‘Tis the season to finally make good on those long-delayed plans! Call it “revenge travel” or just plain old “summer vacation,” there’s never been a better time to throw up that out-of-office message and dip your toes in the surf.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled our well-traveled team’s best tips and tricks for making this summer count. And remember: the most important thing is to find a system that works best for you!

Before flying:

• Learn some basic phrases in the language of whatever country you’re visiting. You’d be surprised how easy it is to improve with practice! Psst – you could also take one of ABC’s intro workshops or Total Beginner classes if you’re really trying to nail this whole “international traveler” thing.
• Use sites like Skyscanner and Hopper to get the best bang for your buck when booking your flight. You can even “watch” potential flights to see if the prices are trending upwards or downwards!
• Book mid-week to save on airfare. The inside scoop is that Tuesdays are the cheapest days to fly, but actually purchasing your flight during lower-traffic times can save you some cash as well.

On the day:

• Airports are super crowded right now with everyone embracing the looser COVID restrictions. Make sure you pack efficiently! That can mean everything from having your liquids and laptops easily accessible to splurging on a comfier mask for all-day wear.
• Make sure you check the carry-on restrictions for your airline. If you’re traveling around Europe and plan to add some cheap connections via a budget airline like EasyJet and RyanAir, you’ll want to be extra-sure that your baggage fits the size requirements. Those extra charges can be sneaky!
• Know the COVID restrictions at your origin and destination. Is a negative test required? Proof of vaccination? Is it worth packing some home tests in case of an emergency?

Once you’re there:

• Budget wisely to avoid summer markups! Are you prioritizing food or views? Culture or commuting? Having a clear budget can also help on the days you just want to wander.
• Bring or buy a water bottle, and purchase snacks if you can – lots of businesses are still operating under restrictions, and it can be tricky to take a pit stop in some locations.
• Consider staying somewhere with kitchen access. Eating out for every meal really adds up!
• Want to beat the heat? Consider going south! Machu Picchu, anyone?

Most of all – take care of yourself, have fun, and save some room for souvenirs! We can’t wait to hear all your stories in class.