When we travel, we have an opportunity to fundamentally change the way we interact with local people and get to know their culture. How?

By learning their language.

When we travel as tourists, we are simply observers, forever on the outside looking in. We typically don’t participate in day-to-day local life, and we are never mistaken for locals when the limited extent of our interaction is ordering food or visiting local attractions.

Read more: The Value of Learning a Foreign Language

Planning a trip to one of Europe's top destinations this summer? If so, here are some ways to save money with our budget tips for 20 top European cities. 

1. London - Eat for cheap in London's pubs
As eating out in London can be expensive at the best of times, if you're with somebody else and are about to get something to eat, keep an eye out for traditional English pubs doing 'two for one' deals. With these promotions you can get two meals for as little as £6.95.

Read more: Save Money in Europe

Probably the best overall strategy for coping with the various manifestations of culture shock is to make a conscious effort to adjust to the new culture. Here are some suggestions on how to make yourself feel more at home in your new surroundings:

Get involved in some aspect of the new culture.
Whether you study art or music, or learn a new sport or martial art, being an interested student will make a world of difference.

Read more: Coping With Culture Shock

Life as a student can be pretty stressful – especially when it comes to money. There are tuition fees to pay, text books to buy, rent and food costs – the list goes on. Many students take on a part-time job while they study in order to make a bit of extra cash. What most students don’t know, however, is that they can apply for a tax refund of the tax they pay on those extra earnings when the tax year ends.

Read more: Tax Refunds for Students at Home and Abroad

One of the industries that are still doing well despite the current economic crisis is the travel industry. The reason for this is perhaps, experienced travelers have already learned to be budget-conscious, finding out ways to slash their expenses during the travel. Mind you, traveling on a low budget won’t hold you back from enjoying your vacations.

If despite the recession, you are still interested in exploring wonderful places around the world, make sure you’ll consider ways to help you minimize your travel expenses. Below are 5 tips for the budget-conscious traveler:

Read more: 5 Tips for the Budget-Conscious Traveler