Whether you’re a student or not, travelling can be a great experience and an opportunity to create memories that will last a lifetime. But it can also get pretty expensive, what about the tickets and accommodation? If you know a few hacks, you can save money and travel to new places without breaking your budget. Learn about seven travel hacks under two student categories – journey and stay.
1. Book Flights Early (But Not Too Early)
One thing is for sure regarding finding cheap flights – timing is critical. Many students think that the earlier you book, the lower the cost of flights will be. However, the reality isn’t always the case and booking around six to eight weeks before travelling is often the sweet spot for getting the best deal. Airlines look at demand and increase prices when they think flights sell well. Many students book too early, and because no cheaper deals are available, they pay more. Monitor flight prices, and book on the spot when you see a deal that suits you.
2. Use Student Discounts and Cards
One of the best benefits of being a student is the discounts they are entitled to. Whether it is a local flight with an airline, staying in a hostel, or even a regular hotel, there are so many discounts available. The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is perfect, offering discounts on flights, hotels, and anything else. If you are travelling and carrying your student ID with you at all times, you will find that you have saved more than you realise.
You invest so much time searching for cheap flights and accommodation that you feel like there’s no room left for your essay or assignment. What to do then? The cheapest essay writing service can come in handy to help you keep up with your studies at a reasonable price. Order high-quality assignments from expert writers and enjoy your travels without stress.
3. Travel During Off-Peak Times
When we travel, one of the most effective ways to save money on plane tickets and hotels is to travel at off-peak times.
Cheaper flights: Airfares are generally more affordable if you fly out during off-peak times.
Discounted Accommodation: Hotels and hostels offer reduced rates to fill rooms during quieter months.
Fewer Crowds: The most popular destinations are less packed, so you don’t have to stand in line for hours to enjoy an attraction.
Good Weather: Spring and fall travel tends to sidestep the weather extremes and gives mild temperatures.
The key to relaxing on a budget is to travel outside the high season when it is cheaper and less stressful.
4. Stay in Hostels or Shared Accommodation
If you want to save money on your accommodation, staying in a hostel or hostel-type residence is a great idea. Hostels generally offer the lowest prices, and many are explicitly designed for students and young travellers. Besides saving money, you will meet and interact with other students from all over the world. You can also use platforms such as Airbnb to find rooms in shared apartments to rent, splitting the price with other fellow travellers to travel more affordably.
5. Use Flight Comparison Websites and Apps
One of the best ways to find cheap flights is to use a comparison website or app: sites like Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Kayak, which let you compare all the different airlines and find the cheapest. Price-comparison apps will also send you an alert when the price of a certain itinerary drops – that way, you’re likely to get the best deal at the best time.
Skyscanner | Compares prices across airlines, flexible date searches, price alerts |
Google Flights | Comprehensive flight search, price trend analysis, easy-to-use interface |
Kayak | Multi-airline comparison, hotel and car rental deals, personalised notifications |
Hopper | Predicts the best time to book flights, sends notifications when prices drop |
Momondo | Finds the cheapest flights, advanced filtering options, transparent pricing |
These tools simplify the search process and quickly help you find the best deal.
6. Consider Alternative Airports and Transportation
If you have some flexibility with your departure and destination airports, you can save money by flying into a major city’s secondary airport. Many large cities have a couple of airports, and flying into a secondary airport can sometimes save a substantial amount of money. You can then take a bus or a shuttle to your final location. You can also consider travelling by bus or train, which is often much less expensive than flying, especially on shorter trips.
7. Be Flexible with Your Accommodation Preferences
There are ways to be flexible: if you don’t mind a bit of uncertainty about where you stay, there are many ways to cut back on your accommodation expenses. Hotels can be pricey, but other options exist, such as Couchsurfing or staying in student dormitories out of season. Couchsurfing.org is a community of locals with a spare room or couch to offer fellow travellers for nothing. And lots of students’ housing rents out its rooms in the summer to travellers. These options will save you money, help you meet local people, and integrate more effectively into the culture.
Travel Smart, Save More
You don’t have to be a millionaire to travel as a student. These seven travel hacks will help you save money on your next vacation. With these tips, you don’t have to worry about catering to a luxurious travel budget for your accommodation and flight costs. Whether booking a flight at the right time, using your student identity card, or taking up homestays or Airbnb, small changes eventually add to significant savings. Take out those suitcases and start traveling, because when your bank account is happy, you don’t compromise on the fun.
Don’t miss out on future posts like this – receive updates directly to your inbox by email by adding your email address here and hitting subscribe. You can also follow me on Twitter or BlogLovin and I’d love to see you over on my Facebook page and on Instagram. If you’re interested, you can find out more about me here and while I’ve got your attention, if you’re wondering why some of my posts lately are a little bit less frugal then have a read of this post. 😉
