Humour

You’ve been saving your pennies all year for an unforgettable summer of travel…

So it seems a shame to blow the bank on the little things without even really realising! But, don’t worry, we have just the travel tips on how to make your money stretch that little bit further…

1. Pack light

Only bring what you absolutely need – paying for overweight baggage is a massive pain and definitely should be avoided. If you’re extremely savvy (and going for a short trip), try travelling with just hand luggage and avoid paying for checked bags altogether.

2. Self-catered accommodation

Eating is one of the biggest drains on a travel budget. By staying in a hostel with a kitchen or self-catered apartment, you can save loads of money on eating out and spend it on more important things!

3. Supermarket food

Staying on the theme of food, by shopping in a supermarket you can still experience local cuisine without spending a bomb. How about some cheese and fresh baguette for lunch in Paris? Yummm…

4. Travel apps

There are so many apps out there, by pre-downloading a few you can save money on guidebooks, maps and phrasebooks!

5. Travel like a local (and live like a local!)

Using taxis is a big no-no when it comes to travelling on a budget, try walking where you can or take public transport. Plus, you get to see and experience so much more of the place you are visiting – it’s a win-win! Save money on accommodation by checking out the local Airbnb’s, you can often get places in the heart of the city for a fraction of a central hotel’s price.

6. Book a train pass in advance

Buying a train pass in advance, especially if you know you’ll be travelling around a specific area, is crucial to making the most of your money. Bulk buying means the tickets are cheaper, and you don’t have the stress of waiting in long lines at train stations.

7. Stay away from the ATM

When you’re abroad, don’t withdraw any money from an ATM. You’ll probably get a poor exchange rate from your bank as well as being charged a fee for the withdrawal. No, thank you!

8. Take a friend

Travelling with a friend or in a group can be great for money saving. Double hotel rooms cost nearly the same as a single so why not split the cost? You can also split picnics, chores, and taxis when you have to, as well as having someone to share the memories with.

9. Haggle

Markets are often filled with amazing local products that you can’t find anywhere else, but they are notorious for ripping tourists off. You can still get some great deals but you need to remember that all prices are soft, so dust off your haggling skills and nab yourself some bargains!

10. Turn off 3G

Don’t get caught out, using your phone to access the web when abroad can lead to colossal charges if you’re not careful. To be extra safe, simply turning 3G off on your phone or putting it onto airplane mode will avoid the stress. Try an Internet café or a hotel with Wi-Fi if you need to check your emails or are desperate to post the perfect holiday ‘insta’.

Still haven’t decided where to go? Check out STA Travel, you’ll be amazed how cheap travelling to exotic places can be! Costa Rica? Don’t mind if we do…

Festival season is almost upon us…

If you’re still stuck on where to go, here’s our run-down on some of the best Britain has to offer.

1. Isle of Wight Festival

This year celebrating “40 Years of Punk” the infectious carnival atmosphere is one of the best you can find. It’s big enough to attract some huge names but not so big you’ll have a breakdown every time you lose sight of your mates. This original festival from the 60s really has something for everyone, so it’s great for a big crowd with diverse musical tastes. Fun fact: the Isle of Wight festival is known to have the friendliest bouncers on the circuit.

2. Secret Garden Party

This boutique festival is both quirky and chilled out. This year’s ‘Gardeners Guide to the Galaxy’ theme is sure to be filled with hedonistic treats and uninterrupted fun. The line-up is mainly led by dance acts but is usually decent, however, what really attracts the crowds is the epic firework displays, paint fights and naked fields. SGP is also rumoured to have the fittest festival crowd around.

3. Boardmasters

Located on the sunny shores of Newquay, Cornwall, this festival combines music and surfing for a few days of summery fun. Watching the stunning sunsets is a definite highlight along with the energy of the young crowd and holiday ambience.

4. Bestival

The “Disneyland of music festivals”, Rob da Bank’s creation is a feast for the senses. Everything from the journey over to the Isle of Wight, to the wacky themes, makes this one a real adventure. It’s a great way to end the summer and show off your fancy dress creations in a beautiful playground setting.

5. Glastonbury

The big one. You’ll definitely have to go at some point in your life just to experience the absolute freedom that completely contrasts modern, civilised society. The sheer scale is like no other festival you’ll encounter, and Glastonbury has everything from massage tents to Block 9 (the party animal’s dream). This one is truly the mother of all parties.

6. BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend

IT’S GOING TO BE IN EXETER!! Our Exeter tenants have really lucked out this year with their chance to go to this not quite free but super cheap (£8.50) festival. With Coldplay and Ellie Goulding headlining, if you were lucky enough to snap up a ticket, this weekend in Powderham Castle is sure to be a banger.

7. Reading/Leeds

Maybe we’ve grown out of this post-GCSE rite of passage or maybe we still love it. Attracting some huge headline acts as well as some of the hottest new bands around, this rock ‘n’ roll celebration will always be a classic. Who doesn’t love shouting ‘Alan’ into the small hours in the hopes of a return gesture of ‘Steve’?

8. Farr Festival

If boutique festivals are your thing, this edgy gem is definitely a small one but a magical one. It started out as a party between a group of mates with a make-shift stage, six years later it’s certainly not one to be missed.

9. Wildlife

Yep, it’s in an airport and yep, that’s really cool. Set up by Disclosure and Rudimental, they bring all their mates together for this big crazy rave on the South coast.

10. T in the Park

Put together by a brewery back in 1994, this is Scotland’s biggest festival. It has an element of Reading’s gig-in-a-field ambience along with Glasto’s debauchery- this will definitely be a weekend of madness.

If none of these take your fancy, don’t worry. The best thing about the UK festival scene is the variety! Check out The Telegraph’s selection for more inspiration.

Yes! Summer is coming around again…

Exams are nearly over and term is ending, it’s time to start discussions on the group chat about what adventures you want to go on during your ridiculously long summer holiday. Some of the main ideas that get thrown around are inter-railing Europe, backpacking South East Asia or heading to a festival or two. Check out our handy list to see what takes your fancy this year!

Europe

Pros

• You get to see some of the world’s most famous landmarks.
• Trains are super easy, fast and much cheaper than they are here – but you need to make sure you get a pass beforehand.
• Hostels are well developed and a great, cheap form of accommodation.
• You won’t have to worry about Visas.

Cons

• Eating out can be expensive so brush up on your hostel cooking skills.
• Most excursions are also pretty expensive for tourists, so make sure you do your research and try things off the beaten track.
• The weather isn’t guaranteed to be amazing.

South East Asia

Pros

• You’ll experience a real adventure far away from civilisation.
• You can eat out for every meal – it’s so cheap!
• People travelling in the area tend to be carefree and adventurous, although this may be to do with the necessity to improvise!
• Guesthouses are cheap and friendly – but make sure you have a mosquito net!
• Whether it’s wet or dry season the sun will be shining and you’ll get an amazing tan.

Cons

• You will have to pre-arrange Visas for some areas so some planning is required!
• Getting around can be a bit difficult, using buses or hitchhiking is usually your best bet.
• Always check foreign office travel advice before travelling abroad – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel- advice

Festivals

Pros

• You get to see an amazing line up of your favourite bands and musicians.
• The thrill of being in the centre of a crowd dancing as hard as you can to your favourite song.
• FINALLY an occasion to wear that crochet top/bucket hat.
• A lot cheaper than going abroad.
• Why not combine a festival with a Europe trip? – try Meadows in the Mountains in Bulgaria, Sziget in Budapest or Mysteryland in Amsterdam.

Cons

• There is no such thing as personal space!
• The food is annoyingly expensive.
• You somehow need to make a pac-a-mac look cool.
• How do you put up a tent again…?
• Mud.

You could, of course, inter-rail to a European festival and then hop on a plane to South East Asia; now that would be a good summer!

1. The full fridge is beyond amazing

Milk that you don’t have to smell before drinking? Fresh veg? SMOKED SALMON!? Yes, yes, yes please. Gluttony doesn’t even cover it when it comes to your relationship with your home fridge. Although it is a bit jarring you’re not allowed to touch that expensive tuna your mum bought for the cat…

2. Your mum’s cooking is incredible

You didn’t think much of it before you left but in comparison to your 2 pasta dish variations, every meal is like you’re dining in a top restaurant – enjoy it while it lasts.

3. The house is actually warm

No need to wear three jumpers and a woolly hat when you’re sat at your desk working – total bliss.

4. You missed baths way too much

You rarely had a bath when you lived at home but now you’re back it’s a daily necessity. Candles? Check. Relaxing music? Check. Bubbles? Check – you are now a mermaid goddess, and may enter total Zen mode…

5. Your hometown clubs are still rubbish

That place you used to hang out in all the time as soon as you turned 18 still smells funny, has sticky carpets and is still playing music from 5 years ago! But at least you get to have an unofficial reunion with EVERYONE you know.

6. Friends who went to other Uni’s will claim they have more fun

So what if Sheffield has loads of clubs, Exeter has a quay – beat that.

7. Friends who didn’t go to Uni will be bored of your stories

They definitely won’t care about that time Lily didn’t buy loo roll for a week or how many times you’ve talked to your library crush. They’ll just never appreciate the ‘Unay’ lifestyle.

8. Nostalgia will hit you when you least expect it

You’re driving down your familiar hometown roads and your 17 year old self’s jam comes on the radio – of course you’re going to sing all the words as loudly as you can, reminiscing your teenage years.

9. You’ll throw a temper tantrum

Were your parents always this annoying? Have you taken your freedom at Uni for granted? Whatever they reason you will definitely return to your teenage self and throw a massive hissy fit over something totally insignificant, followed by stomping up to your room and slamming the door like you used to.

10. You’ll appreciate your parents more

You’ll realise just how much they love and care about you, which will make eventually going back to Uni even harder. And of course, you’ll promise to call more!