Traveling the world is usually a thought most college students deem as unattainable until they graduate and get a “real job.” Once this reality is accepted, most college students stick to domestic trips thinking the money spent flying domestically is more affordable than traveling to other countries in some cases. If this is the way you have been thinking, don’t worry you’re not alone. Luckily, that notion isn’t true at all. As long as you plan, save, and stay disciplined you can explore Europe, Latin America, and even Asia if you’re lucky. Researching your desired country is also key as currency conversion plays a huge role in travelling. Finally, I’ll introduce you to some travelling websites that specialize in bundling your whole trip with the most affordable price.

First let’s talk about finances. I know, I know, you’re a college student that works part time or even full time and don’t make enough money. Well, is that entirely true? Or are you spending too much on things you don’t really need? Whatever the case is you will have become a bit more disciplined on the financial front. Saving is key to being able to travelling as you will need to plan for flights, stay, and spending money. I implemented a 30% savings plan on my salary after taxes, which gave me flexibility to plan. Once you set your budget on how much your able to spend on your trip then you can begin the planning phase. Depending on what country you are going to currency conversion will definitely help you out.

Researching country currencies and when to book are key during planning. Countries like Colombia (3,164.06 pesos), Indonesia (14,612 Rupee), Brazil (3.74), Croatia (6.51), Morocco (9.48), Argentina (35.76), etc. get you huge value on $1. This allows you to book activities at a very affordable price. I remember when I visited Phuket, Thailand I was able to buy 2 large lobster dinners for 13.50 USD total!

There are two websites that I highly recommend for all in one booking. Tripmasters.com and Studentuniverse.com both feature all in one booking with the lowest prices. I primarily have used tripmasteres.com as my go to site for many of my vacations. Some of the deals they currently have available is an 8 night trip to Colombia where you’ll stay in 3 cities (Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena) for just $669 USD. You can visit Thailand for just $1,079 for 9 nights, while visiting Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. How about a trip to Barcelona and Paris for 6 nights for just $799?

I hope the information I provided was helpful and motivates college students to explore travel opportunities outside of the US. Once you budget and book your first trip, I guarantee you it will be life changing. The world has so much culture, amazing structures, and jaw dropping nature. The people are kind and the food is absolutely delicious. So take a break from studying and get lost in the right direction.