Making your own meals will dramatically cut costs, as opposed to eating out every meal. Europe doesn't have to be as expensive as they say it is. Living like a local will be much more rewarding than traveling like a tourist. Go to local supermarkets, bakeries, and general stores to get a feel for the local flavor. Not only will you save money, but you'll get an experience you cannot get at home and see things you've not seen before. If you're on a shoestring budget, don't fret. You can still find things to do that are either very cheap or free. Most bigger cities have an arts or theatre scene that is so lively you'll have more options than you can manage!  Time Out, Trip Advisor, and similar travel sites have comprehensive listing of things to do and see for some of the bigger cities in the world. If you find yourself in one of these cities, check it out to get the most out of your trip. Guidebooks can be great--but they can also be misleading. What happens when a popular guidebook lists a spot as a best kept secret that no one's going to? Everyone starts going to it. Do use it as a general guideline, but take everything with a grain of salt. Ask around. Who knows better than the locals? If you're staying at a hotel or hostel, ask the staff. If you're couchsurfing, sometimes your host will volunteer to show you the ropes. And if you're worried about the language, keep your eyes peeled. Where do the people seem to be flocking to? For safety purposes, every few days find an Internet cafe and email your parents or friends, so they know where you are in case of an emergency.  It's not difficult to get a cheap phone if you're staying in an area for a reasonably significant amount of time. It may be as simple as switching out your sim card. Only bring your computer if you're working or otherwise truly need it. Otherwise it will be cumbersome and you'll just worry about it being stolen. You're about to embark upon a journey that will be life changing. Let it. Meet new people, do things you didn't see yourself doing, and learn from it. This may be your one opportunity.  Go with the flow. If you run into a group of Colombians that are looking for a 6th to go skydiving, don't write it off. If 100 people are standing in line at a nearby comedy club, join them. Spontaneity can pay off with the best of them. Skip the knife and fork and burgers. It may take a little voice inside you pushing you along, but cave to it. Venture from the backpacker area and find a cafe full of men smoking, drinking and playing some foreign card game and order that rack of live prawns that gets grilled in front of you. You'll leave not only with photos and souvenirs, but memories to last a lifetime.
اشترِ بقالتك. ابحث جيدًا. ابقَ دائمًا على تواصل مع عائلتك وأصدقائك من أجل حالات الطوارئ. قد لا تتكرر هذه الفرصة مرة أخرى، لذلك استمتع قدر الإمكان.