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When I was younger, I believed that my money should be spent on things that lasted for a while (electronics, furniture, etc.) and that trips or vacations would only last for that moment. BOY, was I wrong! My first trip sent me to the Big Apple to see a show on broadway, and ever since then, I’ve realized that the OPPOSITE is true. The rush of visiting a new location, experiencing the culture, and getting transported to another time and place is unmatched by any latest craze and fad on the market.

It’s difficult in your young adult years to travel though. Where do I start? How will I pay for it? Will I have to go alone? These are only a handful of questions that went through my brain when trying to plan my first international trip, but a quick Google search and some investigating led me to the best way to travel while you’re young; EF Ultimate Break!

“I had experiences I wouldn’t have found on my own without the help of our tour director and still had enough freedom to go on my own adventure while also being with my people.”

-Kat (Amsterdam, London, Paris, Rome)

Where Can I Go?

The first characteristic you’ll see when you visit EFUltimateBreak is the fact that they have a huge variety of destinations all across the world. From an Ultimate Europe Trip, to a Back to the Future Japan Excursion, you’ll be able to find almost any destination on your bucket list. I had never heard of this company and didn’t want to invest in it too much if it was a total waste, so I chose the shortest trip to start: London and Paris Escape.

I was extremely nervous in the final weeks leading up to our departure and almost cancelled, but I was SO glad I didn’t. I loved every minute of it and made some new friends along the way! Seeing Buckingham Palace, the Royal Opera House, Arche du Triomphe, and Notre Dame were my favorite parts.

Venice, Florence, and Rome was my second trip which turned out to be my favorite so far, and now I’m planning to do their Vienna, Prague, Budapest trip with an extension to their Greece: Off the Beaten Path for next year. If you couldn’t tell, I absolutely love traveling with EF Ultimate Break and will continue to do so until I age out.

“You just pay and go along for the ride! It’s truly worth every penny!”

Kaitlyn (Grand Tour of Europe)

How Will I Pay for It?

The most stressful part of a trip is paying for it. It may seem daunting trying to save a couple grand, but it is worth EVERY penny. One way I made it easier on my wallet was to select a trip that ships out in a year. With the monthly payment plans, that would put your monthly costs anywhere from $150 – $300; that’s definitely doable. Get a side gig cutting yards, do three and you’re done. Do some Uber/Lyft on the side and you can make that payment every month. There’s always a side opportunity that can help you make your travel dreams come true.

Because many of the group tours and activities are included in your trip costs, it’s recommended that you take $80-$100/day for your trip depending on how much you like to spend. I’m a shopaholic, so I had to plan for the higher side, but my roommate on the Italy trip was able to live on $50/day. Consider saving your spending money alongside your monthly payment plans to make it more manageable.

Another thing I did to save spending money was open an Acorns account. They take each purchase you do on your debit card, round it up to the closest dollar and put that change in a savings account. This allowed me to accrue over $800 in the course of a year which was all I needed for my spending money to London/Paris. It’s easier to save when you’re not trying!

Will I Have to Go Alone?

The scariest part about traveling is having to do it alone. When I was planning my first trip, my friends weren’t financially stable to do one, or were too busy working during that time of the year, so I had to go alone, but I’m so glad that I did! I ended up making friends with some fellow photography loving people, and others that just meshed with my personality so well that we ended up doing a second trip together! I’m proud to say that I’ve made lifelong friends that have a Wanderlust as much as I do.

So, with all these questions answered, all I have to say is . . . DO IT! You will enjoy EVERY moment, and you’ll wish you would have done it sooner.

Wanderlust /ˈwändərˌləst/: n. a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world

(The following is a work of fiction written by the blog creator for a creative travel-writing project.)

As I looked out the window of my flight to Europe, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of excited anticipation. Somehow Peter, my best friend, convinced me to take an unexpected trip to Italy for a few weeks, and since I have a tendency to over plan, I hadn’t expected my first trip out of the states to be so haphazardly strewn together. When we finally landed in Venice, we were met by a young woman calling out for Peter and he ran to greet her, Marcella, a foreign student from some of our university classes during our last year. It finally became apparent to me why Peter had chosen to visit Italy; it was her native country and I was officially the third wheel on this bicycle built for two.

We decided to avoid the touristy parts of the city for our first day, so we took a bus to Dorsoduro, one of the six districts of Venice, to enjoy a stroll around Campo Santa Margherita. The sun had begun to dip behind the old facades of the square as lights from within make-shift taverns began to illuminate the streets and canals. The hustle and bustle of university students brought laughter, music, and excitement to us as Peter and Marcella stopped at a bar while I continued on my way to find a quiet place to relax. After an hour of wandering through narrow corridors, I stumbled upon a gelato shop that was still open. As I glanced inside to see the flavors, my eyes fell upon the sight of a young Italian man sitting at a table reading a book and paying no attention to his spoon, dipping it into his cup of gelato and placing it into his mouth. Every so often, he’d repeat this movement, making sure not to lift his gaze from the transfixing fiction he held onto with his other hand. His soft features were calming and inviting even though he was a stranger and as I passed his table, I crouched down to pick up his bookmark that had fallen to the ground. “Ciao, tu segnalibro?,” I asked as I placed it on the table. “Grazie mille,” he responded. After a few pleasantries, I discovered that his name was Giovanni and he suggested that I try his favorite gelato flavor, crema di grom, which had pastry cream with corn biscuits and chocolate chips. It was a brief encounter; no need to make it into more than that, but in those 10 minutes of conversation, it felt as though we had known each other for years. Peter and Marcella interrupted the evening and we headed to our hotel to rest for the next day.

Our last day in Venice began with a water taxi to the Riva Degli Schiavone that continued to the Bridge of Sighs at sunrise. While I was enjoying the view of the warm hues meeting the colors of the chill waters, a face I recognized could be seen peeking over an easel of acrylic paints on canvas. I was shocked! Giovanni waved me over to where he was painting and we talked while I admired the exact replica of the sunset that was before us. I didn’t want to seem too eager, so I stayed calm and collected until he suggested we enjoy the day together. My friends paid no mind to my decision, and Giovanni escorted me through the Piazza San Marco, the Rialto Bridge, and many other tourist spots I had yet to visit. While weaving through the streets and canals of Venice, we talked about every topic imaginable; what our aspirations were, our favorite books, and which part of the city was our favorite. I only had a few hours left in Venice, so at dusk, he took me to a spot off of the Grand Canal and surprised me with a gondola ride. The views were breath-taking and since our gondolier wasn’t a singer, I decided to sing an Italian aria I had learned in college; “Ah cielo, di piu non chiedo! Si puo morir d’amore!” which translated, “oh heavens, I could ask for nothing more! Yes, I could die of love!”

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton