If anyone knows anything about traveling on a budget, it is travel deal and travel expert: Johnny Jet. They have a few simple tips for the soon to be traveling students:


    Always pay with a credit card so you are protected. The Fair Credit Billing Act provides an appeal mechanism for consumers who were charged for goods or services they never received. If you paid for a future cruise on a credit card and the cruise line then went bankrupt, you can file for a refund. There is one very big catch to this procedure: It is active for only 60 days after the charge was made.

    Don't change money. Use ATMs and/or credit cards. They offer the best exchange rates. XE.com is a currency converter and will tell you how much U.S. dollars equals in local currency and vice versa.

    Air Tran has a program for college age travelers; anyone between the ages of 18 and 22 can fly standby for just $69* per segment. $99* for long-haul segments. You don't have to be a student. 50 destinations are offered but it's not good for Cancun or San Juan.

Vanessa Van Petten is a youthologist and teen author of the parenting book "You're Grounded!", she manages RadicalParenting, a parenting blog written by 119 teen writers, ages 12-20 to help parents and adults get an honest and open view into the world and mind of youth. Van Petten's work and blog have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Teen Vogue, CNN, Fox News, Real Housewives of Orange County and much more! She won the Moms Choice Award in 2009 and her work is read by over 300,000 adults.

Here is what she had to say: "Travelling can be addicting AND expensive! How can students manage to explore the world without breaking the bank? There are a few alternatives many young people do not think of when they travel. Here are some cool options:

  • 1. Short-Term Rentals

    Sometimes it ends up being cheaper to rent apartments or houses for short amounts of time. This way you can cook a lot of your meals and have a couple people stay with you to share the cost of a house rather than a hotel room. Plus you really get to see what it is like to live in a place if you stay in a home.
  • 2. Voluntourism

    There are many organizations that will cover your housing and food expenses if you come and volunteer abroad. This is an amazing way to see the world and help people!
  • 3. Couch Surfing

    Couch surfing is a great group of people that rent or give away their couches for free. You often can meet interesting people and have little to no cost...be sure to stay with people who have been approved on the site before to stay safe.
  • 4. Apartment Swapping

    If you have an apartment or house in your hometown you might be able to swap with people far away. There are many services to do this for free.
  • 5. House and Pet Sitting

    I know many young people who will go to Australia, China or even Chile to house or pet sit while people are away. They often can stay for free and see the place they are in while helping the people they are working for.

There are always ways to travel, just think outside the box and it does not have to cost a fortune.


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