These Four Websites Are Helping College Students Plan Budget-Friendly Travels

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By Danielle Pointdujour · Updated October 23, 2020

Congratulations, you’re embarking on the educational adventure of a lifetime – college. While you may end up being rich in knowledge, chances are you’re also broke. Though school may feel like a full-time job, it certainly doesn’t pay like one, and between classes and low wage part-time jobs and internships, it is hard to be able to save for splurges like traveling the world. However, all hope is not lost. With a little planning and determination, exploring the world as a student is very possible and within reach. These four sites were made specifically to help college students and young adults (because let’s face it, you’re usually broke straight out of college too) go on adventures of a lifetime that are fun memorable, and most important – within budget.

STA Travel

When it comes to helping students save on travel, STA Travel is an O.G. in the game. The site is perfect for scoring major savings on flights, hotels, trains, car rentals, public transportation, and even guided tours. If you’re not too keen on traveling alone, STA’s Worldwide Tours can help pair you with a new potential friend along the way. As a bonus, you can use STA Travel to continue scoring deals after college, up to age 26.

Photo Credit: STA Travel

Busabout

Figuring out the logistics of multi-city travel – and staying committed to a strict schedule – can be time-consuming and overwhelming, especially as a free-wheeling young adult. Thankfully Busabout is all about making travel (and saving on it!) as stress-free as possible. Busabout’s flexible hop on, hop off approach to travel allows you to create their own adventure. From small group adventures to island hopping and music festival, Busabout has it all, and for affordable prices, with passes for short trips around Europe starting at just $229.

Photo Credit: Busabout

Student Universe

Think of StudentUniverse as Expedia or Travelocity for students. StudentUniverse helps students and young adults 26 and under find exclusive student flight discounts that can’t be found anywhere else. The site also helps you save on hotels, tours, fun activities, and even airport transfers. As if the built-in deals weren’t enough, StudentUniverse frequently has discount codes and offers that help you save even more.

Photo Credit: Student Universe

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International Student Identity Card

You’ve found a great deal to your dream destination – now how do you save on all the things you’ll want to do once you get there. That’s where having an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) comes in. Simply submit a few documents to prove you’re really a student (like your student ID) and your ISIC opens up a world of discounts on things like movie theater tickets, museum passes, gym memberships, transportation, tours, and even a few restaurants, in over 100 countries. Bonus? There’s also an app so you can keep the savings at your fingertips.