Being a student doesn’t mean you have to choose between school and travel. It’s possible to see and do it all without breaking the bank. Fair warning, though — there are no vaccinations available for the travel bug.

It’s October, which means final exam schedules are out and it is time to start thinking about your winter getaway to maximize your savings on fares. Just because you don’t have months on end to spend in your dream locations doesn’t mean you can’t have a meaningful experience. In the summer of 2014, I had only two weeks free and I spent them in Costa Rica. Although two weeks may not seem like a lot, it is possible to do Costa Rica justice on a time and money budget.

Before booking, spend lots of time on sites like Expedia.com, FlightHub.com and RedTag.com in order to get an idea of what is considered a good or bad deal for fares. Now’s the time to start for a Christmas getaway, because airlines hike prices up as the holidays approach to take advantage of the high demand for travel. Be sure to keep track of the prices each time you check, and you’ll soon recognize a steal when you see one.

My round-trip flight to San José, Costa Rica cost $750. If that seems steep, don’t worry — the flight will undoubtedly be the largest lump sum you spend for this trip. An added benefit to booking early is that even if you don’t get the best deal on airfare, you have time to plan your trip thoroughly and organize other ways to save money.

Hostels are often perceived as unsanitary or unsafe, but use the real-life reviews and ratings provided on TripAdvisor.com to avoid any unpleasant experiences. I chose the highest rated hostels in each location which still only averaged about $15 a night.

Transportation in Costa Rica is also much less complicated than I had originally anticipated. A public bus ride from San José to Monteverde was only $6. More expensive options include boats, privately driven vans or a combination of both. At every place I visited, the hostel workers were extremely helpful in planning my method of transportation to the next location on my list.

Another great thing is that in Costa Rica, meals and food are very inexpensive, portions are generous and it’s all delicious! Some hostels include a fresh fruit breakfast with your stay. Make sure to try out a Costa Rican classic — the “casado.” The casado consists of a meat of your choice, such as fish, chicken or beef, salad, fried plantains, and rice and beans, all for about $7 at most of the places I visited. I essentially lived off this item for my last week of traveling since it was so tasty, kept me full and made my wallet happy.

There are innumerable excursions to partake in and endless rainforests to explore in Costa Rica. If you’re looking for an adventure, you can go zip-lining in the Cloud Forest — one of the longest zip-lines in Latin America — or hike up the dormant Cerro Chato volcano to swim in the lagoon formed in the crater. For something more relaxing, visit an animal sanctuary and learn about local wildlife.

For the most part, the excursions are relatively inexpensive, ranging anywhere from $15 to $90, but if you are really looking to go off the beaten path, don’t be afraid to ask the locals! Obviously, they know where all the best — and free! — spots are, such as the Chullin hot springs in Arenal, the famous ficus tree in Monteverde and the soft Costa Rican beaches. By getting travel advice from the locals, you get the inside scoop on how to make the most out of your time and your money during your stay.

Travel is an extremely fulfilling way of experiencing different cultures and trying new things, and there’s no reason a student can’t make it work on a budget. Costa Rica is the perfect place to get a little lost between academic terms — and who doesn’t want to escape winter for a few weeks?

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Lyndall Mack

Photos: Jeremy Britz / Graphics Editor