TL;DR:
Traveling more as a college student is possible with the right planning, flexibility, and budget-conscious approach. To make the most of your time away, focus on strategies such as:
- Taking advantage of study abroad opportunities that fit your schedule and budget
- Planning trips around school breaks and less expensive travel dates
- Using weekends for short getaways close to campus
- Staying flexible with destinations to find the best travel deals
- Packing light to make quick, affordable trips easier
With a little creativity and advance planning, college students can travel more without putting their education or finances on hold. Whether it's studying abroad, maximizing holiday breaks, or exploring nearby destinations on weekends, these strategies can help you experience more of the world while balancing student life.
How To Travel More In College
Just because you’re in school doesn’t mean you can’t travel. For students, this can be the best time of life to explore the world. All you need is flexibility in terms of your destination and funds to support your trip. Be prepared to take advantage of last minute deals and fares from sites like Scott’s Cheap Flights or through travel hacking. If you’re wondering how to travel more, look no further!
Consider A Well-Timed Study Abroad
Many college students immediately think about study abroad as the best way to travel while in school. But there are a few elements to consider. First is the cost. For students at out-of-state schools, you might have to pay regular tuition in addition to the study abroad program fees and living expenses. Second is the time away. Some of the classes offered in these programs don’t count toward credits or are general education not helping complete your degree. But it is a great opportunity to get your feet wet living and traveling overseas.
Also consider different types of student study abroad programs. If your school doesn’t offer what you’re looking for, look at other schools that do that might let you join their program. Also consider shorter programs—these usually a few weeks instead of the entire semester—or consider summer programs. Save your study abroad for the places you’d most like to go but are prepared for cultural changes with—popular destinations include Italy, Spain, and Australia.
Packing Tip: For these types of trips, expect to pack more than usual. A large duffel bag like the Cargo Hauler brings everything you need for your extended stay, and then packs into its pocket for storage.
Plan Around Your Student Holidays
The holidays are the best time for college students to travel, although you’ll have some explaining to do to your parents. Christmas and Thanksgiving are usually too expensive to travel, but the time before and after the holidays are not. It’s possible to find deals on flights and hotels right before these dates. New Years is a good time, and so is Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. Consider visiting another hemisphere so that you can beat the cold!
Don’t count on finding cheap student travel during spring break since everyone else wants to flock to the beach during this time. Instead, it might be an opportunity to visit a big city you’ve always wanted to see. If you’re in the United States, the Caribbean or Central America are a good fit because they’re not far in terms of distance but you can get a lot for your money.
Packing Tip: For these trips that last no more than a week, a medium-sized backpack is ideal. The Tour Travel Pack has a laptop sleeve and clamshell design that makes it easy to find your belongings, especially if you use the Pack-It® System inside as well.
Make The Most Of The Weekends
Being a student is like living for the weekend. You’re always counting down those days until you have time to yourself. But the days go quickly, especially if you have Friday classes. This makes it hard to travel anywhere very far.
However, it is possible to maximize your weekend getaways.
Look for places within the region where you go to school that you might not otherwise visit. Find flights under two hours that allow you to see as much as possible and don’t hesitate to book red eyes or early morning flights! If possible, extend your time with the permission of your professors.
Packing Tip: Pack as little as possible for these weekend trips. Put your clothing in packing cubes and fit them all into an overnight bag.
No matter where you decide to go, you now know how to travel more by taking advantage of school breaks.
