Curbing costs while traveling abroad
Self proclaimed travel buff shares tips for touring Europe on a budget
Matthew Werlein
Issue date: 3/6/06 Section: Money/Health
For those of you who know me, you know that I love to travel. I have been fortunate enough to study abroad twice and travel to 17 countries throughout Europe.
Now I want to point out that while my family did help me out financially, I also have helped to foot the bill on
these travels.
The truth is there are many ways to curb the costs of traveling abroad that can make it more affordable for students
to travel. Here are some basic travel tips I have learned.
Research
Before doing anything else, research where you want to go. Check on the currency exchange rate, how busy the area is with tourists during the time of year you wish to visit and what the average temperature is so you know how
to pack.
I would recommend picking up a travel book. I myself bought, "Europe: Eyewitness Travel Guides," and have traveled with it all over Europe.
Find a book that is current, will help you decide where you want to visit and gives you an idea of how much things cost.
Notify your credit card company and bank that you will be traveling abroad.
When you say Europe, specify which areas. Certain companies consider Eastern and Western Europe different, and if you are planning on traveling to both areas, you could be in trouble.
Just make it clear where you want to go and double check with the company again before you leave.
Also, double check to see what day of the week the museums, shops and other attractions are closed.
In the United States, we close things on Sundays, but in certain areas of Europe, they close their public buildings on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
Double check this or it could put a damper on your
travel plans.
See if any holidays are occurring during that time. While it is a wonderful experience to be in a foreign country during one of their holidays, be wary that the prices of things will probably go up a considerable amount.
Transportation
Before booking your flight across the pond, as the British say, make sure you have found the best deal.
There are several student Web sites, such as studentuniverse.com, that offer great discounts.
My good friend Katy and I booked through them when
we went to Paris for New Year's Eve 2005, and we were able to get round trip airfare from Chicago to Paris for around $400.
I took a look at the airfare prices, and as of today, a flight from Minneapolis to Mexico City for this summer is $261.
There are a lot of different agencies you can go through.
I've also booked through travel agencies, which cost about the same amount depending on how far in advance you book your tickets.
No matter where you get your tickets from, make sure to sign up for that airline's frequent flier program.
The program is free, it takes around 10 minutes to complete the online forms and you can get free tickets if you earn enough points.
Accommodations
I've found that the best places to stay, where you have the most fun, and are the most economically friendly, are student hostels. You meet such a wide variety of fascinating people from all corners of the globe, some of which I still keep in contact with.
You may have heard bad things about youth hostels, but if you do your homework on them, you can find one that is not only situated within distance of where you want to visit, but also one that is clean and safe.
Distance is key here, and by booking a hostel and not a hotel, you can easily save a good chunk of change.
Another relatively easy way to save money is to travel by overnight train. That way you are accomplishing two things at once.
You will reach your destination early in the morning, and at the same time, you are able to sleep on the train and avoid having to pay for a room.
I've done this before, and trust me, it's worth it.
Meals
First off, here is a trick a few of my friends and I learned when we were studying abroad.
When you travel, buy a loaf of bread and some peanut butter. Instead of taking the time and money to eat lunch, you can eat these sandwiches and have more time to see more things. That is, after all, why you are abroad. For dinners, treat yourself and go out to eat - and I don't mean McDonald's.
While wandering around in the afternoon, see if you can find a café or restaurant that is within your price range and serves cuisine the country is known for.
In Belgium, try the mussels and fries. Dive into the desserts in Austria and Germany and taste Irish coffee. In Hungary, the goulash is delicious, crepes are a must in France and it goes without saying that the fish and chips in England are unparalleled. Don't be afraid to try new things.The most unique thing I ate while traveling was kangaroo and ostrich in Prague, Czech Republic. It was so good. You are there to experience new things, but remember to be smart and careful.
Here is one of the biggest tips that I can offer. Don't try to cut costs by cutting out fluids.
Spend money on bottled water. While the water in the United Kingdom was fine for me to drink, the further East I traveled, the more timid I was about drinking their tap water, so bust out the wallet and buy bottled water.
I hope these tips will help you shave some of the cost off your trip, which will allow you to have the opportunity to explore and discover. We're only young once, so go out and observe new cultures. Make your time in college count.
Werlein is a senior print journalism major and a news editor of The Spectator.
Now I want to point out that while my family did help me out financially, I also have helped to foot the bill on
these travels.
The truth is there are many ways to curb the costs of traveling abroad that can make it more affordable for students
to travel. Here are some basic travel tips I have learned.
Research
Before doing anything else, research where you want to go. Check on the currency exchange rate, how busy the area is with tourists during the time of year you wish to visit and what the average temperature is so you know how
to pack.
I would recommend picking up a travel book. I myself bought, "Europe: Eyewitness Travel Guides," and have traveled with it all over Europe.
Find a book that is current, will help you decide where you want to visit and gives you an idea of how much things cost.
Notify your credit card company and bank that you will be traveling abroad.
When you say Europe, specify which areas. Certain companies consider Eastern and Western Europe different, and if you are planning on traveling to both areas, you could be in trouble.
Just make it clear where you want to go and double check with the company again before you leave.
Also, double check to see what day of the week the museums, shops and other attractions are closed.
In the United States, we close things on Sundays, but in certain areas of Europe, they close their public buildings on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
Double check this or it could put a damper on your
travel plans.
See if any holidays are occurring during that time. While it is a wonderful experience to be in a foreign country during one of their holidays, be wary that the prices of things will probably go up a considerable amount.
Transportation
Before booking your flight across the pond, as the British say, make sure you have found the best deal.
There are several student Web sites, such as studentuniverse.com, that offer great discounts.
My good friend Katy and I booked through them when
we went to Paris for New Year's Eve 2005, and we were able to get round trip airfare from Chicago to Paris for around $400.
I took a look at the airfare prices, and as of today, a flight from Minneapolis to Mexico City for this summer is $261.
There are a lot of different agencies you can go through.
I've also booked through travel agencies, which cost about the same amount depending on how far in advance you book your tickets.
No matter where you get your tickets from, make sure to sign up for that airline's frequent flier program.
The program is free, it takes around 10 minutes to complete the online forms and you can get free tickets if you earn enough points.
Accommodations
I've found that the best places to stay, where you have the most fun, and are the most economically friendly, are student hostels. You meet such a wide variety of fascinating people from all corners of the globe, some of which I still keep in contact with.
You may have heard bad things about youth hostels, but if you do your homework on them, you can find one that is not only situated within distance of where you want to visit, but also one that is clean and safe.
Distance is key here, and by booking a hostel and not a hotel, you can easily save a good chunk of change.
Another relatively easy way to save money is to travel by overnight train. That way you are accomplishing two things at once.
You will reach your destination early in the morning, and at the same time, you are able to sleep on the train and avoid having to pay for a room.
I've done this before, and trust me, it's worth it.
Meals
First off, here is a trick a few of my friends and I learned when we were studying abroad.
When you travel, buy a loaf of bread and some peanut butter. Instead of taking the time and money to eat lunch, you can eat these sandwiches and have more time to see more things. That is, after all, why you are abroad. For dinners, treat yourself and go out to eat - and I don't mean McDonald's.
While wandering around in the afternoon, see if you can find a café or restaurant that is within your price range and serves cuisine the country is known for.
In Belgium, try the mussels and fries. Dive into the desserts in Austria and Germany and taste Irish coffee. In Hungary, the goulash is delicious, crepes are a must in France and it goes without saying that the fish and chips in England are unparalleled. Don't be afraid to try new things.The most unique thing I ate while traveling was kangaroo and ostrich in Prague, Czech Republic. It was so good. You are there to experience new things, but remember to be smart and careful.
Here is one of the biggest tips that I can offer. Don't try to cut costs by cutting out fluids.
Spend money on bottled water. While the water in the United Kingdom was fine for me to drink, the further East I traveled, the more timid I was about drinking their tap water, so bust out the wallet and buy bottled water.
I hope these tips will help you shave some of the cost off your trip, which will allow you to have the opportunity to explore and discover. We're only young once, so go out and observe new cultures. Make your time in college count.
Werlein is a senior print journalism major and a news editor of The Spectator.