Spending This Summer Abroad On A Low Budget

Filed in archive Holiday Travel , Tips and Tricks on July 4, 2010

© Omar A.

If you're a college student wanting to take a cool break from school this summer, here are a few tips for you to have the most fun out of the smallest number of dollars possible:

1) Don't go roaming. Download a Skype calling app onto your mobile phone. Skype-to-Skype calls are free if you're within a WiFi hotspot. If you're calling back to the US or an app-less cell, you only pay 2 or 7 cents a minute. If you don't have a smart phone, buy a prepaid local SIM card when you land. In Europe they will run you about 15 to 30 euros, but will have a few minutes of talk time in the price. Make sure your phone is "unlocked" and is a tri-band or quad-band phone. If you have Verizon or Sprint as your mobile carrier try buying a cheap international-use cell phone such as one offered by STA Travel. As a last resort, purchase a local calling card for phoning home.

2) Stay in a hostel. You're only going to be there to sleep anyway. Most will also provide a free simple breakfast each day of your stay. Hostels.com is a good place for fee-free booking in almost any city imaginable.

3) Be flighty. If you are travelling light and are visiting multiple countries take a look at the fares offered by ultra-budget airlines easyJet.com and Ryanair. These are really the cheapest way to go all over Europe. Just beware of the long check-in lines.