♦️Do your research

Compare as many websites as possible, and if you can, track pricing for at least a month to see when the prices rise and drop. By the end of a month, you’ll know what the going rate is for your flight. My favourite websites to compare flight prices are momondo.com and skyscanner.com, both of which you can set to send you “price alerts” to your e-mail when the prices drop significantly so you can get the best rate.

♦️Be flexible with your dates

This one can be tricky for students, as we typically only get a couple weeks between semesters. But changing either the outward or return date of your flight could save you hundreds of dollars. Flying Monday - Thursday tends to be much less expensive than Friday - Sunday, and might just make the trip worth it for you.

♦️Keep your mind open to new destinations

On skyscanner.com, you can type in your home airport and available travel dates, and then put your destination as “everywhere”. It then lists the cheapest destinations for you to go from your home airport! Perfect for an impromptu getaway. For us Vancouver travellers, my new favourite website recommended to me is ​yvrdeals.com​. You have to be fairly flexible with your dates, but it posts new deals all the time on flights out of YVR to just about everywhere. The best part, the research is done for you. It tells you the cheapest dates and website to go through for your trip! And in my opinion, some of the most exciting travel locations

♦️ Limit food spending

Eating out is exciting in a new country - you want to try all the delicacies and eat like a local. Trust me, there’s no one who loves stuffing their face with foreign food more than me. But eating out for every single meal and snack of the day takes a huge hit on the wallet. If you are staying in a hostel or an airbnb, consider making use of the kitchen provided for at least one meal of the day. I personally like to hit a supermarket when I first arrive and buy breakfast foods and snacks for the time that I am there so I only spend money on lunches and dinners while I’m out.

♦️Those boots are made for walking

Travelling can be exhausting. But what adventure isn’t? Flights are already expensive enough, so I try and limit my spending on transportation wherever I can. Taxis are always a no-go for me. When the drivers see that you’re a tourist, the majority will rip you off big time. Public transportation is great for airport transfers and if you have a limited amount of time and a bunch of tourist spots you need to see quickly. However, I often find the quirkiest spots in cities and get the best feel for the culture and people when I am walking around a city (it also helps burn off all the pastries you just ​had​ to try at that last bakery).

♦️Mind the conversion rate

This one may seem redundant, but I know too many people who just look at prices in foreign countries and pretend it is in Russian Rubles. ​Don’t do it.

♦️ Hostels aren’t scary

There is definitely a negative stigma around youth hostels - either that they’re dirty, creepy, or a 24/7 frat party. While there are cases of all of these problems, the great majority are clean, safe, and quiet. In my opinion, they are one of the most fun ways to stay in a foreign city. Benefit #1 is that they’re inexpensive. Score. Additionally, they are a great way to meet new people, especially if you’re travelling solo. They are often placed in convenient, central locations in cities, and offer fun nights out or sight-seeing excursions for their guests. Whether you’re a hostel-avoider or a hostel-connoisseur, reading the reviews of your hostel beforehand is a must-do to make sure you make the right choice for you.

♦️ FREE WALKING TOURS

Almost every city has companies that do free walking tours every day - one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Book your space online beforehand, show up at their meeting point and get taken around the city for a few hours by a local tour guide!Although they are free of charge, it is expected that at the end of the tour you leave a small tip for the tour guide, but you can be the judge. Now go jetset, and still be able to afford to stuff your bag with souvenirs