I would LOVE to travel more but, being that I am still a student, budget is still a top consideration when I am planning my trips. Where can I find the best deals on flights and tours? -Submitted by Amy

Being in college is usually a Catch 22: you have the time to travel but don’t have the income to be doing so.

As a result, you need to get creative in your travel planning which can sometimes mean planning way ahead or waiting until the last minute. Since these planning styles are not suitable to everyone, here are some additional strategies for the people who prefer something in between:

-When you begin researching flights, check out websites like Kayak.com. Kayak is great because it searches all airlines and has a ton of search parameters to use (nearby airports, flexible schedules, weekend travel, etc). I usually do my research here and then ticket on the airline carrier’s website.

-Look for tour companies that incorporate the flight cost into the overall price—this can equate to a substantial cost savings, although you sometimes do not get to choose your airline. I recommend checking out Gate 1 Travel and Contiki who both offer deals for flights and tours. Gate 1 Travel travelers are of all ages and their tours typically hit the major sightseeing spots in the region you will be visiting. Contiki, who coordinates tours specifically for travelers ages 18-35, occasionally run specials where there is a flat rate for airfare which can also be to your benefit, especially if you are flying to a popular country during high season. For both of these companies, I recommend subscribing to their newsletters so that you are the first to hear about any deals.

-Along the lines of “being in the know”, I recommend becoming fans of your favorite airlines on Facebook and also subscribing to their email newsletters. This way, you will be alerted for flight deals and also packaged vacations specials. I am a fan of Virgin America on Facebook and they are constantly advertising their amazing fare deals within the United States. I also get the email newsletters from the major US carriers (American, Delta, and United) to see if any routes are deeply discounted in the near future.

-Since you are a student, be sure to also leverage the deals you can get from flashing your school ID. Vendors like STA Travel specifically cater to the college audience in terms of flights, tours, and rail passes and usually have physical locations near college campuses. If you are between the ages of 16-25, you can qualify for certain Rail Europe discounts.

Good luck in your travel planning! If anyone has other suggestions, please post a comment here or on our Facebook page.

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