If you have just returned from your gap year, or are someone who particularly loves travelling, the idea of being tied down to one city for academia can be heart-breaking.
Whilst the journey you are about to embark on is just as exciting as a getaway, nothing quite beats the feeling of stepping off a plane and exploring new locations. Many students are still able to travel throughout their time at university with enough planning and budgeting, so for those who crave that unparalleled sense of adventure, look no further.
Without stating the obvious, the ability to travel is a privilege. It can take a lot of time, effort, and financial consideration to even think about planning your travels, let alone actioning them. Family holidays are always a bonus as it is likely that the organisation aspect of the trip is already sorted for you. But what about those of us who seek solo escapes, or the groups of us who fancy the chaos of a holiday with new uni mates?
Planning ahead
It goes without saying that no holiday could progress without the planning stage. As a higher education student, your scheduled timetable can look a lot more sparse than in previous years. These arranged contact hours are met with non-contact hours which require just as much dedication, but you will find that these limited hours often lead to more opportunities with when and where you can book.
For those travelling solo, a quick cross-check of your university timetable, work schedule, and assessment periods will usually provide you with straightforward dates for your getaway. A more in-depth analysis is required when booking group holidays but using scheduling apps, such as TimeTree, will allow you to get a better idea of when works for everyone.
Budgeting
Upon date selection, your next hurdle will be deciding where to go. As students, not everyone has the same financial circumstances. Whilst the majority of those in higher education are recipients of some sort of loan, the amount per individual varies depending on many factors.
Getting a quote for flights and accommodation costs when planning is the healthiest way to assess everyone’s financial situation. It will also enable group members to acknowledge whether holidaying at a later date is a more financially sound option for them – giving them longer periods to save up.
With accommodation and route costs considered, a bit of research will be required when budgeting the rest of the trip. How many activities do you want to do? What is the cost of meals out there? How much is public transport? How much are the drinks? What currency do they accept? Do they prefer cash or card? Depending on the time of year that you visit certain countries, you will find that some are miles cheaper than others, and some are absolutely extortionate. Make sure that you are also questioning these smaller aspects of your travels as they might require extra budgeting!
UK Breaks
‘Going away’ does not mean you have to go abroad. You can get your thrill-seeker fix right here in the UK too. As well as there being dozens of cities to explore across England, Scotland and Wales, you would be surprised at just how much our little city of Nottingham has to offer.
Despite the current state of UK trains, and the concerningly increasing cost of transport, accessing other cities has never been easier (when we are not experiencing strikes of course). Most students have friends dotted across the country thanks to their recent A-Level results, so consider visiting them when you have a chance. You will find that they have likely become well-versed with the ebbs and flows of their new city, which works to your benefit as you will have a handy tour guide to show you around. Those who have a railcard are also at an advantage as you can find some great deals for roundtrips within the UK.
Connecting with like-minded individuals
The travel community is massive! Whether you are someone who has never been away or a travel veteran, people’s love to travel is a great way to connect. Within NTU alone we have both the Travel and Lifestyle section of the magazine – a way to share your experiences with our readers – and the Travel and Culture Society. The Travel and Culture society runs regular events for its members wherein you can explore different cultures, plan, and attend trips, and build associations with like-minded individuals.
The Instagram and Travel Blogging community is also another brilliant way to keep in the loop with all things travel. It is a brilliant source of inspiration and often you will find some great deals provided by influencers and travel companies. It can even be therapeutic to just view images from other locations as it provides a lot of people with peaceful thoughts and good memories!
Journaling
Those who class themselves as a bit of a travel-fiend will likely find themselves journaling about their experiences without any prompting. You make such fond and unforgettable memories when holidaying so keeping note of your adventures is a sure-fire way to remember these spectacular getaways. It can also provide future you with some motivation for your next destination and gives you a space to share your stories with others!
Travelling as a student does not have to be as difficult as you may first assume. Carving out a bit of time to plan and budget for something you really want is incredibly rewarding in the long run!
Lead image: Katie Mortimer