Travel is expensive, and as a student can seem impossible. However, there are plenty of ways out there to save money and still have a wonderful experience traveling. Here are some tips to help you plan your next trip:
The first thing to think about when traveling is picking a time. When is the best (and cheapest) time to go? Well, honestly it depends on where you want to go to. Every place has an off-season, and all it takes to find that off-season is a simple google search. For example, Scotland’s off season is from November 1st to December 12th, California’s off-season is from November to February, and Mexico’s off-season is September. All discovered using the all-powerful Google machine; and don’t think that only applies to far-off places! There are nearby destinations too, like Boston, New York City and Philadelphia.
The next thing to think about is transportation. Plane tickets are especially expensive, and the best time to buy them is six weeks to two months in advance. Bus tickets on the other hand change according to the company you select. Megabus and Bolt are particularly good, both have one dollar tickets available if you catch them at the right time. The other option, of course, is driving yourself. Road trips are increasingly popular, and for good reason. Gas prices have gone down from the four dollars and change they used to be, and driving can be more fun than taking a bus. A thing to remember when driving is that budgets are important. You don’t want to get halfway to your destination and realize you don’t have enough money to go the rest of the way. Plan ahead, and check prices along the route you’re taking. Also, remember how expensive tolls are and prepare accordingly.
The third thing to think about is where you’ll stay. It’s good if you have family or friends you can stay with, but no one has family and friends everywhere--and sometimes you don’t want to stay with them. One option is of course, AirBnB. Prices are less, typically it’s a nice place, and they’re everywhere. If you don’t know what AirBnB is, look at their website, airbnb.com. If you don’t like the prospect of using AirBnB, then there are also comparison websites like Kayak and Priceline that can help you get the best deal. Another option that most people haven’t heard of is something called Workaway.
Workaway is a worldwide network of hosts and volunteers similar to AirBnb, except instead of paying cheaper prices for a place to stay, you find a host family and volunteer for them in exchange for free room and board for as long as you’re there. So in essence, all you have to pay for is travel expenses and anything you want to do while you’re there--meals are covered, and you have a place to stay, in exchange for something as simple as washing dishes and helping with the laundry. Their website is workaway.info. There is a small cost to sign up on their website as a volunteer, and then you can communicate with potential hosts and find one that works for you. Overseas travel especially becomes much easier as a result.
As a final note, there is a website that is every student traveler’s best friend: studentuniverse.com. It has reduced rates on plane tickets and places to stay, and once you sign up for a free account, you can set alerts for the deals you want at the times you want, and get an email if they’re found.
Have a great adventure!
