Wanderlust (n): A strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world.

Do you ever find yourself screaming “I need a vacation,” as your last ounce of energy depletes from your body after an agonizing spring semester?

No one said that taking a vacation meant that you have to drop everything and leave the country for weeks at a time. Just a little wanderlust and an eager heart are all it takes to unleash your inner nomad.

Did your class get canceled? Run to the grocery store, grab some sandwiches, and drive to the next city just to have a picnic in the park before you walk up and down the unfamiliar streets looking at unfamiliar faces. Take a weekend off to drive to the next state border and buy an incredibly cheap hotel room so you can spend your evening bar hopping and taking your next profile picture in front of anything that screams tourist.

Traveling does not have to be lavish, sophisticated, and preplanned months in advance.

If you are feeling up to an exotic trip around the world, then pick a cheaper vacation spot. Sure, those Eifel Tower photos always come out stunning at night time, and the crystal clear ocean off the coast of Hawaii is something most people only dream about.

However, traveling does not only have to be set aside for the thousand dollar trips that people typically envision. Take a seat on top of an elephant in Thailand as you wade through the pale blue water, or have a culture shock in India while you explore the remarkable beauty for less than $20 a day.

In countries like these, you can stay in a beach bungalow for $10 a day, eat for $3 a day, and buy an entire pitcher of beer for $1.50. If $1.50 beer doesn’t scream broke college student, then I’m not sure what does.

Try renting a camper and splitting the price with your friends. Vacation on the road as you all drive up the Pacific Coast Highway eating Skittles and blaring a random road trip playlist on Spotify. Spend your time gawking at photo-worthy horizons and laughing for days with your roommates for a relatively reasonable price.

Instead of paying an insane amount of money for chain hotels, try some of the more economical alternatives. AirBnB is a website that allows travelers to rent out rooms, condos, villas, houses and much more for just a sliver of what a hotel would cost.

CouchSurfing is also a new way to spend your restless nights on a budget. It is a company that connects hosts with travelers who just need a cozy couch to get some shut eye. People get the same indelible experience of traveling added to the comfort of a home for cheap. It also allows people to enjoy different cultures, meet new people, and learn about local deals and activities.

So stop with the excuses, and go treat yourself to that vacation you so desperately deserve.

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