As a student, you get plenty of breaks during your university years that present you with a chance to travel. However, travelling on a student’s budget is not easy. From rising air-ticket costs to food and accommodation expenses, there is a lot to consider. Which can make travelling on your own or with friends nearly impossible.
But don’t worry, this article is here to make the impossible, possible. I’ve included tips that can help you travel not just to domestic locations but international while on your low budget.
Get travel insurance
Students disregard insurance thinking they don’t need it or it’s “too expensive.” This is one of the biggest mistakes they make while travelling. For instance, if you are a Canadian resident, you want to get the best travel insurance Canada can offer so you can cover yourself in case of an accident while on your trip. Not just that but cancellations, stolen passports, and lost baggage also. Think of insurance as a safety net that protects you and your bank account because there are many uncertainties when you travel abroad.
While travel insurance might look expensive at first, paying for medical attention because you break your leg while out of your country can be way more expensive.
Look for budget airlines
No matter where you plan on going, you can find budget airlines that can help you save a couple of hundred dollars when flying internationally. When you reach your destination, if you plan on travelling domestically, do the same or opt for a bus instead.
Know when to travel
There is a trick to finding cheaper accommodation and airline tickets, travel in the middle of the week and plan ahead of time. When flying, you also find that the red-eye flight is usually cheaper so you can look out for those if you want even more savings. You also want to consider going to locations in the off-season. For example, if you are planning on going to New Zealand, don’t go during your winter break which would be summer there.
Travel in a group
When travelling in a group of 4-6, you can save up quite a lot of money on travelling costs. You can share a room, meals, and possibly even find discounted airline tickets for purchasing for a group. You also have the option to rent an Airbnb rather than hotels, there are numerous locations all around the world on the platform for homes, which may be cheaper than a lot of hotels.
Stay near but outside the city
To save money on accommodation, look for areas in the outskirts of the city. Living in the city center is always more expensive so find something on the outskirt so that you can easily travel to and from the city.
Don’t spend money on international roaming
Why pay for international roaming on your current cellphone carrier and rack up your bills when you can just buy a local sim at the destination you travel to? You can find reasonable priced postpaid packages that will save you a lot of money.
Take advantage of your currency
It makes travelling a lot easier when you opt for a country whose currency is lower than yours. You find many countries globally that have less value than the American or even the Canadian dollar which makes travelling less costly for you.
Find free activities
Do some research on the destination before you head out. Look for famous parks, museums, and other activities that may be free. As far as museums go, many have either discounted prices for students or a specific time slot when people can visit for free.
Never eat at restaurants in tourist destinations
As a student, you should limit eating out as much as you can. But when you do, never eat at locations known to be hot tourist spots. They charge you more for the location than the food. Instead, look for locations that are hidden within the area far from tourist spots, the food will be cheaper and quite possibly better.
Look for student discounts
A lot of countries offer student discounts on things like tourism cards and transportation. Do your research before you head out so that you are aware of any discounts you can get while on your trip. This is one simple way to take advantage of being a student.
Have a budget in mind and stick to it
It can’t be stressed enough that if you want to keep your cost of travelling low then you need to rigorously plan and stick to it. You may be tempted to spend a little extra on shopping or going to a concert that may be happening. However, if you haven’t already budgeted for it, try to avoid additional expenses at all cost. Before you buy anything on your trip you need to ask yourself the big five questions that will help you determine if the expenditure is right for you.
Don’t forget these tips by writing them down and good luck out there students!
Author’s Bio:
Natasha is an avid traveler who aspires to see as many countries and cultures as possible. Her adventures have taken her from the Great Pyramid of Giza to the stunning waterfalls of Venezuela. With so much more to see, she enjoys sharing her life’s greatest experiences and travel tips to fellow adventurers.
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