Travel the World as a College Student

Hello!

Its Tuesday, that day of the week when I like to offer you all an insight into Troo Tales or Travel Tales. Today is a little different as I have a guest blogger! Yes, its trooooo!

Another fan of independent travel, travelling on a shoestring and making the most of your money if travel is your passion. KC is able to offer a different perspective to mine and thats all the better for you.

So, without further ado...here is KC Owens with 'Travel the World as a College Student'.

 

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Travel the World as a College Student

Courtesy of KC Owens.

 

If you are a college student who has always wanted to travel the world, then now is the time to start planning. Some people may think that college is too expensive, especially if you are paying your own tuition. But it is possible to travel the world on a budget by working a little more during your school year and setting goals for your travel budget. Follow this guide of travel tips to set your budget and to make important decisions that will get you to your dream travel cities. Sometimes traveling the world is as easy as planning and determination. If you have those two attributes, then you can make it!

Paying for Your Adventure

Paying for your trip is going to be the biggest challenge, but you can do this with a little planning. Start working more hours or get a part-time job. Fill your summer with full-time work and save as much as you can. As you build your trip expense account, start researching what it will cost for flights and other expenses. As you get ready to go, apply for a credit card, and use this as your main payment method while you are away. I know this sounds crazy, but this was how I finance a lot of my vacations and according to Credit Card Insider, many students are using travel cards to help afford international trips. Personally, I like using a card while traveling because it automatically exchanges currencies for me which is great because I like to bounce around a lot so having hundreds of dollars in one currency isn’t helpful, it’s just dangerous. A credit card gives you extra protection against fraud, even if you lose it, and is a great way to get extra incentives on travel expenses as long as you pay off the card every month. My vacations end up helping me fund future ones by giving me travel points towards flights for next time. Using a credit card might not be the best idea for everyone but it has worked well for my situation; do some research to see what grants you might be qualified for.

Take a Backpack

France is one of the most sought after places to visit in the traveling world. Why? It has such a rich culture and a wild history. Therefore, many places are accommodating to travelers. Instead of carrying heavy luggage across the world, opt for carrying one lightweight pack that allows you to roll one weeks worth of clothing in. This is the most cost efficient way to travel because you won’t have room for souvenirs, there is a smaller chance of having your belongings stolen if they are always on your back and you end up paying less at airports because you don’t have luggage, only one carry on. This is how I travel and it’s great because I don’t have to pay for several lockers when I check into a hostel, only one small one.

Choosing a Hostel

Staying in a hostel is a great budget option, but make sure to reserve your room ahead of time and to research which hostels are the best and safest in your city. After spending a night on the street because there were no rooms available anywhere, I always plan ahead before visiting a new city. Compare hostels and make sure you pick one that works best for your group. Hostels outside the city limits and tourist areas will be cheaper than those in the heart of any major city. This was especially true in Bordeaux, France. Bordeaux is a very large city and the overnight situation was pretty expensive because our first night we stayed in the middle of the city. After realizing we could not afford to stay there long, we chose to move to a hostel a little further away and the prices dropped significantly! Finally, always travel with a buddy; this is much safer and cheaper because many hostels offer discounts for students and for groups.

KC Owens has written and submitted this article. KC is a college student who loves traveling, college life, fitness and a good survival kit. He enjoys studying different cultures, meeting new people and leaving his footprint somewhere most people only read about.