Why It's Worth It To Get Up Early When You Travel

This article was originally published at College Tourist. Click here to read the full article!

When you travel somewhere new, it’s easy to just want to sleep in a few extra hours and lounge in your bed before taking on a new city. Though there are a number of advantages to waking up early when you travel – here are five of them:

1. Banish jet lag faster

If you have a nasty change in time zones, it’s tempting to keep hitting snooze on your alarm, but if you force yourself to get up and outside, your body will start to adjust from being out in the sunlight. The faster you beat jet lag, the more time you spend enjoying your destination overall.

2. Enjoy a longer and more leisurely breakfast

Getting up earlier gives you more time to sit down and enjoy a meal without the stress of being in a rush to get somewhere on time. Why eat the leftover pretzels from the airplane as you head out the door when you can eat what the locals do instead – and have time to enjoy it?

Click here to read the rest of the list!

How To Pack For 2 Weeks With Just a Carry-On

I was recently in Europe for about 2.5 weeks (18 days). While the first few days in Paris were just for fun (and my first solo travel experience), I then went to Vienna, Prague, and Berlin for a work trip. I needed to pack both work and casual clothes, my shoes, toiletries, makeup, laptop, and camera, and leave a little room for souvenirs.

Checking a large bag is a hassle, plus it's heavy to drag through the airport. Also, a multi-country trip means a lot of transportation, and a large bag is just annoying to pack and re-pack. Therefore, I packed for my whole two and a half weeks with just a carry-on, and want to show you that you can too!

First off, my carry-on is the largest size for standard American flights. Since all my flights allowed for one free checked bag up to 50 lbs, my carry-on easily fit the size and weight requirements to check it.

I didn't have to check my carry-on, but going hands-free through the airport is so nice. All I had to hang onto was my Longchamp. Since I was traveling by myself, this made things like going to the bathroom or buying food at a crowded kiosk much easier since I didn't have to lug a roller bag around the airport.

How did I do it?

Space Bags

Once I started using Space Bags, I can't believe I traveled for so many years without them. They come in a number of sizes, and I was able to fit two carry-on sized Space Bags into my suitcase. You can find them at Target or similar stores!

Roll your clothes

Even with the Space Bags, I still rolled all my clothes. Rolling clothes takes up the least amount of space. If your clothes are wrinkled once you get there, use the hotel iron. No iron? Hang your clothes in the bathroom while you're showering to steam out the wrinkles.

Travel sized toiletries

I used to always bring my big toothpaste tube with me on trips. I don't know why I did that, because I had a number of random mini tubes I got for free from the dentist over the years. Two mini tubes of toothpaste lasted my whole 2.5 weeks, and I just threw them away before I left. I did the same with my mini shampoo bottle, body wash, etc.

Be realistic about what you'll actually wear

I brought four pairs of shoes: 2 pairs of flats, 1 pair of boat shoes, and 1 pair of sandals. I love heels, but knew that with the cobblestone streets + jet lag + hours of walking, I wouldn't wear them. So I didn't bring heels. I also exercise every day at home, but was about to be working 15 hour days for the majority of my trip, which left very little time for exercise. So I didn't bring athletic shoes or gym clothes.

There you have it! How I was able to fit everything I needed for 2 weeks into carry-on. Have more tips? Leave 'em in the comments!

8 Essential Steps To Planning a Trip Abroad

hotel athenee view

Planning an international trip can seem like a daunting process. There is a lot of preparation and planning involved, but if you break it up and take it step by step it becomes easier to handle (and to not procrastinate).

1. Get a passport.

Because you can't go anywhere outside your country without one. Get one as early as possible too - sometimes getting a passport can take months.

2. Decide exactly where you want to go.

If you think, "I want to go to Asia this winter," it'll probably take you longer to plan your trip because you don't know exactly where in Asia you want to go. And there are a lot of countries in Asia. Do you want to take a big trip to China? Thailand? The Philippines? Central Asia (all the 'stans)? This is a good time to set a "SMART" goal for your trip.

3. Book your flights (or whatever transportation you're using).

Do this early instead of waiting 'till the last minute and paying double the amount (I know this from experience, unfortunately...).

4. Do some research on where you're going.

Read blogs, look at TripAdvisor, Yelp, etc. To be completely honest, I learned a TON of tips and tricks from blogs, TripAdvisor, and Yelp - more than I did from guidebooks. Though I wouldn't completely rule out guidebooks. They can be helpful too, as long as you read updated versions.

5. Book your accommodations.

Or be spontaneous and do it while you're there. Though if you do book it once you arrive, make sure there will be accommodation available (for example, many hotels and hostels are already sold out for Oktoberfest 2014 in Munich, since it's a huge event. Also, consider holidays as well).

Again, TripAdvisor is a great review resource for finding good accommodations.

6. Notify your bank that you'll be abroad.

So they don't freeze your credit cards.

7. Pack your bags.

Make sure you don't forget these items.

8. And go!

Enjoy your trip and have fun!

Using "SMART" Goals To Take Action Toward Your Travel Dreams

When I was working at a leadership conference recently, I was introduced to the SMART goal system. Basically, using SMART goals turns a vague goal into something more specific. A detailed outline of your goal will help you reach it faster by putting a reasonable plan into action. Last year when I was still in college, my travel goal was: "Go back to Europe."

"Going back to Europe" is extremely vague. When would I go back? How would I do it? For how long? What would I do to make sure I made this happen? How would I evaluate whether I had achieved this goal or not?

This is where creating a SMART goal really helps you define what you want and how you will achieve it.

"SMART" stands for:

SPECIFIC: A goal needs to really focus in on the specifics. Think of the who, what, when, where, and why.

MEASURABLE: Establish criteria for which you will measure your progress on your goal. Often the measurable part includes numbers - think, How much? It also answers, How will I evaluate if this goal has been met?

ACTION-ORIENTED: How are you going to reach your goal? This is where you put your action or steps toward reaching the goal in place.

REALISTIC: This is where you need to be true to yourself on the work you're motivated to and willing to put in. You're much more likely to achieve your goal if it's realistic.

TIMELY: Set an attainable time frame to meet your goal. When are you going to start acting toward your goal? What specific date do you want to reach your goal by?

Now let's tweak my vague example of "Go back to Europe." Here's how I could've turned that into a SMART goal:

"Go back to Europe for at least one month starting in August 2013, by applying to 2+ jobs per week based in Florence, Italy from May-July 2013 and networking with individuals involved with international travel through email or LinkedIn. Follow up with employers directly after any interviews and again every two weeks until I found out whether I have an offer."

Budget is also a huge part of travel goals, especially with flights. Here's a SMART goal I could've made for saving up for that long-haul flight from Seattle to Florence:

"Save x amount of money per week from my summer job to pay for round trip flights to/from Italy on the dates I will fly in/out on. Track savings using my banking app and check balance weekly to ensure I'm saving enough."

Setting SMART goals are especially great for taking action on your travel goals, though SMART goals can be applied to any aspect of life. I encourage you to come up with some SMART goals, and if you have some you'd like to share, please post yours in the comments below.

Traveling Solo: 5 Questions Answered

Never did I ever think I'd travel on my own somewhere, by myself, in a foreign country, for fun. Though I had a great travel opportunity come up for work where I'd be able to make my flight dates flexible and could travel on my own before/after. This was a last-minute gig, so friends or family weren't able to join me because of jobs, expensive flights, etc.

I didn't let that stop me. I knew that if I wanted to do some extra travel, I'd have to travel solo.

Originally I was looking into planning a couple weeks in the Balkans/Southeast Europe: Romania-Bulgaria-Bosnia & Herzegovina-Croatia-Slovenia. That would've been too expensive at the time. Then I looked into Portugal-Spain-France-Belgium-Netherlands. That was too expensive too. So I settled for a weekend in Paris, and I'm glad I did. It was my first visit to the city, it held a high spot on my bucket list, and according to my research it was considered very safe for tourists.

Even though I was a little overwhelmed before I flew out of the airport, I felt more confident than I had in previous trips abroad. I was a little nervous to be all "alone" and by myself, but I had a feeling that it would be worth it. And it was!

I questioned a few things before I left, because I was nervous - traveling by myself was way out of my comfort zone. Here are the questions I had before I left, and my answers now that it's over:

1. How do I get photos of myself if I'm not with someone to take it for me?

The best way is to just ask! There were plenty of tourists in Paris, and especially if you're at a touristy spot (like the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, etc.) there will be tourists taking photos. Sometimes you'll see a group of people attempting to take a selfie - this is the perfect opportunity to offer to take a photo of them, and then you can ask them to return the favor to get a photo of you. Win-win!

2. Should I eat at restaurants alone?

To be honest, I barely ate in Paris. Haha! This was the first leg of my trip and the jet lag made me really nauseous, and food was not appetizing at all. I was also major budgeting because I had two weeks of travel ahead, plus I was moving when I got back to the States. I ate at a couple cafes by myself, and I was fine. Nobody gave me weird looks. I didn't feel embarrassed to be by myself or anything, since there were other people by themselves too. At one cafe the guy working there was excited to find out I was from Seattle, because Grey's Anatomy is his favorite show, and was asking me all kinds of questions. As far as nice restaurants though, I didn't experience any...because the food in Paris (well, most things in Paris) was so expensive!

3. Will I be safe walking by myself at night?

There was never a moment I didn't feel safe by myself in Paris, day or night. I will note that it was "high season" for tourists, as well as summer, so there were a ton of people out and about on the main streets. I didn't stray into any dark alleys, or anywhere that seemed "sketchy." I just kept confident and knew where I was going, avoided the scammers, and navigated easily. I was fine!

Wherever you go solo, make sure to do your research beforehand. I was fine walking by myself in Paris in the areas I was in, but in other areas (or other cities) I might have not been. If you're ever in doubt, find an area with a lot of people around or take a (legit) taxi.

4. What if I get lonely?

I only spent about 3 1/2 days solo before I met up with the staff I was working with for the rest of the trip, and with so many things to do, I never felt lonely. There were plenty of other people walking around, so I was rarely "alone." And I met new people - something I wouldn't have done, had I gone with a friend.

5. What if I get lost?

I've never had the best sense of direction, so when the hotel guy handed me a map and pointed the route on how to get to The Louvre, a wave of fear washed over me as I stepped out onto the streets for the first time. Surprisingly, I kept the map in my bag and navigated my way to The Louvre easily. Getting around Paris was much easier than I thought, and since I was by myself and actually paying attention, I had no trouble finding my way.

Having a physical map, a phone with GPS (download maps to use offline), and the address and phone number of your hotel/hostel/accommodations are always smart to have on hand in case you get lost. If you're still stuck, then it doesn't hurt to ask someone to point you in the right direction - most people are friendly and will be happy to help you out!

5 Forgettable Things You'll Want To Pack For Long-Term Traveling

There are always those moments when you're traveling where you think, "Ah, I wish I would've remembered to bring that." Here are five slightly random items that are usually forgotten that you'll want to remember for any long-term trip, study abroad, or work abroad.

1. Medicine & Vitamins

Make sure you don't forget any prescriptions you regularly take, but it's easy to forget cold medicine and pain reliever. Especially if you're constantly traveling, you're more likely to get run down faster with all the flights, public transportation, late nights out, and switching hotels/hostels often. Hopefully you won't get sick, but if you do, you'll be glad you had it. Vitamins are also smart to bring to to help keep that cold at bay.

2. Extra Socks & Underwear

If you're nomadic or backpacking, this will help you stretch your wardrobe further in between trips to the laundromat.

3. Reusable Water Bottle

Hydration is important and buying plastic water bottles multiple times a day adds up. When you're at home or at work, you may not realize how much water you drink, but when you're traveling and are out and about all day, it will be nice to have (free!) water on hand.

4. Q-Tips

A random and easily forgettable item that I (and a few friends) have forgotten on a number of occasions. They're just nice to have when you get out of the shower and you have water in your ears.

5. Mini mirror

For the girls - if you're sharing a room with multiple other people with limited mirror space or if you're at a hostel that lacks mirrors even in the bathroom (been there) then it is very nice to have a small mirror you can bring with you to get ready. I like ones like this, where they're larger than a makeup pocket mirror but still small enough where they won't take up much room in your luggage.

Where To Find Good Food in Florence On A Budget

Florence is one of the best cities for food in Italy (the best in my opinion). The pasta is perfect, the pizza is topped with fresh mozzarella, and the panini are made with crisp bread.

Like any city, not all restaurants are budget-friendly, but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice quality for a cheap eat!

To find delicious Italian staples and save a few euros, go to these places to get your fix for pizza, panini, gelato, pasta, and chicken.

If you’re looking for some of the best Italian food for less…you’re in the right place.

Let's eat!

Pizza: Gusta Pizza | Via Maggio, 46r

It can be hard to find good Italian pizza under five euros, but you can find it at Gusta Pizza, located near Santo Spirito.

For 3.50 for marinara (just sauce and crust) or 4 for margherita (sauce, crust, cheese), the prices are hard to beat.

Pizzas with more toppings aren't even much more. What's even better is if you split your pizza with a friend, then you'll have some extra cash for a glass of wine!

Panini: I Due Frattelini | Via dei Cimatori, 38

Due Frattelini is always packed at lunch time and for good reason. Part of that is because it is a tiny walk-up kiosk, but mostly because the panini are just that good!

And inexpensive, too: 2.50 euro for most sandwiches.

The bread is the best part, warm and crisp. The ingredients are fresh - you see them cut up the tomatoes and mozzarella right in front of you. They serve wine as well!

Gelato: Gelateria La Carraia | Piazza Nazario Sauro, 25

You can't beat tasty gelato for only 1.50 euro!

My general rule is to only trust gelaterias that serve the small sized gelato for 2 euros or less. More than that, the prices are likely tourist-driven and the quality isn't as great.

The gelato at La Carraia is good quality and right across the Ponte alla Carraia bridge. Take your gelato with you to the bridge and enjoy the views while you eat.

Pasta: Osteria de' Peccatori | Piazza di San Firenze, 14

Osteria de' Peccatori is one of my favorite restaurants in Florence. We went there a number of times - it is great for a semi-large group of people or dining solo, whatever works for you.

There is a lot of selection on the menu, but the pasta has always been my favorite - especially the gnocchi al pesto or the tortellini labro di prete (7.90 euro each).

The service is really friendly and welcoming. (The dessert is beyond amazing, too)! I could sure go for their tiramisu...

Rotisserie Chicken: Ristorante La Spada | Via della Spada, 62

I'm not quite sure if rotisserie chicken counts as a staple Italian food, but if you need to take a break from all the carbs, head to La Spada for some delicious, juicy take away chicken.

For only five euros you get a half chicken and can add a side if you want - potatoes, vegetables, etc. You also have many other choices with the take away selection.

(Note that sitting down at the restaurant costs more than it does at the take away shop around the corner, but tastes the same all the less).

There you have it - the best places in Florence to get amazing Italian food at a fraction of the price.

These are a few examples of my personal favorite places to go from when I used to live in the city – I would often frequent these eateries at least once every other week!

I recommend these places and hope you enjoy them too.

Book a Place to Stay in Italy

My all-time favorite booking website is the well-known Booking.com - I’ve used it for years all over the world.

It is the easiest way to search and find the best hotels (hostels too!), especially based on reviews. I always check the reviews on Booking, even if it’s a name-brand hotel. You never know!