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Save your money. Enjoy your trip

I think travelling is a bless and every single AEGEEan loves it so it would be nice to know
some tips about it.

Transportation:


According to some researches, the best time for booking domestic flights is 2-3 weeks in advance and the best time for booking international flights is 5-6 months in advance before your journey.Usually it’s better to book them during the beginning of the week so the trip that you planned last friday night while you were partying with your friends maybe was not the best idea. If you care more about your pocket than your destination, many websites such as kiwi.com and skyscanner give you the opportunity to search “from/to” anywhere and “the cheapest dates” in order to see the best deals.

Nowadays you can use low-cost airlines for most of your travels but even if it takes some hours more buses are often a cheap option. Thanks to AEGEE you have also 4 discounts of 10% per month with Flixbus.

Have you ever considered that night train are the best combo to get transportation and accomodation at the same time? Bring earplugs, snorers are everywhere, probably in your wagon. 

Also, you can try "hitchhiking" for your travels. It may take your time a little bit more but there is a possibility for getting to know amazing people,had fun and unforgettable memories. You just need to follow the rules and choosing your waiting spot wisely.
If your are a discounts’ hunter, you can you can subscribe to the mailing lists of various airlines and learn about their campaigns/promotions.

Accomodation:

Have you ever stayed in a youth hostel? Don’t be afraid of the mistery! Usually it’s the best option for the low budget travellers and you have the possibility to meet  like-minded people from all around the world and enjoy a warm atmosphere. Many of them provides a common kitchen so you can show your cooking skills to the world with your amazing “pasta with pesto” or  “baguette cheese and ham”. Earplugs are still recommended.

Next, you can use the "Couchsurfing" in order to find a local host in the city that you want to travel. Your host can be your willingly tour-guide and show you some places to eat with good prices,etc. Most importantly, you will enjoy the city like a local. You could pay off your host cooking your speciality (this time something more challenging of “pasta with pesto”).

Don’t forget that “Booking.com” and "A&O Hotels and Hostels" are official partners of AEGEE so your staying could be even cheaper!

I love to taste local food in my travels. It helps me to know about the culture of the city and spend less for eating. You don't need to go to expensive restaurants, there are always places with reasonable prices so you just need to discover them. You can use internet of course but I believe asking the local people is also a good idea.Also,you can shop from local markets and prepare/cook something if you're staying in a Hostel or an airbnb . Trying some street foods may be a good idea too.

Next,try to avoid from touristic places for eating. Prices are most-likely more expensive than somewhere else in the city.  Remember: when you are abroad, the best food is where locals go.

Activities:

If you want to see the night life when you travel, then ''pre-drinking" might be a life-saver for you. Local shops are reasonable for buying drinks.
Possibly, there will be some touristic places that you really wish to see when you travel. There are some ways to minimize your spending while seeing them. Firstly, you should bring your student ID card with you. This will probably save you from a considerable amount. And you can buy touristic cards which have discounts.
There may be some free activities like city tours and concerts, so it is logical to make some research before you travel.

Note : The AEGEE network is a huge and broad family. If you're going to travel to a city where an antenna exists, you can contact them. Their members may be your guide in the city,help you with some useful tips,hang out with you,assist you with finding a cheap accomodation or even host you. And of course you can do the same if a fellow AEGEEan
comes to your city. This is a part of the AEGEE Spirit.

Check also the AEGEE Couchsurfing & Tours Facebook group for your next trip!

Kaan Sertok
(Blogger of the Summer University Project)


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