10 Cheap Holiday Travel Tips for College Students

You have worked very hard and now you get a break, it's the holiday season and you are busy making plans to go home. But travel is expensive and you have not saved up much during the year, how can you get the best deals? Planning ahead is the key to getting the best deals and discounts.

Here are some cheap holiday travel tips that will save you some money:

1. Plan ahead.

Airline tickets go on sale and run out very quickly. The best way to get a good price is to book a month in advance. The minimum time is 3 weeks ahead.

2. Compare prices on airlines, bus lines and train travel. One of these may be significantly cheaper than the others. Sign up for email alerts; they will notify you when the prices drop so you can lock in the lowest price. Check websites like Travel Zoo, Expedia and Travelocity to compare prices on flights, hotels and rental cars.

3. Check for student discounts online. If you have an STA travel card you will get 10% off domestic flights and 20% off international flights. Go to www.statravel.com to apply for a card and see what discounts you may be eligible for.

4. Compare prices of airlines.

Some airline companies are known to give better discounts.

5. Look for cheap holiday travel deals on discount travel websites. Look at the "hot deals" and "clearance" pages for any discounts you might be able to use. They may have special goings for a limited time.

6. Make sure your flight is the closest route to your destination. Some flights originating in one city may have to take a longer route to get there. If you are willing to drive a little and leave from another airport you may get a cheaper deal.

7. It may help to be willing to take an earlier flight. Sometimes the red eye is shorter and cheaper than leaving later in the day.

8. Eat before you leave for the airport. Airport cafes are expensive and you are only allowed to bring certain things into the terminal. If your flight is long, you may have an in-flight meal but this is not included in your ticket price. Eat a good meal before you leave and buy a drink from the vending machine before boarding that should hold you over until you arrive at your destination.

9. Pack lightly.

One checked bag and one carry-on bag are allowed for no charge. Any additional baggage will cost you more.Put all your toiletries in a Ziploc bag and take travel size bottles. You can pick up travel size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and toothpaste at the Dollar Store for a dollar each.

10. Bring a book or magazines to read while you are waiting at the terminal and in-flight. The gift shops at the airport have books but why pay for an added expense. Plan ahead and check out some books from the library before you go. Library books and magazines can be checked out for 3 weeks at a time.

So now that you have saved some money on your cheap holiday travel plans, you will have more money to spend when you get back to school. The amount of money you saved on travel can be used to buy your books for next semester. Happy Holidays!