Let’s face it, as college students we have little to
no time to ourselves. But when you find a weekend you can salvage, why not take
a mini vacation? Take Thanksgiving break for instance, instead of
Black Friday shopping, travel somewhere new!
These estimated prices are for a road trip from New
Jersey to Illinois, so bring three-four friends along and divide up the costs.
The more the merrier!
Food ($80): Cut the cost of food by packing sandwiches,
drinks and snacks. Make a grocery list and divide up the costs. Cold cuts,
loaves of bread, cheese, chips and juice pouches are the way to go!
Car Maintenance ($200-300): Look up how many miles
you’ll be travelling. Estimate the costs of gas round trip, to be safe, add
another $20 per person. Know how to change a tire. Things happen on the road
when you least expect it, because that’s life and sometimes life…well, will
give you a flat tire. Don’t rely on strangers driving by to help you change a
tire! Make sure someone has a car service like AAA, it’s always best to be
prepared!
Personal Costs ($100 per person): Be sure to do your
research. Make sure you know the costs of entrance fees for any tourist
attractions, check if they have student discounts or special offers.
If you travel with four friends, the total cost
minus the hotel is $195, so let’s make that a solid $200 for a trip to Chicago,
not bad, eh?
For lodging purposes you have two options: A hostel
or hotel. Take your pick!
Some people are a little weary about staying in
hostels but think of it as a dorm room. If you are travelling with four people,
you can rent out a group room that houses 4-6 people.
ISHP Chicago: This hostel houses a lot of
international travelers. For $75 a night, you and your friends can rent out a
fourbed room and a shared bathroom. It also includes free wireless internet,
breakfast and group events like Bar Crawl!
If you decide to stay in a hotel, don’t narrow your
search to Chicago hotels. Hotels that are conveniently located have skyrocketed
prices. Since you are on a road trip you have the freedom of driving. Check out
hotels that are 45 minutes away. It may be an extra drive but if you’re cost conscious
it’ll be worth it!
My Chicago Road Trip:
This past June, my two friends and I decided to take
a road trip from New Jersey to Illinois. We thought of the idea on a Monday and
the following Sunday, we hopped into the car and drove west. In total I spent
$300 for three days and two nights.
A snippet from our trip, good music helps during the night drive!
It was about a 13 hour drive including our car breaks. That might seem long, but my motto is, "Surround yourself with good company and you'll have a good time." I went with friends that I have known since kindergarten!
Now, one good thing to take into consideration is
that there are other people travelling with you. So, all of us picked a place
to take pit stops at.
Our first stop was the Football Hall of Fame in
Canton, Ohio.
This is Chris...
Then we jammed out at the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame.
Saw some stellar sights from the Willis Tower.
In Chicago you have to eat deep dish pizza. It was
delicious!
We took a stroll in Millennium Park.
Met legendary, Michael Jordan... Well, his statue,
that is.
Julian is the corner!
And we stayed in a hotel in Indiana!
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