Exploring new places through traveling, travel is an interesting activity to enrich experiences and open horizons, especially for students. One of the most common ways to fill a long holiday is by traveling to various destinations, both at home and abroad.
For students who love traveling or are a traveler, this year is the year of travel revival. Many borders have been opened, but there are still travel restrictions. While travel is often perceived as costly, it can be fun and affordable if you plan well and use the right strategies. By implementing some of the right strategies, you can still make your travel dreams come true without breaking the bank.
One of the main keys to budget travel is careful planning. By searching for information in advance, students can find cheaper transportation tickets and affordable places to stay. Several platform sites, such as Traveloka, Tiket.com, and Skyscanner, can help you find tickets at the best prices. Also, avoiding holiday seasons or weekends can be a smart strategy to get lower rates
Next, choosing a budget-friendly place to stay is essential to save money, such as a homestay hostel, or staying at a friend’s house. Just like purchasing transportation tickets, apps like Airbnb or RedDoorz often offer low-priced and comfortable housing options. In fact, in some areas, local communities open the doors of their homes to travelers at a voluntary rate.
I myself have chosen to stay at a friend’s house when traveling to save on accommodation costs. Apart from reducing expenses, this experience gave me the opportunity to get to know the local culture more deeply and enjoy traveling in a more authentic way. From this experience, I learned that creativity and adaptability are more important than having a big budget when it comes to traveling.
As a student, taking advantage of discounts and special perks can go a long way in saving money. Many tourist attractions, museums, as well as transportation services such as KRL and public buses provide discounts for student card holders, so travel costs can be reduced.
In addition, choosing eateries that offer student discounts is also an effective savings strategy. Some restaurants or food stalls offer discounts upon presentation of ID, while street food options remain an affordable option that not only saves money but also provides a diverse culinary experience.
At the end of the day, traveling is not just about the money we spend, but about how we can utilize our resources to get the best experience. With frugal strategies such as utilizing discounts, finding cheap accommodation, or even staying at a friend’s house, students can still enjoy traveling without a huge financial burden. I believe that traveling on a budget can actually provide a more meaningful experience, because it teaches us to be more creative, independent, and flexible in dealing with various situations. Therefore, budget traveling is not just an option, but also the best way to explore the world smartly.
By: Syifa Syauqina Aushaf
Write and Win: Participate in Creative writing Contest & International Essay Contest and win fabulous prizes.
