As any broke college student who just wants to see the world, I know how frustrating it can be when you are limited on funds to make said experiences happen. However, there are some tidbits I have picked up on that can save you some money if you are ballin’ on a budget like me.
1) ‘Schedule’ layovers for long flights- This one is a little tricky so I will use a personal example to help explain. I used to go to school in Oahu and I am from Ohio, so as you can imagine, this is a fairly expensive flight. If you look on most sites, a round trip from Cleveland to Honolulu, usually ranges from $1,100-$1,300. One-ways usually begin at $700. So instead, I would book a flight into somewhere roughly halfway from Ohio to Hawaii (usually LA) for no more than $275 round trip, then book a flight from that location to Honolulu for usually $350-$400. That right there (at most) is $675! That’s almost half the cost of a regular flight.
*There are a couple things to note from this example: 1) As I mentioned I was going to school, so my round trip dates were roughly mid August-mid December and late January-early May. That can cause some fluctuation in pricing. 2) This does require more planning as you will need to schedule flights accordingly. 3) I tend to travel light so if you bring a lot of luggage, it may be a little costlier for you.. But you will still save a great deal!
2) Skyscanner- If you are flexible in dates and even location, Skyscanner is a great site to use to browse cheap flights. With one search, users can compare costs from the entire month. My favorite feature is that you can look up which month would the ‘Cheapest Month’ to fly to your destination and compare prices within that month.
3) Ditch the luggage- Eliminating excess baggage (especially if you are using the tip from my first example) can save a decent amount. Flights usually allow one free bag so find a decent backpack or duffel bag, or even small rollaway luggage, and pack lightly! As well as saving you some cash at check in, it will be much more convenient if you are moving around from place to place.
4) Consider other modes of transportation. As silly as it may seem, taking the Amtrak or MegaBus, for example, is a serious cost effective way to travel. Bringing your own car isn't always an option, nor is it always convenient in a new city, so taking a bus or train can prove to be a great alternative. Use that time you have on the train to rest up for your day or admire the scenery along the way!
5) WWOOF- A great way to really get emerged in a culture is to get involved in WWOOF. WWOFis a volunteer program where participants work on an organic farm in exchange for free housing for the duration of their stay. So, if you don't mind spending some time giving back, ‘woofing’ can be extremely insightful as you will get first hand experiences in the culture.
6) Travelpirates- This is another personal favorite search site of mine. These guys take the pain out of searching endlessly for the perfect vacation by doing the job for you! They compile flights, hotels, rental cars, etc. into one affordable destination package! Best part is the site is completely free. This is also great for those who are flexible in dates and location.
7) Live like a local- Sure, those touristy spots can be fun and all, but they are definitely quite costly! Especially when it comes to sleeping arrangements. Take advantage of Air BNB or even a hostel (research research research!). Visit local restaurants, bars, and attractions for an authentic experience that will not kill your wallet.
8) Look into credit card rewards programs- I just signed up for my first credit card early June. It's now early September and I have already earned enough ‘rewards points’ through my credit card to pay for a round trip flight. This program was a huge incentive for me to sign up for a card- it's something my bank had been doing for years but I had no idea until as of recent!
Hope this helps my fellow traveling friends out
