Making Travel CHEAP $$$$

BREAKING NEWS: Traveling is expensive!!!! Okay that’s obvious but I’m going to make a point in the end lol. I am 100% notttt made of money (just look at my laundry basket that’s a ripped Amazon box). But, traveling doesn’t have to rob your bank account while you snap pictures of clouds on the plane #dreamin. If you’re studying abroad this semester or looking for a quick trip to get away from your problems (been there) then keep scrolling for some tips to make European travel cheap as hell.

Is travel your priority?? It isn’t cheap to travel. So, what savings accounts do you have? Some people have a concert savings, nice clothes, high end makeup, maybe even skiing trips or some other hobby. The point is, if you want to travel, you need to make those little sacrifices. Less clothes or resisting going out to Chipotle (but I won’t judge if you break). The biggest thing I’ve really had to learn is that when I’m at home or even when I am on a trip, all those little bits of change add up and can ultimately help you reach your specific money targets. (And when you are finally on your dream trip, limiting the FOOD that you buy at restaurants can really help keep your bank account happy). I’m not pleased to report that I may have spent $8 on a bubble tea in Norway but shhhh.

Fly smarter, don’t work harder. Delta, you are my GIRL but you are expensiiiive. Discount airlines are your friend (except RyanAir, u suck fr). But there are other ways to get cheap plane and train tickets. Let’s get into it.

Fly out of big cities

The best deals come from Florida, LA, New York, and Chicago. Then you can fly to big European cities like Paris, London, Madrid, etc. It’s a lot of tweaking and planning. But if you’re willing you can usually find a pretty good deal on airlines that aren’t sketchy. If you’re from Ohio, you can take Amtrak to Chicago for $34 (one way) or the bus for a little less but beware that the bus has different luggage policies and you may have to buy two tickets to accommodate for more bags. If you fly out of NYC or LA, just remember that the cheap flights from Spirit are usually cheaper when you only have a cabin bag so make sure to read up on those policies.

Search for flights during the weekdays

Yeah, weird. Most people plan their trips on the weekends so websites actually hike up prices on the weekends and keep them low on Wednesdays. Not always, but sometimes its good to save a $20 or so.

Search for flights WITHOUT cookies

RyanAir is especially annoying about this. When you go onto their website, it will say like “2 seats left at this price”!! But if you delete your cookies, it will go to “4 seats left at this price”!! Sometimes they’ll even raise their prices. Be smart, delete your cookies.

Use the right websites. Some websites really help find you the best deals. And having multiple tabs open can be overwhelming so here are the truly best websites that I absolutely love.

StudentUniverse.com (flights)

This is the BEST website I have EVER found for international flights. You can easily sign up but you must be a student (or under 25) to be able to get their best discounts. They search through the best flights and find deals that you can’t find on airlines’ main websites. For example, I got a Delta flight for $190 (one way) from Chicago to London. Call that *~*magic*~*. You can save $20 off your first flight using my link [https://refer.studentuniverse.com/s/jenschaller99].

SkyScanner (flights)

This is a cheap-o air kind of website. They do find the best deals but beware because sometimes the layovers can be interesting and messy. My favorite feature on this website is the Map. You can select a city you want to leave from and it will show you the price to fly anywhere in the world throughout certain months. Definitely helps you find some cities that you wouldn’t think about.

Google Flights (flights)

Another favorite. This also has a similar map feature and allows you to select a specific date, range of dates, or different months. Not sure how it works for international flights, but its definitely a life saver for flights between European cities.

Omio (trains, planes, and busses)

This little app is powerful. Europe is connected by rail and can save you a big buck on travel. It compares flights, trains, and busses between different places around Europe or in a specific country. The trick is to BUY EARLY. Advance tickets can be discounted up to 50% off when you choose at least two weeks in advance. If you use my code [jens0b8r0c8s] you can get €10 on your first ride when you download the app and sign up! You can also use the StudentBeans discount code for 5% off any train or plane ride.

Discount transportation cards

In the UK, they have discounted rail travel for various age groups, one of them is 16-25 and saves you 30% off all train rides within the UK. It costs £30 and is pays itself off pretty quickly after trips to London, Liverpool, Wales, train services to the airport, and all the little trips in between. Other countries have their own versions of these and I can only guess that they quickly pay off for those who want to explore within their country. If you’re looking at inter-city travel, make sure to look for city passes that pay for entrances into museums and transportation for a set cost or look for Tourist Passes for the subways (found these in Paris and Madrid).

Take advantage of being a student! Europe really bows down to students and understands their struggles of money. First, don’t be afraid to ask at museums, restaurants, and stores if they have a student discount. It can range between 10%-20% off. Make sure you have your student card on you at all times in case they ask to see proof. But you can also get discounts on Unidays and StudentBeans. These websites are quick and easy to sign up on and StudentBeans specifically saves you money on Omio so take advantage.

AirBnb and Hostels. People can feel uncomfortable about hostels but I personally love them. A hostel is like a hotel but you share a room with other travelers in bunk beds. Not always ideal, but hostels help connect you to other travelers and the city you’re staying in by hosting various events and tours of the city. The best traveling stories are from the people you meet so I suggest you check out hostels before you research hotels and AirBnbs. But AirBnb is definitely a cheaper and sometimes cooler alternative to a hotel. You can save $33 on your first stay with Airbnb.com (USA) using my link [https://www.airbnb.com/c/jens6254?currency=USD] or £46 off [https://www.airbnb.co.uk/c/jens9301?currency=GBP] for Airbnb.co.uk (UK).

AirBnb Experiences. AirBnb isn’t just for a place to sleep (or use the wifi to post pics to the gram). AirBnb now offers AirBnb Experiences which allow travelers to immerse themselves into the culture through locals offering various services that range from art classes, wine tasting, walking alpacas, skiing, eating with a family, pub crawls, curated shopping trips, and more. Not only does it connect you to a local excited to share their hobby or culture, you’ll most likely meet like-minded people from all over the world. Experiences range from pricey to affordable and can help you really get the most out of your trip.

For my gals studying abroad, check for travel grants. Your uni might offer money towards travel expenses through the international office. At the University of Toledo, they give you a direct deposit of various amounts and all you have to do is write an essay. Most likely, your uni wants you to travel to experience new cultures and bring it home. Definitely take advantage!

Congrats, you’re a traveling pro! Traveling is more accessible than ever these days but it is important to not wipe out your life savings. If you’re on a budget, your activities in various cities aren’t going to be glam but you might make even better memories by connecting with the locals and experiencing different aspects of cultures through cheap or free museums and walking the streets of centuries old stories waiting to be discovered. Enjoy! xx