Eat, Sleep, Breathe, Travel

So you DON'T want to travel this summer?

Ok, we get it. There's always a reason not to travel. But come on, is staying home this summer really a better option than travel? Let's look at this carefully. 

You could be checking out this view of the Swiss Alps-

Or you could be checking out the last 5 seasons of your favorite TV show on Netflix. 

You could be cruising around Capri- 

Or you could be cruising your neighborhood pool. 

You never know who you'll meet while traveling. You COULD meet the love of your life underneath the Eiffel Tower. 

Or you could hang out with the same people, doing the same things, at the same places. 

You could have an amazing adventure and come back to school in the fall with tons of great stories.

Or you could just stay home this summer. That's cool too.

Meet Betsy, Carley, Abby, and Morgan. They're a few of the people waiting to answer all your questions and get you booked on a trip! We're here til midnight EST making sure you're good to go before prices increase tomorrow. Give us a call at 800-766-2645, or chat with us. Ready to book? Get started here.

Crazy Snow Sights Around the World

This winter has been pretty intense already, and it's not even February. There's been record breaking cold and snow across the U.S. and around the world. Here are some of the best images of snowy moments around the world this winter. 

1. This month, Paris was covered in roughly four inches of snow...a rare sight for the gorgeous city. More photos here. 

via Buzzfeed

via Buzzfeed

 

2. Right now in Russia, it's cold. Like end of the world type cold. Like cold enough to turn boiling water into snow in under 5 seconds. Don't believe me? Check it out. 

 

3. The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in China. No words.

 via via boston.com

via bbc.co.uk 

Check out more amazing shots here.

4. On the first Monday of January a major snowstorm sent most of Tokyo indoors, but even this blizzard couldn't stop the annual Coming of Age ceremony. Many of the women arrived on foot in their classic long-sleeved formal kimono called asfurisode and zori sandals. One woman said of the snowy ceremony "I've looked forward to to this day since I've been in elementary school. Right now I'm cold and my feet are wet, but I vowed that nothing would stop me from attending." Check out the full article here. 

From Camels to Engagements: Trip Highlights from our Bloggers

Over the last few weeks, we sent three of our New Year’s travelers to Europe armed with iPhones to document all their experiences. We got to follow along with their amazing sight seeing, delicious meals, and even the little silly moments on tour. Ever wanted to see what the day-to-day of life on an EFCB tour looks like? Now’s your chance. Here are some of the memorable moments straight from Jeff (London and Paris), Rolando (Berlin, Prague, and Munich), and Roseanne (Spanish Fiesta). To see their complete journeys, visit www.efcollegebreakstories.tumblr.com.

 

This was Rolando's first sight upon arriving at the airport in Europe. Welcome. A great start to the trip. 

First stop in London: gotta check out the Big Ben. Jeff got some amazing views from atop the London Eye. 

Some people ride horses for fun. EF College Break travelers ride camels. No big deal. Roseanne says camel riding needs to be on everyone's bucket list. 

 

Jeff's favorite sight was definitely the Eiffel Tower, and could not take enough pictures of it! Plus, Jeff's cousin he was traveling with got a special surprise here... her boyfriend popped the question! Getting engaged under the Eiffel Tower.. that one goes down in the EFCB record books. 

On Rolando's final night, they enjoyed some local food (and local brews) while enjoying his group's company. He said that even though they started the trip as strangers, everyone became extremely close while traveling. 

 

Roseanne's group was also very sad to leave each other at the end of their trip, so they spent their last night together enjoying a fun night in. They cooked dinner in their apartment-hotel, and had a night full of food, local wines, pictures, and group superlatives! 

 

Again, I definitely encourage you to check out Jeff, Rolando, and Roseanne's trips. They dished on all the details in their own words, as it was happening. Are you interested in spending New Year's 2014 traveling? Right now all New Year's trips are $200 off until February 1st. Next year, you'll be the one having these adventures. 

Beat the Mid-January Resolution Slump

It's that time again. We're halfway through January and almost everyone is heading back to school. In the midst of all the unpacking, catching up with friends, and readjusting to campus life, New Year's Eve seems like a distant memory. It was only two short weeks ago we were proclaiming over a glass of champagne that "this year will be DIFFERENT!" We made great claims of getting into shape, getting organized, being nicer to our parents. But now here we are eating cheese puffs in our sweats while watching endless Law and Order marathons. 

But not anymore. It's time to get back on track. Here are four apps to keep those resolutions going strong til 2014.

Eat healthier and get in shape with My Fitness Pal

This app takes the guess work out of counting calories and calculating how far you need to run to burn off last night's pizza. The simple design allows you to easily document what you've eaten (including exact menu items at thousands of popular restaurants) and will calculate how many calories you're consuming and how many calories you're burning. The app also gives you estimates on how long it'll take to reach your goal weight.  

Organize your life with Evernote 

Evernote is one place you can keep EVERYTHING. Store lists, quick thoughts, voice memos, and photos all in one place. The best part? It goes beyond your phone, as your account is accessible from your desktop and tablet. So if you're in class, on a run, at work, or in bed you can set a calendar reminder to buy your mom a birthday gift. 

Keep track of your finances with Mint

The beauty of Mint is it allows you to be super lazy with your budgeting. You don't need to add every expense manually.. Mint handles that for you. All you have to do is set your budget for every category (rent, loans, clothes, Netflix, food, travel, bar tabs… whatever YOU spend money on) and Mint will keep track of your spending within those categories. If you're coming close to your limit, they'll let you know. This prevents you from overspending, but also makes sure you ARE spending enough money on the fun things where you've allotted a budget. 

Travel more and stay on budget with My Travel Assistant 

Obviously our favorite New Year's Resolution is to travel more. Before you head out on a big trip, or while planning and budgeting, download this app to keep track of finances. Best part? It automatically converts local currency to USD. Another perk is the built in translator to help you easily communicate wherever your travels take you. 

EF College Break Stories

Ever wonder what the day to day life of an EF College Break traveler looks like? Follow our bloggers as they fill you in on everything from the food, to the sights, to the tour group shenanigans. 

Check out their stories here!