By Lily King
If you have mates living abroad, it can seem impossible to visit them without breaking the bank. These top tips will be sure to help you save the pennies when you travel.
- Book in advance
Transport is often a lot cheaper if you book way in advance! Check out how far in advance you can book as it varies for different transport types. Flights, for example, can usually be booked up to 11 months in advance. It’s best to be prepared so that you can save up that extra cash for the rest of your trip.
- Take the long route
Whilst they aren’t the fastest ways to travel, buses and trains can be a lot cheaper than flights. I used Flixbus to visit friends on my year abroad in Germany which was super cheap – just make sure you download LOTS to watch on Netflix, and take an eye mask to help you get some sleep!
- Book return trips
It’s usually way cheaper to book a return trip rather than single journeys. A word of warning: some countries will only allow you entry if you have booked a return trip. Check this out for the country you are travelling to at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. It also helps just to feel that extra level of safety and organisation to know that the whole trip is booked and you know you’ve got a route back.
- Travel at less popular times.
Travelling off-peak or mid-week can often be the key to securing cheap tickets. If you needed any extra motivation to jet off mid-reading week to get some winter sun, this is it!
- Discounts
Us students do love a good bargain. Some travel companies offer student discounts, so make sure to check before you book. For other companies, like Flixbus in Germany, you can get your hands on discount codes really easily, such as on the back of receipts – so make sure to keep hold of any discount codes you find!
- Do your research
Transport abroad can be quite different to the UK. Bear this in mind when booking your travel and ask the friend(s) you are visiting for advice on the do’s and don’ts of travelling around your target destination!
- Stay safe
Whilst it’s great to save a bit of cash, don’t do so at the cost of your safety. Check out the website for the Foreign Office’s Travel Aware campaign at https://travelaware.campaign.gov.uk/ for tips on staying out of danger on your travels!
The UoB Linguist Magazine 