Solo student travel: safety & budget guide

Personal safety and money management are two of the biggest considerations of solo student travel. For a better idea of how to prepare for both before you go, here’s what you need to know.

Getting the cheapest flights

There are loads of theories and hacks for getting the cheapest flights, but generally speaking, planning and booking early is your best bet.

You might find ultra-last-minute deals, but flights to Europe usually go cheapest around six to eight weeks before you intend to travel. Flights worldwide are best booked three to six months in advance.

As always, travelling outside of school holidays or in the destination’s off-season (fewer tourists or it’s not the best season for the weather), and being flexible on your travel dates will usually result in lower prices for both travel and accommodation.

Compare prices with tools like Google Flights, Skyscanner or Trip.com and check out huge student travel deals on UNiDAYS.

Picking the right place to stay

While hostels and dorm rooms are an obvious choice for cheaper travel, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. When you don’t have the personal freedom of a private living and sleeping space, there’s the added challenge of safety and daily convenience.

Yes, some of the best hostels are located right in the centre of the action, but it might be less convenient for you if you can’t leave your belongings in the hostel while you’re out and about.

Equally, do you really wanna pack up your life into your rucksack and stow it out of sight just to head for a shower or go to the toilet in the morning?

Apps like Airbnb and Booking.com provide a broader range of accommodation types, including private rooms, and there’s always a bargain to be spotted.

Transport links and the general cost of living also need to be factored in when deciding where you’ll stay each night. For example, is your accommodation reasonably well-connected so you don’t have to shell out for a taxi to reach it? How reliable is the transport if you need to catch a super-early flight out of town?

On the other hand, if you choose to stay somewhere central, in a cosmopolitan area, are the hotels, cafes and attractions you plan to visit within your price range? The comfort and convenience payoff needs to be considered carefully against your budget and travel plans.

Making sure you have access to money

This is the single most important thing you need to worry about before you go. Use these tips to avoid being strapped for cash or unable to get it on the move.

Know the banking landscape

Not all countries are integrated into the world banking system, whether that’s for political or economic reasons. Some restrict international financial transactions and some might not have the ATM infrastructure to allow you access to cash.

Always carry cash

Even if you’re heading somewhere that widely accepts contactless payments, it still helps to have access to cash for tips, street markets and turnstiles (for toilets or travel) that might only accept coins.

Keeping a safe stash of cash is especially important when travelling to rural or remote areas, where you might not see a bank or working ATM for days at a time.

Talk to your bank before you leave

Make sure your bank knows where you’re headed and for how long, to avoid them freezing your card on the basis of suspicious activity.

If possible, ask an adviser about banking restrictions and limitations in the area you’re travelling to, to ensure you can still access your money. They might also have a better product for you to use abroad, such as a card with lower international usage fees.

Watch out for bad exchange rates

Don’t get stuck withdrawing or exchanging cash in tourist hotspots. These are known to have the worst exchange rates, which can mean high fees at ATMs and exchange kiosks.

Consider getting a dedicated money card for travel

It’s never wise to rely only on your phone for all your money and banking needs while you’re away. You never know when you might run out of battery, lose signal or find out your phone is lost or stolen.

Using a dedicated money card, like a Starling, Revolut or Travel Card from the Post Office, instead of your phone or your main cards, increases the chances of them joining you on the return journey.

Setting a daily budget

If you’ve got a bucket list of activities to tick off while you travel, with a little research before you go, it’s easy to find out how much money you’ll need to cover them.

It also helps to check out the cost of living in your destination country and any information on typical daily spending. Sites like Expatistan offer several ways to compare costs, and there are many travel blogs covering this subject too,, if you want an independent view.

On top of activities, remember to factor in daily transport, meals (especially if you don’t have access to cooking facilities), accommodation, and emergency costs, including lost luggage, trip cancellations and diversions, and emergency medical/dental treatment.

Getting around safely

While it’s a lovely thought–forgetting your worries and getting lost down a quaint village or country road in a beautiful foreign country–the reality is a lot more frightening.

Share your itinerary with a trusted person

All it takes is one wrong turn and losing track of time, and you can go miles out of your way. If you’re heading out for the day, you might want to schedule a check-in at your accommodation so that reception staff can raise the alarm if you don’t return on time.

It’s also a good idea to share your itinerary with someone back home and check in regularly. This can afford you a little more freedom, while making sure someone is notified if you don’t meet key milestones on your journey.

Make sure your online maps are available offline

While you're still at home, download offline maps, such as Maps.me or Google Maps' offline version. This is one boring admin task you’ll thank yourself for when, amid all the excitement of exploring your new destination, you suddenly find yourself without a phone signal.

Don’t get stuck without a way home. Download a wide and detailed enough section of the location you’re heading to, to ensure you’ll always find your way to your accommodation.

Keep digital and physical copies of important documents

Don’t get caught out without a backup for your most important documents: visas, permits, travel tickets and accommodation bookings. If you can keep physical and digital copies safely, take both.

It might seem like overkill until you’re stuck looking for somewhere to charge your phone or you lose your physical paperwork.

Planning for a phone-free existence

When you’re used to whipping out your phone wherever you go–to travel, grab a coffee, or pay for just about anything, or simply to check in with friends–it comes as a shock when convenience isn't immediately at our fingertips.

Whatever you’re used to doing with your phone, take a moment to notice it. Track how you go about your day and make a note of important things you use it for and what the alternatives could be.

Keep in mind that phones can run out of charge, lose signal, and get lost, damaged or stolen.

Write down important phone numbers and addresses for when you need to use a public phone or send a letter. Make sure you have something else to occupy your mind on long journeys or for something to do while you’re sitting in a cafe, when you might otherwise be scrolling.

Experiences or comfort? You decide

Many students choose to travel for the life-enriching experience and the bragging rights over where they’ve been and what they’ve seen along the way, and will usually choose budget accommodation or cheaper travel tickets if it frees up extra cash for experiences.

But not everyone wants to slum it in the most-tourist-trodden dorm in town. If comfort is non-negotiable, you can still find great experiences on a budget. Many cities have free parks, museums, markets and cultural events at certain times of year.

For great travel deals on holidays, flights, car rental, train, ferry and bus travel and entertainment, head over to UNiDAYS.