Students can travel without money woes
by Pam Garrett, reporter

    If you think the only way you’ll get to a beach during spring break is by watching Baywatch, think again.

    For $500 or less, you can be on the next plane to fun and relaxation by following a few easy tips.

    First of all, it is usually more expensive to fly out of a hub city. A hub is an airport that is a major gateway for international travel, such as Chicago-O’Hare, DFW and Miami International. Departing from a smaller airport can sometimes save you 30-50 percent on airfare over flying out of a hub.

    Let’s say that you wanted to go to Portland, Ore. The inexpensive way to do this is to reserve your flight departing out of Austin with a connection at DFW.

    Then, for around $25, reserve transportation on Greyhound from the Metroplex to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

    It may seem strange connecting in the same city that you started from, but trust me; in the long run, it will save you some cash.

    When departing Portland, check your bags only to Dallas. That way when your flight connects at DFW, you simply get off the plane instead of flying to Austin.

    You can also save money on airfare by choosing less popular travel dates and times. For instance, always travel the red-eye flight.

    Traveling overnight is not so bad when it saves you 40 percent on airfare; besides, you can sleep on the plane. If your travel dates are flexible, a departure on Saturday and return on Tuesday is another method to saving money.

    Another way to travel on a budget is to stay at extended-stay hotels, which offer rooms similar to furnished apartments. They usually have fully-stocked kitchens that include pots, pans and dishes, separate living areas and televisions equipped with VCR’s. Such amenities make it easy to save money by cooking your own food and renting movies for entertainment.

    When choosing a hotel, try to find one that is located in the business district of your chosen destination. Because extended-stay hotels cater to business travelers, they generally have vacant rooms with lower rates on weekends.

    Since the airlines charge top dollar for airfare to places everyone wants to go, try traveling to a less-popular destination during spring break.

    Not only will you reap the rewards of a less-crowded city, you can also try something new like journeying with a few friends to a city that you never imagined travelling to.

    Instead of going to Montego Bay or Cancun, try Los Angeles or New York. Saving money on plane tickets is not the only advantage of travelling to less-popular cities. You can also save on car rentals and hotels.

    The Internet has become a necessity in vacation planning. In addition to the lowest possible airfares online, you can find special packages that include air travel, hotel and car rental for one low price.

    With just a click, you can plan your whole itinerary by doing a little research. Instead of asking people what to do or where to go, you can arrive equipped with a very organized list of activities to keep you and your friends entertained.

    Try accessing a few websites such as aa.com, usairways.com and expedia.com. Online, you can find everything you need to locate low airfares and even print out maps of the city you are planning to visit. The information is right at your fingertips and just a click away.

    Now that you know how to travel smart, pack your bags and get ready to have fun.