Traveling While Abroad, It’s Pretty Easy!

by Jayden Weavil, who studied abroad in Rome, Italy in Spring 2025.

When studying abroad, one of the biggest opportunities students want to take advantage of is traveling, and often students might not know where to start. While abroad you have the opportunity to explore the country you are studying in, or other countries nearby! There could be different reasons for you to get away for a weekend. Maybe a significant cultural site in a nearby town, historical monuments you have only read about, there could even be works of architecture in a nearby country that spark your interest, or maybe you want to take a weekend to relax on a
beach in Greece! While all these options might sound overwhelming to plan and execute, I am here to tell you it is all possible and in fact, traveling can be extremely easy while abroad.

However before packing your backpack with the essentials you need to explore during a weekend, it is important to note you are still a student while abroad and classes will not stop or slow down. So before you rush off to a nearby city, or country, it is important to stay caught up in
your classes or even get ahead so you are not having to stress about assignments or school work during your weekend away.

When preparing to travel to a nearby city or country it is important to have a good understanding of how to get around within the city you are studying in. Having a good understanding of the transportation available to you will make your semester a lot easier and
less stressful. Questions you can ask yourself are, “are there taxis or ubers?” and “are there public buses or a metro, when do they run?”. Be mindful of public transportation however, make sure you have an official transit pass. Often most forms of public transportation are connected,
so only one pass is required. Cities can also have different lengths of transit passes, from one-time passes, to a few days, and even a month. If you feel you are going to be utilizing public transportation often I recommend the monthly pass, if not keeping a few one-time passes
handy is always a good idea if you are in a pinch. Understanding the transportation within your city is important when you need to get to an airport or a train station, which could be located outside the city center. Within Rome (where I studied abroad) I found a bus line that took me all
the way from my apartment, to the Rome Train Station which was located within the city center. From the train station I could catch an express line that would take me to the Rome Airport which was nowhere near the city center. I also had the option to take a taxi or uber to the airport
if I was in a pinch, however this option was much more expensive. While you are living in your city you will find a preferred method of transportation that works well for you, and will likely master it within the first few weeks.

Now that you have mastered getting around the city you are based out of, it’s time to look at your calendar and see which weekends would be best to travel. My program, “Architecture Semester in Rome” outlined several weekends we were not allowed to travel due to project deadlines and trips we would be taking as a class. This is a great place to start, however if your program does not have set “no-travel” weekends, then looking ahead at your class schedule would be another great start. During my semester abroad I found earlier weekends in my program were a better option to travel due to course loads and this might be the same for you. Besides, you will have your entire semester to explore the city you are studying in, so get out there and check out places that might interest you early on, especially if it is the low tourist season. Once you find a weekend to travel it is time to look at how you will be getting to your destination, will it be by bus, train, or a plane. I recommend looking at how far each journey would be, and how long you would be willing to physically travel. If the cities you are going to are within the country you are in, then trains will be your best bet, especially if there is a high speed train available. If you are planning on traveling to another country then taking a plane could be a better option. At the end of the day it is good to have a list of options and select your method of transportation based on personal preference.

Now that we have the physical aspect of traveling covered you will need a place to stay during your trip. While the thought of getting an AirBNB for a weekend is tempting, they can be costly for just the short amount of time you will be staying there. I recommend finding a hostel to
stay in which can be very convenient for short stays. Hostels are a little different then hotels because they cater more to young travelers and have all the amenities needed for one or two nights. One of the main differences with hostels are the room types you can choose from. While
most hostels have private rooms for you and some of your friends, they also have dorm rooms you can stay in with other travelers. While it can be scary staying with random people, you have the opportunity to meet others just like you, who love traveling and exploring new places. Dorm
rooms can also be cheaper than private rooms if you are looking to save a buck or two. Another great amenity most hostels provide is luggage storage, if you are not able to check in right away then you can store your bags and get out and explore. Lastly hostels are a great choice in
housing because they are likely within the city center and are walking distance to many parts of the city you are in.

Looking back at our checklist we just about have every aspect of traveling covered, except what you are going to pack. While traveling over the weekends it is important to pack light. You will more than likely only be staying somewhere for one to two nights (maybe more if
you are lucky enough to have a spring break in your program). With this in mind I highly recommend traveling with just a backpack. A few changes of clothes might be all you need and traveling with a suitcase can be restrictive. Be sure to check with your housing accommodations
to see what you might need to bring, will there be basic toiletries provided, towels, etc. Also be sure to check what you are allowed to have while traveling by train or plane. Does your ticket include a backpack and a carry-on, or just a backpack? You will need to keep all these things in
your mind when booking travel so you are not caught off guard. I know all this information might be a lot so I will end this blog with some last bits of personal experiences I have acquired while traveling within Italy. When it comes to traveling in Italy and most of Europe, I have found the train system to be a very useful tool when getting from place to place. I have opted to use trains for a multitude of reasons. Many cities within
Europe are accessible by high speed trains. Train stations are also extremely convenient, located within city centers, and easy to navigate. Booking a train ticket is pretty similar to booking a flight. You input your destination, select your seat and that’s it! Boarding trains is also
very easy, you simply present your ticket to get onto the platform, find your train, and hop on. All stations will have “departures” listed as well as the train number and destination. When finding the train be sure to look for the train number, instead of the destination, most trains run through
many stops so your destination might be one of the stops on its way to its final destination. You also want to make sure you are on the right train because conductors will not check your ticket until you are already in route, so be sure you do not hop on the wrong train. Even though the
thought of getting on the wrong train is daunting, I have found that using trains is a lot less stressful than flying and a lot more convenient.

I hope this has been helpful for anyone looking to study abroad and has gotten anyone already set on a program excited about traveling and exploring the world. These lessons have certainly made me more confident when it comes to traveling and exploring, especially as
someone who has not traveled much outside of the United States. So get out there and explore, make the most out of your time abroad and see something new!