phone options
Money
- Credit Cards: Call your credit card/debit card companies to authorize your accounts for use abroad. Be aware of the fess and restrictions that your company may incorporate.
- Use ATM’s: Check with your bank on fees and withdraw larger sums to avoid multiple transaction fees.
- Traveler's Checks: Not accepted in some places, difficult to cash, and subject to poor exchange rates; however, can be helpful in an emergency.
You may want to take a few along and keep them safely tucked away.
- Cash: Check with your faculty director or on-site director to find out which method is best for storing your cash and valuables. In general, do not walk around flaunting a lot of cash. They may advise you to leave most of your cash in your room to minimize risk of loss.
- Special note on eating out: restaurants are not likely to offer separate checks or to split up checks when you are with a group and having cash will be important.
- Budget your money: Know what you can afford to spend and have a back-up plan in case of emergencies. Your faculty member or program representative is not your bank.
Packing
As a rule, lay out clothing you think you need, and then put half back. Here’s a short list of some suggested items:
- A travel alarm clock or watch
- Two pair of shoes, one for walking and one for dressier occasions
- Pair of jeans to wear with several shirts and sweaters
- Appropriate dress for the venues you will be visiting
- Bathing suit
- Batteries, Calculator
- Books to read during spare time
- Camera and film/storage cards
- Family photos/email addresses
- Check
U.S. Department of State website - for more tips
Check with your airline for baggage weight restrictions – going over can be costly. Also, you may have to carry your own luggage.
What to leave at home
- Expensive or heirloom jewelry
- Bulky clothing, new shoes, high heels (cobblestone streets)
- Checkbook, membership cards, credit cards you won’t use abroad.
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