Many students want to travel but are hesitant to do so out of fear of the costs involved. Not only are your student years a great time to travel and embrace adventure, but it also doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Here are some ways to cut back on travel expenses while still enjoying your travels to the fullest. In short, it is possible to travel on a student budget.
Plan in Advance
Bookings are often much cheaper when you make them ahead of time, whether it’s for transport, hotels, or activities. Start making your itinerary over two months before you travel and get your bookings in as soon as you can. Plus, your mind will be much more at ease traveling when you’re not worried about booking 10 things last-minute. You can simply relax and enjoy the experience.
Go off-season
As much as your university schedule will allow, try to book your travels for the off season. Different locations get tourists at different times of year but traveling during the holidays is usually the busiest. If you have a reading week built into your course, this might be a good opportunity for travel. Going off season means you will find more discounts, and you have the added bonus of shorter queues at popular attractions.
See also: How Students Can Save Money On Books
Stay in Hostels
Hotels are often not affordable for university students. AirBnBs can be pricey, too. Hostels are a much more affordable option. While they might not be the height of luxury, hostels offer you a safe place to sleep, and in some cases, they offer breakfasts and lockers to rent for your belongings. Hostels are designed for budget travelers and backpackers and can be a great place to meet like-minded people.
Pack Meals
Eating at restaurants is one of the fun parts of traveling, but it also tends to get expensive if you’re on a student budget. Packing easy snacks like granola bars and apples can keep your energy up while you’re on the move. Visiting grocery stores to cover at least some of your meals will help reduce costs.
Find free activities
Many areas have public places you can visit for free, such as museums and gardens. Investigate what’s available in the area you’re traveling to and schedule these activities as part of your plans. Having even part of your day in a free place can help offset costs. For the places that do have an entry fee, be on the lookout for student discounts, as they are often available.
There are plenty of ways to travel on a student budget while still seeing all the wonderful things this world has to offer.
See also: How To Do Christmas On A Student Budget
