Traveling Cheap When You’re a Student – Here’s How You Do It

Perhaps the only time in your life that you’re not ashamed to be broke more often than not is when you’re a student. It’s expected of a college student to be poor, to live from day to day, and to scrounge for money to spend on themselves or their friends. As long as you’re not neck deep in debt, it does not matter that you have very little money to spend. But then, when you want to travel and explore the world or your country during breaks and vacations, you need money to do so. And so you save up for a vacation, hoping to travel on a budget and praying that you’re able to do so. Well, you can, and all it takes is a little bit of planning ahead and researching your trip options thoroughly. Here’s how you can travel on a student budget:

* Book your tickets well in advance: The sooner you book air tickets and hotel rooms, the less you have to pay for them. Alternatively, you could consider driving to a location that is not too far away in order to save some money. A group of friends in a car sharing all the expenses is definitely a cheaper way to enjoy your vacation rather than flying to an exotic destination and putting a hole in your pocket by doing so.
* Choose hotels with care: As much as possible, try and find free accommodation, like student hostels or the homes of friends. Some people have vacation homes in popular tourist locations, so ask if you can take advantage of their generosity. If nothing is available, choose budget hotels that include a complimentary breakfast. Check how many of you can cram into a room and minimize the number of rooms you rent. After all, you’re not going to be using your room for anything other than sleeping.
* Carry as much food as you can: Eating out is the costliest part of any vacation, so if you’re planning to stay for just a few days, it makes sense to carry your own food, especially if you’re travelling by car. Use a small microwave or stove to heat soups and other canned food or to toast bread and make some eggs. Brew your own coffee rather than spend exorbitant amounts to buy cups from Starbucks. And carry your own snacks to tide you over a trek or some other sporting expedition.
* Go easy on the booze: Well, this may not work well if you’re a college student and really looking forward to letting your hair down during the break. But if you really want to save some money, don’t drink too much and enjoy your vacation much more because you’re sober.

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