From Amsterdam to Thailand: summer travel inspiration

When we decided to go on holiday as a flat in March we brainstormed some ideas: Dubrovnik, Venice, even Thailand! However, reality soon hit that these destinations were a little too pricey so we decided to look for a slightly cheaper destination. After hours of scouring Expedia and countless other travel websites we finally decided on Berlin.

By our own admittance, we are picky, and the group decided that we wanted a nice hotel with flights for under £200 for a three-night break in early July. Some friends were sceptical, there seems to be a perception that if you want to go on holiday cheaply as a student your only option is to stay in a hostel. However, this is simply not the case. Travel sites such as Expedia provide a great variety of hotel and flight options, some of  which really are great value for money.

After a few searches, we decided on the Upstalsboom Hotel Friedrichshain, which is a four star hotel in Friedrichshain, a trendy location about two miles from the centre of Berlin and a short walk from the U-Bahn station. Importantly, the hotel also had an 89% approval rating on tripadvisor, the beacon of travel advice, so all happy, we booked.
[pullquote style=”left” quote=”dark”]Budget for 4 nights:

• Flights: £84
• Accommodation: £86
• Food and activities: £100
• Total: £270[/pullquote]
We booked the flights as part of the package with Expedia, choosing easyJet from Gatwick as a more budget option. We also went with an early morning flight on the way out and a late evening flight on the way back to minimise costs, although we did justify this as ‘making the most out of the break’.

All in, our booking came to £170 for a three night break, including a four star hotel with breakfast and return flights. The key to this great value price was booking early. We booked this around the middle of March – about four months before departure. If you were to book exactly the same break now, three weeks before departure, the trip would cost £290, proving booking early really is key to getting a good deal.

Once we get to Berlin, we plan to use the U-Bahn from the airport to the hotel to save money. Over the break we plan to ‘see’ Berlin: that is, see the sites and avoid paying entrance fees. Of course, we plan to visit the Berlin Wall, the Jewish Memorial and the Reichstag – all of which are free – but paying going into every attraction certainly won’t be a priority.

Realistically, once there the only real expenditure will be food and drink – perhaps a souvenir or two if I’m feeling generous. As such, I will probably spend about £100 or so whilst there, bringing the total cost to just shy of £300. I feel this will be a bargain break to end a great year with some new friends.

Connor O’Shea

Lyon, France

photo: Guerric/flickr

Having lived in France during my year abroad, I love going back at every opportunity. Instead of a holiday, I decided to do something a bit different.

Seeing a travel writer placement in Lyon advertised on a student website, I thought this would be a great way to get away whilst gaining experience. Once I was accepted onto the placement I booked my flights straight away which saved a lot of money.

I managed to get a return for £115 including baggage – a must as I am going for 20 days. Accommodation worked out at a reasonable price as the company has provided shared apartments for those on the placement. Although my time in Lyon isn’t strictly a holiday, the nature of my placement will allow me to get to know the city a lot better.

As part of research I will be visiting historical locations, bars, restaurants and tourist attractions, before writing reviews and features as part of an online city guide. Having various friends dotted across France, I am also planning a few weekend visits.

For me this is the perfect way to spend my summer as I get to go back to France, keep up my French, gain some experience and will not be stuck in an office all day!

Selina Sykes

Thailand

photo: @Doug88888/flickr

With hostel rooms averaging £5 a night, Thailand makes for the perfect lengthy summer holiday. For flights you’re looking at around £500, and for a month’s budget including a number of activities, I’d say it could easily be done for an additional £80.

Of course, this depends where in Thailand you want to spend your time. The infamous Thai Islands are getting more and more expensive each year, yet the possibility for cheap living still remains if you’re into local cuisine and alcohol.

Transport around Thailand is also ridiculously cheap with ferries between Islands costing around £5 each way, and transport from Bangkok to the north or south for £10 maximum. An ideal route would be to spend a week on Koh Pangan and then Koh Tao for the full moon party, then head up north to see Chiang Mai and Pai, whilst stopping at Ayutthaya and Bangkok on your way home to soak up some history.

Scarlett Mansfield

Amsterdam, Holland

photo: MorBCN/flickr