7 Travel Tips For Maximising a Student’s “Shoestring” Budget

Just because our finances are limited doesn’t mean our travel experiences have to be as well. You’ll be amazed how far your money can go with a little careful planning. Use these student budget travel tips for a safe and affordable adventure you’ll cherish for the rest of your life!
Bus Travel / Promo Flights
If you have a bit of time, bus travel is a great way to slow down and see the sights along the way. Of course, it’s super affordable as well. However, if you watch the seat sales and promos like a hawk, you can score great deals on airfare as well. Visit budget airline websites and sign up for seat sale alerts via email. It helps to be flexible with your travel dates – I have found flights for the same price as the identical route by bus!
Travelling Light
Budget airlines can give you rock-bottom deals on domestic and international flights, but they try to make up for it with extra charges for things like carry-on baggage weight (often they charge extra for checked bags as well). If you can keep your carry-on load below 7kg (about 15 lbs), you’ll save quite a bit of money… especially if you have multiple promo flights. Keep in mind that on budget airlines, you can also save money by letting the airline choose your seat, and bringing your own snacks on the plane.
Guest Houses / Hostels
Let’s face it…  hotels are expensive. They don’t make much sense for long-term and/or limitedbudget travellers. You can shave off a lot of lodging costs by staying in economical guest houses or hostels. Manybudget travellers avoid aircon rooms in favour of simple fan options. This can save you a fortune.  If you are not willing to skimp on AC, you can travel with friends to share the cost of a private aircon room (it’s better to try and join a group to keep costs down).
Another way to save is negotiating the room rate for longer stays. At some guest houses, you can save up to 50% by paying for an entire month upfront (you should be able to get 25% off for a stay of 4 or 5 days). If you try this, make sure you have thoroughly examined the property and location. Just know what you’re getting yourself into.
Transportation at Your Destination  
Taxis are the most expensive option virtually everywhere. You can save a lot by taking local forms of transport, such as buses, tuk-tuks, or trikes. It’s wise to do some research or ask a local what you should expect to pay the driver for these trips. With your colourful backpack and curious smiles, the drivers will know you are a tourist, and might try to charge a bit extra. Just remain polite and calm, and don’t hesitate to move to another driver if you feel you are being treated unfairly. Personally, I love downloading maps and exploring on foot. I like taking pictures, and also the exercise. I feel I’m taking in much more of the local experience on foot. Just make sure the neighbourhood well-lit, populated and safe for walking.
Some touristy destinations have bicycle or scooter rentals, so that’s an option as well. Make sure you examine and document any damage to the bike before you rent, so you will not be blamed for it later. It rarely happens, but it’s good to be safe. Note that most often, you will need an international driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle. They are generally cheap and easy to obtain at home (assuming you already have a standard license in your country). You can Google for it.
Eat Like a Local
Try to avoid restaurants, and eat like the locals do! Do some research to see what kind of dangers street food might present. My stomach is quite strong, so I generally don’t need to worry about these sorts of things. However, some parts of countries like India are notorious for intestinal upset, so again, it’s good to know what you’re getting into. Another option is to find a guest house that will let you buy at the market and cook your own food (also good for people traveling in groups).
Gifts for Friends
Personally, I love receiving hand-written postcards. They are a very personal and affordable way to put a smile on the faces of loved ones back home. It doesn’t hurt that they’ll keep you within your weight limit on the flight home, either:)
Safety
Yes,safety is important for maintaining a strict budget on the road. If you lose your bag with all your money (or even your passport!), there’s no easy and affordable solution for that. It is a headache you want to avoid at all costs. Always keep your bags in sight, and consider using small padlocks or bags with includedsafety features to keep thieves from quickly rummaging through them.  Don’t wear jewellery or flash expensive cameras and phones around – especially in poor areas. It could make you a target, but it could also make bargaining in local markets much more difficult!
Stay alert and street smart, but not so much that you stop “going with the flow” and enjoying the moment. After all, I believe that is where you can find the real magic of travel. They say that new experiences from travel are the one thing that people never regret…and after 5 years on the road, I wholeheartedly agree.
Enjoy yourself out there.
 
Nathan Allen
Nathan Allen has spent 6 years taking photos and documenting life in Asia.  A long-term traveler, he lives by the motto “spend less, see more”.  Follow him on I Dreamed Of This to find out how he’s realising his dreams.