While studying abroad in Salamanca, it is inevitable that you will want to travel around Europe. Whether a full weekend getaway or a quick day trip, here are some tips to make sure you are successful and safe while visiting other countries!
- Get the Renfe Media Distancia pass!
If you are taking a plane to your destination (which you most likely will if you are traveling outside of Spain), you will always be flying out of the Madrid airport. It is about a two hour train ride to get from Salamanca to Madrid, and if you will be making this trip, I recommend purchasing this pass. It is about 80 euros (about $100), but it give you 10 trips (5 roundtrips) to get from Salamanca to Madrid or vis versa. I got to Salamanca in January, and it is now the beginning of April, and I just now have run out of passes. Train ticket costs begin to add up, and in my opinion this train pass gives you the most bang for your buck.
- Create a budget!
There are so many cool things you are going to want to experience while abroad, but you don’t want to run out of money while doing so. I recommend creating a comprehensive (and realistic) budget before you study abroad, so that when you get here you can have a good experience without worrying about how much you’re spending. Watch YouTube videos, ask your friends who have studied abroad, and consider how much you are willing to spend while abroad, and take that into account when creating your budget. And don’t be too hard on yourself if you go a little over budget every once in a while, (sometimes you really do need that pistachio croissant!)
- Travel in groups!
Always travel in a group! Not only is it the safest option, but it’s the cheapest. My abroad friend group is eight people, and this even, large number makes booking lodging really easy. Get used to staying in hostels, they are usually the cheapest option (and not nearly as bad as people may think they are!) Yes, they are sometimes small and fit eight beds in one room, but if you travel in a big enough group (four to eight people) you can book the entire room and basically have a sleepover with your friends every weekend.
- Get a good pair of walking shoes!
Sometimes the cutest option isn’t the best option. While in Europe, many of the countries you travel to will be extremely walkable. This is amazing, as it means that you are able to see a lot more of the city than you would have if you were driving. With this, it is important to have a good pair of shoes that can carry you throughout this unique journey. Invest in some! Your feet will thank you.
- ALWAYS remember your passport!
This might be the most important one. Even if you are traveling within the EU, never forget your passport when you are traveling outside of your study abroad country. Your U.S. drivers license is not valid abroad, so your passport operates as your form of ID. Take good care of it, and when you are not using it, make sure to keep it in a safe location.
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Kendall Johnson
I am Kendall Johnson and I am a junior Psychology major, Spanish minor from Narberth, PA. I dream of being a television producer one day like Shonda Rhimes. I am an avid reader, love watching films and TV, and spending time with my Pitbull Benson.
