COLLEGE-AGE Americans grew up watching CNN and extreme sports. Because of this, they travel differently from other generations. For them, no spot is too foreign, no act too outrageous. The world is their big play yard.
At their age, most don't need to get permission from family or bosses to jump on a plane with a discounted Internet ticket and land on a dot on a map. And if Lonely Planet, a blog posting or a local refers to a place as "Hotel Freakshow," they'll check it out.
This, at least, is what I observed as I traveled with almost 700 college students from August through December on a floating study-abroad program called Semester at Sea. We sailed 24,036 miles, leaving from the Bahamas and docking in South America, Africa, India and Asia. I watched them in action in 10 foreign countries and later asked them for their best travel advice, which they e-mailed to me.
Their advice could be divided into these categories: what to wear, what to eat and drink, what to do, what not to do and what to be. Their suggestions demonstrate a joie de vivre that many of us had as younger travelers, so think of these tips as a refresher course. And keep in mind that their advice may not be suitable for all. Here are some of the 110 responses I received, edited for length:
What to wear: Traveling is not a fashion show. Don't worry about what you wear.
You can never go wrong with an extra pair of underwear because it makes you feel clean even if you're not.
When traveling in countries with a lot of temples, wear flip-flops to save time taking off your shoes at the entrance.
If you are backpacking or have a small carry-on-style bag, pack your clothes in plastic bags that compress clothes (www.spacebag.com). This will save room, and your dirty/wet laundry can go in a separate bag and not stink up your clean clothes. If you have to dig for something in your bag, you won't have clothes spilling out all over the place.
You don't need the curling iron or that extra pair of hot boots. Lugging unessential items can slow you down and may become more of a burden than a commodity. Packing only the essentials allows easy mobility and extra room for those much-valued souvenirs.
Carry a fake wallet. In a pinch, throwing this on the ground and backing away can save you a lot of trouble. Just make sure it has enough stuff in it (random papers and a token amount of money) to make it believable long enough for you to get away.
