Summer break is finally here! After working hard all school year, you deserve a vacation; but finding the cash to pay for one as a college student is another story. Don’t worry – you can still have a memorable trip without breaking the bank! Here are a few tips for ways to save money while planning your summer vacation.
Prices rise as your departure date nears, so take advantage of lower prices by booking your flights and hotels early. This will give you more time to shop around for deals on flights, hotels, and activities. Make sure to set price alerts with sites like Google Flights or Kayak to keep an eye on when flight prices drop.
If you’re flying, it’s usually cheapest to depart on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but overall by being flexible on the dates you travel and avoiding peak weekends like Memorial Day or 4th of July, will allow you to find cheaper flights and hotels. You can also save money by booking less desirable flights like red eyes or those with layovers.
Flexibility with your method of travel can also save you money. Buses or trains can be much cheaper than flying. If you’re traveling domestically, sites like Wanderu will give you options for trains, buses, and rental cars to get from one city to another.
Instead of an Airbnb or hotel, consider looking at hostels. Hostels can accommodate single travelers or groups and sometimes have private room or bathroom options. Many hostels have nightly events, which is a great way to meet people if you’re traveling on your own. Check out Hostelworld for options in your destination.
Eating out can be expensive, so using groceries for some of your meals is a great way to save money. Try limiting the amount of meals you’re eating out by stocking your accommodations with basics like coffee, quick breakfast options, snacks, and simple, packable meals like sandwiches that you can take on the go. Also make sure you bring a water bottle that you can fill up instead of buying bottled water.
Traveling in a group can help you save money on things like transportation and accommodations. Depending on the size of your party you may be eligible for a group discount.
The less luggage you have, the less you'll have to pay in baggage fees. This will also help you more around more easily, making it less likely you’ll need to take a cab instead of public transportation.
It’s tempting to rideshare everywhere in an unfamiliar place, but learning the local bus, train, ferry, or subway system in your destination will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Many businesses offer discounts to students from airlines to attractions and activities. Be sure to ask if you're eligible for a discount when you're making your purchases.
If you use a credit card that offers travel rewards, you can earn points or miles that can be redeemed for free flights, hotels, and activities.
If you need help funding part of your trip, check out Kora - the money app for college. With KoraCash, you can borrow up to $3,000 and choose repayment terms that work for you, all while building your credit history.
KoraCash is an excellent option for a personal loan for students. KoraCash is perfect when students need help funding the gaps in their summer vacation budgets, like covering a flight or hotel stay. Life comes at you fast, and Kora is here to back you up. Here's how it works:
One of the best parts of KoraCash is that it may help build credit history as you repay the loan. You contribute to growing good credit history without a credit card while getting access to needed funds. It's the best of both worlds!
Learn more about Kora and get started on your money app journey with a company built for college students.