Proper planning can provide a vacation at a locale slightly more exotic than the fountains near the Ezekiel Cullen building. | Bethel Glumac
One of the best aspects of summer time is the freedom to travel. With a minimized commitment to school, many students take advantage of summer to go out and see something new. Because of finances, many students that can’t afford extravagant trips and are finding creative ways to still enjoy traveling. One of the most common ways to travel in an economically friendly way is to visit a family member or friend.
“I’m looking forward to spending a week in New York City with my boyfriend,” said finance junior Diane Roark.
Many students also look into doing road trips with a group of friends to save money. Expenses such as gas, food and lodging can be cut dramatically when split between four of more people. One of America’s most popular highways, Route 66, is a road many students embark on to enjoy food, fun and sightseeing of some of America’s most beautiful big cities and small towns. The Grand Canyon, Navajo Indian Reservation and the Twin Arrows are just a few places to see in this historic highway. With a group of friends and a great set of CDs, students are able to enjoy a memorable road trip this summer and have some money left over when you return home.
Some students save money enjoying the treasures of the south.
“I’m going to New Orleans for my birthday,” said liberal studies junior Taylor Brooks. “There are eight of us going. We saved about $900 by booking a mystery hotel, you don’t know what hotel you get until you pay. We ended up getting a 4-star hotel right on Bourbon Street.”
Other students are looking to keep things local.
Biology junior Jorge Galicia is one also one of the students hoping to do the same.
“This summer I will probably be going to Austin using the $8 Megabus,” Galicia said. I save a lot on gas and have more money to spend on partying or getting to know Austin.”
The San Antonio River Walk, the Reunion Tower in Dallas and Six Flags in Arlington are just some of the numerous historical sites, restaurants and amusement parks that students can visit in Texas without breaking the bank.
Of course, you don’t have to go far to find new places to visit and things to do to take a break. Houston is a city full of attractions that never get old.
“I like going to Hermann Park where they have the water fountains, plus being surrounded by trees makes it more enjoyable and less hot,” Galicia said.
For any student that is given the opportunity to have a break, a vacation is great no matter what city it takes place in. Be sure to use all of your resources, get creative, and most importantly, have fun this summer.
