5 Tips for Budget Travel

By Marina Krivonossova on July 19, 2018
Student studying

Everyone deserves a break after a school year of non-stop work

When you’re a college student, your priorities during the academic year tend to revolve around school, work, and more school. Sometimes you’ll get a free weekend to yourself, but at that point you’ll be so tired, all you’ll want to do is sleep. But then, after 9 months of the grind, summer is finally here and you’ll probably want to spend some time at your part-time job to make sure you have enough funds to cover general expenses, but you should also take advantage of your youth and travel.

People imagining what travel is like often envision extensive stays at pricey all-inclusive resorts consisting of full room service, an open bar, and five star dining. However, traveling doesn’t have to be expensive! As a college student, you should take advantage of these budget travel tips to enjoy your summer to its fullest.

1. Book all your reservations in advance. I can’t stress this one enough. The biggest mistake budget travelers make is starting to plan their vacation three weeks before they’re ready to go. If possible, start planning your trip half a year to a year in advance. Do extensive research of cheap airlines, best travel dates, and affordable hotels before you embark on your journey.

Travel is more fun with your bestie by your side

2. Bring a friend! Odds are, your best friend or significant other want to get out and see the world just as much as you do, and sharing the hotel room is bound to save both you and your travel companion some hard-earned cash. If you can’t find someone to accompany you, look into staying at a hostel. Not only are they cheaper than motels/hotels, but they’ll force you to be in close quarters with fellow travelers, thus making it easy to find new friends to hang out with at your location of choice.

3. Don’t rely on restaurants to be your main source of sustenance! So many places have grocery stores and farmer’s markets with incredible food choices, so regardless of whether the place you’re staying has a kitchen or not, you’re bound to be able to find a food that suits your fancy. Plus, have you heard of pay-what-you-can restaurants? What about restaurants that provide you with a nice meal in exchange for an hour or two of your time? Both of these are great options for a traveler on a budget who’s willing to spend some time interacting with locals while saving money.

4. Be a smart packer! This means don’t bring extra clothes “just because”, prepare for unexpected weather conditions, pack toiletries that may end up being more expensive to purchase at your travel destination, and bring along only carry-on luggage if you’re flying. Not only will packing smart help you save money, but it’ll also save you time (no running around grocery stores when you’re hit with an unexpected migraine, no struggling to find shorts when the weather is 110 degrees instead of the expected 70, etc.)

Your office doesn’t have to be an actual office — the world is your oyster

5. Consider traveling while working. With technology gaining as much prominence in people’s everyday lives as it is, finding a job online is easier than ever. You can work as a translator, graphic designer, survey taker, blogger, promoter, you name it — all from the comfort of your own home (or the comfort of a cafe in Paris, or the comfort of a beach in Thailand…) This means that if a need for an income is getting in the way of your budget travel plans, don’t be distraught — here’s the answer you were looking for! But, just as with anything else, do your research ahead of time, so you don’t end up depressed in a cafe in Paris with only a chocolate croissant to cheer you up.

Have money-saving travel tips you’ve learned on your own? Make sure to share with friends and family so that they, too, can be smart travelers!

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