The best part about going to college is discovering the kind of person you want to be. What better way to learn about yourself than by traveling across the world and making new friends along the way. Traveling doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg, all you need is determination and to make sacrifices for this new desired lifestyle. Without further ado let’s get into how to start traveling as a college student.
Study Abroad
This is my favorite way to travel as a college student to kick start the list. Universities tend to cover basic expenses such as accommodations and food, which means all you need to worry about is making the time to explore the new city and country you’re in! Depending on the country of your choice, student visas are not always the easiest to get accepted for due to the frequent high volume of applicants, but don’t let this discourage you. Planning ahead of time to study abroad, speaking with counselors, and asking for advice from others who have studied abroad can help make the process significantly smoother.
Tip: Countries such as Spain, Portugal, and Italy are great places to study abroad due to the easy student visa process and abundance of resources available to help you along the way.
Road Trips
A classic road trip can never go wrong. Bring all of your friends and some snacks along for the long ride and take your time exploring new territories. Road trips in Europe are on a whole other level, for those up to the challenge. Things rarely ever go as planned, so make sure to include wiggle room for spontaneous adventures and unexpected illnesses or injuries. Renting a car can get expensive very quickly, so splitting the cost among a group can ease the financial burden. Weekend road trips are a cheap way to travel as a college student to nearby metropolitan cities.
Tip: Pack a pair of motion sickness glasses for road trips in the mountains also just because they look funny!
Off Seasons
I love traveling during off seasons to save money on flights and accommodations. This also gives the opportunity to miss the crowds and meet more locals. During my trip to Valencia, Spain for two months by going in the off season my Airbnb rental was half the price it normally is in the Summer. Instead of paying over 4 grand for a 2-month Airbnb rental, I paid only 2 grand! Savings like that can only exist where there’s less demand, like the off seasons. Food and activities are unfortunately the only expense that tend not to be more affordable during the off seasons, however it means tours and excursions that are usually fully booked in the summer are now available.
The choices you make every day become who you are at the end of the day.
Au Pair
For students taking virtual classes, then this is the hack for you. An au pair is an international live-in nanny. By working as an au pair, you get paid to live and work abroad. Which means when you’re not working you can explore the city and country while making new friends along the way. Websites such as Interchange, Cultural Care, and Au Pair World are all great options to find the perfect family for you. Previous nanny experience can be a great helping hand, however, being a nanny for older children is often the perfect opportunity to not only make a new best friend but also gain experience. Babysitting younger siblings or cousins can be considered experience for those starting the au pair journey with no professional experience.
Tip: Au Pairs often have a salary of up to 60k per year, which means as a student debts can be paid off faster, more savings can be acquired, or there can be more travel in your future.
International Internships
Many American universities require an internship during your Junior or Senior year before graduation, so why not take advantage. Using a student visa, you can get accepted fairly easily into internships across the world to gain experience and as a bonus appear more interesting when applying for a professional career after graduation. Having an internship alongside online classes can become very stressful due to the increased workload, but as a bright side you’ll be stressed in Barcelona and not in your hometown. The benefit to an international internship is the ability to unwind and relax on the beach, party the night away in a club, or enjoy a nice affordable dinner once you finish all of your work. This unique experience is once-in-a-lifetime so make the most of it.
To recap, studying abroad, road trips, traveling during the off seasons, becoming an au pair, and taking on an international internship are all ways to travel as a college student. If you know of better ways to travel as a student, comment down below your thoughts!