Winter Travel Ideas & Tips

When the fall semester is over, you will be able to look forward to the holiday season and a month without classes. Whether you're heading home or vacationing, read our tips for safety and saving money while traveling during the winter.

Trip Ideas

• Join a volunteer program. Often times you can find a trip sponsored by your school or an outside organization. You can travel to an interesting place, and you'll volunteer your time to help people.
• Get involved with a student organization. Many organizations schedule a trip every winter break. Since organizations are able to get group discounts, traveling with a tour group can be less expensive. For instance, the Hoofers at UW-Madison organize a ski trip each break.
• Find student travel discounts. Check out STA Travel which books flights, hotels and tours at discounted rate for students.

General Travel Tips

• Make plans. Book your hostel or hotel room at each destination you're traveling to before you leave for your trip. That way, you can comparison shop for the best deal, and when you arrive, you'll have a place to sleep.
• Make a budget. You can avoid overspending by using a budget. Set aside a certain amount of money for each day of your trip. Make sure you don't charge anything you can't pay off.
• Find low-cost accommodations. Travel to a destination that you can stay with friends or family to avoid pricey lodging costs.
• Notify us of your travel plans. Be sure to fill out a travel notification form in Web Branch before you leave. This will help us determine legitimate credit and debit card transactions.

If you're heading home for the winter, you can save money by ensuring your car is winter travel-ready, or by carpooling or taking a bus home.

• Check out bus and carpool options. Read about the benefits of ride share and regional bus services in our Alternative Transportation Tips article.
• Get your car ready for winter. Check the condition of your tire treads. Winter driving requires good traction in snow and ice. Ensure your wiper blades are in good condition.
• Prepare a roadside emergency kit. Include a flashlight with fresh batteries, a blanket, food bars, water bottles, cell phone, jumper cables, flares, Fix-a-Flat, HELP Sign and a first aid kit.

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* According to Madison Gas & Electric.