Traveling on a budget is not the easiest thing in the world, especially as a college student. Though it can be difficult to stick to a budget and still feel that nothing is missed on vacation, it is possible.
I’m the girl in the airport with a carry-on no one believes will fit in the overhead bin. Spoiler alert: it always does. I’ve traveled extensively, both in groups and solo. Here are my top tips for traveling as cheaply as possible.
Getting to your destination
No one necessarily wants to sleep in the airport, but early morning flights are the cheapest options on all airlines. By booking a flight that leaves at 4 a.m., you’ll save money to use for vacation purchases.
Tuesdays tend to be the days that airlines sell tickets at their lowest fares. Southwest Airlines runs a Wanna Go Wednesday promotion every week for low-fare ticket prices. Frontier Airlines offers a Go Wild all-you-can-fly pass for $400 during summer 2025.
If flying isn’t an option, then driving works perfectly well around the United States. Gather as many friends as possible and cram them all into one car. Having six people split gas makes the trip there and back much cheaper than flying.
Where to stay
Hotels are pricey and often located in a touristy location of the city you’re visiting. Hostels offer cheap beds and a community for travelers.
Staying in a bunkbed room with nine other people can feel a bit intimidating or unsafe, but each hostel has a reception desk open until the wee hours of the morning and lockers to keep bags in. Make sure to bring your own lock — I’ve found ones with keys work the best — to store your bags away.
Hostels offer fresh perspectives on the city you’re traveling to, and you’ll often meet other international travelers. For example, when I went to Athens, Greece, I stayed in a hostel within walking distance of the Parthenon. I paid around $30 for a night and left in the morning with a new friend who lives in France, and one of the nights extended into a sunrise hike to the top of Mt. Lycabettus.
For those adverse to hostels and hotels, Airbnbs are a relatively inexpensive alternative. If multiple people are traveling, splitting an Airbnb tends to be cheap. Airbnbs are often in residential areas and offer a more local travel experience. When I went to Italy, I stayed in an Airbnb in the historic area of Naples. I got to experience the best pizza in the world 5 minutes from my doorstep.
Websites such as Worldpackers have volunteer opportunities that provide free housing and meals in different countries. If you enjoy pet sitting, you can also try sites like Trusted Housesitters, which will provide you with a comfortable place to stay internationally in exchange for taking care of pets.
Getting around
In a place with no public transport, it can be tricky to get around cheaply. Rental cars are only available to 25-year-olds, and a U-Haul truck (seemingly the only other rental alternative) isn’t the best option. Uber rides quickly stack up and get pricey in destination cities. The cheapest option? Walking.
American cities encourage driving as the main form of transport, but take a page out of a European’s book and walk everywhere. Walking is free and allows travelers to see the best (and worst) parts of the city they’re exploring.
Cities such as London, Paris and Rome also have electric bikes to get around as well as plenty of public transport. When all else fails, find a Lime Scooter, which can be found in plenty of cities worldwide. In U.S cities, electric scooters are cheaper than an Uber and faster than walking … just don’t fall off.
Seeing sights
When choosing where to go while on vacation, pick places that have free entry. Most museums give discounted or free tickets to students with a valid ID. Skip out on the guided tour, they tend to cost extra and offer nothing Google can’t teach you.
Any huge monument is often free to look at, for example, in Paris, standing underneath the Eiffel Tower won’t cost a dime. Instead of walking to the top, choose a different landmark such as the Arc De Triomphe. While it’s just as many stairs to the top, it has a cheaper price tag to see Paris from above.
Eating and drinking
Food quickly becomes the most expensive part of travel. To keep meal costs down, opt to eat in local areas. The farther away from the most touristy spots you go, the cheaper the meals become.
Try to stay at a place that offers free breakfast. Most hotels and hostels offer continental breakfast. Slip one of the little cereal boxes in a bag and save it for later, they’re perfect snacks.
Hostels and Airbnbs often have kitchens for travelers to utilize. Buy a few staples and keep them on hand for quick meals. Stick a pack of granola bars in your bag and thank me later.
Choose one big meal out a day — either lunch or dinner — to eat at a fancier restaurant. These meals tend to have larger portions. If there’s enough left to take a to-go box, then your next meal is covered.
Local street food is a traveler’s best friend. It allows a person to taste the local cuisine and offers cheaper alternatives to sit-down dining.
Souvenirs
Instead of buying tacky souvenirs that fall apart soon after returning home, I tend to purchase things I know I’ll use when I finish my trip. Lighters and books are my top souvenir purchases. There’s something special about opening a book purchased on vacation.
Looking for wearable souvenirs? Check out a local thrift store. Thrift stores may have locally branded T-shirts and sweatshirts that could cost more in tourist shops.
Photo courtesy of The Boston Globe.
2025-03-20