At first, I felt like the topic of traveling seemed a little out of place at the start of the semester.

But then I realized spring break wasn’t too far away, and some of you may have already started planning trips. As someone who’s had the luxury of traveling long distance from a young age, here is a list of a few things I’ve picked up along the way.

Be vague about your personal information. Time and again I’ve come across people who gladly give out too much information. When asked questions such as where you’re from, it is more advisable to mention the general region where you’re from instead of virtually handing out your home address.

I’ve had friends come back to a ransacked room after they discussed their travel itineraries with seemingly friendly strangers.

Make sure you research the tourist traps common at your destination beforehand.

Do not over-plan. While this can be inconvenient for those who find solace in a concrete plan of action, I’ve had far too many trips turn sour as a result of over-planning. Traveling, for many, is a form of relaxation, and having a shorter list of things to do often ensures you check off most (if not all) of the items on your itinerary.

Prepare yourself physically. Being in good physical form is quite crucial to travel enjoyment and exploring a new place and culture. From walking several miles every day to adjusting to different time zones, traveling can be quite the workout. It doesn’t help that, despite your best efforts, your sleep and diet routines are destroyed. Being physically unprepared can result in falling ill on the trip.

On a side note — carry emergency medicine in case you need it.

Traveling underfunded. While not the best idea, as students, a lot of us can be quite financially challenged. In addition to saving early for a trip, I advocate spending as little money as possible on insignificant aspects of the trip. For example, whenever possible,  camp. While you should tread cautiously, hostels, Airbnb and Couchsurfing are fairly good options, as well.

Always plan to have a significant amount of money left at the end of the trip. There’s often something that comes up, and having a few hundred dollars sitting around is nice. Be sure to inform your bank of your travel plans so your cards aren’t locked up.

Familiarize yourself with important information. Believe it or not, 911 is not the universal number to dial in case of an emergency. When travelling internationally, make sure you have contact information for the police, medical emergency and embassies before you head out.