International Youth Hostels
Staying in Youth Hostels is one of the most inexpensive ways to travel while abroad. Hostels are similar to dormitory style arrangements. usually men and women are separated and you share a room with other travelers. You can obtain a membership through the Hostelling International online www.hiayh.org (apply online or print out a faxable/mailable form) or through CIEE or at the STA Travel. A one-year membership costs $28. While most hostels do charge a higher fee for non-member, if you are only going to stay for one or two nights, it may not be worth the expense.

You can also purchase International Hostel Directories and get information on making hostel reservations on the Hostelling International website (www.hiayh.org).

The Pros and Cons of Youth Hostels

• Pros: Good if traveling alone, excellent opportunity to make friends, inexpensive and may offer cheap dining facilities.
• Cons: Some hostels have early check-ins and nightly curfews; some do not take reservations; and if you don't have a membership, you may have to pay more or will be unable to access their services.
  

Alternatives to hostels
Look for family run hotels or "bed and breakfasts." These types of establishments offer inexpensive arrangements and usually include some meals. In different countries such inexpensive accommodations are called various names.

Rail Passes
If going to Europe, it might be useful to buy a Eurail pass which is good for unlimited travel throughout 17 countries. Do your homework to see if it is a good deal for you. Several types of Eurailpasses are available and all offer discounted rates. There are also “Britrail” and “Oz” passes for the U.K. and Australia. They can be purchased only in the United States. For more information go to a travel agency such as STA Travel (www.statravel.com) on Meyran Avenue.

Tips from savvy travelers

• Do not plan trips within or near a war zone or in an area where the inhabitants are unsympathetic to a U.S. cause.
• In large cities and other popular tourist destinations, avoid possible terroist target areas, especially places frequented by Americans (e.g. American banks, American schools or churches, U.S. embassies and consulates, American Express, American style eating places).
• Keep all valuables on your person in a discreet place, preferably stowed away in a money belt or a pouch that hangs around your neck and under clothing.
• Try to avoid arriving late at night to cities with which you are not familiar, and take along a reliable guidebook that lists restaurants and hotels/hostels.
• It is preferable to travel with another person. It is not advisable to sleep on a train if you’re traveling alone.
• Do not agree to watch the belongings of a person whom you do not know.
• Do not borrow suitcases and ensure that nothing is inserted into yours.
• In all public places, remain alert.
• Remember that hitchhiking can be as dangerous as in the U.S. Hitchhiking is not advisable.
• Do not skimp on personal safety to save a few bucks. If where you are intending to stay does not look or feel safe, spend the extra money and time to find more comfortable lodging.
  

Interpersonal
The conventional interpersonal or psychological journal is similar to the traditional diary you might have kept when you were young. Topics for entries would center on how you are feeling, what your day consisted of, etc.

Ethnographic
The ethnographic journal is concerned with 'objective' observations and descriptions of cultural interactions occurring around you and involving you. This type of journal assists the writer with developing themes or categories from which to organize and understand the culture in which you are living. The method used for collecting information for this type of log is called 'participant observation.' This basically means that the 'researcher' lives among the people s/he is trying to understand, takes part in their social life, watches what happens, and asks questions when s/he doesn't understand. Early on in this process one does more observing of events, behaviors, and activities rather than asking questions. This process can be best understood as a circular process, i.e, making observations, asking locals about those observations, checking what they say against more observations and so on. Through this process you may develop themes or categories to begin making sense out of the culture you are experincing.

Creative
The last category of journals is the creative journal. This format would be used to collect interesting antidotes, experiences, oral histories, etc. These would be for later uses in short stories, newspaper or magazine articles, playwriting ideas, etc. It can also become a media format. In this case you might make a photographic exhibit highlighting specific cultural themes, points of cultural conflict, or political statements. Similarly, you could produce a video documenting different aspects of your experiences. You might decide to do a combination of all three types of journals. Some students have commented that if you write enough detail about the events that happened to you, then you will not have to write about your feeling because when you reread your journal entries the feelings will all come back again.