Tips for a college student traveling on a budget

When wanderlust strikes, it’s nearly impossible to shake. Your soul grows restless; you need to get out there. Going on the adventure you’ve always dreamt can seem like an impossible undertaking on a student’s income. Well my friend, today’s the day you learn how to make it work.

Preparation can make or break your trip. Sure, throwing together a plan last minute has indeed been done before. But you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble if you start to detail out your trip at least six months in advance. This gives you ample time to save up money and book cheaper tickets.

Do you have a budget? As daunting as it may be, you need to have a budget in place to fund a trip. Luckily, there are plenty of tools online to get you started. Yes, there are mobile apps too for that.

Summer vacation is a great time to travel. But that’s what everyone else is thinking too, so things can get a little pricey. Consider going on your trip in the winter. And if that isn’t a possibility, book your tickets preferably for right before or after the busy season.

One fulfilling way to travel is to volunteer. A lot of programs will feed and house you in exchange for your time. This leaves you to pay for your travel tickets and other smaller expenses once you arrive. You could help out a local farmer, clean oceans or even help care for baby sea turtles! This is a great way to save some money while paying it forward.

Let’s face it, no matter how much research you do, you’ll never completely get off the “tourist track” without a little help. Getting to know the locals is a great way to learn about their city’s hidden gems. And often times, the less touristy sites are more affordable. You could also take advantage of meet up sites that match you with someone willing to give you a place to sleep. Just be sure to proceed with caution and confirm their identity through Facebook beforehand.

Sure, it’s not as comfortable or luxurious as catching a flight to the next city, but traveling by train and bus (public transport) is going to save you a ton of money. In addition, you’ll get to see a lot more of the landscape and get the opportunity to visit less explored cities you wouldn’t have seen otherwise.

Use your resources! Even if you’re traveling solo, there’s so much you can learn by asking your well travelled friends for advice. If you’re going with a travel buddy, lean on them to help you work out the little details. Aside from planning and packing smart, there’s not much that can stop you from having a great time. My last bit of advice is to spend moments disconnected from technology. Slow down and appreciate the new things around you.

Annamacharya group of institutes are themselves based out of select unique locations offering different tourist attractions. Today, our students and alumni operate from different exotic locations of the world and can be a good personal travel guide for your next preferred destination!