As much as I love towing a silver home on wheels on many of my adventures, sometimes I get nostalgic about the "backpacking days" of my younger days. My post on my minimal packing trip to Denmark inspired college student, KC Owens to email me about doing a guest post on his tips for traveling light. May I kindly introduce, KC Owens and his guest post:
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How Budget Minded College Students Can Save Big Bucks on International Travel
College can be an incredibly stressful experience for students.
Sometimes it seems like the assignments, studying and tests never stop.
Enjoying yourself is essential if you're going to survive your time in school,
but the lack of money enjoyed by most college students means that options are
limited. Personally, I save money and make the most of my time with
international travel on school breaks. Every chance I receive, I have
adventures around the world without breaking the bank. Some people are amazed
that I can afford to do this, but it's actually very easy. Here's a look at how
I do it.
Items
to Bring
When you're packing for extended trips to forgotten corners of the
globe, it can be hard to choose what to bring and what to leave behind. The
truth is that when you're living out of a backpack, you're going to have to
rough it at least a little. Personally, I prefer to bring less stuff and enjoy
the added mobility it gives me. There’s nothing worse than paying for extra
baggage fees at the airport or train station so carrying one, small pack can
save you some cash.
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You'll want to make sure you bring clothes appropriate to the
climate or climates you'll be visiting. Good rain gear is essential if you're
planning to hike or spend much time outdoors. Out of everything I pack, an
ID wallet may be the most important. Thieves will have a harder time
separating you from your passport, credit card and cash if you secure it inside
a zipped fanny pack or pants pocket. I would recommend storing everything
valuable in one of these and keeping it with you at all times. If you lose your
passport, you can still get home by contacting the nearest embassy and
explaining your situation; it may take a lot of paperwork, but you’ll get home.
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Oswiecim, Poland |
Paying
for Your Travels
Traveling around the globe is bound to be expensive for anyone,
let alone a college student. The fact is that while I might not have enough
cash lying around to use on backpacking trips, I definitely have the option of
borrowing to pay for travel. A
travelers’ credit card makes this a breeze, and it's also safer than
carrying cash because most pickpockets really only want cash and cameras. It’s
also more convenient because it saves on currency exchanges when you’re moving
from place to place.
However, not all cards are of equal value. Some cards are
significantly more expensive than others, so it pays to do some research on
student travel cards. These are designed for college-aged folks and they're not
usually too strict when it comes to requirements. With this card in your
pocket, you'll be free to concentrate on the experience of being in a strange
land. You can pay back the costs over time later, when you'll have more time to
work and pay off your bills. This is what I’ve done and it’s been great because
I don’t need to wait until I have enough money up front.
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View from Edinburgh Castle |
Saving
Money on Lodging
Accommodations can drain your budget quickly if you aren't careful
about where you stay during your travels. To stretch my money as far as possible,
I look for low-cost, high-value hostels in areas I'm considering. In fact, I
use a phone app called Hostelworld to
plan stays throughout my journey. It can be a real challenge finding
affordable hostels in small cities, so it pays to start researching early. If
you don't find one early enough, you could end up sleeping in a bus station
(been there, done that).
There are a few qualities that make certain hostels preferable to
others. The ability to check in 24 hours a day is essential because if you were
to show up at late at night at a hostel without 24-hour check in, you'd be
homeless for the night. Wi-Fi is another valuable option offered by more
hostels nowadays. By connecting to the hostel's Wi-Fi signal through your
laptop, you can update your social media profiles and send emails to friends
and family to let them know how much fun you're having on your travels. Many
hostels also offer student discounts so be sure to bring your ID to save some
extra cash on food and drinks!
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