You could probably spend about a month in Italy, and never even get close to seeing all of the highlights. However, if you're like me (and short on time), you'll want this guide to help you pick the perfect city for your visit!

Have SIM card questions? Welcome to the very helpful post of answers (it's a must-have if you're going with a local data plan on your ILP semester!)

After visiting more than 30 countries, I have a bit of advice I wish I knew before I embarked on my first international adventure. 

If you ask me, the absolute best souvenir you can bring home after spending four months exploring another part of the world are your photos. The only question is, which camera should you bring?

I’m a huge podcast junkie when I am driving around, taking a walk around the neighborhood, when I’m cleaning the house, and especially when I'm traveling. … basically, I’m constantly listening to podcasts, and have more than a few for you to check out. 

How do you get a data plan? Can you travel without one? How does texting work when I'm in a different country? How do I back up my photos, just in case? 

If you’ll be traveling abroad with your phone, you need the answers to all of this (and more). We have the details you need, below. 

Spending less money on flights to other European countries means more cash for gelato, piles of pastries, and stacks of macaroons — which is why I always use these tips.

If you are new to the world of hostels, welcome! They are definitely the way to go if you're in your 20s (like us) and looking for a really awesome deal so that you can spend your money on adventures instead of a fancy hotel.

Know when (and why) you take your shoes off before going inside, make sure you're picking the right outfit to visit the temples, and a few other things to know before visiting.

You're bringing your debit card to withdraw cash from an ATM machine while living in a foreign country, aren't you? We highly recommend it. This is the easiest way of handling your finances while living abroad for a semester.

The best way to get foreign currency while living abroad is to bring your debit card and pull cash out of an ATM — but depending on where you bank, you could rack some serious fees if you don't do your research before leaving.