With the university year coming to a close, it’s finally time for students to embrace the summer holidays. Whether you’re planning on travelling far away, or taking in some city breaks, there’s always ways to keep the budget down. Here are our student travel tips for nailing packing light for your summer adventures:
Early Bird Catches the Worm
Instead of packing the night before or, worse, the morning of, set out your bag a few days before. This way, you are more likely to remember if you have forgotten anything before you’re headed out the door. Often airport prices are more expensive for toiletries, and there’s nothing worse than arriving on holiday and having to spend both time and money hunting down something you need that you have forgotten!
Layer Like a Boss
Only bring clothes you know you will wear on the trip. Leave behind any outfits that are uncomfortable or that you don’t feel confident in. A good rule of thumb is to pack clothes that you wear on a regular basis, unless you have a piece you specifically bought or planned for the trip. It is also smart to pack layers or capsule items that you can wear to create multiple outfits – more options for less space, winning.
Organise, Organise, Organise!
One way to keep your suitcase organised is to buy packing cubes which save space. Fold and roll your clothes before putting them in the cubes and put makeup and other toiletries in separate bags which you can label. This is especially key if you are going backpacking, as trying to get that one thing you need from the bottom of your bag during a transfer is a mission impossible.
If You Know, You Know
A simple student travel tip, but big a biggy if you get it wrong! If you are flying, it is important to check the airline requirements for carry-on and checked luggage. Make sure your luggage fits the dimension and weight requirements for carry on to save money, otherwise you will end up paying costly checked bag fees You can purchase a luggage scale or simply weigh yourself with and without the piece of luggage. Plus in the age of discount airlines not everything is included, so you might want to have space for a big jumper or a small fleece throw if the airline doesn’t provide blankets and you are flying long-haul.
Space Invaders
It’s inevitable, you won’t be able to shut your luggage when you repack to come home – even if you haven’t added to your belongings with that must-have souvenir or amazing bargain you found at a local market. One way to avoid this? Pack with room before you fly out and then make sure you pack the night before your return flight, or leave enough time to properly pack so you can maximise space.
So there you have it, our student travel tips. You’ve worked hard at university the last academic year and saved up your precious pennies and pounds in order to afford your travel adventure, so taking a bit of time and attention beforehand can really make your trip easier. From peace of mind by having a calm airport experience, to saving money from not being caught out by needing to grab the basics, packing smart will mean all you need to focus on is taking in the new experiences. And when it’s time to get back to business and find student rentals for the next academic year, you know we at Student.com have you covered! If you’re looking for tips on how to travel without getting lost in translation, you can check out our blog post containing info about how to get by when you don’t speak the language and a couple of other helpful tips.
