5 Major Tips for Broke College Students on How to Travel
College provides the best opportunity to travel because you are not tied to a job or family commitments. You can also save money from your allowances or student loan and utilize the deals offered to students but are not available to adults. Travelling is also a way to relieve the stress and pressure that comes with academic work.
Most students will skip the opportunity to travel because they have no money and have pending assignments. There are also incredible hacks that will allow students to travel to any destination around the world and create the best college memories. Here are some of them.
Earn money while in college
The best traveling experience is one where you have money to spend on the best amenities and buy souvenirs while on the road. Unfortunately, most students depend on the loan as well as allowances from parents and guardians. Food, accommodation, and learning materials take a huge chunk of the money, leaving the student with little to spare for traveling.
College provides a lot of free time that you can use to make money. You can start a business and use the profit to travel. Choose a company whose operations do not interfere with your studies. It should not require huge capital or too much time to run. When the business is successful, you can continue running it after graduation.
Take a part-time job while in college. Restaurants, stores, and manufacturers require workers at different hours of the day, night, and weekend. Use your free time to make money that you later spend on traveling. Take online classes or choose a shift that does not interfere with your class timetable.
Online and remote jobs will also provide an avenue to make money. Create a profile on freelancing as well as remote-work websites. Use social media and other marketing strategies to attract freelance customers. Such initiatives provide the extra money you need to travel and enhance your college experience.
Join a traveling group
Traveling groups provide opportunities for cheap deals and ideas to save money during trips. There are numerous travel groups in college, online, as well as in your neighborhood. Organizers use the economy of scale to negotiate lower prices for traveling, food, accommodation, and other amenities you require on the way.
Travel groups also include enthusiasts who have been to different destinations. They know hotels, hostels, and other accommodation facilities that offer excellent services at a bargain. They also share their experience of traveling, helping you to cut costs while enjoying the most magnificent experience.
Most travel groups do not come with any membership fees. They organize numerous activities to different destinations. You can travel at a time when it is comfortable or when the schedule takes the group to your desired destination.
Hunt for cheap deals
There is always a hotel, travel company, airline, or brand with a mouth-watering travel deal. You only need to look beyond the obvious. Use every opportunity to pay less whenever you travel.
Cheap travel requires you to book early. Most hotels and travel facility providers offer cheaper rates for early birds. They provide limited slots for early booking. You have to search early and book the few slots available at a lower price.
Compare the prices offered by different travel agents and service providers. While you may desire to travel or be accommodated in the common facilities, their name and fame make the services more expensive. Look for a second-tier provider who offers similar quality services at a bargain. It means starting the search and planning for your trip early to take advantage of such deals.
Use your student status to pay less. Numerous service providers have special packages for students. Check beyond the conventional websites or names for student deals.
Other deals come in the form of loyalty points. Use the same service providers like airlines and hotels whenever you travel. You will accumulate enough points that you can redeem the next time you travel.
Travel agents and facilities also offer seasonal discounts. Look out for the deals and position yourself to utilize them whenever you travel. You will be surprised at how much you save by chasing such discount opportunities.
Take an internship or volunteer
Someone can pay your entire travel and accommodation cost if you work as an intern or volunteer. Instead of resting during breaks, you can take up a job as an intern. You have several breaks by the time you graduate from college.
Internships could be paid or free. It is an opportunity to learn as you prepare to join the job market after graduation. You will network with industry professionals who will turn out to be your partners and employers in the future. Choose a company that allows you to travel while working or is located in a region with several tourist attractions.
Volunteers also get the chance to travel to different parts of the world at the expense of the host organization. You may offer your skills or receive a stipend that will facilitate your travel. The time spent volunteering will count as a huge advantage when looking for a job after graduation.
Combine destinations
Collect money to travel to different destinations at the same time. Avoid traveling to one location and then returning home only to visit a nearby area in the future. Choose a travel belt or a round trip that involves fewer stopovers. You can backpack and camp during such trips. Travel groups also provide excellent ideas on combined travel and the most rewarding destinations.
Early planning and diligent hunt for cheaper opportunities will help students to travel without spending a fortune. Combine ideas and resources with friends as well as traveling enthusiasts to find cheaper travel options. Choose the right time to travel, especially during off-peak seasons to enjoy discounts from agents and tourist service providers. Travel while in college to relax the body and mind after tiring classwork.