Remember when you used to incessantly stalk pictures of your friends abroad? You’d click through their travels and pine to be in the unbelievable locations that were their lives. But look a little closer. There they are standing in front of the London Eye. Throwing up their sorority symbol beside the leaning tower of Pisa. Waving next to the Acropolis. Your abroad friends needed to be just as frugal as us abroad Collegiettes need to be now. The truth? Traveling abroad is expensive and trains, planes, and tour groups cost money. Need to control your spending but don’t know how? Just follow these three simple rules.
1. Always Do Your Research
Hotels and hostels may advertise beautifully online, but beneath those plush looking sheets there is more to the story. Trip Advisor is my favorite for reading reviews…I usually draw the line for hostels if they have mold or bed bugs. Websites like Sky Scanner and Kayak show multiple airlines from many different travel sites and are the best ways to get deals. Check for inexpensive airlines like RyanAir and EasyJet around you, as well. If you hate planning or are simply looking for an easy and inexpensive trip…travel companies like Bus2Alps and Contiki (check Her Campus for Contiki deals and contests!) are the way to go. They offer nearly all-inclusive packages from Prague to the Amalfi Coast. They also offer a detailed itinerary for your trip with optional guides and activities, and tell you all of the extra fees up front, so there are no surprises.
2. Be Flexible
For all of our Bucknell Type A personalities out there, this one may be a little tough, but I promise it’s doable. Travel plans can go awry at the drop of a hat, so be ready for anything. Make sure you know the conversion rate of the country you’re traveling to so you don’t end up spending more than you have to. A lot of websites will have an option to show prices in a myriad of different currencies, as well. Also, write down addresses and phone numbers in case the Internet doesn’t work so you don’t end up lost in an unfamiliar city. However, you can only prepare so much and when something goes terribly wrong, flexibility is key. So what if you ended up in an icky hostel? That just gives you an excuse to stay out until 4 a.m.. Train delayed because of snow? Go out and explore. When you can’t possibly have control of the situation, just take a deep breath and remember to be flexible.
3. Count it Out
Set a budget and stick to it. This might sound easy at first, but I have definitely found myself on weekends here thinking I knew how much I was spending and by the end of the weekend my wallet is so thin I don’t know where it all went. For each trip, make an itinerary with places and prices and add it all up so you know how much you’re spending. Add in hidden fees too, like taxis or metro to the hotel, food cost, and entry fees into the sights. If you need to save money, making your own food is a great way to go. Apartment/Hotels like theCitadines or rentals from VRBO are inexpensive options that will give you access to kitchens. Look for group deals if you’re traveling with a larger number of people and budget money for nightlife too! Yes, it is stressful to do this for every trip but it will ensure a better vacation and less worrying at the end of the day.
Finally, the fact is that you’re abroad. When else will you have the opportunity? If there is something that is worth a splurge, by all means, do it. Accept that you will spend more money than you expected, but also know that some of the greatest memories are made with no money at all. From walking home for 45 minutes because you spent all your money on drinks to accidentally ordering the 50-euro bottle of wine, embrace money mistakes and learn from them. So fly off to Marrakech for the weekend, go to Stockholm for a concert, or bungee jump in Sydney. Just remember these rules and you’re sure to have a blast without spending a ton of cash!