I firmly believe that being a student offers unparalleled opportunities for travel. Before dismissing this notion due to financial constraints—an understandable concern for many students—consider the multitude of travel benefits that come with the student lifestyle. Firstly, students enjoy several breaks and vacations integrated into their academic calendars, a luxury not typically afforded to those in the workforce constrained by limited paid time off. Unlike in the professional world, skipping class often carries minimal repercussions, granting students greater flexibility in planning trips. Additionally, students can capitalize on various funding opportunities, academic programs, and conferences offered by their institutions, often facilitating free or subsidized travel experiences. Furthermore, student discounts on transportation and attractions, both domestically and abroad, present significant cost-saving opportunities. Moreover, Moreover, you’re young and have less reasons to be risk averse because you have your whole life ahead of you to make the money back.
Now, here are ten strategies to maximize your travel experiences as a student:
1) Study Abroad
Ok. I know this one is obvious advice, and I almost considered not including it in the list for that reason. However, its inclusion is essential as it offers a relatively straightforward path to travel, as much of the planning responsibility lies with your institution’s global affairs office.
One mistake that many students make is completely ruling out studying abroad if they cannot leave campus for an entire semester. However, many universities offer shorter international study opportunities during breaks or summers, so it’s important to consider all the opportunities that you have on the table.
For those embarking on semester-long programs, strategic flight booking can greatly extend the travel window. Arranging your departure or return flights to coincide with breaks before or after the academic term allows for additional exploration time at the study destination and neighboring countries. For example, when I began my master’s in London, I purposely bought tickets to arrive in Europe a month and a half before the start of my classes so that I could travel around the Nordics and Baltics. This strategy gives you extra time to travel around your study destination and its neighboring countries without the burden of having to think about classes and assignments during the semester.
Being aware of local holidays at your study abroad destination can also facilitate trip planning, with certain festivities offering ideal travel windows. For instance, Muslim-majority countries will likely have days off around Ramadan or Eid and Christian-majority countries might have holidays during Easter that you can take advantage of.
Additionally, students should leverage local programs and activities catering to international students at their study abroad location. For instance, the Erasmus Student Network in Europe provides access to discounted events, excursions, and opportunities for cultural exchange, enriching the overall study abroad experience. I paid $20 to get an Erasmus Student card when I studied abroad in Seville, Spain. The card gave me access to a different party every day of the week in the city and a calendar of events throughout the semester to connect students. Moreover, with the network I visited Morocco and Portugal at HEAVILY discounted prices and made dozens of friends that I’m still close to until today. Your academic institution might also hold events and programs to expose you to familiarize you with the country you are studying at so make sure to keep an eye out for all these opportunities!
2) Crafting Your Own Semester Abroad
For students comfortable with taking on the planning responsibilities, crafting a bespoke “semester abroad” offers unparalleled flexibility and cost-efficiency. This approach could involve taking a semester off, graduating early, or arranging remote study options. Remote learning, as witnessed during the pandemic, has demonstrated the feasibility of completing coursework from diverse global locations. I took advantage of this during my final semester of college by selecting my schedule in way where I only had my thesis and independent study during the spring. That semester I travelled through South America and Central Asia while working on my research for those classes. I spent significantly less than I would have doing a traditional study abroad program while visiting several countries and getting to choose my own pace.
Alternatively, if you can’t pull off the remote classes, you can always consider taking a semester or doing a gap year if you are able to save enough money for it. You could also increase your course load so that you can graduate a semester early and reallocate the tuition savings towards travel. One of my best friends did this and spent her last semester in culinary school in Paris and used that as an opportunity to visit other parts of Europe and the Middle East. Embracing a self-directed study abroad enables you to tailor their experiences precisely to your preferences, bypassing the constraints often associated with pre-arranged programs.
3) Off-Season International Deals During School Breaks
The appeal of Miami Spring Break has always puzzled me. Why settle for crowded beaches and overpriced cocktails when, for half the cost, you could bask in the serenity of Central America’s pristine shores with just an extra hour flight time? Perhaps with Miami’s recent crackdown on spring breakers, students will start exploring alternative options.
University breaks present prime opportunities to seize off-season flight deals, with the fall break being a particularly underrated gem. Typically occurring in October, fall break coincides with a period of reduced airfares to various destinations. By proactively planning ahead at the start of the school year, you can score incredible deals. During my senior year, some friends and I embarked on a whirlwind adventure to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Costa Rica from Philadelphia for less than $250 roundtrip. And during my masters in London, I seized the chance to explore Tunisia and Malta over fall break in early November. At that time of the year, Malta had minimal tourist crowds, delightful weather, and flights cheaper than a train ride to another part of the UK. Often, international trips during off-peak seasons can prove more cost-effective than domestic flights. So, the next time you’re pondering how to spend your break, consider checking out flight prices to nearby countries for a budget-friendly getaway.
4) Internships Abroad
For high-achieving students hesitant to spend an entire summer solely on leisure travel, interning abroad offers an enriching alternative. Early university summers present opportune moments to gain valuable experience while exploring new cultures. These experiences can yield compelling stories to share during future internship interviews, setting you apart from your peers. It would also be a great learning experience to experience the work culture and lifestyle in a different country if you plan to work for a multinational company in the future.
Many universities already offer programs to support internships abroad, providing stipends or even facilitating placements. However, if your institution lacks such resources, don’t hesitate to take matters into your own hands. I landed an internship in Colombia myself by reaching out to an alumnus who had worked at a startup there. Similarly, I have several friends that have secured internships abroad by cold-emailing employees at those companies. Alternatively, there are specialized travel agencies that cater to students seeking internships and learning programs worldwide, albeit often at a cost.
So there you have it…
There are endless possibilities for capitalizing on travel as a student. Stay tuned for Part 2 and Part 3 of maximizing your travel. Share in the comments which tips you found most helpful and any additional advice you think would benefit others.
Lovely content! No shade, just sincere question here, doesn’t travelling solo so often get lonely/tiring? Gathered between articles (not stalking I promise), you’ve done over 70 countries solo in ~4 years all before your mid-twenties! Sharing these moments with people you love vs reporting it to them via calls, social media – doesn’t it feel drastically different? Is travelling therapeutic? Would appreciate it if you wrote on your mental psyche a bit.
Not a shady question at all haha — I think it’s quite valid actually! I love traveling with friends but several of my trips were taken when most of my friends were either taking classes in-person or working full-time, making it more difficult to plan a group trip. I would say though, if you had asked me 6 years ago if I would like traveling solo, I would have definitely said no. And now, I’ve definitely grown to truly enjoy it. It removes the hassle of having to think about what everyone else wants to do and coordinating schedules and it provides more opportunities to make friends because you’re not constantly talking to those in your group. I think the biggest factor for me is that traveling solo gives me a lot of time to think and process what I experience –it’s harder to do that in a group without seeming like you don’t want to engage with your fellow travelers. However, you’re right that sometimes solo travel can be lonely. In my case, this is mainly only for long trips (a month or over) as it’s easy to get tired of not being able to physically talk to someone you don’t have to introduce yourself to. Also, on really long trips, you could end up missing on events happening back home (e.g I skipped the final semester of my senior year of college to backpack through South America). I guess one just has to weigh the benefits and consequences. This is a great topic for a blog post though. Thanks for the suggestion!