Another cost effective way to travel is through a tour company. Contiki Holidays is a travel company for travelers between 18 and 35.

Marketing manager Lisa McLean said Contiki tours would be more apt to take passengers elephant riding than, say, several hours at a war memorial.
“We know that their attention span and interest for that isn’t quite there yet.”

The activities provided through Contiki are also more high-energy than those offered through most tour groups, she said.
“White water rafting or skiing on a Swiss mountain or bungee-jumping or hang-gliding – more activities geared towards what young people would want to do.”

Contiki offers a budget option in addition to their normal tours, she added.
“When you’re doing a Contiki tour, you can better budget what you’re going to be spending because you pay a lot of the cost upfront. We don’t have any hidden costs so there are no surprises when you get on tour.”

You can also save money by going through a travel agent.

Michelle Westaway, a travel agent at Maritime Travel in Charlottetown, said a packaged deal will usually give the traveler more bang for their buck.
“If you’re planning a trip yourself, you’re booking air fair and hotels separately, it usually ends up being more economical to do it through a tour operator that negotiates a certain number of hotel rooms for the season,” she said. “That’s what the tour operators do – they buy in bulk and pass the savings along to the consumer.”

Having a well-planned itinerary will save you lots of money in the long run, she said.
“If you know that you’re traveling to South America and you know you want to travel between the months of January and March… Let a travel agent know that you want to travel between the months of January and March.”

Travelers looking for a deal can sometimes be tempted to look for last-minute flights which are reduced in price.
“If you wait last minute, the flights could get booked up. They could get filled with conference people. Typically with air fare, it’s best to book in advance,” Westaway said.

Westaway also recommends youth travelers buy rail and bus passes before they leave for their trip.
“They tend to be less than if you’re buying point-to-point tickets.”

To save big on meals while traveling, stay away from the tourist areas of the city, she said.

“Italy, for example – if you’re in one of the big, major tourist squares in Italy, you’ll probably pay double for the same meal as you would if you go two blocks off of the main [area].”

The key to having the best success on a trip – if you’re traveling short-term or long-term, is research.
“Learn as much about the culture and the country that you’re going to that you can,” Westaway said. “And talk to a travel professional.”

(Photos by watsonsinelgin and Olastuen.)

(I wrote an article on student travel for my Journalism class in college. This is the 4th part of… several. Click here to read Part I. Or Part II. Or Part III.)

Finding decently-priced meals in Europe isn’t that difficult, said Mercedeh Sanati, a travel columnist for the Globe and Mail and trip planner for Quench Trip Design.
“Eating isn’t that expensive, especially if you travel in the summer and believe in the grocery shop, picnic-way of travel.”

Since countries in South and Central America are a little easier on the dollar for students, traveling there could be a little easier than parts of Europe. But not every student is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.
“The first thing to always do if you can is try to pick up a few key phrases and sayings, so that you’re not characterized as the typical North American tourist who only speaks English,” Sanati said. “It goes a long way to know how to say ‘hello,’ ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ in a foreign language.”

Generally, most people in Europe can speak English very well.
“But if you don’t know more than the basics in another language, try to carry around a good dictionary so at least you can translate signs,” she said. “Communicating with foreigners sometimes comes down to a lot of sign language and friendly gestures too. It’s all part of the experience.”

When booking hostels, it’s important to look for ones that are certified by Hostelling International, which tend to be the most reliable, she said.
“Having said that, youth hostels can range in quality from fabulous to bleak, so it’s often best to consult guidebooks such as Let’s Go – this was my Bible when I traveled as a student – or Lonely Planet.”

Unless you’re a seasoned athlete, biking across Europe might not be such a good idea.
“It’s slow and often tiring,” Sanati said. “If you’re in Europe, the trains are the best and most economical way to get around as a student, especially if you can purchase a rail pass that covers many destinations.”

Travelers sometimes find work at farms in exchange for room and board, she said. They can also help build homes and schools in third-world countries and help save sea turtles in Mexico.
“Voluntourism is not only good for the community, but it can be an economic way to see certain parts of the world.”

Travelers can also save money by staying put, especially in South and Central America, she said.
“You can rent a house or apartment for weeks and it can cost next to nothing,” she said. “If you use this place as your home base, then you can also have access to a kitchen and laundry facilities, which will save costs in the long run.”

(Photos by Extremeline and plentyofants.)

(Come back soon for the fifth and final instalment!)

(I wrote an article on student travel for my Journalism class in college. This is the third part of… several. Click here to read Part I. Or Part II.)

Another traveler who knows a lot about hostel life is Liam McEvilly, a Birmingham City University student, who has stayed in hostels in South Africa, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and various parts of Europe and North America.

Although the low cost is an attractive feature, McEvilly has other reasons for hostel travel.
“Meeting new people is the big one for me – usually people in common areas in hostels are friendly and chatty,” he said. “This is particularly important when traveling alone.”

The showers in some hostels aren’t great, he said.
“Shared bathrooms can be a bit grubby and you have to get up early to get hot water in most hostels.”

The hostels in Europe are larger than anywhere else, McEvilly said.
“Whereas in Australia and New Zealand, they are intimate.”

Hostels aren’t the only way to save money on accommodations while traveling, said Mitch Underhay, a 21-year-old from Cornwall, P.E.I.
“My brother, cousin and I once slept next to a sheep field in rural England.”

For other ways to find shelter on the cheap, Underhay recommends a couple online resources.
“CouchSurfing.org is an online community where people let you sleep on their couch and you let them sleep on yours,” he said. “The idea is one of cultural exchange.”

Another good resource is Wwoof.org.
“’Wwoofing’ is where you can go from organic farm to organic farm working for food and accommodation.”

Underhay saved a lot of money on his trip by backpacking or biking around from place to place while traveling through parts of Europe and Asia.
However, a significant trip budget item to be considered when trip planning is transportation.

For good deals on airfare, Langelier recommends Ryanair, Easyjet, Aer Lingus and Air Berlin. Taking the train while traveling in Europe is an experience many trekkers will want to try, she said.
“While I am in the cities, I usually go around by walk. I think it’s more dynamic and you can see things that you would have never seen by transportation,” she said. “However, when it is not possible, I use public transport.”

Another easy way to drain your bank account while traveling is choosing the wrong restaurants.

Langelier recommends buying food at grocery stores and cooking it in your hostel’s kitchen. Most hostels have kitchens strictly for patron use.
“Sometime it’s great to go eat local typical food in a restaurant and it’s part of the trip as well, she said. “The worst thing to do is to skip meals to save money.”

(Stay tuned for Part IV!)

(Photos by FastPhive and katiew.)

Stephanie Yoder is a blogger for Twenty-SomethingTravel.com says your student years and twenties are the best time in your life to travel.
“In your twenties you have the least obligations that you will ever have in your life and the most energy,” she said. “You can travel easier, have more adventures and gather stories you can tell for the rest of your life.”

Yoder said she sees no point in postponing traveling, especially if you’re passionate about it.
“Basically I just think people should do what makes them happy – within reason.”

While a lot of twenty-something travelers flock to Europe, Yoder said there are cheaper location options available.
“Areas like South America and Southeast Asia are significantly cheaper.”

Some students feel pressured to jump right into a career right after college, Yoder said.
“Travel, like everything else in life, is about priorities. But my general feeling is that you have the next 40 years of your life to have a career and work hard – really what is the big rush?”

Instead of hurting your career chances, sometimes your travel experience can make your résumé stand out later on, she said.
“I took a year off after college and was able to spin those experiences in a positive light that helped me to get my next job.”

You can also get a job that lets you travel while you work – chef, teacher, nanny, interpreter or a job for a cruise line are all options. Another option is travel writing. In particular, travel blogging is a growing business since people love seeing photos from and reading about unique, far-off places.

Anil Polat is a travel blogger for FoxNomad.com.
“Blogging is how I earn an income to travel so I always have to account for finding an Internet connection no matter where I am,” he said. “It’s a matter of scheduling out several hours a day to write and work on my blog.”

Polat recommends traveling to places where the currency exchange works in your favour.
“While the countries next to many popular destinations are cheaper, they aren’t as much on the backpacker trail which can be intimidating to new backpackers, he said. “Some good places to visit in terms of budget are still Thailand, Brazil, South Africa, and the Czech Republic.”

The best way is to have a good travel budget you maintain and follow, he said.
“The better you track your money the easier it is not to overspend. Most backpackers don’t do a good job of budgeting daily expenses or estimating costs for things like ATM fees, alcohol or emergencies.”

Hostels and budget hotels will sometimes offer a free breakfast to patrons. A free breakfast is a great way to save some money while traveling, Polat said.
“That way you can usually skip lunch and save for dinner. Try to get as much out of the place you’re staying at – breakfast, Internet, laundry – whatever is provided make use of it.”

Staying at hostels, rather than hotels and inns, is an easy way to slice a chunk out of your trip cost.

For Langelier, her early hostel experiences were uncomfortable. But she learned to love them and the social opportunities they provided, she said.
“However, like with anything, some of the hostels are better than the others.”

Her favourite hostels were those run by Wombat’s in Vienna, Munich and Berlin, she said.
“They was really welcoming, nice, clean and some of them were brand new – not to forget that the value for money was excellent.”

Langelier has also stayed in other hostels that were too warm, not as clean and less welcoming – but nothing too terrible, she said.
“When you make a reservation, I think it is useful to take a look at the comments that are made by other backpackers.”

(Check out Part I of this article. Stay tuned for Part III!)

(Photos by evilmidori and lenoz.)

Joanie Langelier‘s first experience with hostel life was awkward.
“I was not used to sleeping in the same room with strangers, and I was also used to having comfortable beds,” she said. “I was the kind of person who liked being in her own (space).”

She admits to losing her “princess” mentality after staying at various hostels while traveling from country to country.
“I actually really like staying at hostels,” she said. “You can meet very interesting people from all around the world and live unique experiences with them. I am still in touch with a few people I met there.”

In 2008, Langelier was nearing graduation from high school in Repentigny, Quebec.
“After an evening in a café, my friend and I decided that it was time to practice our English.”

Langelier and her friend decided to travel to Ireland, a country neither of them knew much about.
“We wanted to explore this famous part of the world, while learning English everyday.”

She got a work visa and hopped on a plane a few days after graduation. She and her friend found a place to stay and both got jobs for the two and a half months they were there, she said.
“It wasn’t just traveling, but also a living experience amongst Irish people.”

When Langelier had a few days off, she saw several Irish villages and towns.
“We got to know a lot of things about the culture, the history and the people,” she said. “My experience was amazing.”

Ireland is a beautiful place with so much to see.
“We saw breathtaking landscapes, meaningful monuments, beautiful castles and churches. Of course, we also spent several nights enjoying the pubs,” she added.

Langelier, now 20 and studying translation at Concordia University, has since backpacked through Europe and is planning another trip to South America. She is also going back to Ireland for a semester through an exchange program.

Yes, even students can afford to travel. They just need to know the shortcuts.

(Check out Part II of this article.)

(Photos by bass_nroll and StrudelMonkey.)

Besides the cost effectiveness, backpacking has other perks, Jason Castellani said in an e-mail.

“Backpacking allows you be more patient, resourceful and flexible. You may also have a closer cultural experience with the locals traveling on local transportation.”

Some travelers like to stay mobile for long periods of time.

Looking for the best backpack depends on the type of travel you’re preparing for.

“A pure trekker will require a different pack than a city hopper,” he said. “Some packs are top loading only and others have side compartment access.”

Everyone should have a rain cover for their backpack and your personal fitting should be taken very seriously, as should the size of the pack you choose, Castellani said.

“These are things you will live with for as long as you travel with the pack.”

The design of the backpack will affect how you pack it, he said.

“Does it have a sleeping bag bottom compartment? Is there a side loading panel? All these pack features will determine how and where you store your belongings.”

For new backpackers, choosing a destination has a lot to do with budget, he said. For the budget traveler, he recommends South East Asia, particularly Thailand.

“It’s over-crowded with backpackers, but it might be less daring for a newbie. Latin America is also cheap and offers many great challenges and cultures in vast continents. Australia and New Zealand are great adventure locations, but will cost more.”

Travelers who require a fixed schedule and higher level of comfort might want to avoid backpacking, he added.

“It’s always better to be flexible and go with the flow. Have an idea of where you want to go and what things are a must see, but include the flexibility to discover new things, sites and people.”

(Thanks to Jason for taking the time to answer my questions. Make sure to track Jason and Aracely’s adventures at TwoBackpackers.com.)

(Photo credit: StormeTX)

(Continue reading.)

(Published at TalentEgg LAUNCH.)

(Photo by nest hostels valencia.)

(Continue reading.)

(Published at Girl’s Getaway.)

(Photo by kitonlove.)

I really enjoy drifting around Matador Network, a site that describes itself as an online community for travel lovers and an independant travel publication. This description is just about right. The articles spread between the site’s various sections are informative and unique. My personal favorite sections are Goods, Trips and Traveler’s Notebook.

The site’s easy navigation makes it a place to come back to over and over again.