In college, a weekend getaway is more than just a sightseeing trip; it is a much needed relief from crazy schedules and a life lived on deadlines. College students today are using their holidays to tour around a bit, seeing and experiencing places, in groups or even going solo. Travelling on a budget may come across as near impossible, but students manage to find pocket-friendly alternatives to almost anything. Here’s how!
An alumnus of Christ University, Suyash Agrawal has a list of places he’s visited, “I normally go on a trip for two to three days. I think it is always better to travel by train than bus, as it’s comfortable with more amenities,” he says. “We always think that travel and accommodation takes up most of the cost, but after reaching a place, commuting locally takes up a lot of money. You may not always find a share cab or a rental scooter, like in hill stations, where options are few,” he adds. Suyash, who prefers travelling with his close friends, is all set to go to Spiti Valley and the North-East in the coming months. “Doing odd jobs while in college have helped me save up. Travelling with friends is a good option to save money, as costs are reduced and it is fun,” he suggests.
Amitesh Singh, a first year post-graduate student, agrees wholeheartedly. “The first place I visited while in college was Gokarna. When I go on trips, I spend around three to five days; I think it is the perfect sweet spot,” he says. “Roughly `10,000 for three to five days will suffice. I save up from my monthly allowances, doing internships and some freelance work.” Trains and buses are his preferred modes of travel, since flights can be quite expensive. “I am not one to look for very luxurious places to stay. I usually go for Zostels as it also means I can interact with a lot of people from around the world,” he adds.
For Aishwarya, an alumnus of St. Joseph’s College, travelling was never a daunting task. “I have been to a few places, like Yercaud, Yelagiri and Varkala. It’s almost always with friends,” she says. “It’s mostly for two to three days. We often pooled in our money and found an affordable place to stay. We travelled mostly on bikes, or sometimes even rented a vehicle,” she adds. “Most of the money came by saving up from allowance, like giving up on eating out for a while.”
“Manali, Rishikesh and Goa are among the spots we get the maximum enquiries for,” says Hijas Ali, a spokesperson for a travel firm. “Students from Bengaluru are also interested in camping at unexplored areas of Wayanad. They come in groups of 10 to 14, and we are able to cut costs thanks to our tie ups with other businesses.”
— Christina Tom Jose
