How YOU Can Afford to Travel This Summer!
If you’re in the average income bracket for a college student, chances are you’re avoiding the t-word this vacation. Traveling can be stressful, demanding of your time, and (most difficultly) very expensive. However, don’t lose hope! Grab a few friends, hit the road, and head to one of these awesome getaways… for only a fraction of the normal cost of a summer vacay.
Utilize Student Services
Aside from study abroad programs, there are other student-aimed travel services. Companies such as Student Universe and STA provide discounted flights, lodging, and tours for young people on a budget. Examples: Student Universe’s 8-day Spanish coastal tour for less then $800, and STA’s 3-day Australian outback tour for under $350.
Get Hostel
The way hostels are portrayed in movies is not the truth. What a hostel stay boils down to is meeting amazing new people (young travelers like yourself), seeing the location from a local standpoint, and most importantly, paying as little as possible. Of course, to avoid grimy places, one needs to do basic research before booking a stay, but the experience of “dorming” with other trekkers is unforgettable. Check out this awesome hostel on the shores of Waikiki, for less than $30 a night in the middle of summer!
Werner Kunz via Compfight
Explore Your Area
If flying isn’t in the cards for you based on price, take another form of transportation! Stay in a nearby city for a night with friends and explore the areas that you’ve never seen. Eat at food trucks, shop at thrift stores, and get the true experience of your region.
A Little Bit Campy
Perhaps the most exciting and affordable summer getaways you can take as a student is to a local nature reserve or national park. Book a campsite, bring some canned food, and live in the wild for a week. Campsites at Zion National Park go for less than $20 per night, which is pocket change when split with a couple of friends!
Justin Kern via Compfight
Whatever you end up doing this summer, don’t let cost discourage you. There is always a way to escape, even with a tiny budget! What are your plans this summer, and how are you saving money along the way?
Brinton Parker
