travelling on a budget

Easter’s way behind us, which means only one thing – Summer’s on the horizon. The pressure’s not off yet, but end of exams, coursework, revision, studying is nigh.

If you fancy a break from all the work, work, work, have a think about what you’re going to do with all that sweet free time once you’re finished. Whether you’re planning on taking a year out or just having one hell of a Summer, travelling on a budget is high up the student priority list.
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But it ain’t all sunshine and rainbows, trust us. Making a few hundred quid stretch you for three months in the Bahama’s is easier said than done. But not impossible, with a bit of planning. 

There are lots of options for travelling when you’re strapped for cash. Think about…
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• Programmes/schemes: Along the lines of Camp America, where you move out to the States for a few months over the warmer months to help staff Summer camps. Your living costs are paid, you get to meet loads of new people and have fun, and you’ll even get a small wage for your time.
  
  Not your idea of fun? How about teaching English as a foreign language in places like Vietnam or Thailand? You’ll earn some cash to pay for your living costs, can travel in your free time and get experience to boost your personal statement and CV.
  
  
• Studying abroad: This one might not be on your Summer Holiday radar, but if you’re heading to uni in the future, have a look at the options available to you for studying abroad.
  
  Most unis have good third year abroad schemes – tuition fees for the partner university are free, and Student Finance England will cover your maintenance.
  
  If you fancy something a bit shorter-term, look into whether your chosen uni has international campuses, where you may be able to spend a term or semester.
  
  
• Working abroad: Not necessarily everyone’s cup of tea, but definitely the obvious choice – you can find yourself a job (visa regulations permitting) to fund you while you travel.
  
  Think things like au pair work, which would help with your living costs, or agriculture work, bartending, or club and holiday repping. BUNAC have loads of great advice and starting points if this is the route you fancy taking. 

• Saving up: This is another popular option that requires initial dedication, but really pays off – your travel time is just for that, travelling. No work commitments to worry about.
  
  Something like this would involve splitting your time 50/50, working full-time in the UK for half of your Summer break or gap year, saving up, and then blowing your earnings in the second half.
  
  
• Volunteering:  If cash isn’t a huge worry for you, maybe consider the volunteering options that might be open to you. They promise enriching experiences, the chance to meet a diverse group of people, and some great stories for your CV or personal statement.
  
  Think humanitarian aid schemes, language teaching, or animal conservation projects. For some ideas, have a look here.

 

• Keep it cheap: If you’re heading off for more than a few weeks, consider visiting cheap locations like parts of Asia, where the flights might be a bit steeper, but the cost of living is practically non-existent.

 
Got up to a few weeks? Maybe Interrail is the thing for you, where for a one-off ticket fee you can hop on and off trains all across Europe and sightsee to your heart’s content.
 
Just want a few city breaks? Keep an eye on flight comparison sites like Skyscanner, or cost tracking apps that alert you when flight prices are at their lowest.

Author

LUCY HARDING is the Editorial manager for Push. She is an English Literature grad and an MA Publishing student at UCL. She is passionate about international relations and cultural diversity, having worked closely with her university’s Erasmus society to support European students. She also spent a year abroad studying at California State University: Long Beach