Month: September 2020

“Oh no! My flight is in 2 hours and I can’t close my suitcase!”

I feel like everyone new to flying has been through this scenario- you need to be at the airport as soon as humanly possible, yet you’ve not only over-packed, but also packed incorrectly.

Let me save you from this classic tragedy with a few helpful tips!

Allow me to start with the universal problem of over-packing, which is something I definitely suffered with until the past few years. You should really only bring one pair of shoes that you can pull off with any outfit; I recommend a pair of black sneakers. Going off of that point, also try to only pack clothes from the same color family– you can mix and match easier this way, and therefore have to pick less clothing. Don’t forget that you can also do laundry! Chores are probably the last thing anyone is thinking about on vacation, but it can save you so much stress, time, and money from having to pay for taking a second suitcase. Lastly, but most importantly, only pack for plans you definitely have; so many people pack a bathing suit or a fancy dress “just in case”, but there’s really no reason if you can’t imagine yourself genuinely needing it. 

Another problem I noticed that I used to have is that I simply didn’t know how to fold clothing for a suitcase (trust me, it’s much different than folding your laundry). You really want to go for efficiency when it comes to packing, which is why you should also pick mostly anti-wrinkle fabrics. Rolling and folding is essential to creating the most space in your luggage; folding your jeans in half lengthwise and then rolling saves much more space than simply folding them into fours. I also really recommend bundling your clothing. For example, placing a pair of shorts and socks on top of a long sleeve and then performing the fold-roll combination will also increase your space, as you now have one slimmer roll rather than two or three equally sized rolls. Don’t forget about stuffing your shoes with socks, too!

Lastly, I wanted to focus on the type of suitcase that’s best to use. Personally, I think suitcases without compartments on the inside are the best; pockets inside take up space and weight that you could be making the most of with your clothing and toiletries. If you’re looking for a new suitcase, opt for an expanding bag with no interior pockets to get the most bang for your buck!

No matter how you decide to pack your bag, you’re probably doing great as long as you don’t miss your flight! I wish everyone the best of luck. 

 

Enthusiastically typing in “New York CIty to Spain flights” to Google, you happily land on a flight that’s $700 round trip. You’re probably thinking to yourself, “that’s not bad!”, right? 

It is bad.

You can do better.

Many people utilize Google Flights or airline websites to find their flights- this is obviously fine, that is, if you want to spend twice the amount that you have to spend. 

I was introduced to SkyScanner when I was in 9th grade by a friend who loves travelling as much as I do. I’ve been obsessed ever since, using it for every trip- $300 round trip to Iceland, $200 round trip to Paris. 

SkyScanner is completely customizable to your preferences; you can pick if you want layovers, certain airlines, exact or vague dates, and locations to fly to/from. My best tip to finding the cheapest flight is to put in your area (for me this would be New York) and click general (so, I would also get flights from New Jersey). JFK airport rarely has the cheapest flights, so I like to wager my bets by looking at all the airports near me. 

I also recommend selecting “cheapest month” instead of picking a certain month or even exact dates- this is easier, of course, when you have low commitments, but there’s always a way to make time for things you’re passionate about. Flights under cheapest month to, for example, a country in Europe, are normally 80-130 dollars one way if you fly with a layover and a more “budget” airline. If you go during prime travel season, like June, tickets could be up to 250 dollars round trip with extensive layover times. If you don’t use SkyScanner, flights during June could be (at the cheapest) 400 dollars. 

Furthermore, try buying tickets in September or March, and on Tuesdays or Saturdays. Skyscanner themselves have released statistics showing that these months and days have the cheapest tickets!

I’ve flown with budget airlines and more well known airlines, and there’s not really much of a difference. Just bring your own snacks in place of the lack of meals for longer flights, and you should have no issues! Some airlines, like WOW, try to trick you by not including the price of one bag in their ticket price- this is also why I recommend packing everything into the biggest carry-on possible, which I will focus on at another time.

Overall, if you’re going to buy airline tickets, take full advantage of SkyScanner. You’ll find cheap flights from convenient airports during less traveled months. Saving money on your flight can save you hundreds of dollars which you can then splurge on more excursions or cultural foods. 

Facing culture shock is daunting, no matter where you go. It can really come in any form, from coming to State College from California to studying abroad in a country you’ve never visited. When something scares us, it’s easy to cower in fear and remain in your comfort zone instead of going out and exploring- how can we grow as people if we don’t confront our fears and try new things? That’s why I think travelling is so important; it completely changes your approach to everyday tasks because it shows you life from a different person’s set of eyes.

Falling in love with culture is a different type of love. Expanding horizons on what you solely know as normal through plain conversation with others so ethnically different than you is one of the only ways one can learn to grow. Travel is not just about the fun things you do or the cool places you go, but rather the people you meet and the knowledge and wisdom you take back with you and continue to improve upon.

Culture defines your identity and diversity aids in allowing more acceptance and amity within your heart. Through learning more about foreign culture and diversity you begin to learn how to communicate better on both an interpersonal and external level. It allows you to set aside any past prejudices and listen, learn, establish positives of a different culture and enrich your own life through diverse friend groups of sexuality and religion, or even just the way you cook dinner. 

I, personally, am an avid seeker of cultural exposure and knowledge of as many ethnic backgrounds as I can possibly gather. Often I can be found exploring Chinatown with my father, or going to the Greek Festival in Brookville, Long Island. Some type of yearning just sits inside of me, a type of wanderlust; this world has done so much for me, so my philosophy is to give back just as much and learn, explore, and accept. 

Together with my family, I have visited 13 countries, and I want to share my knowledge of how to get the best deals, how to interact with locals, and effectively pack for flights to save money. As a dual-citizen of the European Union and the United States who has spent nearly every summer in Poland with family, I also feel like I carry valuable knowledge about both cultural lifestyles with me wherever I go. I can’t wait to share all that I know!