By Katie Navarro

The number of Loyola students studying abroad next year marks the largest in the school's history. Many members of the sophomore class find themselves gearing up to make another country their temporary home. Like me, a large portion of these students are heading to Europe. With countries being in such close proximity to each other, students are usually interested in taking advantage of the opportunity to travel. While the prospect of exploring Europe is exciting, it can also be overwhelming. Choosing methods of transportation, hostels, and sights to see all while remaining safe can be daunting. I've gathered some tips together to make your travels a little less stressful.

The first step to traveling is getting there. When traveling to another city within the country you will be staying it is often best to take the train. Europe has an extensive rail system with trains that are fast and have frequent departure times. When going to another country, flying is often the most affordable option. There are a few no frills airlines that are very cheap if you plan far enough in advanced. The most famous of these lines is RyanAir. You can get flights for as little as $10. Be wary of these super cheap flights because they have hidden extra fees for doing things like bringing extra bags, even small carry-ons.

Once you are there picking a hostel can be difficult because some can be unsafe. Hostelineurope.com is a great resource to aid in making your choice. They rate the best hostels in each country and link to their websites so you can make reservations. No matter how safe the hostel you are staying in seems, it is smart to leave valuable items at home as there are usually no locks on the doors. If you plan on going to a city during a popular time you should make your arrangements early as hostels can fill up fast. Such occasions that might be of interest to students are Oktoberfest in Germany or St. Patrick's Day in Ireland.

The last and perhaps most exciting part of the process if choosing what you will do once you arrive. Lonelyplanet.com is just one of the many travel sites on the web. They give lots of suggestions on the best sights for young people to see. Safety is also a huge concern not only for travelers, but also their parents. Put their minds at ease by assuring you will be smart and take all the precautions you can to keep yourself safe. It is a good idea to carry bags close and make sure they have secure zippers. Another thing everyone should do before traveling is registering with the U.S. Department of State at travel.state.gov. This allows the U.S. government to locate and help you in case of any emergency. Following this advice should ease your travel worries and make your study abroad experience more enjoyable.