Thrifty Travel — THE EDGE

You have probably heard this advice about how to travel inexpensively as a college student: pack light, travel in a group, cook your own meals, use public transportation, fly on cheap airlines, stay in hostels, etc. These are great options, of course, but there are also various student discounts, programs and opportunities meant to help cut down the cost of travel expenses that many students are not aware of.

With that being said, here are some budget-friendly tips and travel alternatives for students that you may not be familiar with.

Student Discounts

There are plenty of websites that cater to students' travel needs. StudentUniverse is a great website that offers cheap flight options and student discounts. This website is specifically tailored to students who travel on breaks, making the process of finding an inexpensive flight during very busy times much easier. ScholarTrip is another option that provides cheap flight options, and it uniquely allows students to pay off their trip monthly to give them a little leeway. Finding inexpensive airfare is one of the most effective ways to save money while traveling, but there are also options to consider once you arrive at your destination, including restaurants and activities. Many of these things offer discounts to students — you just have to do the research to find them.

Travel Scholarships and Grants

Studying abroad is one of the most well-known ways that students can travel. It connects students with other students and provides them with affordable housing options. But study abroad can become a very expensive endeavor when food and flights add up. Thankfully, there are many travel scholarships like the Gilman Scholarship available for students to apply for to lessen the cost of such a trip. Additionally, many companies offer travel scholarships to students interested in volunteer programs abroad, as well as providing grants to students who want to pursue research abroad. Many of these programs provide you with room and board and sometimes a meal card, which will significantly cut down your expenses.

Travel Rewards Credit Cards and Loyalty Programs

Travel rewards credit cards are not strictly meant for students, but they can be a great option for saving money on travel. Travel rewards credit cards allow you to earn mileage every time you use the credit card for any expenses. If you frequently use credit cards and are responsible enough to pay them off on time, this can be a great way for you to save money on flights. This option is given with extreme caution, as these credit cards tend to have very high penalty fees if you don’t pay on time.

If you are a person who wouldn’t use the credit card enough or do not trust yourself to pay off the credit card every month, do not use this option. A less risky option could be signing up for a Frequent Flyer program or loyalty program with an airline you often fly with to earn points that can be used for future travel.

There are many alternative options for students to get around the high expense of traveling. If you use any of these tips, let us know @theedgemag on Instagram. Happy travels!