If you’re a college student, you probably have 4.5 hours of reading to catch up on, 11 unread texts, and a rapidly approaching credit card bill.
Planning a trip on top of all that? Sounds daunting. And expensive.
But in reality, traveling as a student doesn’t have to be either of those things. Booking an enriching, life-changing trip can be a few clicks away. And, if you know where to look, your school may even pay for it!
From hiking Mount Saint Helens to sipping tea in a French chateau, here’s how to travel in college without getting stressed or breaking the bank!
Erika Taught Me
- Many schools offer study abroad programs, travel scholarships, and even grants for speaking at conferences.
- Group travel companies and “voluntourism” companies allow you to have unforgettable travel adventures on a budget.
- Your campus’s outdoor rec center may offer multi-day, all-inclusive hiking, biking, or kayaking adventures.
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1. Look for Short Study Abroad Programs
If the whole point of college is to learn and grow as a person, what better way to accomplish that than to fully immerse yourself in another culture between classes?!
Trouble is, studying abroad can be costly without a scholarship. Plus, spending a semester abroad means forfeiting a semester at home — and spending months without the friends you’ve already made on campus.
That’s why short study abroad programs might offer the best of both worlds.
Instead of spending a full semester abroad, you could take a three-week class over the summer with, say, Meiji Academy, studying Japanese culture as you explore Hokkaido with your classmates — all without breaking the bank.
To find more study abroad opportunities, check with your campus’s global education or study abroad office.
2. Apply for Scholarships and Conference Opportunities
Many colleges and universities have a directory of scholarships available to students who want to travel.
The University of Georgia, for example, has a StudyAway Scholarship Search page with over 50 grants and scholarships worth up to $25,000.
Smaller campuses may have fewer opportunities, but hey, all it takes is one.
Another attainable source of funding is a conference grant. It’s actually pretty common for colleges and universities to offer ~$500 cash to students who want to travel for a conference related to their area of academic study — e.g., Berry College’s Student Presentation Travel Fund.
The caveat is that you typically have to be a speaker, not just an attendee. But even if you just lead a breakout session of 15 people, the experience can build your resume, open doors to employers, and sharpen your presentation skills.
READ MORE: How To Find Scholarships and Avoid Student Loans
3. Check Group Travel Sites
Everyone knows it’s safer to travel in a group (especially with a local guide), but I didn’t realize how much cheaper it was until I started planning my trip to China.
I assumed it would be the other way around, so I started planning a solo trip based on the itineraries that group tour sites like G Adventures, Contiki, and Intrepid had on their websites.
Lo and behold, doing everything myself would’ve actually cost about 40% more. And it makes sense — when you travel with a tour company, everything from hotels to day trips is already pre-negotiated with a group rate factored in.
I can’t personally speak for Contiki and Intrepid, but I booked G Adventures trips through China, India, and Nepal and they were all outstanding (and outstandingly cheap).
READ MORE: How To Avoid Single Supplement Charges
4. Consider “Voluntourism”
A popular way to travel on the cheap — while also giving back to the country and people you’re visiting — is to plan some “voluntourism.”
Voluntourism has been around for decades, largely spearheaded by the nonprofit World Wide Opportunities for Organic Farms, or WWOOF. When you go “WWOOFing,” you work and live on a farm overseas, whether that’s harvesting wheat in Kazakhstan or shucking corn in Togo.
Then, in exchange for four- to six-hour days, your host typically provides free room and board, leaving you plenty of time and money to explore your surroundings with your fellow WWOOFers.
A popular alternative to WWOOF is Workaway, which offers broader opportunities for voluntourism beyond just farming.
As of this writing, hosts from over 170 countries have requested help with things like:
- Logging in Norway
- Repainting a chateau in southern France
- Managing a hostel in Colombia
- Teaching in urban Morocco
And more. Some opportunities are actually paid a small stipend, which can help lower your travel budget even further!
READ MORE: Digital Nomad Visas: Where To Go and How To Get There
5. Check the Outdoor Rec Center
Finally, if you’re the outdoors-y type, you should absolutely find out if your campus has an official outdoor recreation center.
In addition to half-day hikes and low-cost equipment rentals, many outdoor rec centers will plan multi-day outings that give you a true chance to escape and make friends around a campfire.
The University of Florida, for example, hosts “Adventure Trips” on an almost daily basis, ranging all the way from an Intro to Surfing course in St. Augustine to three-day backpacking trips along the Appalachian Trail.
Best of all, even the multi-day trips cost well under $300 and include all meals, transportation, and equipment.
General Tips for Saving Money While Traveling
Whether you’re hiking Zion National Park, attending a conference in New York, or housesitting in Italy, here are some general tips to help you save money while traveling as a student.
Look for “weird” times, dates, and destinations
In general, when you book outside of the usual business travel windows (Monday AM, Friday PM), you’re more likely to find lower rates for airfare.
Or, if you're not picky about where you travel, you may be able to find last-minute deals and hidden discounts on Google Flights. Just click “Explore” after you input your departure city — don't pick a destination! — and see what comes up.
Use points
Even with a limited credit history, you may be able to apply for a rewards credit card that earns you a welcome bonus and cashback or points that you can put towards your trip.
For example, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a great beginner card, since it has no annual fee and an easy-to-follow rewards structure. And even though it's not a “travel” card, you can still redeem your rewards when you book through Chase Travel℠.
For a travel-themed card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a popular next step from the Unlimited. It does charge an annual fee, but once you get into traveling on points, that fee may be worth it.
READ MORE: How To Earn Credit Card Points Fast for Travel
- Rewards rate: 5% cashback on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3% cashback on drugstore purchases, restaurants, takeout, and eligible delivery services; 1.5% on all other purchases
- Welcome offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cashback on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cashback
- Annual fee: $0
LEARN MORE: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
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- Rewards rate: 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries; 2x on all other travel purchases; 1x on all other purchases
- Welcome offer: Get up to $1,050 in Chase TravelSM value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That’s worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year.
- Annual fee: $95
LEARN MORE: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
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Stay in hostels
Hostels are almost always cheaper than hotels or AirBnBs, and feature social areas for connecting with other young, like-minded travelers.
Plus, many hotels let you stay for free if you volunteer to work the front desk.
READ MORE: How To Travel for Free (or Close to It!)
Google “student discount” before booking
A college ID is like an AARP card for young people, providing discounts in a long list of places.
Before you book your conference pass or museum ticket, check if there’s a student discount.
READ MORE: The Best Student Discounts for Big Back-to-School Savings
FAQs
Is traveling in college worth it?
Absolutely! Traveling while in school is a superb way to expand your mind, meet lifelong friends, and sample the best food in the world.
Colleges know that you’re on a limited budget, too, which is why they offer numerous grants, scholarships, and programs to help subsidize the cost.
What college majors allow you to travel?
Majors in journalism, international affairs, marine biology, linguistics, marketing, and business often lead to careers that involve travel.
For more ideas, speak with a counselor at your school’s career center.
TL;DR: How To Travel for Cheap as a Student
Even if you’re a college student on a budget, there are still ways to travel for cheap — or even for free!
Check out your school’s study abroad programs and ask about any travel scholarships and grants. Or, you could volunteer abroad through a program like WWOOF or Workaway.
If you’d rather not mix study/work with your vacation, there are travel companies like G Adventures and Contiki that offer affordable trips geared to young travelers.
Want to learn more money-saving tips? Follow Erika on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube! That's where she shares all her best budgeting tips.
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Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
