Tips for Cutting Down on Costs While on Vacation for Students
Vacations do not have to be expensive; students often pass an opportunity to go on vacation for fear of the expenses. College expenses can be ridiculous. But that should not curtail your dreams of traveling the world. Once you learn how to cut costs while on vacation, you will find yourself taking more trips. After a long semester of working painstakingly hard, you deserve to wind down somewhere away from your usual environment where you can live by a compass and not a clock. Cost should not limit you from making memories and leaving your footprints. Here are some tips to save money while on vacation.
Make Early and Private Reservations
Flight and accommodation prices often fluctuate; therefore, booking early when you notice a price drop is best. Also, before booking, it is essential to note that flights and restaurants often cache your search. You will receive several recommendations on your browser from these websites, which can sometimes be misleading. So before making any reservations, ensure you clear your cache in an incognito browser mode to confirm your bookings are made privately. Making early bookings also makes budgeting easier since you will know how much you will be working with.
Travel Off-Peak
With proper research, you can know when there is an off-peak season in your vacation destination. Off-peak traveling means everything is cheaper, from flights to accommodations, and you get to enjoy your vacation without much crowding. During summer, you are likely to spend more since most people prefer to take their vacation at this time. Other benefits of traveling off-peak include:
- More options for gateways and hotels
- Fewer crowds
- Feeling more local
Carry Light Luggage
Heavy baggage is often charged extra if it exceeds the stipulated number of required kilograms. The cost of heavy luggage can pile up quickly, especially if you are traveling using connecting flights. Also, when packing, remember that you will buy some souvenirs and you do not want to return with heavy suitcases that may cost you money. Packing lightly means you will have only to carry essential things you need during your trip. Find a way to fit all your items in one backpack. Packing lightly from home gives you room for shopping without worrying about being charged extra for your luggage.
Couch Surf or Find a Hostel
Hotels and Airbnb may not be budget friendly for students; therefore, you need to look for other affordable alternatives, and couch surfing is one of the cheap accommodation options you can opt for while on holiday. Finding reasonable accommodation means saving money to use in other areas, which also means more memories and things to write in your handmade writing notebook.
Couch surfing is whereby a stranger hosts you in their house. You can sleep on the couch, or they can give you a room. There is a couch-surfing website where you can find a host depending on the days your stay will take. Taking advantage of such options will go a long way in making your trip pocket friendly.
You can also opt for hostels or dormitories to cut down on costs. Hostels also provide students with a cooking section where they can prepare their meals, making their stay even more comfortable. Finding a hostel and couch surfing also helps one make new connections, and these friends can also help show you how to move around without spending much.
Prepare Your Meals
If you opt to stay in an Airbnb or hostel, then you have the liberty to cook. Ordering takeout may be quite pricey if you have traveled on a budget. However, you should also not limit yourself from exploring the local cuisine since the whole trip idea is to learn new things. Therefore, if you want to enjoy regional cuisines, you can find cheaper joints or even indulge in their street food.
Beware of Tourist Traps
When visiting a new location, you can easily end up in a tourist trap, whether it is during site seeing or dining. However, if you are keen enough, you will not fall victim to these traps. These tourist traps often charge tourists exorbitant prices compared to the locals. So avoiding places popular on Instagram, gift shops, or areas where you find long tourist lines is best. Tourist trap can be as simple as buying a New York sweatshirt at hiked price on the streets. Therefore, you must watch out for such red flags to avoid spending much money on basic items and services.
Find a Job
Working and traveling can help you earn some bucks on the side to spend on the trip. Before leaving for the trip, you can find online freelance gigs or a part-time job in your destination. For example, you can find a reception job in exchange for free accommodation. However, ensure the job takes up a little of your time to ensure you also enjoy the trip.
Make Friends
Befriending the locals will make your stay much easier since you won’t have to worry about tourist traps or finding the best places to explore. If you will couch surfing or stay in a hostel, it is best to interact and bond with the people you will be living with since they can show you around and where to find affordable hangouts and dining places.
Final Take
Most students cancel their trips due to financial reasons. However, this should not be a limiting factor. Going on an adventure does not have to be expensive, and with the tips mentioned above, you can travel on a budget and still enjoy your stay. You can actualize the long overdue trip with proper planning, such as making early reservations and off-peak travel. Before going on your trip, ensure you research widely the area you will be visiting to confirm you know what to expect. Having an idea of what to expect also makes planning much easier. Do not let financial constraints stop you from going on a well-deserved trip.