And how you should too!
I decided to collect a couple of tips and tricks that allow me to travel as a full-time college student. My firm belief is that anyone can travel, the hardest thing is just knowing where to start.
TLDR: Kiwi + Skiplagged is the best for flights, buy as early as possible even if you aren't quite sure of your itinerary. Stay in hostels (bring earplugs). Airbnb has some great deals. Try as much food as you can!
Flights
To Morroco, I booked my flights nearly 5 months in advance. I didn't want to rush through SE Asia in my 3 weeks off from university plus flights were expensive. Australia was too far and I had just gotten back from hopping around South America. So I was left with Europe or Africa. I deliberated on this for several seconds and decided- why not both?
While I was in Germany I thought hey cheap flights let's get some more flights with crazy 24hr+ layovers, so that's how I wound up in Lithuania and Denmark. The moral of the story: buy tickets as early as possible for long-haul flights even if you haven't locked in an itinerary. The itinerary will build itself.
Skiplagged and Kiwi are your friends. Skiplagged compiles several one-way flights to get you to your destination and back and often can be up to 50% of the cost. Whatsmore you have the option to pick layovers in a wide variety of cities so if you fancy a quick gelato in Milan or popping by the Eiffel Tower for a massive letdown, Skiplagged is your go-to. Kiwi is an equally helpful travel website for finding flights and accommodation. They can monitor flight prices for several months and often give you ridiculously good deals right off the bat.
With proper timing, you can get flights to practically anywhere in the world for <$1000
Accommodation
Often the most expensive, accommodations can make or break your trip. I tend to stay away from hotels when I travel: they're expensive, boring, and often in the touristy parts of town so you get sucked into the madness. What's more, staying in your "premium suite" means missing chances to meet locals, travelers, and other fellow humans. So for those reasons I always opt for hostels.
Hostels are fun, diverse, and refreshing all while being easy on the wallet. During my stay in Marrakesh for just $6 a night I got to stay in a fantastic Riad with beautiful tile and stained glass decor and restaurants right around the corner. Nearby hotels cost nearly 10x the price so that was a clear winner. There are also tons of travelers going in and out every day so the odds you meet someone that speaks your language are pretty high! And for solo travelers like me, it's great to have people to talk to while maintaining the independence to go trekking through the Atlas Mountains.
Food
Eat everything!!! In Delhi, I tried almost all the street food I came across, from chicken shawarma to samosas, and only had one bout with food poisoning. If you're there for a bit longer and can afford to take the risk of being out of commission for a day or two I say go for it, the risk is low, and your stomach will thank you. Food abroad is a great way to feel out the culture. From street food carts to sit-down restaurants, it's always nice to sample local dishes and have a chat with the people serving them.
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