With the new school year now underway, college students everywhere are gearing up for an exciting fall semester—packed with new classes, friends, and campus attractions, which is the perfect time to learn how to travel in college!
Although there are plenty of things to do onsite at your local university or college campus, it’s safe to say there is even more to explore in nearby cities. This is especially true if you’re attending Minnesota State University, Mankato or Gustavus Adolphus College. Both of which are less than 2 hours away from the Twin Cities Metro area.
Whether you enjoy live music, local sports, amazing restaurants, or other downtown attractions, the Twin Cities offer endless entertainment for college students, faculty, and visiting family.
But traveling on a college budget can make “how you’ll get there” a bit of a challenge. After all, the last thing you want to do is spend all your money on travel and have little to spend when you finally arrive at your destination.
3 Travel Tips for College Students
In this article, we’ll share three strategies on how to travel as a college student on a budget.
Plan Your Travel Budget First…And Stick To It!
Before you head out the door, be sure to have a plan of where you’re headed, what you’ll do while there, and how long you’ll be staying.
If you’re planning a day trip to downtown Minneapolis, for example, think about the places you’ll want to go while exploring the city. Ask yourself:
-
- Will you grab lunch and/or dinner with friends?
-
- Do you plan to visit certain districts for shopping or exploring art museums?
-
- Are you attending a live performance or event?
Be sure to do some research online to get a ballpark figure on how much items and admissions will cost you. This way you can decide how much you’ll need to bring.
The trick here is sticking to your budget. If you know you might go over a bit, try to think of a few ways you can cut cuts. For example, if you want to buy merch at a live show, think about bringing snacks with you vs. having to buy food.
Utilize Public Transportation
Using public transportation is convenient, good for the environment, and cost-effective. But you don’t need to worry about memorizing bus stops and times when you’re headed to the Big City. Instead, there is one way to travel that ensures you arrive at your destination safely and affordably.
At Land to Air Express, we help students traveling on a college budget through our College Connection program.
How It Works:
You book a ride with us, and we pick you up right from campus!
Using our College Connection program, you can easily plan a trip with friends, so everyone travels safely together. And when it’s time to travel home for the holidays, we also offer this same shuttle service to the MSP airport.
The best part about our College Connection is no matter where you’re headed, you can trust that a professional driver is there to pick you up and drop you off at campus – now, that’s convenient!
This option is available to both Mankato and Gustavus students.
Ask about Student Travel Discounts
Wherever you’re headed, it’s a good idea to ask about student discounts. This includes restaurants, theaters, museums, and other local venues. Most businesses are excited to have visiting students shop from them and will offer a little incentive to keep you coming back.
If you decide to book a ride via our College Connection, you don’t have to ask about a discount because our program works to help students travel on a budget.
Tickets range from $5-$30 and include 2 free checked bags, 1 free carry on, and free WiFi. Wow, that’s a lot of “free” – which means even more money to spend when you arrive at your destination.
Travel Smart This Semester
Traveling on a college budget doesn’t mean you’re stuck on campus. There are easy ways to get around towns and cities without paying for a rideshare or relying on others for a ride.
To learn more about our College Connection, and how we can help you get back and forth to your favorite Minnesota destinations, browse our helpful online resources. You can also contact us for questions or to help you plan your trip.
We look forward to providing you and your fellow classmates safe, reliable ground transportation this semester and the next!