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Traveling Hacks for College Students

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at SJSU chapter.

Could it be just me who gets excited when approaching the airport? There’s something about being able to feel like I am going somewhere.

While I have traveled to three different states this year (some twice) and I honestly feel that I have learned a lesson each time I leave home and come back. Most people make the choice to get away to clear their heads, and relax but I look for other things to discover while traveling. It hasn’t been the best, but I have met some amazing people along the way.

From being thousands of miles in the air, to the difficult airport goodbyes it all becomes worth it in the end. Although it is difficult for college students to travel due to being in school from fall to spring, it leaves very little room in the summer for travel.Whether you are a student who works during the school year, or in the summer to make some extra cash, look into these travel hacks to save on your next adventure:

Airline Deals Galore

So you’ve already decided which city, state or country that you want to go to, how do you plan on getting there?

It can be helpful to look into major airline websites, however depending on the date or month that you travel it can be very costly. Flight deals tend to rise about 2 months prior to the date so plan ahead to get the best deals! As far as where to search for cheaper airline tickets, sites include Airfare Watchdog, The Flight Deal and  Cheaptickets.com. These sites can be used as a last resort when searching for cheaper flights.

Bonus: Be sure to avoid purchasing plane tickets in between Thursday-Sunday, notice that prices tend to climb higher.

Lodging is Important

Many hotels are known for gouging prices and some often have the same bulky look with either one or two beds.If you are looking to save a large amount of funds vs. spending what you may have left to from the cost of your airline ticket, it would be best to book a place through AirBnb.

This company which launched in 2008 and based in San Francisco helps others obtain more of a local experience depending on where you decide to stay. It seems sort of scary that you can type in the city or country that you may be looking to stay in at such a low cost, but it is definitely worth it.

AirBnb hosts will advertise their place, include amenities and past guests can leave reviews which would allow new visitors to decide if staying would be worth it. My only advice would be to do extensive research on the areas that you plan on staying in. It’s the closest thing to actually being a local in.

Be mindful in your searches and happy traveling collegiettes!

Photo Source: https://pixabay.com/en/luggage-old-old-suitcase-1482767/

Shellise West is the current campus correspondent at San Jose State University. Majoring in journalism with a minor in radio, television and film she plans to not fall short of fulfilling her dream as a sports reporter. A Bay Area native her hobbies include singing, dancing and listening to music. Follow Shellise on Twitter @SoulfulPenned.