Being a student means being free for many people. It is finally time when you are not depending on your teachers, have fewer age restrictions, and can do with your life whatever you want. But it may seem to someone that students have more obstacles than possibilities. Especially when it comes to traveling.
You are on a student loan, the tests and exams are coming close, you have projects to do, relatives to visit, and the list is endless. How can students travel in such circumstances? Unless he is either super powerful or superrich. Yet, student years are the best time for traveling, and here are the reasons to prove to you that.
Don’t Stick to Your Limits
Actually, students have fewer limits than any other people. There are no kids, no adult duties, no employment contracts, no household chores. You may say that your biggest restriction is your financial situation. Still, there are ways out even of this situation. Here are some possible solutions:
- Select less expensive and less popular destination;
- Collect some money for traveling in advance;
- Join students programs;
- Opt for cheaper accommodation and places to eat;
- Don’t use the services of travel agents, plan the journey yourself.
There are different options to reduce the potential cost of your travel. You just need to find the most suitable one for your journey. Remember that this is you who stick to restrictions but not look for solutions. Change your attitude and you will travel easily.
Control Your Studies
You are a student and your primary task is to study properly. But it doesn’t mean you have to concentrate on your studies only. If you really have a desire to travel you will easily find a way to combine your wishes and duties. If you ask ‘Can I do my math homework online?’, you will simply realize that everything concerning your studies is doable. The secret of success is in a good Internet connection and several working ideas. Here are some of them:
- Take a gap year;
- Travel while you study or volunteer;
- Complete the tasks and assignments online;
- Study ahead.
The teachers will be cooperative if they see your desire to do everything properly. Put decent efforts and care about your studies before you set on the journey.
Share Experiences and Expectations
You cannot just leave everything and go traveling out of the blue. Actually, you can, but there are not many chances that it will all end well. The more you prepare and arrange in advance, the higher the quality of your journey will be.
So, find time to sit down and think everything through carefully. Draw mind maps, schemes, plans, and schedules to visualize and analyze your intentions.
It is also recommended to share your expectations with someone more experienced. It is better to learn from the mistakes of others than cry over your own ones. The experienced travelers will help you with some analytical tips, come up with helpful ideas, hacks, and sources.
Opt for Longer Journey
Imagine you are taking a short trip once a month. You spend time preparing and planning, money for commuting, and so on. If you are planning to stay a week or two at least but once a three month, it will turn out to be cheaper for you and less time-wasting. You will save money on transportation, find better accommodation with your own kitchen, and spend more time learning about the local culture.
In the long run, longer journeys are more beneficial and fruitful ones. They are the best options for summer or winter vacations or a gap year.
Explore the Local Culture
No matter the destination, there is always a way to spend less but get more. It also works for your travel experiences. As a student, you may not have enough money to visit top exhibitions, join costly tours, and get inside world-famous buildings. But there are always alternatives which will make your travel only better and less expensive:
- Use free audio guides to learn about Ramos places and people of your travel location;
- Book tickets in advance;
- Go on the night excursions, they are often cheaper ones;
- Travel in the midseason, the prices are cheaper then;
- Cooperate with the locals, they know the best places to visit, to eat at, and to sleep at.
The more you are willing to cooperate with the locals, open up for new acquaintances and experience, the better and cheaper your travel will turn out.
Get the Use of Students Discounts
While you are a student, you need to get the most out of it. The world is full of opportunities and benefits designed for students especially. This is the best time to grab a brilliant opportunity and set on the journey as a student. Here are some advances for student only:
- Travel and study programs;
- Gap year volunteering programs;
- Students discounts on museum tickets, fares, and more;
- Travel grants.
You only need to search for opportunities on reliable sources and get the use of them.
Be ambitious, plan ahead, and aim to find the way out but not to stick to your limits. Travel as much as you can while you are a student, get the most out of years of your youth, and freedom.
