One of the things that most students can really miss out on are holidays. Although this is the ideal age to travel, a lot of people just don’t have the financial clout to travel the world without going cap in hand to mum and dad. From travel to accommodation, the costs start to add up until it’s too prohibitive to consider. But it is actually possible to have a good holiday without breaking the bank. All you have to do is ground yourself and know where to look.
Where to go and how to get there
As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to set your sights on Europe. Long-haul flights are horrifically expensive, especially for the thrifty student. Unless you’ve got free accommodation once you get there, hours in a plane aren’t really the budget option! If you stick to Europe, you can take advantage of the proliferating budget airlines and enjoy flights for as little as £10. And there’s always interrailing, which offers generous discounts to those of us under 26.
Finding somewhere to stay
Fancy meeting travellers from all over the world? Look on Hostelworld. This site asks that you just pay a small deposit prior to arrival, meaning you can afford to book these up without having all your money ready. If you’re already in a large enough group, Airbnb is the best place to look. This site hooks up property-owners with travellers, offering more of a home experience. It may be self-catered, but you’ll save so much money that it won’t matter. Both these sites use user reviews, meaning that you can rely on the wisdom of travellers past.
What to do while you’re there
Assuming you can rustle up a modicum of interest in culture and arts, there’s bound to be something that’s good value to do. In fact, most cultural institutions and activities in Europe offer a discount for students and EU citizens under 25. For cheap nightlife, look at the local ERASMUS program. Although this is usually only good for students on the program, if it’s busy then you can take a chance on being mistaken for just another student in the rush. It’s also a great way to meet other people your age who know the city – you might get a recommendation for somewhere you’d never thought about!
Do you have any other ideas on budget holidays for students? Let us know in the comments below.
Photo: { pranav } / Flickr
Warwick Editor for Career Camels and Deputy Comment Editor for The Boar.
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