Traveling as a Full-Time Student
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Student problems : ramen diets, callous professors, rowdy roommates, and impending student loans. Juggling all those, it may seem impossible to try to squeeze in something as luxury as TRAVEL. But I am here to tell you that it is the complete opposite of impossible.
…uh…possible.
Okay, the punchline to that was suppose to be more climatic than that. In any case, traveling while being a full time student is not only a possibility, it’s an amazing college experience! If you’re a student and you’re looking for tips help you see the world (but also see graduation day!) then you’re in luck! This post will answer all the most common questions students have about traveling. Since I’m a complete scatterbrain most of the time, I have enlisted the help of three students who balance manage to travel and school!
First, I’d like to introduce you to Melanie!
Next, the lovely Diana will be joining the panel as well!
And last, but certainly not least, Rushell!
Oh, and then of course, there’s me! Kay, the Awkward Traveller 🙂 Let’s welcome these young scholars! Now, whether it’s your freshman year of undergrad or you are finally defending your PhD thesis, these are tips, tricks, and trinkets that can help you find ways to make travel work with your degree path!
1. Woohoo higher education! First of all, what are you studying and how far along are you in your studies?
Melanie: I’m studying Corporate Communication at University of Amsterdam and will probably graduate this month!
Kay: I love how confident you are Melanie.
Rushell: I’m two years into my Ba. Communication Studies, with two more years to go.
Diana: I am currently a senior at Johnson and Wales North Miami campus. My major is travel and tourism management
Kay: Oh, right! And I’m Kay! I studied Pharmaceutical Research and International Relations (in regards to drug research for global health concerns – or whatever it was)
2. In general, what is the biggest obstacle to travel you faced as a student?
Kay: I meannn, maybe it was just me, but when I was in college I was like : “Travel? With what money???” as my wallet cried paying for groceries.
Melanie: For me the biggest obstacles were budget and time. I had a lot of classes wherein attendance was obligatory, which sometimes made it hard to find time to work and travel on the side.
Diana: From personal experience I can say that the biggest obstacle is finding the time. Generally, we have free time when everybody else does which means traveling during high season which can be expensive. Thankfully, my schools does trimesters so every three months I am off for about two weeks, so I am able to travel during low season sometimes, for example, my Spring Break is the last week of February as opposed to March-April like most college students.
Rushell: I think the biggest obstacle is lack of funds. It can be challenging to think outside of the box for ways to finance trips.
3. How do you budget for travel as a student?
Diana: Aside from being a full-time student, I also work as a front desk agent at a hotel full time and have a little barista part time gig. I use my tips from the barista job to save for future trips. Do not recommend this next tip, but I also use my credit card when I find a deal I MUST take advantage of, and pay it back for the following 3 months, no more than that. That way I get my travel deal and work on my credit at the same time.
Melanie: Prioritize! Travelling became my number one priority, which made me change my expensive lifestyle at home. Instead of taking my car to the grocery store, getting expensive Starbucks coffees every day, eating out for lunch and living in an expensive house, I chose to take my bike, take coffee and lunch from home to university, sold heaps of stuff and moved to a more affordable house. I promise you, all the 1 dollars you’re spending here and there do add up. When you ask yourself with every decision that involves money “this or travelling?” it’s so much easier to say no to yourself and save money.
Rushell: For travel budgeting as a student, I make full use of that student status! My budget is often quite tight without much “wiggle rooms” yet I still get to do the most amazing adventures.
Primarily, I try to take advantage of trips that are subsidized for students or those which are catered towards students. For instance, I took part in a student exchange program in Canada on a student scholarship. The Canadian government offers scholarships for exchange students from Latin America and the Caribbean. It seems to be much of a lottery for who wins it, but I believe it’s about 70% of the applicants. While traveling in Europe, I purchased the student discount cards for transportation.
Kay: YES!!! I want to jump in real quick to second the student ID! ALWAYS BRING YOUR STUDENT ID. You never know who might offer a discount! Okay, sorry for interrupting, you’re on a roll Rushell! What else have you done to earn extra money?
Rushell: I save money from odd jobs and art sales. I have even offered tour services and sold street food to be able to finance my trips.
Planning before hand also helps. I find the things that I want to do the most on my trip, and budget for their costs and their related costs (transport, ect.) I leave some room for spontaneity but usually it is free spontaneous activities. Planning lets you go into your trip with realistic expectations of what to expect to achieve on your budget. I look for the best free or inexpensive things to do (and eat!) wherever I’m visiting.
Thirdly, I find activities, or groups that I’m passionate about while at uni/school. Through this, I have been able to travel all over the Caribbean and UK for competitions with my sailing team. For the majority of the trips, I only covered the cost of buying snacks (Those were on privately owned racing yachts). Otherwise, with my other sailing team, we raised donations for our team by contacting various private sector companies who were happy to be sponsors.
Kay: And I’m REALLY not the best at budgeting, and I had very little disposable income as it was, but ever paycheck I saved at least $20! I was paid weekly, so each month that was another $100 towards travel! About halfway through my semester I would book my trip with a low/no interest credit card, then have a month or two to pay it all off! Then by the time the trip rolled around, all the basic necessities were paid and I had some money saved for food and souvenirs as well! #buildingcredit
4. When do you find the time to travel during school? Do you restrict yourself to traveling on school breaks/holidays? Or is your coursework flexible enough that you don’t have to attend class in person?
Diana: I take a mix of traditional in-class courses and online courses. I try to always have as many online courses as possible, since those tend to have the syllabus and all coursework for the term up on the school assignments site. It makes it easier to get ahead on schoolwork or work on it remotely. I travel during every school break but sometimes take like a Thursday to Monday trip, sometimes missing a class – but I always make sure to let my professor know about ahead of time.
Rushell: I’ve found time to travel during the semester and on the semester breaks as well. During the semester would usually be an extension of a weekend, or a long holiday weekend that I use to my advantage. The long weekend may also coincide with various events for my clubs. Like an overseas sailing regatta with my sailing team. Or a student exchange program that allows me to travel and study full time. For most of my courses, I am only allowed to miss one or two classes for a semester, and even then it affects my final grade. Unlike in high school where I would miss school to travel, in uni I try to be at most of my classes.
Melanie: For the majority of my studies I had an obligatory attendance of 80%, which made planning key. By planning around school and work schedules and skipping days in a smart way, I sometimes could be away for 2-4 weeks without trouble. Also, asking teachers if you can do your university work ahead of time or through Skype works! I wrote both of my theses in Bali, simply because my supervisors were okay with supervising me online.
5. Have you ever studied abroad? If so, what steps did you go through to find the right program for you? How did the expenses work out? If not, have you ever considered it – why or why not?
Diana: I have never studied abroad, I went to college straight out of high school with no idea what I wanted to study. Wasted 4 years just doing badly. On my Spring Break 2015, I went to Miami with a couple of friends. While on the trip one night, I got to talking to the front desk agent about his job. How did he like it, how does one go about getting that type of job, that sort of thing. He explained all of it to me and it immediately made me realize what I wanted to do and study in school.
I went home and changed my major, switched to a different university and I am now almost done with my Bachelor’s in the field. The way my credits were set up never allowed me to study abroad since I had so many useless credits that covered all my electives. BUT, as part of my travel and tourism major, we take a Tour Management class which consists of taking a 10-day trip to an international location were we must be the tour guide for the day for the rest of our classmates. I will be going on that May 2019 so keep an eye out!
Melanie: Yes, I studied in Australia for a couple of months and absolutely loved it. To be honest, my parents were amazing and covered half of the costs. Because I took a gap year before starting my studies and worked full time for a year, I still had quite some savings left to spend in Australia.
Rushell: Studying abroad was one of the highlights of my uni experience! I chose to study abroad in Canada as there is the awesome Latin American and Caribbean scholarship. This scholarship gives hopeful exchange students the funds that they would need to live in Canada for the semester or school year. Conveniently, I was one of the recipients and I was awarded $14,700 CAN to study in Canada for the school year.
The student exchange program was great. My university, the University of the West Indies, is partnered with Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. Students continue to pay their fees to their home uni and don’t pay anything at the foreign uni. That was great for me because my undergraduate university education in Trinidad is free!
Kay: Ah yes…my study abroad experience. In short, it was life changing. A little backstory, I went to university on an academic scholarship. During my second year of undergrad, I decided I wanted to pursue a second degree in International Relations, but that required studied abroad in my degree field (pre-pharmacy during undergrad) AND be fluent in that language. I REALLY wanted to study in South Korea, but my school didn’t offer any Korean language classes and I doubted I could self-teach myself Korean to a fluent degree – especially with scientific terms.
So I went with France. I would have preferred studying in Paris, France, but alas, my school only had business programs in Paris. I needed to take inorganic chemistry and a few biology courses, and the only program that offered those happened to be in Poitiers, France. So, that’s how I chose my program! I picked whichever one suited my educational needs the closest, haha. Though if you want to read about the time I got kicked out of a Paris hotel, click here.
Now, for financing. So I was on an academic scholarship, but I was also an out of state student. I think at the time, my yearly tuition was like $33k while in-state tuition was around…$12k? I don’t exactly remember the difference, but I think mine was like, three times as much. Anyways, as it turned out, the cost for a semester abroad in France was THE EXACT SAME price as my out of state tuition. Go figure. So for me personally, there was no price difference. So whether I had a scholarship, paid out of pocket, or had loans to cover, I would have been paying the same amount anyway. Might as well do it in another country, ya feel?
So if you’re an out of state student, DEFINITELY look into studying abroad prices at your school. If you’re in-state, still take a look! My program had a few different payment options available! It might not be as unattainable as it seems!
6. What are great travel destinations for students that are budget friendly and also fun?
Rushell: I’d have to say wherever is closest to you is possibly a good place to start. It will cut significantly your travel costs. I come from a country with a mid level currency. For me to purchase one US dollar, it takes seven of my dollars, five-fifty for a Canadian dollar, eight for a Euro and ten for a Pound. Basically, travelling anywhere is expensive for me, besides going to my sister island Tobago. As it is one country, we use the same currency and things are only a bit more expensive there. For the most part, it is your attitude and current feelings that make an experience fun or not.
Melanie: Weekend trips to eastern Europe are amazing if you live in Europe. Countries such as Hungary and Poland are cheaper than other European counties and very easy to go to if you’re already in Europe. Otherwise, Southeast Asia is super budget friendly! You just have to be quick and smart with buying tickets – always keep an eye on Skyscanner & Google Flights. Also, exploring your own country can be amazing! I noticed that when I’m abroad I spend ages in all the museums, explore every corner and all the touristy things. Whilst in the city I’m from, Amsterdam, I had never visited a museum – so stupid.
Diana: I think Dublin, Ireland is pretty budget friendly, definitely a location for college students if you’re into pubs, partying, history and such. Costa Rica is another great destination, amazing food, many actitvities such as zip lining, nature tours and water activities
Kay: It’s all about location location location. You’re a student. You’re probably on a budget, both time and money restraints. AND, you have other priorities, like school. So my top recommendation for maximum budget friendliness is to travel somewhere relatively close by. That way, it’s usually cheaper AND you don’t lose vacation time for air travel and timezone adjustments.
Another top recommendation is following what Melanie said – explore your own country! Go camping in a National Park. Go to the capitol city and get lost in the rush! Find a quiet bed and breakfast in a small town and explore all the local stores. And by Jove – TAKE A ROADTRIP. They are literally my favorite things on the PLANET. It’s cheap, easy, and super fun. Roadtrips are the ultimate clutch. Round up a few friends, plan out pit stops, make a playlist, and HIT THE ROAD.
7. Has traveling ever negatively impacted your school performance? If so, what are some ways to avoid that in future travels?
Melanie: Thank god travelling has never negatively impacted my school performance. Again, planning is key. I would never leave during a deadline week or before exams. I’d always plan my travels around the first week of a course or whenever else the workload wasn’t that bad.
Diana: If anything, I honestly think that traveling has made my school performance even better. I get a break from school, like a real break. My mind becomes so much clearer, I have a more open mind, and can always find a story to tell in class whenever we are discussing a destination I have visited. It also always gives me something to look forward to.
Rushell: During my study abroad year, my GPA dropped from 3.8 to 2.7 (4.0 is our possible highest). However, I expected this and it will not affect me too much. During that year I took eight courses instead of ten, and only four of them are going to be counted towards my GPA. I’d say that if you are doing a study abroad year or semester, don’t focus too much on school. You’re in a whole new place, with the core purpose of going experiencing a new culture etc.
If you have to choose between studying extra for your Micro-Econ test or going to the countryside with some local friends to tap maple trees for syrup, don’t do the extra studying. That’s the way I see it. I also added an extra year to my degree by studying abroad because I did not get any of my core degree courses, I used my electives.
Kay: I did about the same, school performance wise. I would suggest, however, that you not overload yourself on classes while you are studying abroad. Trust me, it’ll suck. You will be staying late in lab on a Saturday while your study abroad cohort hops on a 2 euro plane to Barcelona for the weekend. You’ll have to meet with your physiology professor for language tutoring while your new friends from Denmark invite to skiing in the Alps. Oh, and that cute guy from your reading comprehension class? Yeah, he’ll be sipping wine in Southern Italy while you’re trying to find the right conjugate metabolize in French. (TRUE STORY – all of them)
What I’m trying to say is that you don’t have to completely neglect your studies. BUT, I’d recommend to NOT max out on credits while studying abroad.
8. Why is traveling beneficial to students?
Diana: I think traveling is beneficial because it opens your mind to new experiences, new cultures, new foods, shit even new ways to party if that’s what you’re into. It also helps you have a clear mind, it gives you a break from your school and work life, you feel much more refreshed.
Melanie: You learn so much things that no university or parent can teach you. You get to practice your social skills, learn how to be independent in a different country, and get comfortable with being on your own. Plus, you become a professional at making plans. AND you learn so much about yourself: your weaknesses, your strengths, what you like and don’t like and sooo much more!
Rushell: Travel exposes you to so much!!! I believe that we learn a lot quicker outside of the classroom/lecture hall. From languages, to observing mannerisms, geography, dance, there are lessons all around us while travelling. In addition to learning in that capacity, travel also calls us to be more aware of our surroundings and practices. I have found that travelling increased my self-discipline, my work ethic (while saving towards trips), and it moved me further along my part of self growth.
Additionally, travelling may (depending on your approach to life) widen your understanding of the vast similarities amongst all people and walks of life, you may better come to understand the universality of the ‘human experience’ through travelling. Finally, it just feels good. You set a goal, work and save towards it, then you arrive and live that dream. It builds up this energy inside of you and propels you to chase your other dreams.
Kay: I think they pretty much summed it all up. Traveling is pretty freakin’ rad. It also opens your mind to how the world operates on a global scale and how history has impacted modern day legislation, social boundaries, and economic disparities across countries. Yeah, type up some of that in your anthropology essay.
9. How do you think your traveling will change after you graduate? Will the ability to travel be a major factor when looking for a job?
Melanie: Definitely not. I’m currently based in Bali and am planning to create a digital nomad lifestyle for myself to continue travelling until I’m fed up with it.
Rushell: I think I will continue to travel. I will continue sailing and competing overseas and I will save money to do some trips that I’ve wanted to for a really long time (BALI!!). My career will hopefully be something on the sea or in sailing so I will definitely be travelling. I’ve been travelling all of my life and I don’t see any reason to stop once I’ve graduated.
Diana: Once I graduate next year, I might not be able to travel as much at first since I would be looking for a “real” adult job. But at the same time, it would only be until I figure out how to work from a computer, so I can take my job on the go. My major might also make it easier to travel though. Travel and tourism management can you anywhere, in the airline industry, cruising, hotels, the options are endless, and all travel related.
Kay: Speaking from experience, I can tell that it could go either way. You could find a job with GREAT benefits that has generous vacation days and flexibility. You could get a job with not great benefits with horrible flexibility and the bare minimum (unpaid) time off. On the flip side, you might not immediately get a job (VERY NORMAL), and be stuck at home and applying for jobs for…a long while. Or maybe not finding a job will lead to you backpacking across the world for a year! You might even go back to school! There’s honestly no telling.
10. What are you top 3 tips to making travel a reality while attending school full time?
1. Prioritize – if you want to travel, you have to think of it as a priority. Take a long hard look at where you spend you’re money and cut back on frivolous spending. Remember the golden rule : “this, or travel?”
2. Plan – work around your schedules and deadlines. You’re in school to get an education, but travel is also an invaluable learning experience! Utilize long holidays and school breaks to travel! Weekend trips are seriously clutch city. Don’t underestimate the power of a quick pause from school to go camping under the stars. OR, catching a train to the big city! If needed, ask a professor to take an exam early to allow for a more flexible schedule.
3. (Be) Proactive – travel isn’t going to happen by itself! Especially if you’re on a strict student budget! Get involved in interesting clubs/societies which travel to participate in events. Book flights and lodging ahead of time for traveling during your school breaks (cuz you know it’ll fill up quick!). And most importantly – SAVE! Get a side hustle, answer surveys online, walk dogs on the weekend, create a budget. Save your money, trust me it will always be worth it
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND there you have it folks! If you are a student, I hope this has answered some of your questions about traveling. Of course, if you have any more questions about the student travel life, feel free to drop them in a comment below! If you are not a student…well, hopefully it was entertaining nonetheless.
Thank you to these three fabbbbb women who rep student traveling! I’ll leave their social media links below if you want to get in contact with them for questions. Or if you just think they’re cool (because they are).
Diana
Diana also wrote a post SPECIFICALLY on the tips and tricks she uses to travel while being a full time student! Check it out HERE!
Rushell
Melanie
How did you manage to travel when you were a student? Share your tips and tricks in the comments! What was the most popular student destination for your area?
Nice to meet you girls. It is many years since I was a student but was definitely when I caught the travel bug. (Beware you will still have it many decades hence!) I relished the student fares and discounts on offered, worked abroad immediately after graduation and have been lucky enough to have had jobs where a suitcase was a necessity. Great post and enjoy!