Living There
The beauty of Europe is that this relatively small continent is comprised of nearly 50 different countries with vastly different cultures; all of them compacted closely, so that you can country-hop with ease, absorbing as many different environments as you wish. Art, architecture, food, language, philosophy – an extensive assortment of each can be found in Europe, and you’re more than able to make your trip anything you want it to be, whether a cultural or historical exploration, a relaxed getaway on a pristine blue flag beach, a party-all-nighter, or an escape to the great outdoors. Whatever you want, you’ll find it in Europe.
This is why a student holiday in Europe is essential. As a break in between studying, or to reward yourself after the year-end exams, Europe is a lively outlet within which to unwind in your own special way. Whatever your preference, Europe’s diverse atmospheric selection will fulfill your needs. But first, a student must figure out how, exactly, they’ll be able to make this happen.
How to Get Around & Where to Stay
One of the most common ways to get around Europe is interrailing. With an InterRail pass, a student can pay as little as £152 to travel at any date within a specific time period. The passes can be bought for as few as 10 travel days up to a full month of travel days. Students across Europe use interrailing to get around, especially during the summer, when students hop to the hot cities to party, make friends, and absorb culture like a mop. In staying at a hostel, not only will you spend as little as £10-£20 a night, but the social exchange that this sort of accommodation prompts is like no other; you’ll be able to meet people from all over the world and share in your travel adventures.
Backpacking Across Europe
For those who like a little thrill in their travel, Europe was built for backpacking. If you trust strangers, you can save loads by hitchhiking from place to place, and camping on roadsides or in designated camping zones along the way. This would zap the cost of travel and accommodation entirely, the two most expensive points of travel. Though one may be wary of taking such a route, most rugged backpackers survive their journey intact, without brushing up against any Saw-like scenarios. So if you’re pressed for cash and don’t mind roughing it, backpacking may allow you to get around Europe on a dime.
However, backpacking doesn’t necessarily have to involve camping. Instead you could use a site like couchsurfing.org to find a host who’ll accommodate you for free. The site provides surfer reviews, allowing you to verify that you’re staying somewhere safe. And the experience can be quite rewarding, as your generous host will surely like to share their culture with you and give you inside tips about hole-in-the-wall places around their city.
Another Cheap Option to Visit Europe
Workaway is another dead cheap way for students to visit Europe, or anywhere else in the world. Workaway connects students or travelers with organizations, families, or individuals throughout the world who are willing to exchange accommodation and board for a variety of volunteer work, ranging from things like ranch work in New Zealand, serving in a hostel in Colombia, or making wine in an Italian vineyard.
This is a great option for students who’d genuinely like to understand a culture’s ins and outs, learn a foreign language, and gain some worldly experience. You are also more likely to establish some close friendships, and you may find that you learn more than just job skills; you learn about life.
General Advice
Choose Your Destinations According to Your Budget
If you’re on a tight budget, Eastern Europe will give you more bang for your buck than any country in the Eurozone. Travel, accommodation and food are all relatively cheap when you travel Eastern European countries, and they certainly aren’t lacking in culture and natural beauty. You don’t have to visit the mainstays, like Paris or Rome, to have a great European holiday.
Book in Advance
Obviously more often than not, you get a better deal by booking in advance, whether that’s flights, accommodation or anything else. To compare flights, great websites include Skyscanner and Momondo.
Safety
Trusting your gut is the best advice when it comes to safety in travel. If you feel uncomfortable with a person or situation, there’s probably a reason to be. So find away to break from that person or situation, and always travel in pairs when you can. Keep emergency numbers on hand and always have a photocopy of your passport separated from your passport itself, in case something is lost or stolen.
All in All
If you’re a student, the urge to travel may be alight within, but at the thought of travel costs, the light dims. However, keep in mind that right now, your student status makes it the RIGHT time for you to travel. Flash your student ID and you’ll be given special discounts on everything from the InterRail to museums to pub crawls. Anyhow, when it all comes down to it, traveling Europe is worth every penny.
Author: David Rodgers, traveler and writer at EssayShop writing service.
