All About Planning a Car Road Trip as a Student
You are only young once and any opportunity you get to travel whether alone or with friends shouldn’t be missed. The memories and experiences these trips create stay with you for the rest of your life. Go out there and feel the breeze in your hair and let it soothe you. Go feel the sun on your skin and enjoy the breathtaking views of sunrise and sunset.
No matter how tight your budget is, a car trip will always be a good way to break from the grueling and very demanding routine you go through. Exams and assignments can take a toll on you and a trip will always present that perfect opportunity to rejuvenate you in between the school breaks.
Because we live for the memories, this article has done the digging for you and come up with a few tips on how you can plan a cheap car trip as a student. Below are the considerations you should keep in mind.
Choose an affordable car
Transport costs contribute to a big portion of the cost of a trip. The choice of car will directly affect how much it will cost you in terms of fuel consumption and rental cost. A small economical car with good performance should be your priority when selecting the car to use. However, if you are traveling with friends you may opt for a bigger vehicle like a van and then share the costs.
There are several rental companies in the USA that you can use to get a car of your choice. Car rental for young drivers often attracts an extra charge referred to as the young drivers’ fee that usually varies from one rental company to the other. Visit Rental24h.com to compare prices between the rental companies and settle on the cheapest rental car company for under 25 to save on your transportation costs. It is also important to note that not all types of cars are available in the under 25 cars for rent category.
Plan your route
Knowing your destination is not enough. You have to plan how you will get there. You have to come up with the route you will use. This will in turn help you plan for your stops along the way, accommodation, and even the attractions to visit while on the road. Knowing your travel route will also help you plan your fuel costs as you will have a rough idea of the distance you expect to cover. In the end, it helps you avoid spending money you didn’t intend to spend thus making a saving.
If you are traveling in a foreign country, map out your route and arrange for a GPS device and a physical map to complement it. Some countries like Australia are so massive and sparsely populated in some areas making it easy to lose your bearing.
Choose cheap accommodation
Accommodation costs will be a major contributor to the final costs you will incur for the trip. As a student, you can opt for the cheap accommodation options. Camping is a good option as you will only be required to bring your camping gear and you are good to go. It is also a good way to help you connect with nature.
Those moments around the camping fire are also good opportunities for bonding with friends. If you opt to use the camping option make arrangements early enough by mapping the location you hope to camp and make bookings for those that require it to ensure you get nice spots and to avoid last-minute inconvenience.
Conclusion
As a student, you have to take advantage of those opportunities to travel the country and the world whenever possible. Although sometimes you can be on a shoestring budget, with careful planning and putting considerations like the few discussed here in mind this feat can be achieved.
Accommodation and transport costs are the major costs for any trip. Working on reducing them will in turn reduce your overall costs. If you are traveling outside the country say Australia. Ensure you search for Australia cheap car rentals for students to get the best deals and also use cheap accommodation options like hostels and camping whenever you can. Don’t also forget to plan your route and bring a map and GPS.
