By Preeya Abidi-Fallows
Affordable destinations
Affordable destinations in 2026 are hard to find. Students wanting to go traveling on a budget can often come across barriers, and cheap locations can often be unsafe. Hotel prices, especially during the summer, skyrocket.
Affordable modes of transport
Vienna Airport
In the UK a rail card for people ages 16-25 can help keep the cost of train fares down. Travelling across the UK using a railcard will save you one-third of the price of train tickets. Most railcards cost around £35 per year and are available as a digital or physical card. An Oyster card is a reusable smart travel card used to pay for public transport in and around London. You can use it on The London Underground (Tube), London buses and trams. When traveling outside the UK you can also grab metro passes for getting around cities. A MetroCard is a prepaid travel card used on certain urban public transport networks. Depending on where you go, MetroCards can be topped up with money and credit. Another way to explore any country now is by using Uber, which provides cheap taxi rides to exact locations.
Hostels and Hotels
There a huge range of travel websites and competitive deals online
Affordable hotels are difficult to find on a budget. Budget hotels are always a good choice for a student going travelling. Ibis Budget hotels offer affordable accommodation with free Wifi and private bathrooms. Aimed at budget friendly travellers (such as students), they provide basic, clean rooms and facilities. Often near city centres or airports, they are convenient for a short break or overnight stay. Molly Bickerstaffe age 21, of Newcastle, said: “Ibis Budget hotels are perfect for a cheap place to rest your head if you’re going on a city break. I used them in Amsterdam and Vienna, both were great for what they were.”
A way of keeping costs down when you want a sunny holiday is to booking yourself. That’s particularly helpful for a student trying to find a way of travelling outside school holidays, with their skyrocketing prices. Louise Burns, age 55, a former travel agent from Cumbria said: “The price of travel is going up so much that eventually abroad travel could become a thing of the past. Holidays should be relaxing but the cost of them is making it miserable for people not being able to afford to take their kids away”.
Hostel safety depends on the location and management of the establishment. A lot of reputable hostels are safe for travellers but in depth research is recommended. Many hostels in 2026 offer secure entry systems, lockers, CCTV and staff available all round the clock. To keep yourself safe, keep all important documents and personal items locked away. Bring your own padlock if necessary. Do not leave your belongings unattended and always check reviews before booking. Solo travellers can improve security by choosing well-rated hostels with good safety records and positive feedback.
Travel apps
Flight screen over Canada
Travel apps are crucial to a first time traveller, solo traveller and experienced traveller. Student Laila Evans, 20, of Rhyl said: “My dream was always to go inter-railing or travelling when I left uni, however I feel nervous to do so now it’s coming round to it so I have been doing loads of research and looking into apps I could use”.
Skyscanner- flight comparison apps
Booking . com- Cheap hotel finder
Google Maps- Maps app to navigate around the cities
Google Translate- Translation apps to communicate in different languages.
Links to apps and articles to help you travel safely…
