Ahoj everyone!
Today I am going to be talking about my travel experiences outside of Prague. I have been lucky enough to do a ton of traveling since coming to Europe. In the past 6 weeks I have had the privilege of visiting Croatia, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia. All of these wonderful cities have had their own distinct vibes that made them each unique. As a college student, I am obviously on a strict budget; therefore, I want to talk about how I have been able to do this much traveling without completely breaking the bank.
Firstly, and arguably most importantly, I scheduled all of my classes to be only on Mondays and Tuesdays. This allows me to travel during the middle of the week, which is often significantly cheaper than traveling on weekends. Additionally, my Monday class does not start until the evening, so I am able to travel home in the morning. This has saved me a lot of money because flying on weekends is much more expensive. Furthermore, it allows me more time to spend in these wonderful places.
Another thing that helps me save money while traveling is the International Student Identification Card (ISIC card). This card was about $20, but it has more than paid for itself. This card gets me discounts at restaurants, clubs, and hostels all over the world. It also gets me 15% off of Flixbus, which is a huge bus company in Europe. This card has saved me hundreds of dollars, and it even includes deals in the United States that I will be able to use when I get back home.
My third and final way I’ve found to save money is by flying basic economy with discount airlines. The biggest discount airline in Europe is Ryanair, and I have taken roundtrip flights for under $50. You do not get to pick your seat or bring anything besides a small backpack, but for the price it is extremely worth it. Most flights throughout Europe are not more than a couple hours; therefore, even if I get stuck in a middle seat on a plane with little leg room, it is only uncomfortable for a short amount of time.
Of all the places I have been so far on my journey, I have to say Prague is still my favorite. The magical vibes of old town and all of the architecture and statues create a wonderful vibe that has not been topped yet in my opinion. However, I will definitely admit that Budapest, Hungary is a very close second. The Parliament building is by far the coolest building I have ever seen in my life. Overall, I am very grateful for the experiences that I have had thus far, and cannot wait for what is to come.
More about USAC Czech Republic: Prague – Politics, Culture, and the Arts >