A wise lady once said, ‘The only adventure you regret is the one you didn’t take.’ Living the life of a traveller right from your young age is an expensive ambition, unless you’re the heir of a millionaire guardian.
But for those of you in UK who are already going through the trouble of balancing their finances between the college fees and the need for travel, here are some very handy and cost saving travel tips.
Travelling is all about staying one step ahead of reality.
As a student, your social media must be abuzz with people showing off their travel with pictures geo-tagged in some of the fanciest regions of the world. But before you take a decision of choosing the same destination for yourself, it is always wise to conduct a reality check. Is it the right time of the year to go there? Is there another destination with a better travel experience and a lower travel expense? The point here is simple. Not to get carried away with what the others do. This way you can plan your travel more wisely and save money at the same time.
Start saving.
Plan your travel months ago. Cut short on unwanted expenses like junk food or paid gaming arenas. Remember you are really serious about this and a little sacrifice on conventional entertainment will save you a lot of money in the long run. You can even save money by choosing a cheaper data or calling plan on your mobile phone or by letting go of the cable TV service for a few months.
Avoid travelling to expensive countries.
You are a student and you still have a long way to go in life. So why not keep the expensive places for later? The equation is pretty simple. For example, travelling to countries like Georgia or Armenia is much cheaper than travelling to Iceland or France for the simple reason that the currencies in the latter regions are stronger than the former. So you spend a lot less on food and travel for almost the same quantity!
Be flexible with the flight dates and the type of flights.
This point of your timeline is where you actually begin to spend money and hence, this will decide how wise you will be financially throughout your journey. To grab the best discounts, try to book your flights on off-peak days. At the same time, please make sure you travel through the economy class ONLY! You do not want to spend your pocket money on business class or first class tickets. You will save a huge amount with this simple yet important tip. You can also enjoy Booking.com Deals that will definitely reduce the hefty flight cost.
Walk…
Once you’ve reached, try exploring the country on your foot as much as you can. It is not only cost saving, this way you get to see places in more detail. Explore local markets, wander and take photos, or even hike to the top of a hill for an awesome view. And the best part about walking? It is FREE!
Choose public transport.
Whenever possible, choose the public transport services for all its benefits. Most countries around the world have well established and well connected transport services. It costs multiple times less than private services. Travelling by buses is more fun since you have more people around you to talk to. You can even look for carpooling services.
Understand the difference between ‘want’ and ‘need’.
This applies to everything like shopping, clubbing and eating. Before pulling out your wallet, ask yourself whether you really ‘need’ to spend on this? Opt for street food instead of going to restaurants for lunch and dinner. Cut short on your food intake by choosing one brunch over three whole meals. You can always grab bakery items to curb your hunger. Even while shopping, choose to buy souvenirs right off the streets where you always have the choice of bargaining.
Choose the right type of accommodation.
Your main aim is to travel more and stay less at your hotel. Choosing the right accommodation is very important in this case. Dormitories or hostels are the cheapest options and are usually very safe. In most countries, there are several facilities when it comes to accommodation. Do you research beforehand and pre-book your stay. In any case, it is definitely not advisable to stay in 3+ star hotels when you are on a student budget.
Save on laundry service.
Clothes are light and can be easily placed anywhere in your luggage. Carry lots of clothes and pre-iron them. This will help you to save on cleaning and ironing costs. It is always better to have an extra pair of trousers and shirts handy when travelling off country where garment shops are less.
Take a break from the city.
Go off-country. Meet the native population to understand the real essence of their culture. Be adventurous enough to let go of the bustling city and enjoy the nature for a while. You can even go camping in the village or country side.
To sum it up.
If travelling is important to you and you don’t have a money growing tree in your background (obviously), then you’ve got to become wise with your money. A traveller becomes smarter with every pound he saves. The key is to begin and the right time is now. Be brave enough to leave behind everything that gives you comfort and make a move. A well calculated one. As St. Augustine said, ‘The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.’
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