The scrapbook idea is wonderful! I love scrapbooks, but i never thought about scrapbooking "on the road". Last summer I went to visit my cousin in San Francisco, and the tickets, photos and receipts are still in a box . This way i can write on the fresh impressions and i hopefully won't forget anything important on my trip.

Thank you!!

Thank you for all your suggestions!

When i return from my trip i will be moving from my aunt's house to an apartment with my brother- so your suggestion about buying a souvernir i can use in the future is perfect! I want to buy some prints from museums and some books and magazines...(I'm glad you still love your mexican tablecloth)

I am very very excited about this trip,- and you are right! getting to know locals will be wonderful!, I booked the tour with a UK agency, because i want to take all the tours in English, (which i understand pretty well, but my accent is horrible, so i want to practice)

I wish i had more time right now to plan everything-- sadly, I'm working in my final thesis (and final tests!). But as soon as I can, I will be searching for free things and museums. The sites you suggested will be very useful, thanks!

Buying experiences (a gondola ride in Venice, admission to the Eiffel Tower, etc) is way better than buying souvenirs, but don't forget to buy something nice for your mother!!

  If you haven't already, go to www.lonelyplanet.com and click on "Thorn Tree Forum" for great budget-minded message boards.  And by looking on "hostel reviews" section of www.bugeurope.com, you can avoid dodgy hostels.

A random bit of advice, I think a digital camera is a big money saver for a trip like this.  In just the six weeks I spent in Central Asia last year, I took photographs that required well over $200 in development fees/film.  A digital camera would've paid for itself in just that one trip!!  Pictures and memories are the best souvenirs.

karenteacher:

Be very careful about the exchange rates - especially on credit cards, if you take any; the additional fee - it ws 3% on my card - for the currency conversion can build up fast.

To my knowledge, Capital One is the only 'major' credit card purveyor that does not charge a 'currency conversion fee' for 'foreign transactions' (transactions done in a currency other than US Dollars, if you are from the US).  There is a comparison of fees charges by various cards listed on the Bankrate.com website that has been referenced on Stretcher.com a number of times, but I just looked quickly and I couldn't find it. 

The only 'foreign country' that we regularly travel in is Israel, and the hotel that we stay at and the rental cell phones that we use are charged in US Dollars. We bring lots of US Dollars with us - which (although their 'value' has dropped significantly in the recent past) are VERY acceptable at gift shops, etc. there, and in other countries, and we go to 'conversion' places that convert dollars to 'NIS' ('New Israeli Shekels') for groceries and restaurants, etc. We've never needed to use ATM's there - there's too many fees. I have no idea what the fees are in other countries, though.

I don't know what kind of places that you are planning to stay at, but we stay at an 'apartment hotel' that has a small kitchenette with a sink, microwave and mini-refrigerator, so we spend a lot less on meals than we would staying at a 'regular' hotel without such amenities.

Also, depending upon how long you are staying in any given place, most places offer a range of discounts based upon length of stay - weekly rates, monthly rates, etc., so it helps to ask, because you may find that you can stay some place for 7 days for the same or maybe even less than it would cost you for 5.  It cost us very little more to stay for 30 days than it did for 19 previously.

Yours in frugality,

 Miserly Maxine

EQUINOCCIO - since you are a student, you should qualify for student discounts.  Some places will allow you to show your university id to get the discounts, other places may require you have an International Student Id card (ISIC).  An ISIC costs $22 USD. Here is the company in Mexico that sells the card: http://www.studiotravel.com.mx/credencial-estudiante.html.   It also gives you a basic accident and sickness insurance policy just in case something happens when you are travelling.  You can use the card to get discounts on airfare, hotels, train travel, retail stores.  For example, using an ISIC in London, you can get discounts at Tate Modern; Tower of London;  St Paul's Cathedral; Tate Britain; National Portrait Gallery; Madame Tussaud and a lot of other places.

Research all the sites you want to see...make sure you note the times and days of operations.  Find out when the sites are open for free to the public and see if you can go on that day.  In London, the British museum and the National Gallery are free everyday.  If you go to Paris, the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays and is free the first Sunday of the month.  These are the things you need to plan.

 I am a reading junkie, so I would be reading all the travel books at the library in the few days ahead, when you are done with your exams.

I am now a travel agent, feel free to try the metasearch on the website for any extra travel after your tour is over, if you are staying longer-

http://tracybenson.worldventures.com/

My daughter bought things and sent them to us that are "souveniors" and we love them- a tiny four piece loc ness monster for my thirteen yo son, a set of collectible spoons for me from England, a Loch Ness t-shirt for the baby, candy bars and waffles for all of us.  A necklace for her sister's 9th birthday. Shortbread from Scotland. Sometimes it is nice to have a few things that are special.  You'll have to leave a little room in your bag for a few things. 

How long are you going for?

Have a great time- as I told my oldest dd, have fun, stay safe!