There are dozens of online guides that offer tips on how students can travel on a budget. However, everyone wants to indulge in a bit of luxury from time to time, right?

Don't worry. Just because you are a student, you need not give up hope for luxury travel. There are indeed travel hacks for this too. 

This article will tell you everything you need to know to travel lavishly without having to sweep out your savings. 

  1. Be Flexible 

For students, being flexible with travel options shouldn't be too challenging. After all, unlike those with jobs, students need not wait for approval on their vacation days. Instead, once they finish their assignments and submit them, they can easily find a couple of days off for traveling. 

Now, the question is how you can submit assignments early. Well, we have a tip for that too. Students can refer to academic platforms such as WritePaper.com and get help on their college essays, no matter what the topic or how close the deadline is. With such tools, students would not have difficulty getting some time off, even during busy school weeks. 

But, how can this be of advantage? This is because the best travel deals are available during the off-season or weekdays when it is inconvenient for those with regular jobs. So the cheap flights, affordable hotel rates and all are much more accessible during the work days. 

This flexibility should also extend to the type of destination you choose. If you are ok with traveling anywhere, then you will have access to more luxury deals to pick from. 

  1. Rent Rooms in Luxury Accommodations 

When thinking of luxury, the first picture that comes to your mind might be the setting of an opulent hotel - or, precisely, a glass of champagne, an amazing view, and a tray of mouth-watering food. After all, that's what social media feeds us these days. 

However, there are several other alternatives that offer the same level of lavishness and comfort. For instance, you can consider vacation rentals. 

If a hotel room costs around $500 a night, a vacation rental comes at a much cheaper rate. Moreover, you need not book an entire home to benefit from the amenities. Most luxurious villas and houses around the world rent individual rooms. So, you get to experience the atmosphere without paying for the entire property. 

Yes, of course, you might have to share the pool or the grounds. But it's a small price to pay for the luxury. 

  1. Choose Between Luxury Stay or Fabulous Destination 

The cold fact is that you will often have to make hard choices if you are hoping to take on luxury travel on a tight budget. Sometimes, this means having to choose between a destination and the type of travel. 

For instance, if you want to go to Venice in Rome, then it can be very difficult to find luxury accommodation at affordable rates. The city is incredibly expensive, even for basic accommodation. So, if accommodation is a priority, you can look for stays in nearby towns and visit Venice. The nearby Italian town of Montegrotto Terme is known for its spa properties and is only 45 minutes away from Venice by train. Making such alternative choices can help you save money without compromising comfort, even during peak season. 

  1. Opt for Luxury Lunch 

Luxury travel includes not only vibrant accommodations but also sumptuous meals. If you want to try out an expensive restaurant, check the prices for lunch. You might find that there is a large difference in prices between lunch and dinner menus. 

And, of course, this does not minimize the fun in any way. You will still dress up, have amazing food and get an amazing experience. But you will pay less, and what's more, it would also be easier to get a reservation for lunch rather than for dinner. 

  1. Opt for Budget Airlines

Another factor you can comprise is how you get to your travel destination. You can choose luxury at the destination rather than for your commute. Budget airlines indeed come at a relatively low cost, especially if you are willing to travel with minimal luggage. 

You might not be able to get free meals or have too much leg space, but you are likely to save a large sum. So, when planning travel, it would not be a bad idea to take on your budgeting app and compare the prices of different airlines for the same destination. 

  1. Scour Discount Booking Sites 

There are a million sites that offer amazing travel deals. Apart from popular websites such as Tripadvisor, Booking.com, and Skyscanner, different countries are likely to have local websites that can get you better deals. Also, try using VPN to see if you can score a better deal.

And, if you don't mind being flooded by marketing emails, sign up for alerts too. This way, you won't miss any exciting offers. You can also check websites that offer promo codes that can get you additional discounts. 

However, one mistake we all make is not checking the official hotel/travel websites for deals. In fact, most hotels will have seasonal rates and last-minute offers, which might come at a better price than those offered by third parties. 

  1. Make Some Extra Cash 

So, until now, we covered how students can manage luxury travel at affordable rates. Of course, there is another way around this - to increase your budget. 

As a student, you won't be short of part-time job opportunities as long as you are willing to put in some hard work. You can take on tutoring, freelancing, or even set up your own business. And you need not do this for a long time (unless you prefer to), but save up sufficient money to afford a luxury vacation. 

  1. Book Ahead or Wait Till the Last Minute 

Needless to say, you can save money by planning for your vacation in advance. The earlier you book, the better deals you will get. As the demand goes high, airlines and hotels are likely to increase their prices. 

On the other hand, if you are willing to take a gamble, you can also wait until the last minute. If airlines and hotels are not completely booked, they might offer incredible deals. However, bear in mind that this is a big 'if.' These days, it is becoming increasingly difficult to bag any last-minute deals, especially since there is a huge demand in the travel industry. 

  1. Mix Budget and Luxury Travel

When aiming for luxury travel, you might feel that you should; get everything just right - from your flight, accommodation, destination, and everything else. However, if you are willing to make compromises, you will be able to make one part of your vacation more enjoyable. 

For example, you can choose to experience luxury for one single day of your vacation and for a budget travel experience during other days. This could mean going to a Michelin-starred restaurant or booking a luxury hotel room only for a couple of days. For others, luxury might mean traveling first-class just to enjoy a bed and incredible meals. 

 At the end of the day, it is all about what you prioritize and what luxury means to you. 

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