8 Budget Travel Tips for Student Travelers

Think you can’t afford to travel? Well, think again! Traveling doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive, you just have to do some research before planning a trip. After being on so many trips, I’ve learned how to stretch a dollar. The most important thing is to learn some budgeting tricks and you will be good to travel the world for nothing. Trust me, if this has worked for me so far, this will absolutely work for you as well! As a college student, you would want to save every bit of money that you can, but still, have the time of your life! I’m I correct?

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Top 8 Budget Travel Tips

• Volunteer

Believe it or not, there are many organizations that need volunteers. Depending on your field of study, you can have even more opportunities.  For instance, if you are in the medical field, organizations are always looking for volunteers like you! Most of the time volunteering organizations will pay for your accommodations, so why not get it for free?
Not only does this save you thousands of dollars but you will have a great experience under your belt.

• Couch Surfing

Many of you probably haven’t heard or tried this service before but it becomes useful when you are traveling on a budget.  Make sure you do read reviews before booking with a fellow couch surfer. Not only do you get to stay in a fellow surfer’s home for free but you also meet new people and explore the world while you are at it!

• Sleep Cheap

Like always I recommend Airbnb for everything. You usually have more then what a Hotel can offer and is cheaper than a Hotel. If you want $40 off your first booking with Airbnb click on my link here. Airbnb has so many different options from sharing a room to having an entire place for yourself. The hosts which are usually locals give you amazing advice as to where to eat, explore, and etcetera. This is just a great service overall and the best thing is that their app is user-friendly!

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• Select your Destination Carefully

This usually is what determines how much you will spend. Travel newbies let airfare determine their destination but that can be a mistake.  Why? Look at it this way, in France, you cannot stretch $100 but in Southeast Asia, $100 can last you about a week!
Make sure you take into account accommodation costs, travel, activities, and the cost of transportation.
Yes, Southeast Asia’s airfare can be much more expensive than France’s but in the long run, Southeast Asia will be cheaper.  You need to take into account hotel rooms, excursions, and food. Don’t forget to consider all the costs before you make a decision as to where you want to travel.

• Create Free Layovers

When you are booking flights, make sure to upgrade to have a layover just so you can cross another destination off your list and for free! There are many airlines that will allow you to do a free layover in their hub city. One of them is Iceland, many of you know how expensive Ice Land is, so take advantage of the free layover with Icelandair. Others include Tokyo with Japan Airlines, Dubai with Emirates, Singapore with Singapore Air, Bangkok with Thai Airways, among other amazing destinations!

• Plan Ahead

As you know, flight prices are constantly changing and airlines do this on purpose.  Booking early might not always be the best option and certainly not last minute either! Last-minute bookings are usually more expensive because airlines know that business travelers always book late.

There are two tools that I love which are Hopper and Skyscanner. All you have to do is enter the flight information you are looking for and it sends you alerts when prices change, so you can easily track it. Once you receive a low price alert, book your flight immediately because prices can change so fast!

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• Consider Alternative Transport

Look into public transportation options to get from the airport to the city, in order to save money. Taking planes and taxis everywhere during your vacation can be pricey!
For traveling short distances consider renting out citywide bike-sharing programs which can be an affordable way to travel and fun at the same time. Trains seem to be the cheapest way to travel to most places around Europe and other parts of the world, as well as buses and ride-sharing options.

• Find Student Discounts

Don’t forget to take your Student ID everywhere because some restaurants and excursions give student discounts by just showing them a college ID.
Besides this Student Cards are going to be your best friend! You can get discounts at 125,000 places in 133 countries around the world! Isn’t that amazing! Not to mention, it also hooks you up with 35 percent discount on Eurail and flash sales on transatlantic flights!
Make sure you research into the International Student Identity Card (ISIC).

If you have any other questions regarding budget-saving tips for traveling, don’t hesitate in contacting me.