Start Here: How I Traveled to 23 Countries in Two Semesters

Studying abroad was never just about school—it was a launchpad for my life. How did I do it? Starting with a plan, and building from there. I'll break it down for you, here:

Amalfi Coast, Italy

When I began my college search, I was already thinking globally. I knew I wanted an affordable university with a renowned study abroad program. That’s how I landed at UNC Chapel Hill, an esteemed university with countless global partnerships and strong support systems.

Choosing the Right Program

I went back and forth for months—Oxford? University of Sydney? But I kept returning to Lorenzo de’ Medici (LdM) in Florence. Ultimately, I chose LdM for three reasons:

1. UNC’s long-standing partnership with LdM meant a seamless transfer of credits (from past students' pre-approval) and rave reviews.

2. I decided to minor in Italian, and living in Italy felt like the most immersive way to learn.

3. Florence’s location in central Europe made it affordable and logistically easy to travel all over the continent on weekends!

Firenze, Italia

Thoughts? If I had to name a downside, it’s that LdM is an international institution—not a traditional Italian university. You’ll meet people from all over the world, but you won’t be in class with many Italians. Therefore, if you're looking to learn the language most efficiently, I'd look into a tried and true exchange program (mine was direct-enroll).

You may also be considering whether to do a year-long program, or if you want to stick to the traditional semester. If you're doing a semester, then you might be debating which semester is best for you. If this is your situation, check out my article on A Semester Abroad: Fall or Spring?.

How I Structured My Schedule for Maximum Travel

Your class schedule can make or break your travel potential. I optimized both semesters to allow for 3- to 4-day weekends:

• Fall Semester: Monday–Wednesday class schedule.

• Spring Semester: Monday–Thursday.

Many study abroad programs (especially those geared towards U.S. students) cap classes at four days/week. Plan ahead during registration and try to stack your classes. If you do have Monday or Thursday classes, try making your Monday classes later in the afternoon, and your Thursday classes earlier in the morning.

I also made sure to balance fun courses with ones that challenged me. This was my course-load:

Fall Semester:

• POL 315: International Law

• PER 207: Acting for the Screen

• IGC 245: An Italian Sensory Experience: Pairing Food and Wine

• ITL 102: 3-hour Italian Language Elementary 2

• IGC 160: Not just Italian Food: Culinary & Cultural Traditions

Spring Semester:

• LIT 288: Dante’s Quest for Love: From Divine Comedy to Contemporary Culture

• POL 292: International Conflict Resolution

• ITL 222: 6-Hour Italian Language Intermediate 1 and 2

Pro tip: If you're studying abroad in Florence and you're looking for quick day-trips to work around your schedule, then check out my guide on Day Trips from Florence, Italy.

Nice, France

A Brutal Budget Breakdown

I won’t sugarcoat it—I worked nearly every single day the summer before going abroad. If you want to travel frequently while studying, saving up beforehand is essential.

Here’s a budget breakdown I’d recommend based on my experience:

• $8,000–$10,000/semester: If you want to travel nearly every weekend and eat out often.

• $5,000–$6,000/semester: If you're traveling once or twice per month, cooking at home, and budgeting more tightly.

This includes food, toiletries, weekend travel costs, transportation, local SIM card or eSIM, and shopping.

What helped me most? Planning in advance. I figured out how many hours I’d need to work and how much I needed to save based on the cities I wanted to visit. And I stuck to it.

Pro tip: Another major factor of budgeting accordingly is knowing how to navigate travel. If you're stressing out about how to travel around Italy, then check out my guide on How to: Navigate Transportation in Italy.

Interlaken, Switzerland

Where I Went: A Month-by-Month Overview

When planning out your travels, it's best to break it down according to three main factors:

1. Weather/Events

2. Location/Duration

3. Cost

   
   

   What do I mean by this? For instance, if you want to go to both London and Dublin, perhaps you may wait and save the trip for a longer break when you can hit both cities at once. Also, you might want to plan your travel around weather and events, like going to coastal locations earlier on, and making sure you hit cities like Munich during Oktoberfest or Vienna during Christmastime.

   
   

The Parthenon, Athens, Greece

I was fortunate enough to visit 23 countries and over 45 cities in just 8 full months, all by following these tips. Some destinations were long weekend trips, others quick 2-day hops. Here’s the full breakdown:

Packing Like A Pro: Do's and Don'ts

Before you set out for study abroad, make sure you pack mindfully! It can make a world of a difference.

I'd recommend bringing 1 checked bag, 1 carry-on bag, and 1 travel backpack (as your personal item). You'll absolutely need an airline-approved travel backpack for your weekend trips.

While you're abroad, you're going to cumulate more than you can imagine. It's likely you'll have to buy another checked bag when returning, but I'd suggest packing lightly even if you're already planning on this.

Here's how I suggest to pack:

Prague, Czech Republic

If you're studying abroad in Florence, Italy and you're looking for a need-to-know guide about the city, check out this article on my Florence Favorites: Sights, Sustenance & Shopping.

Final Thoughts: Soak Up Every Minute

It goes fast. The packing stress, the 4 a.m. flights, the hostel bunk beds, the language slip-ups—it’s all part of the story. Say yes often. Sleep on the train. Dance in dive bars. Eat alone in airports. Get lost in the yellow night lights.

If you’re dreaming of seeing the world while in college, then start here: with planning, intention, and trust in the process.