So, it’s approaching the end of term and you still don’t have a holiday booked. Being a student means money can be pretty tight, especially when it’s nearing the summer and beautiful SAAS leaves us. Here’s how you can book yourself a week away, on the cheap.
First of all, Sky-Scanner is your best friend. Generally speaking, flight prices go down the closer to the departure date. If you’re not tied down on a place to go I suggest clicking the ‘Everywhere’ option under location and it will give you the flight prices from low to high!
Screw the travel agents. Whilst sometimes they may have great last-minute deals in their windows, 9 times out of 10 they’re basically daylight robbery. Stick to sites like booking.com and Airbnb as you’re bound to find quant little apartments for cheaper. However, if you’re tight for spending money, looking at all-inclusive package holidays is a great idea to stay in budget.
It might even be worth your while looking into the European festival scene. Most of the festivals in Europe are on the beach and don’t require camping; you can get a summer holiday with the luxury of staying in a hotel with a nice pool. The festivals are usually a couple of days long, giving you leeway either side of the festival dates to chill by the pool or to travel to a different location! From Barcelona to Berlin, there’s a festival for every music taste.
By Emma Malcomson
The time is coming when you get to say goodbye to your textbooks, classes and the library, and swap them for sun and beer gardens. If you’re still looking to plan a holiday for your time off uni, booking a last-minute trip can be easy and cheap, if you know how.
My first rule for cheap travel is Skyscanner. Skyscanner compares fares from all airlines flying your route and will find you the cheapest flights available. It really helps if you can be flexible with travel dates, and even better if you can travel through the week, as these flights are usually considerably cheaper than at the weekend. Sites like Expedia offer a discount if you book your flights and hotel through them, and you can sign up for email alerts for an extra 10% off!
Unfortunately, accommodation is usually one of the most important parts of a holiday, especially if you want to go away for more than just a few nights. One of the best ways to cut down the cost of accommodation is through Airbnb – not only are the prices per night reasonable, but staying in an apartment means you can eat in some nights to save money, and gives you access to a kitchen for breakfast, or to prepare lunch for when you’re out and about later in the day. Hostels are also a great way to save money and meet people, especially if you’re travelling solo.
While you’re there, there are many things you can do to bring living costs down: you’ll likely want to try some of the local cuisine, but no one will judge you for eating fast food a few times in the name of saving. Free walking tours (which may require a small donation at the end) are a great way to learn about the city and see all the top sights without breaking the bank. And remember to make the best use of your student card for discounts at tourist attractions, museums, art galleries, bars and restaurants; and graduates, remember that your student card doesn’t expire until September 2018 – you’re welcome!
By Saskia Harper
