By the time spring break hits, everyone’s exhausted and ready to take a break and go on vacation. After a long start to the semester, everyone needs a little getaway. As a college student, money can be tight, and booking a luxurious vacation usually isn’t within the budget.
Whether you are staying local or hopping on a plane to head somewhere grand, you’re always going to want to get the most you can with your money. Where should I go on vacation? Where should I book my flight? How much money do I have to spend on this trip? Where do I even start with booking a trip? No matter how you answer those questions, I’m here to tell you, it is possible to book a super fun and relaxing trip on a small budget. Here are some tips and tricks to make your spring break a memorable one.
Tip #1: The days you travel actually matter
You might not know it but the days you fly actually play a role in the price. Based on research, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are often the cheapest days to fly. Making a quick change to the day you leave can save you hundreds of dollars on flights.
Tip #2: Book the trip even if you aren’t all in yet
We usually find ourselves waiting to book the flights until plans are entirely set in stone, however, you could miss out on a good price. Any flight within the U.S. that is booked directly on the airline’s site can be canceled with a full refund within 24 hours of booking. This is a game changer if you aren’t 100% sure if you’re ready to jump the gun and book the flights.
Tip #3: Start your search on Google Flights
It’s hard to know where to start when booking flights for a trip. One of the best tips I can give you is to just start scrolling on Google Flights. It allows you to set different filters to get your flights from multiple airlines. Being flexible with flight days and times allows you to save money in the long run.
Tip #4: ALWAYS book a car from a ride-share marketplace
Rental car companies like Enterprise, Hertz, or Avis can be a total rip-off if you aren’t over the age of 25. They hit you with all these fees that start to add up. My biggest suggestion is to use a ride-share app like Turo to rent a car for your vacation. You can rent reliable and safe cars for maybe even less than $20 for the day.
Tip #5: Book on Airbnb or VRBO
If you are planning on staying somewhere for more than just a couple of days or you have a larger group of people planning to travel with you, I would suggest booking your stay with Airbnb or Vrbo. This would allow you more space and to split the costs with others.
Tip #6: Find free things to do
There are plenty of free activities to do when traveling anywhere. This might be heading to a beach or sightseeing in the area. Local parks, free attractions or museums or even going on a hike are all great ways to save money and still have a good time. Even going window shopping around town is a great way to see the city you’re in and not spend any money.
Tip #7: Follow your itinerary
Another way to ensure you follow your budget is by creating an itinerary and sticking to it. Planning your days with things you are doing or places you are eating will make it easier to save money on your trip. What excursions or sightseeing activities do you want to do? TripAdvisor and Yelp are great resources for helping you find activities that will make your trip memorable.
Whether you are hopping on a plane to somewhere tropical or staying near home, you can make a worthwhile trip on a friendly budget. With a little research and budgeting, you can plan your perfect trip. Vacations are meant to be relaxing and fun, so enjoy!