There is nothing like international travel to broaden the mind and fortunately it is now something that almost anyone can afford. You do not need not be rich to engage in traveling this way; a well-planned itinerary is as close as your computer keyboard plus you can find a good airfare if you plan ahead and travel in the of peak seasons, generally in fall and spring.

Even though many of the locations are cheapest in the winter, there are many places in Europe that have mild climates like Spain and Italy for example. When carrying out your online research, look for people that rent out their own apartments and homes perhaps for a shorter time which may mean it will be less expensive than through other specialist organizations.

Of course you can expect all the normal creature comforts when you rent the properties. There is nothing like having a breakfast when you are on vacation especially when you prepare it yourself and it gives you a chance to use fresh produce from a foreign country.

By having the facility to wash and iron you clothes you can save more money on having them professionally laundered and greetings cards can be sent for no charge over the internet. Experiencing a different culture is a great adventure and it’s the little things that really reach out and grab you; for example, European society is similar in many ways to American society but daily priorities are quite different.

Food is a much more drawn out event than our eat-and-run habit as meals are enjoyed slowly, seasoned with the friendship of your companions plus it is actually quite safe to go out at night in any major European city. Why not head off the normal tourist routes an explore the local areas where you can find some wonderful shops, cafes and the local business where you be able to get a feel for how the local population run their everyday lives. When in a foreign country a real international traveler will make sure that national and local dishes are eaten in typical restaurants or taverns like Italian pizza or Greek Kleftiko. Part of the experience of international travel is getting around, so become adventurous as large cities, such as Paris, have inexpensive and ultra-efficient transport systems making it easy to go anywhere you want.

Traveling light has many advantages and if you can do this it will save a great deal of time and there is less likelihood of lost or damaged luggage if you only have a carry on. This of course means that to do this efficiently, it is good idea to carry everything you need for the trip in a carry on, which will make things simpler; no lost luggage or waiting around the luggage carousel at the airport. It just means that you have to carefully plan what you will need to take and what you can buy at your destination, like toiletries for instance, which means if you can’t fit it into the carry on, you can buy it later. Travel does not have to be about huge luggage filled suitcases as truly adventurous travelers know.