Vacationing on a student budget

Is being a broke college student preventing you from traveling?

College students are notorious for having limited disposable income.

And the majority of that money is spent on food.

Lots of college students assume it is way out of budget to have a weekend getaway or summer vacation, but with these money-saving tips, you can make your vacation dreams a reality.

Invite friends to split the cost of a hotel and gas.

Friends also make your trip more enjoyable!

"I will never forget the time my friends and I drove to Dallas with the windows down, music cranked up and sang as loud as possible for the entire two hours," said senior psychology major Julie Hall.

Take a road trip.

It is typically cheaper than flying.

If you choose to fly, avoid any baggage fees by carrying your luggage on board rather than checking it.

JetBlue Airways Corp. and Southwest Airlines Inc. do not have baggage fees for your first checked bag.

Eat the complimentary breakfast at the hotel and pack snacks and picnics for lunch.

Splurge to have dinner at a restaurant where you've never eaten.

While in San Antonio, my friends and I saved money by going to a local grocery store and buying our lunch.

We parked our trucks in a big circle in the parking lot and ate sandwiches, chips and salsa from paper plates on the tailgates.

Avoid paying for a hotel by using couchsurfing.com to stay in a local home for free. Kevin Reader and his wife Amanda, both broke college students, couch surfed for four weeks in Europe on their honeymoon.

"I recommend couch surfing to anyone and everyone. Not only did it save us money, but it also allowed us to get first-hand experience of different cultures. We met the most interesting people who took us into their homes and shared their lives with us. When we returned to the states, we eagerly opened up our couch to couch surfers," Kevin Reader said.

Find free things to do, such as national parks, museums, lakes and beaches.

Ask for directions and walk to your destination to save money on bus, subway or cab fares.

At night, choose the safest transportation.

Ask the local people where to get the best deals.

Tourist areas are often pricey.

Native residents can tell you where to get the same experience for much cheaper.

"I went to Galveston to go deep sea fishing. The well-known boat wanted to charge an outrageous amount. I was told by a local man to visit the other side of the island and I went fishing for half the price," psychology major Dawhn Rhoden said.

Ask for student discounts for everything.

Often hotels, attractions and airlines offer student discounts without advertising for them.

Check www.studentuniverse.com for discounted prices on flights, hotels, trips and attractions.

Pass on the pricey souvenirs and take free brochures and napkins from places you visit.

Along with pictures, these make the best souvenirs.

Relax. Your day doesn't have to be packed with planned activities. Take a nap!

Take these penny-pincher tips and invite your friends on a much-needed weekend getaway to some of Texas's finest destinations, including free live music at the Main Plaza in San Antonio, free stargazing at The University of Texas at Austin, haunted ghost tours in Jefferson or hitting the beach in Galveston.

Don't fret - just start packing!