Backpacking Like a Boss on a College Budget

I’ll save you the obvious list of backpacking on the cheap tips that includes staying in hostels, picking countries that are cheap to backpack in and getting groceries instead of eating out for every meal. There are ways to enjoy a deeper immersion in the culture, have a stress-free night’s sleep on a bed (or couch) that isn’t yours, and even try enough local cuisine to feel more like a tourist than a ready-to-get-down-and-dirty-and-starve-for-2-months-as-a-sacrifice-to-see-the-world backpacker. Care to find out? Here’s how.

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A Q+A With Our 2015 Globetrotter of the Year: Jillian Krisinger

Every year we take some time to sit down with our user who visits the most countries that year, our “Globetrotter of the Year,” to hear more about their adventures.  Last year it was Oscar Garcia, who visited 18 countries (via 13 flights and 4 trains) as part of a 91 day trip. This year it was Jillian Krisinger, who visited 15 countries with StudentUniverse as part of three trips in 2015. 

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Sydney-bites-downunder

Sydney Bites Down Under (and I don’t mean the shark type!)

While Sydney crawls its way up the ‘most expensive places to live’ list, it’s easy to forget the possibility of a Uni lifestyle, because lo and behold, student-friendly pockets exist and eating on a budget is on the cards! Hard to deny her natural beauty, Sydney’s food scene has taken advantage of the endless coastline, harbour inlets and the modest bustle of the CBD. With industrial foundations spread throughout, it’s no doubt fertile ground for gentrification- and when old meets new here Down Under- something tasty happens. From the Northern Beaches, to New-York-style drinking holes, and up the coastline to the infamous Bondi Beach, Sydney is tempting you with tastes one meal at a time. (more…)

How to See Oxford, England for Less Than £100

Whether you fantasize about Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia and sharing a pint at The Eagle and the Child, romanticize the idea of studying in the hallowed halls of one of the world’s oldest and most revered universities, or are lured by punting and picnics along the River Cherwell, a trip to England is rarely complete without visiting the Dreaming Spires of Oxford—trust me, I remember the excitement of my first visit! (more…)

How to Deal with Culture Shock while Abroad

Whether it’s for a semester abroad, or a short-term vacation, when you step foot in a new country or city for the first time, there is always a deep feeling of unfamiliarity. This is known as “culture shock” and is experienced by anyone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture or way of life. In the blink of an eye, you are thrown into a new environment where life is lived and viewed a bit differently, which can leave you with so many mixed emotions. These emotions are completely normal and I can tell you how to deal with culture shock while you’re abroad. (more…)