Whether you’re trying to get away for the weekend or trying to make a whole month trip out of your getaway, it’s important to every college student to save as much money as possible. When traveling you want to know the best ways to travel from place to place, the best places to stay in each city you go, and the best experiences to have while you are vacationing where you are.
Quick Getaway
If you’re planning on going away for a weekend, the trick is to do your research. How far are you willing to drive for a weekend away? What do you want to do when you get there? Even just driving 2-3 hours away from where you live can open up a world of new experiences for you.
If you live close enough to the beach where you could get away for the weekend, try a new sport! Some surf shops and clubs will offer cheap weekend lessons for first timer groups (and hey, you might meet a cute surf instructor!). If you live close enough to a mountain, try skiing or snowboarding. Everywhere you can escape to for a weekend can offer endless possibilities or new experiences, all for pretty cheap!
World-Traveler
When traveling across the world, especially if you’re going for an undetermined amount of time, hotels can get very pricey. Instead of opting to throw out the big bucks, try looking for hostels. Websites like www.hostels.com or www.hostelbookers.com can show you great hostels in your country of choice, with hundreds to choose from. You can get a room to stay in for as cheap as $10.00 a night depending on which country you are staying in! While you may be sharing a room with another person (or two) it’s a great way to meet fellow travelers, exchange stories, and get tips on where you should go next.
Eating is a very important part of traveling, with new countries comes new delicacies! Restaurants may seem like the only choice, but they may offer expensive and small meals. The smart and cheap choice for filling your belly is food carts. The carts on the sides of the roads may offer the same kinds of foods the restaurants do, but won’t make as big of a dent in your wallet.
Sometimes you find a place you really like, and you’ll want to stay there for longer than a hostel will be comfortable for (think a couple weeks to a month or two). In those cases, there are great programs called “workstays” which are homes, farms, and families that have extra rooms for you to stay in, as long as you help out with whatever they need around their property. You could be doing anything from gardening and farm work, to nannying and cooking. For a few days of help and work throughout
the week, you’ll get free room and board, and most of the time free food. They’ll even give you 2-3 days off a week to explore the city. I’ve found the website www.workaway.info to be the best for meeting families and organic farmers that need help. With just a little research, you’ll find great places to stay for longer amounts of time in any country around the world!
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
One of the biggest ways you’ll pay out the big bucks is through the actual travel part of your trip. If you’re only traveling a certain distance, taking the train can be a great way to save money. It could be a long ride, but saving those extra dollars means having more money at your actual destination, and hey, taking the long way around is part of the experience!
There are times when you’ll have to take the alternate route and hop on an airplane. By flying the well-known commercial airlines you’re going to end up overpaying dramatically. Depending on when and where you’re flying, you can find amazingly low flights on alternative, less-known airlines. Websites such as www.whichbudget.com can save you up to 80% on flights by using the not as well-
known airlines. Be careful though; make sure you know exactly which airport you’re flying in and out of since these alternate airlines may use smaller airports. As long as you check and make sure you know where your flight takes off from and lands, saving a couple hundred bucks is definitely worth it. And as always, make sure you read the fine print!
Traveling is a great way to expand your horizon. You get to see new places, meet new people, and have experiences that you may never have again. And as a college student the best way you can do that is have the most fun you can while saving the most money. While we’re here, it is important to have as much fun as we can because we may never have these chances again. So don’t be afraid to take that last minute trip to Mexico, that study abroad program in Australia, or some time off after you graduate to backpack through Europe. You’ll only get these chances once, and like the saying goes, “Youth isn’t forever. Don’t waste it.”
Photos:
college-financial-aid-advice.com
blog.americanfeast.com
dksk.org
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Maggie Hilty is a junior at the University of Oregon working towards a degree in Public Relations and Communication. She looks forward to traveling as much as possible after graduation, and then looking for a job in event and product promotion. Originally from Portland, OR, Maggie enjoys escaping up there when she can to be with family and friends, as well as finding any weekend she can to get to the beach. She loves being outside in the sun (when it comes out in Eugene), painting, and just getting to hang out with her friends. Follow Maggie on Twitter at @mahilty.