Traveling to a foreign country on your own is scary, but in a good way. We always learn more when we’re pushed away from our comfort zone. 

In previous posts from The Traveling Professor, we have covered the best airfare deals to Europe, so what happens after arrival? To make the most out of a trip (and budget), here are several things to keep in mind:

Stay on top of your health insurance
Before making the big trip over there, Travel Zoo reminds you to update vaccinations as well as any prescriptions you may have. In addition to that, you’ll also need to review coverage policies on overseas emergencies. Consider supplemental insurance if your provider doesn’t cover international medical expenses. While you might not have any medical emergencies during your trip, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Consider banking options
Most people will exchange currency at the airport for the sake of convenience, but you end up losing much more than what you bargained for. Go Overseas suggests that you call your bank prior to your travels to check for partnerships with European financial institutions that allow you to withdraw from their ATMs, free of charge or for a minimal fee.

Embrace public transportation 
While taking cabs back home when going to and from the airport, doing so abroad will quickly cause you a lot of unwanted expenses. Most airports have numerous alternatives to overpriced airport taxis that are ready to bump up their rates for tourists. Named one of the busiest airport parking locations in the UK by Parking4Less, major international hubs like Heathrow have plenty of transport options to get into the city, with express trains available as well as the Tube connecting them to central London. Additionally, if visitors are getting picked up by friends or relatives, short stay parking options provided by the airport will give them the ideal option for a quick exit, and a more cost-effective method of parking while waiting for your plane to arrive.

Do as the locals do
Learning to live like a local is one of the most effective ways of cutting costs on your trip, and it will help you get acclimated with your temporary home much faster. Thus, “do as the locals do,” which means you should expect to shop and eat at family run businesses, blend in with the city's fashion, learn the language, and only reserve the backpack during travel times. The Independent Traveler states that wearing a backpack of any size may mark you as a tourist.

Good luck and happy traveling!