Traveling As A Student: How To Budget Properly

A lot of students support themselves throughout their degrees, leading many to believe that they absolutely cannot afford to travel. While traveling has the reputation for being expensive, it really doesn’t have to be that way. You can certainly make your dollar stretch using these budgeting tips and without sacrificing life-changing experiences. Here’s how to travel without breaking the bank.

Choose The Right Destination

Before you go anywhere, do your research. $100 won’t take you far in a day in Western Europe, it can last you for over a week in Southeast Asia. Going by airfare prices can be very misleading. You need to consider the cost of accommodation, transportation, and activities together to get a real idea of how much you’re going to spend on your trip. That way you can figure out which trip will end up costing you less.

Consider Volunteering

One of the biggest costs of traveling is the cost of your accommodation. If you choose to volunteer abroad, you can save yourself a lot of money on a place to stay while also going through a meaningful experience. This is a great way to get to know locals, learn about the culture past a surface level, and also give back to the community. It’s a win-win.

Plan Ahead Of Time

Flight prices vary dramatically, so it’s important to keep an eye on fares. Booking super early may not always get you the best price, but waiting until right before could end up costing you too. There are plenty of tools that calculate when the best time to buy a ticket is. Skyscanner Flight Alert helps you determine when the right time to buy is, giving you alerts to when a good price is available.

Look At Alternative Transportation

While taking airplanes and taxis are often the most efficient and convenient ways to travel, they can both get quite pricey. Plan ahead and see if you can take public transportation to and from airports as well as around the city you are visiting. You can also look into traveling from one area to another via trains or busses. While in the city, for shorter distances you can try to rent a bike.

Save On Sleep

While traveling, a lot of people think of hotels as their only option for accommodation. Get creative instead. Airbnbs are a great option, but you can save even more money by staying at a local hostel or even doing a homestay. There are a lot of different options to look into, so decide what you’re most comfortable with and see how much you can end up saving.

Check For Student Discounts

Have you heard about student cards? These special discount cards can save you money at over 125,000 places in 133 countries around the globe. Many university programs automatically offer these cards, but if not, you can get the International Student Identity Card (ISIC). Any place you visit, make sure you ask if they offer a student discount and make sure to have you ISIC ready to go.