Weekend Travel Tips

It’s such a blessing to be in Spain, and so close to the rest of Europe, but it’s also a curse. I want to go everywhere! Although we have 3 day weekends, it can be hard to see everything you want in a place, without blowing your whole paycheck. Here’s some tips I’ve found to make the most of your weekend travels, and keep them on the cheap! 

1. Try to leave Thursday night

If possible, try to leave on Thursday night as soon as you can! This way you can get the travel out of the way, and wake up the next morning in your new place. While you will have to pay one more night for a place to stay, flights are usually cheaper on Thursdays. And you get more time in your destination. You are spending the money to get there, might as well be there as long as you can! I recently flew to Dublin at 5:30pm on a Thursday after school. I arrived at 7:30pm and was able to check into my Airbnb and grab a pint at a bar! Not to mention, I was able to get up early the next day and get a jump on sight seeing. 

2. Book your flights months in advance

It can be hard to plan and spend your money in advance, but you will get wayyy better flight deals! Long gone are the days where you could get a cheap flight at the last minute. I’d recommend making a list of places you really want to travel to on the weekends, and plan out when you are going to go based on the price.

I knew I really wanted to go to Amsterdam. I was hoping to go in the spring, but the flights were all more than 100€ for just one way for every weekend. I adjusted my travel plans and I eventually found a weekend in January where my flight cost 100€ round trip. I was still looking for flights pretty far in advance considering it was early November and my trip was in January. If you are 100% set on traveling somewhere, make sure you check out all the possible dates. And do yourself a favor and buy your ticket now! The prices are only going to go up. 

3. Consider “private room airbnbs”

I used to think that “private room airbnbs,” where you rent a single room in someone’s shared apartment, were really weird and creepy, but not anymore! The people who run private rooms are very kind and welcoming, and you usually hardly ever see them anyways. It’s not weird unless you make it weird. I’ve found that “private room airbnbs” can be less expensive than hostels, and usually are in a better location-which will save your money in the end on public transportation costs. I booked a “private room airbnb” that had an amazing king-size bed, right in the city center of downtown Brussels for three nights. The a grand total: $194 US dollars. That’s $32 USD per person, per night, about 27 Euros. All the hostels I looked at were at least 30 Euros per night. And, to top it off, the room had a view of the famous Mannken Pis right from our window! We couldn’t have asked for a better location for the price. 

 Also, it’s nice to have your own private space instead of sharing it with 20 other people in a dorm hostel. I usually travel with just my husband, so for the two of us, it makes a lot more sense. I’d probably still recommend a hostel if you were traveling alone, or with a big group. But for two-person travel, it’s the perfect solution! At least be open to the ideas when traveling and do your research to make sure you aren’t overpaying for a hostel, when you could have more privacy for cheaper in a “private room airbnb.”

4. Always ask for student discounts

Student discounts are everywhere! Always ask if there is a discounted price, even if it’s not listed on the sign. Showing your TIE card counts as your student ID. If that doesn’t work, get creative. I once showed my metro card with my photo on it as student ID and only had to pay 1€ admission to a museum in Germany. If you are under 25, chances are there’s a discount at museums and monuments for you. 

5. Make your own meals and do your food research

I love trying new food and going to fun restaurants on my travels. However, this can add up fast. I’ve found it helps to plan out where I’m going to eat or how many times I want to eat out when I’m planning the rest of my trip. I know that I’m going to be spending money on food, so I want to get the best food possible at my price point. (like 30-40€ for a two person dinner is my high price point, not anything super fancy here)

 I hate the feeling when you are so hungry that you just desperately choose a random restaurant close by, and it turns out to be an expensive tourist trap that isn’t that tasty. By researching restaurants ahead of time, I’ve been able to find some really awesome places I never would have come across like an amazing food market in London, gourmet hot dogs in Amsterdam, and the best latte of my life in Brussels. 

Also, finding restaurants you really want to go to can help you stay on budget. I try to do at least one “big meal” or more expensive researched restaurant per day while traveling. For instance, if I know I want to go out to dinner, I might buy groceries to make breakfast, have lunch at a cheap sandwich or burger place, and then splurge on dinner. I usually try to do at least 3 homemade meals while traveling. The easiest one is usually breakfast, but I love a good brunch too! Doing your research on food will not only help you save money, but make sure you get the most bang for your buck. 

Weekend traveling is an amazing opportunity, and great perk of teaching in Spain. It can be possible if you get creative with your money and save a little here and there!