There’s a café just down the street from campus with a patio that feels like something out of a movie. Twisting vines hang overhead, flower boxes overflow with color, and there’s a perfect corner table draped in a pink cloth. Every Monday morning before class, that’s where you’ll find us; sipping cappuccinos, splitting croissants, and planning our next weekend adventure.
Weekend travel during study abroad sounds dreamy, and it absolutely is, but it also comes with a surprising amount of effort and chaos. Planning where to go, how to get there, where to stay, and how much it will all cost requires time, patience, and usually some group debate.
One of the biggest challenges is balancing everyone’s wants and needs. One person might be dying to see ancient ruins, another just wants to swim in the sea, and someone else is watching their budget closely. You learn quickly that compromise is key. Some people are early planners, while others prefer to book everything at the last minute. Aligning everyone's energy levels and travel styles can be just as much effort as planning the trip itself. We compare ideas, scroll through apps, and make spreadsheets to track costs.
So far, I’ve checked off Pula, Croatia; Vienna, Austria; and this weekend, Florence. Each place has been unforgettable in its way, but getting there hasn’t always been smooth. Timing transportation can be tricky, especially when balancing budget options with limited time. Late buses, early flights, and weird connection times have all tested our patience. Learning when to choose convenience over cost has been a growing pain.
Then there’s packing—the underrated struggle of every weekend trip. With limited space, you really have to think ahead. Will we be hiking? Dining out somewhere fancy? Walking ten miles through cobblestone streets? Visiting a church that requires covered shoulders? There have been weekends when I packed all the wrong things—too many cute outfits and not enough practical ones, or the other way around. And shoes. Don’t even get me started on shoes. I once walked a full day in the wrong pair and regretted it for a week.
Weather adds another layer of unpredictability. You don’t want to pack too much, but you also don’t want to be the one stuck in sandals during a surprise rainstorm. I’ve learned to always bring layers and at least one item that can be dressed up or down. Also, pack a scarf. It’s saved me in churches, chilly buses, and bad hair days.
Finding the Airbnb is its own mini-adventure. Sometimes it’s a scenic walk. Other times, we’re hunched over our phones on a train platform, trying to decode Google Maps or hailing a cab in a city we don’t speak the language of. There’s always that one moment when we wonder if we’re lost for good—and then, somehow, we make it.
But even with all the hiccups and headaches, there’s a kind of magic in it. Watching the sunset over the Adriatic, or standing in front of a Viennese palace makes the long bus rides and packing puzzles completely worth it. These weekends aren’t just about seeing new places. They’re about learning how to plan, how to be flexible, and how to make memories even when things don’t go perfectly.
And every Monday, we’re back at our corner table, cappuccinos in hand, already dreaming up the next trip.