molker

I assume that your daughter is under 26.

She is eligible to purchase a VorteilScard under 26. Available at most all railroad stations - she just fills out a short application and provides 2 photos I think.

Cost is 19,90 euro for one year .
It provides 50 % off on train tickets within Austria.

Great for travel on a budget

Barbara_in_CT

A good map of Vienna and a tourist's map of some of the other cities she will visit such as Budapest. Good guide books can come in handy. I like the Rick Steves' as well as Fodor's and Frommer's. (one is enough).

Lina

Maps are good but guide books are often available at the homestay or apartment, left over from previous students. We loaded my son up with books and it was a waste of space. He easily downloaded hostel info and Rick Steve's restaurant recommendations from the Internet.

I asked him about the mesh backpack lock I mentioned in a previous post and he said he didn't use it as much as he thought he would. Many hostels provide lockers, so only a lock is needed. He said a travel sheet and microfiber towel are essential and the pillow was nice (he lost his somewhere along the way but didn't replace it).

dutyfree

My son studied in Torino,Italy one semester and then Prague the next semester while my daughter spent a semester in Ortigia/Siracusa,Sicily.I would recommend "constant" money being put in their ATM accounts from home for various expenses;the digital camera; but definitely the guidebooks or a good European hostel book. Both of my kids lived in their own apartments and really used the guidebooks/maps for traveling. (My daughter wanted to go to Malta and Tunisia while in Sicily-was the only one in her group who had thought ahead and had the guidebooks.) My son had some major guidebooks(Lonely Planet Europe is great) but also a couple hostel books which he used quite a bit in his travels. English guidebooks are very expensive overseas and sometimes hard to find and both kids agreed that they were glad that they brought some-others were always trying to borrow them.Do remind her that sometimes a cheaper hotel is really a better deal than a hostel and alot safer for a girl!Using the internet is not always easy overseas in terms of fees and finding one that is open when you want it.One more thing-I would also make sure that she has a traveling backpack,the kind that holds everything so she can travel on the weekends with just that on her back on the trains,ferries or planes without a hassle.Be prepared when she comes home for her wanting to move back...........

PrincessOfPenguins

>> Do remind her that sometimes a cheaper hotel is really a better deal than a hostel and alot safer for a girl! <<

I disagree with this.

Hostels are usually full of like-minded young people who are more likely to look out for one another than not. "Cheaper" hotels are just that - a place where you can, for example, take your cheap date. As for "safer for a girl" - where do you think it's more likely her cries for help will be heard *and* people will actually help?

stardust

A personal gift, and it might take some preparation effort, but I'm quite sure she'll appreciate it a lot:

Make her a travel diary which she can fill in along her trip, and fill in some parts yourself: little messages, fill in people's birthday while she's away, little travel tips for Vienna here and there, a recipe of something typical from home, a nice picture, etc.
If she has the discipline to only look at it at the appropriate day, it will be a gift that lasts long.

The other pages she can fill in herself with memorable things she did, tickets of places she went, the occasional photograph, and in the end all her new friends can write her farewell messages in it.

I made a diary like that for my exchange in Barcelona and it's one of the dearest souvenirs I have!

CAPH52

I've been watching this thread because my daughter will be interning in Ireland next semester. I'm topping it in hopes of more responses! I'll probably post a thread of my own once we know for sure where she's going to be, what her living situation will be, etc. But for now, this post is giving me some good ideas!

Thanks, C3Baker!

BellaItalia

I am bookmarking this thread as there is lots of good info. and our son, now a college soph., is planning on studying abroad for the fall semester of 2007. He also is planning on going to Vienna.

C3Baker--has your daughter been to Vienna before? Our family spent 4 nights there in the summer of 2004 (coming from Germany and then onto Prague and Berlin)and loved it! In the summer months of July, August and Sept. (every night) they have this wonderful music festival (some live concerts and some on a big screen t.v.) in front of their beautiful flower-covered city hall. There are all kinds of food/beer booths set up.
I am sure your daughter will love Vienna!

cjacob

I studied abroad in Florence 2 years ago... I didn't have a travel "sheet" or blanket and really wish i did. I would also recommend a travel pillow, they're easy to bring with you and necessary for staying in hostels.

I would also suggest the Fodors travel book, the best cities in Europe, or something along those lines. It had the top 10-15 most visited cities in Europe, those she will probably be most likely to visit, and the guide book has tons of suggestions on all expense accounts. I also had Let's Go, Europe 2006, and I often cross referenced between the two books as Fodors was more upscale then Let's Go!

Another thing I wish I had but luckily my roommate did was a portable DVD player. Not that there is a lot of time to watch TV, but when you are in your apartment and just miss all things American, it's nice to be able to put in your favorite TV show or movie. Also, if you buy her a DVD player it will give other family members the chance to buy her DVD's, so presents will be easy for Christmas.

StephCar

Sorry if this is redundant, I did not read all the replies. But obviously a journal. Also an empty address book that is small for her to add the addresses of all the new friends she is going to make. I used scraps of paper that were eventually lost. Def. extra memory cards for her digital camera. Also, a can opener, bottle opener and wine opener. Even if she doesn't drink alcohol they come in handy for travel, opening fruit cans or old fashioned sodas that you still find in Europe that require bottle openers. I probably bought a million of these on my European trips, esp. as a study abroad student!!! Books are heavy, but I got one of those Let's Go books and ripped it apart by country, that way, when I travelled I only took the country I needed and left the rest behind, then threw it away eventually so it did not take up souvenir space. Speaking of, an extra bag for souvenirs is great, she will find lots of things to bring home for her awesome parents that gave her such a great opportunity.

dutyfree

Hey Princess of Penguins-both of my kids felt that some of the less expensive hotels were a way better deal than hostels especially when there might be 4 in a room with several beds to share the price .(Think B and B or guestroom?)Hostels aren't always that cheap or safe! I think that my son who is a world traveler best summed it up-"when I opened my hostel bed and found bloody sheets,I knew I couldn't stay there." On a personal note-I "hosteled" through Europe many years ago and even then you had to sleep with your passport and money under your pillow in case of them being stolen. Some hostels and cities are great but others are not that great or safe.Same premise as the Eurorail pass maybe worthwhile or the cheaper airlines might be a better deal when you figure out time and effort?
C3 Baker-forgot to add that "space bags" are wonderful for traveling and can now be bought at Walmart.

PrincessOfPenguins

dutyfree - I've never had any problems with hostels when it comes to things like safety or cleanliness. I was once "stuck" having to go to a cheaper hotel because the hostel was full. I could have taken some veeery interesting photos there, though I probably would have gotten shot

MaureenB

The great thing about study abroad is being able to travel on the weekends. I'd minimize the amount of 'stuff' your daughter is expected to keep track of, in favor of travel money for her adventures.

I have heard hostels in Italy can have really filthy bedding, but Austria is so impeccably clean, it could be a different world there.

In Florence, my daughter was able to connect with a group which offered many package trips for the students. It was a group that socialized together while in Florence, too, so she was able to hear about other students' travels and their recommendations. It was a great network of info. and resources for her. She even won a couple of free trips in contests they hosted. At least two group trips she took were to Capri, and skiing in Switzerland. She said it was much cheaper to ski with the group than trying to go with one friend or two.

I'll bet your daughter's school will know of similar travel groups for the students in Vienna.

So, I think the idea of travel money is a great one.
>-

suze

If you give her everything everyone suggests, you'll need to buy her an extra suitcase to put it all in!!

I know I already had my vote, but traveling light is the aim, not a bunch of stuff to take along. I would never buy someone something as personal as a journal. Maybe she wants to use one maybe not. For me I take notes in a series of little 3x5 spiral notebooks only.

You said she has luggage, but is one piece of a small size, like a day pack or messenger bag, something that could be used for long weekend traveling, but smaller than a normal suitcase perhaps.

AuntAnnie

c3baker:
My daughter is currently studying in Freiburg, Germany and having a wonderful experience. We are talking over the computer using www.skype.com. It is a free download and our connections are crystal clear. She also has a piccellwireless phone, which is great for my peace of mind, but our connections have been hit and miss. If she is bringing a computer with her, I would make sure she has a microphone and earphones so you can communicate this way if you choose to.
Good luck! Safe Journey for your daughter!

steph_007

Skype is great for travelling - and msn messenger but I think facebook is taking over these days! For something material and nice have a look at Scarlett's travel charm http://www.scarlettjewellery.com/Tra...0-p-1-c-6.html

I think one side can be engraved which is pretty cool.

Passerine

Hi Steph, I will give you the benefit of the doubt and not assume you joined Fodors simply to promote Scarlett's travel charm on a nearly three-year-old post. Advertising is NOT allowed on Fodors and is just plain tacky.

But even if your intention was honorable, note taht the OP's daughter completed her semester in Vienna two years ago.