Pitt Global Experiences

Kiera Giacometti, AIFS in London, Fall 2025

Studying abroad is one of the most exciting and most influential experiences you can take as a college student. However, there are lessons that Reddit, travel influencers, and TripAdvisor reviews may not tell you. I wanted to share four of the lessons I learned while traveling around Europe.

1. Make a financial planner.
   This was a resource I did not consider until two weeks after landing in London. I am personally very frugal, which meant I wanted to pinch every penny. This was not a viable option. I would have arrived back home with many regrets. So, I created a Google Sheet with budgets for the following categories: Food, Toiletries, Souvenirs, Travel, and Misc. For each month I was in London, I had a goal budget, and an empty tab for the amount I actually spent. This calmed me down significantly. I was able to see what I was spending and prioritize what I wanted to spend my money on.
2. Don’t be afraid to travel alone!
   Originally, I thought I was going to travel with my roommates everywhere. And for the first month, we did! But as we got to know each other, we realized we did not all want to see the same sights. Really, the only places we all wanted to visit were Amsterdam and Prague. The prospect of traveling alone scared me greatly; I almost did not go anywhere at all. I knew that was not an option. So, I started small. I booked an overnight trip to Lille, France. I was an anxious mess for the entire trip. Would I get pickpocketed? Would I miss my trains? What if I was placed with a creepy person in the hostel? Why are crepes 20€? I worried for nothing. I ended up having a good time and seeing some awesome sights. I’m glad I took that “trial trip” before I completed my large solo trip: Vienna and Kraków. I knew what to expect, I could plan everything the way I wanted, and I could prioritize the things I wanted to do. I even met really cool people in Kraków that I still follow on Instagram. Solo
   traveling is an epic way to find yourself. Doing things alone doesn’t mean you’re lonely. It gives you cool stories to share.
3. Price-check across sites and utilize discounts.
   Here’s something super interesting: A guided ticket to Kraków’s Rynek Underground is $35 on Tripadvisor. On the official website, a self-guided ticket is $4.90. That’s a pretty massive price gap. And sure, one is guided and the other isn’t. But, you don’t need a guide for the Rynek Underground. You would essentially be wasting money. Now, I will say that if you are going to a site like Schindler’s Factory or a West End show in London, those third-party sites may be your only ticket in. I decided to go to Kraków pretty last minute and Schindler’s Factory was sold out. Therefore, I had to pay for a guided tour through TripAdvisor to even get in. Otherwise, I would have stood in the stand-by line for a very long time. However, always look for discounts, and always check across sites. I used Kayak and Skyscanner to look for flights, and I used Hostelworld for hostels. Kayak and Skyscanner showed me the cheapest flights. The flights I booked through these sites
   were significantly cheaper than they were on the official Wizzair and Ryanair sites. Hostelworld was also super helpful. Sometimes, it had a cheaper hostel price than the hostel’s actual website. Student discounts are also aplenty. In London, I could get student tickets, student discounts at chains such as Caffe Nero, and discounts at other prominent stores just by doing some research. Hostelworld also has a 10% discount on Unidays and StudentBeans for students. I saved plenty of money by always searching for a discount.
4. Have fun!
   This is an experience you will never get again. During my time in London, I was able to evaluate my priorities, try new things, and find my place in a city that I personally felt was made for me. I have frequent haunts in London that I miss, and colleagues I would have never met if I didn’t push myself. Yet, in your fun, remember that you never have to do anything you are uncomfortable with. If you are pressured, stick to your morals and be bold in saying no. You should not sacrifice your experience for someone else. This is your semester. Make it what you want it to be.