Effective Strategies for Students to Cut Travel Expenses: Tips and Tricks

Are you a student wanting to travel the world but often finding yourself short of budget? Travelling does not have to be an expensive affair, especially if you are a student. However, it must be noted that being within budget should not mean overlooking the safety aspects of travel, such as doing enough research about the place and buying international travel insurance. Unfortunate events can strike anytime. Rather than save money by skipping on travel insurance, one can buy the right plan and travel with a deeper peace of mind. There are many other strategies to fulfil your travelling wishes without the budget going overboard. Let’s look at them:

• Choose the correct destination 

The first and foremost thing is to choose a destination that fits within your budget. Often, some travel destinations may seem dreamy, but they may be costly as well. The flight tickets to and from the destination may be quite expensive or the hotels and restaurants may be highly priced in some cases. These expenses could shoot your travel budget to a great extent. Hence, you should research extensively and choose a destination that offers you budget-friendly experiences. So, rather than opting for North America, you may want to consider South America or, instead of East Asia, you could consider South-East Asia. However, be careful of visiting certain countries across the world as they can be risky. Your travel insurance coverage may not be valid in some locations.

• Choose how you want to travel 

There are many ways one can travel. You can choose to backpack across multiple cities or stay in one place for a long time. This may also be determined by the number of days you have. Having a long trip could mean setting aside a larger budget. A shorter trip can mean lesser destinations and a smaller timeframe to explore them. Hence, decide on the appropriate number of days that your budget might allow you and the kind of travel you wish to do.

• Create a budget for different travelling expenses

One of the most important things you need to do is set aside an amount for each kind of travelling expense. This may include your primary transport, such as flights or trains, as well as accommodation, food and drinks, in-city transit, sightseeing, and so on. The average costs of all of these will become clearer after you have chosen the destination and duration and carried out enough research. You should also set aside a separate budget for trip preparation, such as for buying the right luggage. Opting for travel insurance from India for an international destination should also be factored into this budget. If you skip travel insurance, you might find yourself having to pay from your own pocket in case of emergencies. When you set aside a specific amount, it creates a mindset where you have a fixed price in mind for any expense. When you are travelling, you can rest assured that you will not go over your total funds before the end of the trip. This is because each kind of expense has already been accounted for in your main budget.

• Go for affordable alternatives 

These days, travelling is no longer associated with staying at expensive hotels and eating at premium restaurants. With the right planning, you do not have to miss out on interesting travel experiences just because you are on a budget. For flights, you can book tickets in advance and select budget-friendly airlines. Regardless of which airline you choose, your international travel insurance plan will cover flight cancellations or delays. * When it comes to accommodation, you can choose hostels or homestays over hotels. You can even look for volunteering opportunities where you might get free accommodation and food in exchange for work.

• Ensure you take all safety precautions 

“A stitch in time saves nine”, goes the saying. You should spend a little bit of money before your trip on products or services that can ensure that you have a safe and convenient trip. Affordable travel should not have to mean putting yourself in danger. When you are travelling internationally, a medical emergency can be the last thing you want. But the truth is, it can crop up anytime. If you are travelling with a limited amount of money, then paying for a medical emergency can be a big task. If you already have medical insurance for foreign travel, it can be a relief. It can take care of the hefty medical bills so that you can get treated and continue your travel as planned. * Travelling can open doors to new opportunities and introduce you to new horizons. With the help of the above points and the support of a solid travel insurance plan from India, you too can travel the world safely within your budget.   * Standard T&C Apply. Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms, and conditions, please read the sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.