Traveling is a wonderful, magical experience that I long for daily, but as a broke college student travel seems out of reach. There are however ways to take trips on a tight budget!
This summer my boyfriend and I took a 20 day trip to 9 states on the west side of the United States. It was a fantastic experience and we saw some amazing places and had some amazing adventures. The best part was we paid for everything in cash and didn't have to rack up any money on credit cards.
Tip 1:
Can I say... Roadtripppppp?!
Yes, one of the most basic, but vital, ways to save money on a long trip is to drive. Flying is crazy expensive, especially when you consider having to rent a car when you get to your destination. Having a car that gets good gas mileage is also very important (my little Honda worked just fine). Driving a long distance can be tiring, and sometimes stressful (we drove through a blizzard) so make sure you are traveling with someone who
1. you trust their driving ability
2. you won't want to murder after nine hours in the car.. three days in a row.
Tip 2:
I hope you all love the great outdoors as much as I do,
Nothing says "Great American Road trip" like camping does.
Seriously, camping is probably the biggest money saver when it comes to travel. The great thing about traveling in the States is our abundance of National Parks and Forests. The camp sites in them are usually well kept and beautiful. Prices of tent sites range from $5-$25 dollars a night and most sites allow up to 8 people. If you aren't one for camping, you can do a little more research and stay in cabins or rent a pop-up camper. Camping is really a great experience when traveling, and it really makes you learn to love the simple things in the world... like showers... and soap.
*** Tip: Make sure you check to see if sites are open in the area during your trip. Most sites open Mid-May, but some (in colder areas) do not open until June. We had this problem and ended up having to stay in a Motel one night in the middle of Oregon.
Tip 3:
I cannot stress this next one enough.
Do NOT get stuck on an agenda.
Things come up.. especially when traveling to multiple states. You can check the weather all you want, but the weather man isn't God. Our original plan was to stay in Yellow Stone for 3 nights (pretty stupid plan in May to began with, its usually still in the 30s at that time). Yes, our plans were shattered by a snow storm leaving a foot of snow in 3 states. So, after a wonderful night of camping in Colorado we drove our smelly selves to Starbucks and looked up an alternative route. We ended up staying in the beautiful Wallowa- Whitman National Forest in Oregon. It ended up being one of my favorite times of the trip. I am hoping to go back and white water raft in the next few years.
Tip 4:
While road-tripping you will be temped by one thing more than anything else.. drive thrus.
Not only are these nasty little boogers everywhere, they are also bad for you , and not as cheap as they seem. You will be driving along and there it is a 'next exit sign' with those temping words 'Taco Bell, Subway. Starbucks' your mind will say no, but your body will say yes. I beg of you RESIST!
The best way to not fall into this temptation is to plan ahead. Pack tons of healthy, crunchy snacks that will leave you feeling way less temped to spend your hard-earned vacation money on a old bean burrito. If you are needing to stop, take a break at a gas station or rest stop, or at one of the states road side attractions!
And, if you are really that tired of peanut butter sandwiches (which I will never grow tired of) stop for lunch somewhere local. The food is more likely to be fresh and it might be the only chance you have to try it. Much more satisfying than day old Subway bread and veggies.
The last tip I have for you is a simple one. Do it. Some chances only come once in a lifetime, and if you want to drive 20 hours to the beach, Do it! You won't regret doing something, you will only regret not doing something.
Happy Travels my Loves.
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