Traveling is something that everyone wants to experience, especially your college students. However, one of the biggest hindrances that students have to deal with is a low budget. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has also stopped everyone from experiencing the joy of traveling.
Though traveling might be a little challenging when you are on a tight budget, it can be extremely enjoyable and adventurous if you do it right. Therefore, today I will tell you seven incredible budget-friendly travel tips that will allow you to have some incredible experiences without breaking the bank. So, read on to learn more.
Choose Your Destination Wisely
When it comes to budget traveling, one of the most important aspects is the destination. A trip to some places like Paris or London will cost a lot more than someplace like Laos, Indonesia, Morocco, or Pakistan.
The money you spend in a day in big cities will get you through an entire week at a budget-friendly destination. Therefore, if you want to travel on a budget, try to take the road less traveled, and find an affordable destination that offers everything you want.
For instance, if you want an incredible beach vacation, you should visit destinations like Jamaica, the Bahamas, or Aruba instead of heading to Hawaii or Tahiti. Similarly, if you want to experience ancient cities and architecture, head to places like Turkey or Croatia instead of Paris.
Similarly, no matter what kind of destination you want to visit, there are some budget options out there. You have to do a little research and find them.
Find Affordable Accommodation
One of the most significant expenses, when you’re traveling to another country, is accommodation. It can cost quite a bit to stay at a hotel or resort, which can take out a significant chunk from your travel budget.
Therefore, you should try to find some affordable accommodation when you are traveling on a budget. The best option for students is to look for a youth hostel. These hostels are incredible; they are affordable, and you can meet many interesting people there and learn a lot from them.
Many people have a misconception that these travel hostels are overcrowded and uncomfortable. However, in reality, they are quite comfy. Most hostels even have WIFI and organize travel activities that you can take part in. However, some hostels can get a little noisy, so getting a pair of earplugs is a good idea. Check out Doctor, where you can get simple earplugs, earplugs for dogs, and many other things related to your auditory health.
Apply for a Scholarship or an Exchange Semester Program
If you are a student, you can travel for free. That’s right, by applying for an exchange semester, you can get a chance to travel to a different country and stay there for a semester.
Exchange semesters allow you to study in some of the world’s best institutions and experience different cultures in an immersive way.
If you get selected for a student exchange program, all of your travel expenses are paid for, from your flight to your accommodation and meals. Moreover, some students may also get extra allowances.
Therefore, foreign scholarships and exchange semester programs are probably the best way for students to travel on a budget.
Give Voluntourism a Try
Voluntourism is a fairly new term, which means volunteering to help others and traveling the world along the way.
There are many non-profit organizations that take volunteers to other countries and help communities that are in need. There are a lot of things you can do as a volunteer. You can help educate people, help people build wells and homes, and aid people in areas affected by natural disasters or conflicts.
This is an amazing way to travel the world on a tight budget and give back to the world. Moreover, Voluntourism allows you to travel places that aren’t traveled that often and make for a truly unique and incredible experience.
Take Advantage of Student Discounts
Did you know? As a student, you can get a discount on many things. You can visit certain museums for free, or maybe visit international heritage sites at a discount as well. You can get discounts on public transport and youth hostels as well if you show your student card.
You can show your college of university card to get a discount, but that isn’t necessarily going to work everywhere. If you want to get most of the discounts, you should apply for an ISIC card, which will get you discounts in 133 different countries.
Make a Detailed Plan
As young souls, your students might be tempted to be a little adventurous and go with the flow on your vacation. Being spontaneous may lead to some unexpected adventures, but it isn’t best for a budget vacation.
Therefore, you must make a detailed budget plan before setting off on vacation. This will allow you to ensure that you complete the trip within the allocated budget and help you avoid many problems.
You should do some research and allocate separate budgets for accommodation, food, convenience, and other fees. You should also keep some emergency funds.
Try to Blend in With the Locals
If you want to save money while traveling, you should try to act like the locals. You should use local transport instead of taxis or Ubers. This allows you to save money, and it is better for the environment as well.
Similarly, when it comes to food, try out the local foods from street vendors instead of expensive restaurants. It is much more affordable and gives you an authentic experience of the local culture and cuisine.
Final Thoughts
Traveling the world and experiencing the wonders it has to offer is on everyone’s bucket list. However, most young students have to suppress their traveling dreams because of budget restrictions.
Well, after reading this post, hopefully, you don’t have to, and you can enjoy traveling to the most exotic parts of the world without breaking the bank.
