So, you say you're tired of Hopkins, of Baltimore (maybe even both), and it's time to take a vacation? Be it a grand tour of Europe's best vineyards or a weekend drive out to Pennsylvania Dutch country, with a little bit of planning and a whole lot of patience, even a travel neophyte can piece together an enjoyable voyage without having to ask Mom and Dad to take out yet another mortgage on the homestead.
If you are going to be traveling, the first thing you need to do is choose a destination. Think about what interests you most and where you might go to see it. As Holly Wexler of Holiday Inn International told me, "For most travelers, the most popular destination is not always the best one." Choosing a destination with a specific interest in mind can help personalize your experience, making the memories all the more vivid. If the intricacies of the Civil War captivate you, its battlefields are some of the most well-preserved historical sites in the nation and most are within a few hours' drive from campus. National parks contain some of the most beautiful views of nature unspoiled by man's influence, and, though Yellowstone and Yosemite are popular destinations, most parks provide perfect environments to simply get away from it all.
Of course, standard tourist spots like New York, Washington City or San Francisco can be excellent as well. Clearly, they offer a great deal to visitors or they would never have become cliches in the first place. Above all, just remember to put effort into your choice. As Wexler suggests, rather than visit Los Angeles or Las Vegas for a second time, try out Seattle or Vancouver. Rather than climb the Statue of Liberty, why not hike the Black Hills or canoe the Red River? The sense of discovery, of a destination all your own can make an average vacation one to last a lifetime.
Once you figure out where you want to go, the next thought should be how to get there. The options are nearly endless. Planes, trains and automobiles are the oft-used conveyances, though boats, bicycles and even your own two feet are viable options, depending on the distance to be traveled as well as the time available to you.
Airplanes tend to provide fast, comfortable transportation to any location and are usually preferred by travelers without time to spare. Of course, the major drawbacks with most airlines tend to be high prices and limited seating, especially on the most popular routes. The easiest solution is to plan any airline flights well in advance. Most travel agents suggest you make your flight arrangements at least two months ahead of the desired date, though earlier if during peak travel dates. This can result in inexpensive rates as well as far fewer headaches. Another suggestion is to explore your options with some of the smaller, regional airlines. A fine example is Southwest Airlines, which, although it has grown substantially in the last few years, offers comfortable round-trip flights to airports across the country for $99 each way, if not cheaper. Some investigation, along with a little good luck, can turn up even better deals.
The freedom that automobiles afford travelers can help make some great memories, though perhaps at a price. Our interstate system is usually very well maintained and even long drives can be fairly comfortable, but the slower speed of travel tends to limit car travel to areas between the Eastern seaboard and the Appalachians. If you don't mind sitting in your automobile for an extended duration and enjoy thoughts of seeing the countryside along the way, car travel might definitely be for you. However, any highway traveler should keep a few things in mind. State turnpikes are often faster than the congested interstates but the tolls will definitely exact a price in return. The closer you are to urban areas, the more often the highway patrol will make its presence felt, so do yourself a favor and slow it down a little. If you are handling most of the driving duties, make sure to stay rested so you don't unnecessarily endanger yourself and your passengers. Also, a compass can be incredibly useful if you are making a trip for the first time, so long as you know the general direction in which you want to go. (If you don't, you probably shouldn't be driving in the first place.) Personally, I love traveling by car and do so as often as possible. For anyone who shares a similar passion or who just spends lots of time on the road, I say nothing can be so valuable as a membership to a road club, like AAA. Whether for the maps provided while planning your trip or for the emergency service in case your car breaks down, the reasonable membership fee is quickly repaid. Two final words of advice for the auto traveler - cell phone. Get one. (Okay, so that was four words. Pay them heed.)
Allow me a quick word on trains. By my experience, they are not worth using. As expensive as airplanes, as slow as cars, they don't have the advantages of either. Outside of the northeastern states, they really aren't used much anymore too. Trains are simply not very good these days. I will, however, grant three exceptions. First, the MARC train to Washington, D.C., from Penn Station is an incredible deal. $10.25 round-trip will take you straight into the heart of the nation's capital, five days a week. Second, the Orient Express. I'm not exactly sure where you can catch a ride aboard this train, but I know it ends up in Istanbul. Maybe it is slow, but for its sheer coolness alone, it demands to be ridden. Third, any bullet train. It must be much like riding a roller coaster for a few hours straight. Just don't try and open your window; the breeze is killer.
Once you get to your destination, you'll probably want to have some accommodations reserved - unless, of course, you prefer sleeping on a park bench, that is. There are a number of options available to college students traveling across the country, but we will concentrate on three - hotels, motels, and youth hostels. Hotels are essentially homes away from home. All of the conveniences of your dorm room (along with a nifty snack bar at your disposal) will be available to you, for a price. Hotels will generally cost you between $100-200 per evening and perhaps more in high season.
Motels are ubiquitous along highways, and generally offer decent nightly room rates, from $60-100 per night, and do not require reservations. The national motel chains offer very nice rooms and a few even offer some unexpected surprises. Most offer pay-per-view movies for viewing but only La Quinta Inns, which recently undertook a nationwide renovation project, have licensed the rights to offer pay-per-play Super Nintendo games in all of its motels. The best advice for dealing with motels and hotels is to check early and often for the best rates. Most chains have 1-800 numbers for customers to make reservations, but operators at these numbers rarely have details concerning any special offers the specific hotels might be offering. I suggest you identify a few hotels conveniently situated to your destination, obtain their local numbers from the 1-800 operators, and question the receptionists themselves about their rates. At the very least, hotels and motels will offer different auto club members 5-10 percent off advertised rates but quite often more substantial discounts will be available.
The third major option for student travelers is a youth hostel. Hostels can be found in all the world's major cities and usually offer far cheaper rates than comparable motels and hotels. True, they aren't what I would call the lap of luxury, but you don't go traveling to sit around in your room, do you? Well, alrighty then. Again, however, they are quite popular so I strongly encourage anyone interested to make arrangements early.
Time is, of course, a major factor which affects all other aspects of your voyage. How much time you can spend at your destination, be it a quick day or two or a relaxing week, largely decides what you can see, how long you spend there, how you get there in the first place, and, of course, whether you will have time to sample the local eateries.
No, wait, there's always time to sample the local eateries. If you only have a weekend to work with, any location within a few hours' drive is ideal. From Baltimore, an early riser can drive to Washington, New York, Philadelphia and all points in between with plenty of time to explore the city's best points. Shopping trips to Delaware (Can you say, "no sales tax," kids?) and the Pennsylvania outlet shops are easily within distance too. Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, Paramount Kings Dominion in Virginia, and Busch Gardens Williamsburg are among the amusement parks reasonably nearby. Within Maryland, some hidden gems are Catoctin Mountain Park in Western Maryland and the Stillridge Herb Farm in Woodstock.
Again, a little investigation will reveal some pleasant diversions all around us. Anyone one of these locations will provide a few good hours of entertainment without requiring much planning beforehand. I wouldn't suggest you go off anywhere without at least a little thinking ahead, but it could probably be done without much trouble, if the spirit does indeed move you.
A longer stay opens up far more options but demands just as much more from the traveler. A free week essentially allows you to go anywhere around the world by plane or to the Mississippi by car. It can be an excellent opportunity to explore a particular museum you've always wanted to see, hike through a world-famous nature reserve, or maybe just visit a few more Hard Rock Cafes (like the new one being built in Detroit). For every week of travel, allow at least 3-4 weeks ahead of time in order to make the appropriate arrangements. (http://www.expedia.msn.com is immensely helpful here) That way, you might see wherever your destination might be as it is meant to be seen, not as Bruno the Temperamental Tour Guide says it should be.
Finally, while remembering all the advice, just keep in mind why you are taking a trip in the first place. A little planning can go a long way, but tedious planning can place unnecessary constraints on your vacation and perhaps ruin all the enjoyment. Wherever you might end up, be it Tokyo, Oslo or even Towson, take advantage of everything available to you, soak the scenery in, and take a break from reality. Have fun and bon voyage.
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