They say that the best time to do a lot of your traveling is when you're young and in college. It makes sense, right? You don’t have kids to account for, you have the energy to last all day, and it will provide you with a new outlook on life. But there's one small factor that we tend to forget about: MONEY. Nothing is free and that can be a huge wall most of us don’t plan to climb over in the midst of classes.
However, here are some simple tips to take into consideration when planning a trip with your college besties:
1. Travel in the off-season.
Destinations around the world have specific time periods during the year where they are generally more appealing to visit called peak seasons. It is significantly cheaper in every aspect to travel opposite of the peak season. The more flexible that you are with location and dates, the easier it will be to find cheaper flights and rooms. During the Winter and Spring months are typically the cheapest and less populated time for travel due to school's being in session. Here is a list of off-season months in several popular destinations:
France: November to January
England: November to Mid-March
Spain: January and February
Italy: Late December to early April, September to October
Australia: May to August
New York City: January to April
Los Angeles: January to February, Late August to November
Seattle: January to April, October to December
2. Compare flight prices.
When searching for flights, use an engine such as Expedia or Student Universe to find the cheapest flights across multiple airlines. This is much faster and simpler than searching through each individual airline's website and it also allows you to see other dates that may be cheaper than what you originally selected. I would recommend booking your flight several months in advance.
3. Travel with multiple people.
Not only is it more fun to travel with friends, but it can knock off hundreds when splitting lodging and other fares. Sharing experiences with people you're familiar with also makes potential culture shock easier and provides multiple perspectives on the experience. Not to mention, it's safer in unfamiliar territory.
4. Rent an Airbnb instead of a hotel.
Airbnb is a great company where people looking for places to stay can rent desirable homes, apartments, or condos from hosts for cheaper prices and more amenities than hotels. It is especially useful for groups wanting to have more money for other activities since there are endless property types and the host decides the rate. Most Airbnb properties include everything hotel rooms do (Wi-Fi, television, etc.) plus a kitchen, options for pets, and even washing/drying facilities. This allows you to have more than 4 people in a venue splitting the same fee, making it cheaper for everyone. There are always plenty of options no matter your destination but make sure to book your Airbnb right after your find your flight.
5. Pack light.
With the ability to wash and re-wear clothes, it is possible for you to pack in only a carry-on suitcase and a personal item. This can save you any baggage fees, wasted time in the airport, and having to worry about losing your luggage. The less you carry, the less you worry!
6. Set a budget for food.
The best way to not use all of your spending money on food is to budget each day. On the first day of your trip, take a trip to a nearby grocery store and buy easy breakfast and snack foods that you can eat while exploring. If you will be staying at a property with a kitchen you can also cook easy meals late at night after a long day in the city. Save your money for nicer dinners rather than eating every meal out!
7. Plan out your activities ahead of time.
Before you embark on your trip make a list of all the activities you want to do while there. Do research on what days and hours each place is open and if they have specific discount days. Some places have free days for students and while those tend to be the busiest times to go, it could save you a decent amount of money.
8. Walk as much as possible.
In popular destinations, even Uber's can be incredibly steep simply because they know that people will pay it. When planning your activities, think about grouping places that are near each other on the same day so that you can walk to each location. Not only does it save money, but you never know what cute, local coffee shop you might find on your afternoon stroll.
So get out there and enjoy this beautiful, diverse world that we've been given!
