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How To Travel Whilst Working/Studying

If, like me, you are working full time or are studying full time, the dream of travelling feels like something that should be long forgotten until your 70's. You have exams, deadlines to meet, clients to email,- travelling just doesn't fit in and cannot be a priority. Not only is time an issue, so is cost! Travelling is expensive and you need your life's savings in order embark upon the world, right? Wrong! Until mid-last year, I was under the impression that travelling was expensive and time consuming. My sisters and I only really started going abroad in 2015 (I was 16) and it was there my wanderlust began. Two years later, going abroad once a year is not enough- I want to be experiencing somewhere new at least once a month, and there is an affordable, effective way to do it.

DAY TRIPS:

Yep, that's right, you can experience much of the world in just a day. Of course, this is subjective for different people, but, for me it works and it may do for you too. When travelling, a common mistake people make is being hellbent on the destination and the date which allows for zero flexibility. You need to be somewhat flexible in order to make your dream a reality and remember, there is beauty everywhere so do not limit yourself. 

Start by picking a flight search engine, I recommend SkyScanner, Momondo, Easyjet or Jetcost (for the ease of this article, I am using skyscanner as an example, however, the format is similar across most engines). In the "from" tab, put in wherever you are travelling from. I live near London, so I put in "London (Any)". Flight costs vary depending on which airport you travel from, so, selecting the "any" option will show the cheapest flights from your location. In the "to" tab, select "flexible" or "anywhere". Where it says "departure" and "return", select "cheapest month". You will then be shown a list of possible destinations and their prices (cheapest to priciest). If you are from the UK, you will notice that flights to many countries in Europe range anywhere from £20-80. Find the cheapest month and select dates suitable for you. For day trips, arrange to book the earliest possible flight and return on the latest possible flight on that same day. Most flights to Europe are 2h30m max so don't worry about your day being wasted on travel time. If you are parking your car in the airport car park, buy your ticket on the airport website as it shows the cheapest fares.

If you are working or studying full time, I recommend booking the trip on a Saturday. This way, you do not need to book any time off work/school (unless you work weekends) and you have the Sunday to recover so you are energized for the next working day. Make sure you research the place you are going to well in advance so that you do not waste time faffing about. Also, book train/bus/transport tickets online to save queuing and also for cheaper prices. Take about £30-50 spending money, this is enough for food, transport, souvenirs and sometimes even a guided tour etc (you can pack your own snacks for the day too). Look into train routes beforehand so you know where to go as soon as you are off the plane. With a lot of cities, the main attractions are in one area and you can cover that area in about 3-4 hours. Ensure you leave enough time to travel back to the airport before gates close- you don't want to miss your flight! Depending on your flight times, you can get a good 5-7 hours in your chosen destination and you can cover all the main attractions. Day trips are especially handy for travelling to cities/places/countries that you want to visit but do not want splash out on or spend too long in.

BEST TIMES TO TRAVEL IF YOU ARE WORKING FULL TIME:

So, perhaps you are looking for a longer trip away, however you only get 22 days off a year and need to use them wisely. Below are the best dates to get away, whilst saving your days off as much as possible.

Friday 25th August - Monday 28th August (Monday is a bank holiday, so, you only need to book off the Friday. You could also fly out Friday evening to save you having to book the day off).

24th December - 3rd Jan (This is perfect for a real holiday. Most workplaces and all schools get 2 weeks off for Christmas, book in advance for cheap fares).

So, there you have it- travelling on a budget. The total cost of a day trip can vary, if you book it months in advance it can cost you just £80 (including, flights, trains, food, souvenirs, spending money) and if you book a week in advance (like me), it can cost you £120 all inc. I love day trips and I love the feeling of getting a lot done in little time. So much of the world is so easy to see, if you want to, you will!

(I am no expert and am still picking up tips and tricks, feel free to comment any suggestions below!)


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