When I was in college, I enjoyed venturing out to see the world. For two summers during my undergrad years, I had the opportunity to participate in two different study abroad programs. One summer I spent 6 weeks studying international finance at the London School of Economics. The following summer, I spent another 6 weeks studying international accounting at the University of Edinburgh.

During one of the programs, we were given 3 day weekends, which gave me a chance to take mini excursions. In the other program, we were given a week long hiatus to have fun. And fun is what I had.

Anyway, this is where I began my fascination with international travel. And I highly recommended that any student take advantage of these types of programs. But before you begin your international student travels, there are a few things you should know about.

1 – International student health insurance

Sometimes your regular health insurance may or may not extend coverage while you are overseas. If it doesn’t, then you should consider obtaining international student health insurance. It works pretty much like any another medical insurance… there may be deductibles, co payments, limitations and exclusions. And it generally covers a gambit of services ranging from prescriptions and maternity to mental health and terrorism.

If you plan to study abroad for more than a few months, most times international student health insurance is needed to fulfill visa requirements.

2 – International Student Identity Card

You should also get an ISIC card. It is a must have for every student traveler. To be eligible, you have to be a full time, matriculating (diploma/degree seeking) student over the age of 12. For less than $25 a year, you will be privy to thousands of exclusive discounts on hotels, flights, restaurants, museums and much, much more.

3 – Passport

When travelling abroad, this is important. The first reason is because, you’ll need to present your government issued passport when crossing almost every international border. Second, when overseas, this is your only official form of identification. And third, it documents your nationality. Hopefully, you’ll never come across a situation where proving your nationality can mean the difference between life and death. But I have heard international travel horrible stories, especially in area with extreme political unrest. My advice… always keep your passport close to your side. This brings me to my next point…

4 – Be aware of political conditions

Look at the news, read the papers, Google it… but before you make any plans to travel abroad, make sure your desired destination is safe for American travelers.

5 – Vaccines

Some diseases are present in certain parts of that world and not in others. So before you leave, be sure that you have gotten all of the CDC recommended inoculations based on the area in which you plan to travel. And you may want to discuss your travel plans with your doctor, just in case he knows of some recent bugs that may have popped up in your planned place of travel.

6 – Travel insurance

Get some. My PFA co-blogger, Pam, wrote a great blog here that explains everything you need to know about travel insurance. You can go here to find a good rate on global travel insurance.

7 – Get an international friendly credit card

Anything with a VISA or MasterCard logo is a safe bet when travelling the world. But before you pick a card, make sure you understand all the fees associated with international use. Terms can vary greatly and using the wrong card can cost you a lot. When I travel abroad, I use my Bank of America World MasterCard. The foreign transaction fee is only 3% and there is no preset spending limit. And it comes with common carrier travel accident insurance at no extra cost. Here are some other cards that are geared towards travelers.

8 – And whether your travel is for educational or entertainment purposes, at home or abroad, you can check out these sites for great deals on student travel

ISTravel

Smart Travel

Adventure Student Travel

Travel Adventures

Smithsonian Journeys