Tips to Travel on a Budget for Students

Low-cost Transportation

The first step to organize a trip on a low budget is to find an affordable ride. 

#1 Airline

Compare different airlines. That is the rule of thumb! Sites like Kayak, Liligo, Skyscanner, or eDreams will help you to do this. Also, make sure to check out different airline companies' websites. They might have exclusive offers. Not to mention the unbeatable prices of low-cost airlines like Ryanair, Transavia, EasyJet, etc., which are very attractive to students.

#2 Railway

Traveling by train as a student can be very interesting! In France, the SCNF offers special prices for students. You can also check out their offers on SCNF and Ouigo.

If you want to travel in Europe, think about the InterRail card which allows you to travel in 33 countries over a defined period of time depending on the package you choose! Here again, you benefit from a discount on the price of the pass as a student.

You might want to try your luck at the Discover EU program (part of Erasmus+): this kind of contest, under certain conditions, gives you the opportunity to win an InterRail card!

#3 Highway

Carpooling is a great way to get around France or abroad at a reasonable expense. You can check many different websites, like BlaBlaCar, Mobicoop, Europe Carlooping...

Buses can be a good option too because prices are quite competitive and there are many destinations where you can travel to. Especially if you travel at night, so you can make the most of your time and save more money! Companies such as Flixbus, Eurolines, BlaBlaBus, etc. have significantly enlarged their offer to meet the growing demand.

Budget-Friendly Accommodations

Housing is usually the most important expense in a travel budget. But here again, you have several other options rather than 4* hotels!

#1 Homestay

You are obviously familiar with Airbnb for renting a room in a local's home, but you can also rent an entire apartment (ideal if you are traveling with friends!). Or, you can opt for Couchsurfing where you stay for free at someone's house.

#2 Youth Hostels

This is the ultimate accommodation for students. You get accommodation at an unbeatable price in hostels, both in France and abroad.

Not to be excluded, depending on your destination, camping is also a budget-friendly solution!

#3 Work for free Hosting

Why not enjoy a fulfilling experience on all levels? There are several websites that will link you to people who offer to host you (and sometimes even to share their meals with you) in exchange for a few hours of work per day. This is the concept of Wwoofing, you might want to consider it too!

Some Additional Tips

If you want to travel at the lowest cost possible, keep in mind that you need to be flexible (both on the destination and on the dates) and think about consulting some dedicated websites such as Voyages Pirates, Voyage Privé or Lastminute.

Also, note that traveling with others can allow you to make significant savings. If you don't have anyone to go with you, go to the Meettotravel application to meet potential future travel companions!

And do not forget your student card! It will give you access to many discounts (restaurants, museums, public transport, leisure activities...). You can also get the international student ID card, Isic, which is accepted in several European countries.

Last but not least, you should know that the Agence Nationale pour les Chèques-Vacances (National Agency for Holiday Vouchers) offers subsidies for 18–25-year-olds (under certain conditions), which finance up to 80% of the cost of the trip, with a maximum amount of €250 and a minimum remaining amount of €50.

The Groupe IGS strongly recommends traveling while you are a student! The benefits of these experiences are countless, especially in a context where the international dimension is becoming increasingly important.

Discover the schools of the Groupe IGS and find out about our projects and programs in the international sphere!