How To Find Cheap Holidays For Students 2023

Holiday season is well and truly approaching, it’s the time of year where you can escape the stressors of student life, swap lecture halls for sunny beaches and make unforgettable memories. 

Regardless if you’re wanting to go on a solo trip abroad or head on a holiday of a lifetime with your friends for your summer break, there are plenty of options out there. 

Finding cheap holidays for students is easy, just because you don’t have too much disposable income to spend on going away it doesn’t have to stop you. 

To help you out, we’ve got just the guide on how you can find the best deals in 2023 so, carry on reading for the ultimate wallet-friendly getaway! 

1. Book In Advance 

Whilst sometimes you may be able to make the most of cheap last minute deals that crop up, you’re most likely to get the most budget-friendly deals when you book ahead. 

If you don’t have the money to pay your holiday upfront, rather than holding off booking your trip until closer to the time, look for options where you can pay in instalments to spread the cost. 

Not only does booking far in advance mean that you’re getting a cheaper deal, you’re also guaranteed the dates you want.

You’ll also have more time to budget for your expenses for when you’re there, pay for your travel insurance and any other extra costs.

Plus, Booking early on builds up the anticipation and excitement for your next get-away, which will get you through those uni assignments! 

2. Explore Different Destinations 

Being open to when and where you’re travelling is important if you’re wanting to find a cheap and cheerful holiday. 

We know, you may have a dream destination which you’re set on heading to but widening your search and considering different places is a wise idea. 

Try to avoid tourist traps when booking a holiday especially if you’re wanting to cut the costs.

After all, there are plenty of less well-known destinations which are worth visiting and are much cheaper. 

We’d also suggest researching how expensive each possible holiday destination is.

Just because you’ve found a cheap hotel and flight deal, doesn’t mean it’s going to be cheap to eat out, shop around or explore the attractions. 

These things vary significantly from place to place so, it’s worth checking this out prior to booking your get-away. 

3. Be Flexible With Dates 

The more flexible you can be with your holiday dates the better, as you’re more likely to get a bargain, especially if you go during off peak times. 

If you’re able to, consider booking your holiday before the UK summer time commences and schools break up as prices will be higher during these peak periods. 

We’d also suggest booking a holiday during the week rather than a weekend, as it can be cheaper to fly out on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 

Although, flexibility with booking a holiday for a large group can become an issue because you’ve got to find dates which work for numerous peoples schedules. 

So, it may be wise to think about whether you should book your next trip with tons of other people, sometimes a small group is better and more realistic! 

4. Use SkyScanner For Cheap Flights 

If you’re wanting to save money on your next overseas trip, we’d recommend using SkyScanner to find cheap flights. 

Whilst it may seem easier to book your flights and accommodation together, package deals aren’t always the cheapest. 

By using Sky Scanner you can compare prices on hundreds of flights from your favourite booking sites to find the cheapest deal. 

You can filter your search to your chosen destination, or click  “Everywhere” to find cheap flights anywhere across the world and get ideas for your next holiday. 

You may even find that it’s cheaper to book two one way flights with different airline providers. 

The best part is, you can also set up a Price Alert where you will be notified if the flight price changes so you’re always booking at the right time! 

5. See If It’s Cheaper To Book Independently 

There are a few options you can choose from when booking a holiday.

You can go for a package holiday which usually includes flights, accommodation and transfers, or instead you can book independently. 

Most people tend to go for the hassle-free option of booking their holiday with a travel company, rather than planning their own trip and booking things separately.

Whilst sometimes package deals can work out cheaper, this isn’t always the case. 

Another benefit of booking a package holiday is that there’s less planning involved, you can search for different trips all over the world and find a deal.

Although, we’d suggest checking if it would be cheaper for you to book your accommodation and flights directly. 

If you find a good deal on a travel company website, head to the hotels website and the flight provider’s website to see if booking directly with them would save you some money – it’s worth checking just in case! 

6. Consider Alternative Accommodation 

Instead of staying in a hotel on your next vacation, you should consider renting an AirBnb or shared apartment.

This can be a more affordable option, especially if you are travelling with a large group of people. 

The best part about choosing to stay in AirBnb or a shared apartment is that they will have kitchens so you can reduce the food costs associated with eating out on holidays, as all those meals do add up! 

Hostels are also a great alternative to hotels if you’re wanting to save money on accommodation costs too.

After all, if you’re going to spend more time out and about than in your hotel room, is it worth splashing the cash? 

If you’re just looking for somewhere to sleep at night, then it may be worth researching to find the cheapest accommodation options in your chosen destination. 

Likewise, we’d also suggest researching the locations of accommodations properly, as you may have found a cheap deal, but end up paying more on travel costs as it’s located far out. 

7. Go Interrailing 

If you’re wanting to travel Europe on a budget this summer, then we’d urge you to consider interrailing. 

The way it works is, you can experience different cultures and landscapes across Europe by hopping on and off trains, rather than catching flights. 

There are a few different passes available to European residents, with the most popular being the Interrail Global Pass which allows you to explore 30 different European countries. 

However, you can also purchase an Interrail One Country Pass if you’re just wanting to travel around one particular European country. 

The set number of days, weeks or even months you want to travel for is up to you, with a variety of different options to choose from. 

If you’re wanting to do some cheap travelling whilst you’re off uni, this could very well be a good idea to consider as you can see so many different places! 

8. Earn Money Whilst You Travel 

Our last tip for keeping your student budget in check is to earn money whilst you travel. 

There are many ways you can earn income whilst travelling.

Such as, teaching English as a foreign language, working in the hospitality industry, working as an au pair, working at summer camps, or even just finding a seasonal part-time job. 

Of course, working abroad isn’t for everyone, some people want to go on holiday to escape reality and have some time to unwind before heading back to uni for the next academic year. 

However, if you’re scrapped for cash, earning money whilst experiencing new places could be ideal. 

That’s it from us fellow travellers, we hope this blog has been useful in showing that there are many ways you can find cheap holidays for students

So, go out there and discover student holiday destinations to make the most of the summer holidays. You deserve it after all of that studying and working hard! 

If you’re taking part in a study abroad, make sure to have a read of our guide on tips every student should know.