| I'm a college student who makes about $10,000 a year, | | | | Thursday) are generally the most inexpensive. |
| if I'm lucky. Most students my age who want to travel | | | | 3. Check out other airports. I departed from LAX when |
| beg there parents to pay for a trip to Cancun, take out | | | | going to Panama - I drove with a friend from Salt Lake |
| huge loans to do a study abroad in a single country, or | | | | City to his house in LA. We split the gas - it cost about |
| simply stay close to home and never see the world. | | | | $30 each. Saving over$ 300 (cost of the plane ticket if |
| Needless to say, when I tell fellow students I have | | | | we had left from Salt Lake City). |
| travelled to over 18 different countries in the last two | | | | 4. Check multiple times daily. Airline ticket prices |
| years without breaking the bank or begging my | | | | constantly fluctuate. Decide the price that you are |
| parents for money, they are shocked. They often ask | | | | willing to pay and do not buy tickets until you see it |
| "how did you do it?" In this article I will share the | | | | drop to that price. This process can take up to weeks, |
| number one secret to inexpensive travel - how to find | | | | but is well worth it. |
| cheap plane tickets. | | | | 5. Buy tickets as far in advance as possible. Airlines |
| Last year a close friend of mine and I decided to travel | | | | have the cheapest prices 22 days before the flight. |
| from Panama City to Torreon, Mexico. We wanted to | | | | They raise prices at 21 days, then again at 14 days, |
| see every country in Central America in six weeks | | | | then again at 7 days. They know that many business |
| and we wanted to do it for as little as possible. The | | | | people have to book tickets just days in advance. This |
| first step in this trip was finding inexpensive airline | | | | is a huge advantage to people who have months or |
| tickets. We were based in Salt Lake City and could | | | | even weeks to plan ahead. The farther in advance |
| not find round trip tickets for under $600 dollars. | | | | you plan, the more time you have to find the price you |
| However, after spending weeks searching we found | | | | want for your ticket. |
| round trip tickets for only $230 - and literally saved | | | | 6. Give up you seat. We have all been at the airport |
| ourselves $470. I used the same process to find round | | | | and heard over the loudspeaker someone say "flight |
| trip tickets to England for under $300, China for under | | | | ____ is overbooked, we are offering an incentive to |
| $350, and countless other states and countries. Here | | | | volunteers willing to give up their seat." If you ever hear |
| are the methods for finding inexpensive tickets: | | | | this, and are able to, give up your seat. You will be able |
| 1. Choose a website (I prefer kayak) and select the | | | | to fly on the next flight and will get usually between |
| dates you would like to leave. Get a general idea on | | | | $100 and $400 towards a flight. A ticket you paid for |
| how much it should cost. A general rule is to find out | | | | can literally be free if you give up you seat. |
| what the average price is and cut it in half - that is | | | | In my experience, the above steps will help you get the |
| how much you should be able to find tickets for. | | | | cheapest ticket possible. If you use the above steps |
| 2. Be flexible with your dates. Most websites allow you | | | | you will finally be able to visit that country or culture |
| to search 3 days before and after the date you want | | | | you have always wanted to. It will help you get out of |
| to leave. Prices often are slashed by as much as | | | | the monotony of daily life and bring a passion and fire |
| $400 depending on the day and time of day you leave | | | | to it. |
| on. Again, as a general rule Weekdays (Monday - | | | | |