Making friends at university is one of the best parts of the whole experience – and there are so many opportunities for you all to make memories together. Over the holidays, whether that be Christmas, Easter, over the Summer etc, you will find yourself apart from your new pals. But that doesn’t have to be the case, if you don’t want it to be; there are plenty of trips you can arrange that won’t break the bank, so you can all meet up and have fun.
Caravan holidays
A very British tradition: the humble caravan holiday. With most caravans able to sleep around six people, they’re a great budget-friendly student holiday idea if you split the cost between you all. While you can’t guarantee good weather in England (or Wales) at any time of year, it’s still a great laugh – especially if you keep things simple with board games, home cooked meals or BBQs, and walks in the fresh air. There are literally hundreds of caravan sites up and down the country, and you might even know someone with a caravan who’d be happy to do you a deal…
City breaks
When it comes to budget-friendly student trips, city breaks are right up there; from so-called extreme day trips to long weekends away, there are so many amazing cities you can visit if you’re on a tight budget or if you don’t want to go away for too long. Utilise the Skyscanner ‘explore everywhere’ tool to see which locations you can fly to within your budget and on the dates you’re available to go – then search for lodges, apartments or unique accommodation options which sleep multiple people or large groups. Splitting the cost of this is a great way to keep the price down!
Other top tips for budget-friendly city breaks
Walk or make use of public transport in your destination
Stay slightly outside of the city centre
Check out which local attractions offer student discount
Book accommodation with a kitchen so you can cook (some of) your own meals
Look for free walking tours and other activities
Camping
In the same vein as caravan trips, camping can be a really affordable but fun way to get away with your friends or flatmates – although this one is definitely slightly more weather dependent! But really all you need is a tent and a sleeping bag, and you’re good to go… though it might also be worth taking a pillow, disposable BBQs (if the campsite allows) and even an air mattress if you have the space. You can often find campsites for as little as £10 per night, and pop-up one man tents are less than £20 in many places; although, if you split the cost of a bigger tent to share with your friends, you’ll pay less in pitch fees. It’s all down to what you feel most comfortable with. Camping is a great way to enjoy time in nature, and to do away with the expectations of what you “need” for a holiday. Just yourselves and the basics!
Getting away on holiday doesn’t need to cost a lot, and these trips are the perfect way to bond further with flatmates or course friends and make plenty of memories to get you through those long study days…
