Traveling abroad is a beautiful luxury that not everyone is able to afford. We're told that there is nothing better than hopping on a plane, a train, a boat, or in a car and just...going. But how can we do that when traveling is getting significantly more expensive? The idea sounds good, but it's not very realistic when of us are in debt or working our arses off to live a simple life. But what if I told you that you don't have to be rich to travel? What if I told you that all you need is to be strategic? It's okay if you don't believe me -- see it yourself. I am going to share with you all five ways to travel on a limited budget, whether that's abroad or domestically.

1. Staycation

One of the biggest ways to experience travel while saving money is to participate in a staycation. What is a staycation? It's when you stay local while vacationing. This could mean traveling to a metro-city for the weekend or renting an Airbnb for the weekend. These types of trips can encourage you to really get to know where you live. After all, how many of you can say that you have experienced what tourists come to town for? We get a bit lazy and take our cities for granted. Let's change that by treating out hometowns or metro-cities like you would if you were to fly half-way across the world.

This option is particularly convenient for college students. I know that we all want to go far, but realistically, our schedules don't allow for that. Now, you can travel an hour or so away, relax like you're in Bali or ski like you're on the Alps, and make it back to campus in enough time for your 8 am class on Monday.

2. Join a Student Travel Organization

I wish I would have known about this nifty tip when I first studied abroad. Joining student travel sites provides you with discounts and savings that can make an unaffordable trip become...well, affordable! This time around, I am a member of STA Travel, which is awesome for getting huge discounts on adventures, travel methods, lodging, and even little things like food (or big, if you're a foodie like me!) With this, I also got the ISIC (International Student Identity Card) through MYSTA, which also provides discounts. Their new app allows you to browse by location, and you can see all the potential savings. Note that this card is only available for full-time students.

3. Travel Solo

Solo travel is a pretty popular option that young women are taking advantage of nowadays. If you want your adventures to stay budget-friendly, going away by yourself is a great choice. You can focus on what activities you want to do, and not feel FOMO or like you're being judged by your companion for skipping out on other, costly options. When it is just you, you don't have as much pressure to partake in things that might bankrupt you. And if you are still feeling unsure about whether traveling alone is for you (whether it's because of potential dangers or simply because you like having company too much), there are plenty of websites that cater to solo travelers. You can meet up with others whenever you want, but don't have to worry about not being able to do your own thing if you want.

4. I'm Feeling Lucky with Google Flights

Google Flights offers a pretty sweet opportunity for those who want to travel with a budget. I'm not sure how often it is used, but it can definitely allow you to travel cheaply. How sway? You go to their website, set a maximum price that you are willing to pay, and the app will gather all affordable flights for you. You can also filter your flights even more by interests (e.g. shopping, architecture, or nightlife), airlines (because Delta is my go-to), times (red eyes tend to be cheaper), stops (you can save some bucks with layovers), and the flight length. This is a very comprehensive app that works for you and your budget.

P.S. Make sure that when it comes time to select dates, change it from 'specific' to 'flexible'; you will still have the option to choose which month you'd like to travel in, but the less locked down on dates you are, the more likely you can catch a good travel deal! (Google Flights will also let you choose whether you want a weekend trip, weeklong trip, or two-week trip, even with flexible dates!)