Column | All things budget travel, making the most of study abroad

They say the world is your classroom, so why stop in Dublin? With the help of RyanAir, Hostelworld, many extra shifts at my summer job and a few grants, I’ve been lucky enough to spend a day or two in several countries during my four months abroad.

While I love Dublin’s charming streets and the bustling Trinity College campus, breaks from my daily routine to experience new sights and sounds has been a great way to recharge and make the time go by faster amid difficulty being away from home and my loved ones for so long.

From trying schnitzel and käsekrainer in Vienna to dancing in the street with strangers in Athens, traveling has brought me unforgettable experiences and taken me out of my comfort zone in ways I never imagined.

Beyond simply ticking destinations off your list, experiencing different cultures and ways of life offers valuable perspectives on the world and your place in it. Though it may not be easy, I highly recommend venturing beyond your host country while you study abroad.

My first piece of advice is to prepare well in advance; it’s never too early to start saving. Your future self will thank you for skipping your daily iced latte and working the late night and weekend shifts.

Also, apply for as many grants and scholarships as you can, and do it as soon as possible. Many academic colleges and other organizations have grants to help mitigate the costs associated with living on your own for four months, including housing, food and transportation.

Enrichment funding from the College of the Liberal Arts and a grant from the Schreyer Honors College really allowed me to make the most out of my summer job savings. The Fulbright Scholar Program and scholarships offered by your program (mine was IES Abroad) are more ways to not only mitigate the cost, but save enough to make the most out of your experience.

To make the most out of your savings, do some in-depth research and planning. Google Sheets is your best friend.

I recommend looking into a program where housing is included, so you only have to focus on food, transportation and fun. Get a general estimate of these expenses and create a weekly budget — your remaining savings are for travel. Keep track while you’re abroad.

If you’re studying in Europe, Ryanair is also your best friend. It’s me and my free under-the-seat carry-on backpack against the world.

Skyscanner has a feature that will show you the cheapest flight on any given day to literally anywhere. Book weeks ahead!

That leads to my next point: be willing to go anywhere. Some of my favorite journeys were the ones I previously hadn’t considered. Luxembourg and Lisbon were some of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever seen.

And if there’s somewhere you really want to go that is out of your budget, see how you can get there cheaper from somewhere else. For example, it was too expensive for me to fly to Athens from Dublin. So, I flew to Vienna to Athens to Rome and then back to Dublin during my fall break, and all of that was cheaper than the roundtrip ticket.

Flights will also be cheaper if you fly out on Saturday morning instead of Friday, and fly back in on Sunday night or early Monday morning. Don’t avoid taking Friday and Monday classes to travel. Trust me, one or two days is enough.

Another tip: hostels aren’t that bad, I swear. If it’s clean and safe, it’s doable. Studying abroad is an uncomfortable experience in itself. If you’re going to be uncomfortable, be uncomfortable in Scotland.

It’s worth making an itinerary before you get there to avoid spontaneous excursions and meals. Spontaneity only works when it’s free — or cheap at the very least. Treat TikTok like Google, and let locals and other budget travelers tell you what to see and where to eat.

Go to the museums with the student deals and see most of the landmarks from the outside — give or take the ones that are truly special to you. For example, I got tickets for the Acropolis in Athens but not for the Colosseum in Rome.

It’s also worth bringing your laptop and other class materials on your trips. I’ve read entire books for class and finished papers in airports, on planes and before bed in hostels. There’s no time to be wasted.

Careful planning and a flexible mindset is key. Whether it’s exploring iconic landmarks, indulging local cuisine or meeting new people, every trip offers a chance to learn and create life-long memories.

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