College is a perfect time to travel and explore your home country or the world. And with some effort and decent planning, it doesn’t have to be expensive.
The majority of students have to live on a budget. Education is expensive, as well as accommodation and related disbursements. So when it is possible to save a couple of dollars, one should take such an opportunity, especially as there are much more efficient ways to spend those for students.
For example, access to high-quality homework help can be a lifesaver. For example, many students struggle with academic writing as a whole and lack time to complete all the assignments. Such professional services like WritePaper come in handy. This platform offers writing, editing, and proofreading of all types of college papers for students in need. Experienced authors can nail any assignment in almost no time. They also provide guidance and advice when it comes to academic writing.
So students can get the necessary help, build up their confidence, and keep up with deadlines. This also gives more free time to plan the next trip. And when it comes to saving money on that, here are some amazing tips.
Tips for Saving Money on Travel
Travel Off-Season
One of the most effective ways is to plan your trip off-season. This means going before or after the main crowd arrives. And you get to escape the tourist mayhem that takes place in popular destinations.
The majority of places are significantly cheaper off-season in terms of accommodation, flights, and attractions. You still get to enjoy the exploration and a beautiful place in peace.
Plan the Trip Ahead
The earlier you book flight tickets, the cheaper they will be. This is a ground rule for all adventurers. Also, if you opt for weekdays, you can save even more money.
Planning ahead gives other benefits as well. For example, you have more options in terms of choosing accommodation as it is not all booked yet. And you get to plan out the things you want to see and the approximate budget for it.
And you will have time to take on an additional gig and earn more funds if you see that what you have now is not enough for this particular trip.
Plan what you are going to see and on what days. For example, if there are two attractions right next to each other, you can do them in one day and save funds on going to the city.
Opt for Cheaper Accommodation
Besides transportation, accommodation is one of the most expensive parts of travelling. If you are on a budget, it is better to opt for affordable opportunities. They are less luxurious or convenient, but saving money is all about compromises.
This means:
- Staying in hostels instead of hotels;
- Checking free couch surfing opportunities;
- Looking for inexpensive Airbnb options;
- Living a bit further from the city centre.
The important part here is doing your research. When deciding on accommodation, carefully check reviews, legitimacy, and safety of the place. Safety is one thing you should not compromise on.
Create a Budget for a Week
A lot of times, unexpected disbursements pile up. It is hard not to get excited when you are in a new place and want to see and try everything. Tourist destinations are designed to make you spend more money, so it is important to stay cautious.
Create a budget of what you can spend in a week of a trip. This should include necessities like accommodation, food, and transport. You can also add an internet or phone connection to the list.
Make a budget for unnecessary but important and pleasant things – attractions, souvenirs, or events. Sometimes student vacations might not include all the existing attractions to see, which is completely normal. Prioritize what is a must for you and what is optional based on the money you are willing to spend.
For example, some might skip the shopping experience to visit an ancient archaeological site. Others might prefer it otherwise – do what is best for you.
Find Meal Deals
Students can find cheap supermarkets or meal deals to save money on eating out. You can research the best places to shop online and opt for affordable options. Also, check the student discounts available.
Before you head to a cafe or restaurant, check their prices online. So you can see whether you can or are willing to afford it. Look for places where a lot of locals eat – they are probably good and affordable. If the cafe has only tourists inside, it might be overpriced.
As you already have a budget for a week, base your nutrition on that. If your accommodation allows cooking at home, it is perfect. This will help save a decent amount of money. Try to prepare your own snacks for long trips if you are heading on an excursion, for example.
Also, cooking at home ensures you stick to your usual habits and can prepare healthier options. This is better than eating fast food for 10 days. There are plenty of fast and simple recipes to try, from sandwiches to oatmeal.
Use Student Discounts
This applies to meal deals and almost any part of travelling. If you are into international travel, it might be reasonable to apply for an ISIC – international student identity card. It ensures you can access all the available discounts wherever you go. There is also an ISIC app that shows the best deals around, which is incredibly useful. In the app, one can also create a virtual ISIC to access the deals.
Before making a purchase, ask about discounts. They usually apply to:
- Transportation;
- Some accommodation options;
- Attractions;
- Museums;
- Exhibitions;
- Amusement parks;
- Restaurants and cafes;
- Shopping and consumer products;
- Cinema;
- Gym;
- Airline tickets;
- Events, etc.
If you are travelling inside your country, you do not need anything else besides your usual student ID to ask for discounts. You can look for them online or ask when buying something directly. This is a great opportunity to significantly cut trip costs.
Use Public Transportation
This is an easy yet very effective tip. Instead of using a taxi, opt for public transportation. It is always cheaper and, in many cases, more convenient. Particularly, if you are going to bid city, the underground helps escape traffic jams.
And public transport like buses or trains has student discounts in the vast majority of cases, which makes it even cheaper. Yes, it might not be as fast and comfortable. But you can save money on logistics to visit another exciting place or buy something unique for yourself.
In Summary
On-budget travel is all about prioritization, planning, and thinking ahead. With these tips and a reasonable approach, students can explore the world without getting into debt. Plan your trip, decide on the budget, and always look for available discounts.
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