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Barbara

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The Facebook  status updates are overwhelming me: "So-and-so has two more weeks until spring break," "So-and-so is dreaming of spring break," "So-and-so can't wait to spend spring break on the beach."

Sigh. I wish I had a spring break. But since I don't, let's talk about your spring break. Ah yes, the yearly tradition where many college students head to more fabulous locations to escape from their college obligations, if only for one week.

Are you taking a big spring break trip?  My guess is that in the current economy (groan, I hate talking about it) some of you may be scaling back your spring break plans.

Perhaps you are thinking about some less expensive alternatives?  If so, you may have considered:

• Staying local and exploring what your city has to offer 
• Driving instead of flying 
• Packing your own food  in a cooler rather than buying it along the way (remember snacks , too)
• Finding a campground  or staying with friends/family to save on lodging
• Going on a service trip instead 

Choosing a less expensive alternative can still be just the getaway you need to come back to school refreshed and ready to finish out the year strong. Plus, a lot of times, it's more about the trip with good friends than the actual destination.

You tell me: Is a big spring break trip still the plan for you? And if you are planning an inexpensive alternative, share your plans.

Caroline

For most of the population, Thanksgiving is a pretty restful holiday. No real obligations other than to eat and watch football.

For college students, it's different. You still get to eat and watch football , but it isn't always a particularly relaxing weekend, is it?

When I was in college, all I really wanted to do over Thanksgiving was catch up with my old friends and get some rest. But it seemed I always had homework over the holiday weekend — lots of reading and maybe even a paper due. And the stress of upcoming finals was always looming. Inevitably, I'd come back from Thanksgiving break dragging, instead of feeling refreshed and ready to take on the end of the semester.

If you have a lot of work to do over Thanksgiving break, my advice is tackle it a little bit at a time, to minimize stress. You don't have to hide away from your family all weekend either. Just try to grab an hour or two at a time to get things done, so you don't set yourself up for an all-day marathon on Sunday.

Are you ready for a nap after Thanksgiving dinner?  Grab a family member — or your iPod — and go for a walk instead. When you get back, your head should be clear enough to read a couple chapters, or sketch a quick outline for a paper.

Instead of sleeping away the morning after Thanksgiving, make fun plans for mid-day — meet up with friends for a movie  or something. Then promise yourself you'll study for at least an hour before you go. You're up at 10, and free for the day by noon.

Carve out another couple hours of study time on Saturday (the earlier the better, holiday weekends can get away from you!), and reward yourself afterward.

There! You just accomplished four or more hours of studying — no coffee-fueled cram-sessions required!

Give it a try — when you're packing up the car on Sunday, you'll be thankful!

Editor's note: The Student LoanDown team will be taking the rest of the week off for Turkey Day. (And we probably won't be studying!) We'll be back the week of December 1. Happy Thanksgiving!

Kathy

To go home for Thanksgiving or not to go home for Thanksgiving?

That is the question many of you may be faced with this time of year. It's not always an easy decision. For some strange reason, with the wrap-up of the elections earlier this month, I am going through debate withdrawal . So I'm opening up this topic for debate, and I'll start with a couple of my personal arguments on either side. Please feel free to chime in with your own opinions on the matter.

Point: Get thee to mom and dad's house
Come on. You KNOW you want to go home, because who doesn't love mom and/or dad's cooking? All that turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, etc., etc., etc. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Often the siblings and other extended family members come over as well, making it an official family event — and you'd hate to miss out on the memories and photo ops! There's nothing like sitting around the table with the people who mean the most to you, and then crowding into the living room to fall asleep watching football. There's a reason that the days around Thanksgiving are usually the busiest travel days of the year  — it's a great holiday to be with family, and you don't want to miss it!

Counterpoint: Save the dough and wait for winter break
Come on. First, you've been living on your own for a while now, and what better way to show your personal independence than by staying at school and creating your own holiday traditions? Why not invite some of the international students over and show them what American Thanksgiving traditions  are all about? Second, if you live more than a few hours away from home, it doesn't really make sense to go through all the planning, packing, driving and/or flying that might be involved for just a couple days! Have you seen the airports over Thanksgiving?!? And finally, you'll probably have the chance to go home in about a month during the winter break, so why not just save your money over Thanksgiving and tell the 'rents you'll see them soon?

So that's what I came up with — what are your thoughts? (And, for full disclosure, I ALWAYS went home for Thanksgiving...)

Dinna

I was talking with a co-worker the other day who was telling me all about his vacation plans this year...how he had planned everything at the end of 2007 and had made all of his flight and hotel arrangements already.

It got me thinking: What do I want to do this year? And is there any place I could visit this spring?

Then it hit me: "Yes, there is!" As I was driving in to work, a commercial came on the radio. The voice had that familiar, friendly accent and hyped up places like Bondi Beach  and the Sydney Opera House . "Now is the perfect time to visit Australia!" the voice said, encouraging me to get info about Qantas flights .

I visited Australia  while in grad school. I really had no money, but a friend of mine worked for an airline and got me a "buddy pass" that allowed me to fly for a steal. Once there, I was also able to stay with my friend's relatives. Unfortunately, because we were flying standby, our trip was short, and I've always vowed to return.

Nowadays, I use frequent flyer miles  to go on vacation. But nothing is ever "free," and I still have to consider the cost of airport taxes & fees, hotel, meals, ground transportation, sightseeing, and of course, local shopping!

So, even though I really want to go, I have to ask myself: Can I afford to go? I could charge everything — I usually use my credit card anyway when I travel because it's safer than cash, adds additional insurance, the exchange rate is usually better, and I get rewards points for every purchase. But can I (or would I) pay it all back when I return?

What would you do? What are some of your vacation planning considerations?

Barbara

Fall is pretty much my favorite time of year. The cool air, changing colors and leaves crunching under my feet...ahhh, love it.

This fall I'm taking a bit of a break, so I wanted to let The Student LoanDown blog community know it'll be a while before you see another post from me.

Unfortunately, my break is not to relax and enjoy the fabulous autumn foliage . I'll actually be on medical leave recovering from open heart surgery. Don't worry about me; I'm an old pro (this is my third surgery), and I'm handling the situation just fine (I even threw a heart surgery party).

Hopefully, I'll be back blogging before you know it.

In the meantime, look forward to all the stories I'll have to share when I get back. Those of you who've been reading the blog for a while have seen me compare some pretty random things to student loans. Think I can't do it with heart surgery? Just wait.

While I'm gone, please don't stop commenting on my posts or sending me your questions. The rest of The Student LoanDown blog team is ready to jump in during my absence. I know they might not be as cool as me, but they're still very qualified and fun to chat with!

Dinna

What was our big summer trip this year? We didn't go Costa Maya, Costa Brava , or Costa Rica — but it sure did "costa lotta!" Sorry, couldn't resist the pun.

Our family vacation was a road trip to "The Happiest Place on Earth": Disneyland ! With my five-year-old getting ready to start kindergarten, my two-year-old obsessed with princesses, and the newly-opened Finding Nemo  ride to check out, Disneyland was the perfect destination to please the whole family.

But jeez, it was hot, hot, hot! The new Nemo ride was very well done, but the wait in line was at least 1½ hours and we were just melting. On the other hand, since everyone was in line to find Nemo, other favorites like the Pirates of the Caribbean  and the Haunted Mansion  were only a 5-10 minute wait. Sweet! Plus, the rides were air-conditioned — ahhhhhhh...nice!

We all had a great time! If only going to Disneyland were FREE it would truly be the happiest place on earth for parents.   We thought the trip would be cheaper than going to Europe, but after reviewing my credit card statement online and seeing the cost of the hotel, park tickets, breakfast with characters, dinner at Ariel's Grotto, princess costumes, collectible pins, autograph books, and many other priceless souvenirs only found in the Magic Kingdom — well, maybe we should've just gone to Neuschwanstein  instead to see the real Cinderella Castle!

Next time we'll do a better job of budgeting ahead of time and practicing self-restraint with our spending. I'll have to stop myself and think: Do we really need another princess outfit? Will I have sleepless nights if I don't buy that limited-edition collectible pin, light-up Mouse ears, or $18 spray water bottle?

Have you ever spent more than you expected? Do you have any tips for how to control spending on your credit card?

Staci

In my last post, I addressed some of the different money options available for international travelers. And whether you're "on holiday" or studying abroad, a little common sense goes a long way to keep your money safe when you're in a foreign country. Below are some suggestions that might help.

Before you depart, make a list of your credit and debt card account numbers, the numbers of your traveler's checks, and the international phone numbers for reporting lost or stolen cards and checks. Keep the list with you, and give copies to a traveling companion and to someone at home to call in case of trouble.

Sometimes peace of mind is more valuable than any Let's Go®  or Lonely Planet™  travel guide. Keep copies of your key documents—including your passport and plane tickets—separately. Photocopies might not always be accepted, but they can speed up the process of getting replacements and/or be better than nothing. I stashed copies in the bottom inside pocket of my luggage (fortunately, I never had to use them).

Most travel experts recommend that you carry only the funds you'll need for each day's outing. But when I backpacked around Europe, I was staying mostly in hostels , and safes weren't always available. So I actually kept all of my money, cards and documents on my person at all times in an under-my-clothes, around-my-waist money belt . It started off as ivory but was a sickly khaki color by the time I got home. Kind of gross, but safe!

Other tips to consider:

• Divide your money and traveler's checks with a traveling companion, if possible. That way, if yours are lost or stolen, your companion has access to cash.
  
  
• For credit and debit cards, keep them in a safe place where they won't bend, scratch or become demagnetized. Minimize the risk of theft or loss by taking only the cards you need.
  
  
• When using ATMs, use the same caution you would when you're at home: Don't flash your cash after leaving the machine, and use ATMs in safe locations.

All this talk about money and travel has reminded me that sadly, I've let my passport expire. While I work on a renewal , tell us about your international money adventures here.

Staci

A few weeks back, Kathy wrote a great post about alternatives to taking a European vacation. Well, if in these last few weeks of summer you're taking an actual European vacation—or perhaps preparing for a semester abroad—one thing you'll need to think about before handing over your passport at customs is money.

I was born in Germany (my dad was in the Army), made a trip to the United Kingdom in college, and spent two months backpacking around Europe after my first job. So other than my time as an infant, I've had some experience spending money overseas. Here are a few tips that might help.

Buy some foreign currency before you leave so you don't have to pay high fees and lousy exchange rates  at an airport currency window. Most banks can sell foreign currency with a few days' notice. Ask for some in small denominations—when you arrive at your destination desperate for a snack and a taxi, you'll be glad you did!

In addition to foreign currency, consider taking traveler's checks . You can buy them either in the currency of your destination or in U.S. dollars. If you need to cash U.S. dollar traveler's checks abroad, you are more likely to receive the best exchange rate at a bank. Fees usually apply per check cashed, so it may be in your interest to cash the higher denominations.

Use your credit card or debit card for the most favorable exchange rate. Just be sure to notify your bank of your travel plans before you leave—otherwise, your accounts could be frozen as a precaution against fraud (certainly not what you want when you've been standing in line for an hour to buy tickets at the Louvre ). And if you plan to use an ATM, remember that cash at foreign ATMs is dispensed in the local currency and debited from your account in U.S. dollars.

Basically, it all comes down to diversifying your travel money portfolio. A combination of foreign currency, traveler's checks, and plastic will give you the most flexibility. In my next post, I'll focus on how to keep your money safe when you're abroad.

P.S.: Want to know how much the U.S. dollar is worth in other countries? Check out our handy currency calculator.

Kathy

Try as I might, I just can't seem to shake my travel bug. Over the weekend I watched "Long Way Round" —a documentary film that chronicles Ewan McGregor  and his friend Charley Boorman as they ride motorcycles from London to New York City by driving east—the long way round.

Admittedly, I added the movie to my Netflix® queue  because of my love of the "Moulin Rouge"  actor, but I was captivated by the film as soon as I turned it on. This movie has some really good stuff in it, especially as the pair tries to navigate some of the "roads" in Mongolia and Siberia!

Many of you also share my love of travel, and you've been quick to offer advice on the subject! I recently was made aware of another a great hostel booking and reviewing site . Don't tell my manager, but I spent a good hour perusing it this morning, and I was impressed by both the quantity and the quality of the listings offered. It might be useful to check out if you're planning a trip to, well, anywhere!

Finally, as you may well be aware, the days are beginning to get shorter once again—summer is coming to an end and so too is my summer internship. I'll soon be back on campus  as a full-time student, so I must bid you farewell. It has been my pleasure to chat with you all, however briefly, and I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors (financial and otherwise)!

Parting, as they say, is such sweet sorrow.

Kathy

Yesterday, the angel and the devil sitting on my shoulders were arguing about the merits of taking a European vacation this summer. In the end they agreed to compromise—road trip!

Later this summer, I am thinking about hopping in my Honda Civic (not a Hybrid like the one Wells Fargo is giving away, but very fuel-efficient nonetheless) and driving up to Portland, Ore., for a few days. My fiancé is keen on viewing the Body Worlds  exhibit that will be in Portland for the month of August, and his parents live nearby—an added bonus and money-saver!

Not only will I save on the cost of airline tickets by driving, I'm also planning to reduce my cost further by staying at a hostel (when we're not crashing with his parents).

What is a hostel , you ask? There is no one correct definition (I've stayed at really nice hostels  and some that were … um … not so nice), but they tend to offer low-cost accommodation options to young travelers all around the world! You can often choose between a private room or a bunk-bed style option, depending on your budget and privacy preference.

Still not convinced? You can (and should!) do your homework before traveling—sites such as hostelworld.com  allow you to research, book rooms and review various hostels all over the world. A quick search shows me a couple of great hostel options in the Portland area—for a fraction of what I would spend on a hotel! My bank account will certainly thank me!

Do you have any thrifty vacation tips?