How to Travel in College

By Katherine Hampton on April 2, 2014

My twin sister and I recently came up with an idea we are calling “50 Little Adventures,” which basically encompasses her and I taking as many little adventures as we can through out the remainder of our senior year. Why? Because college is actually the perfect time to travel. Although we probably won’t make it to fifty little adventures, we’ve already knocked a few off of our list. Gasparilla Pirate Festival in Tampa, a trip to Miami, an epic spring break in Key West, a roadtrip to the blues capital of the country, Memphis, and a few very blurry New Orleans vacations are a few. I often hear my post graduate friends talking about how they wish they could travel and get away from work for a while, which just reiterates for me how important it is to travel while we’re all still virtually free of the burden of responsibility.

Photo via travelfreak.com

While the general state of college students such as myself ranges from “Dad, I need you to help me pay my rent” poor to “If I eat another bowl of Ramen my body is going to go into shock” poor, traveling in college is actually quite convenient- if you know how to do it right.

Involve as Many of Your Friends as Possible

This will aid in so many ways, with the most important being when it comes to gas! If you’re going to see a friend at another university, bring a few of your own friends along. There’s nothing wrong with making new friends and, hey, traveling with three other people will majorly cut your gas costs if you all contribute. Additionally, having multiple friends with you will be incredibly helpful if you have to pay for a hotel. This past New Years Eve, my friends and I squeezed eight people in a single Nola hotel room- comfortably. From air mattresses to getting snuggly in a king-sized hotel bed, the decreased cost for a room is worth the luxury of travel.

Visit Your Hometown Friends at Their Campuses

As a resident of Florida, friends from my hometown are scattered through out the state, attending UF, UM, USF, and UCF. These are all free trips I’ve had the luxury of taking just because I called up my hometown friends and planned a visit. College towns almost never fail when it comes to providing a fun trip, so reach out to your old friends and visit a city for free that you’ll one day be paying hotel fare for.

Take the Bus

I know taking a Greyhound or another traveling bus sounds unpleasent to some, but for a poor college student wanting to gain experience about other cultures, busses are super resourceful. The journey on a traveling bus is significantly longer than by personal car, but the price is sooo worth the wait and, in the case that squeezing five people into a tiny car didn’t sound appealing to you, some busses are quite spacious and comfortable for travelers.

Get Social

Especially at those college where Greek life is a redeeming part of campus life, going out and getting social is the easiest way to travel in college. Sororities and fraternities plan formal and semi-formal trips around the country all the time! From ski trips to cruises, Greek life provides countless opportunities to get out there and see the world.

With my “50 Little Adventures” underway, I encourage all of you to make your own little list of adventures to take. College is a magestic time where responsibility and an essence of freedom balance themselves out, so go see the world on a dime while you still can!

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