Anya Kamenetz Generation Debt

It's that time of year when thoughts turn to travel, whether it's a holiday visit home, a spring break trip, a summer abroad, or a mid-twenties yearlong walkabout. Travel is a huge priority for young people, and with good reason -- we need international perspective to compete in today's economy. Last year over 200,000 American college students studied abroad, for example, a figure up 8.5% from the year before.

No matter the duration of your journey or your desired destination, there are ways to do it without breaking the bank. Here are 10 tips.

1.) Watch the exchange rate.
A weak dollar makes Europe, the UK, Japan, and even Canada especially steep for American travelers right now. Better to stick to traditional budget destinations such as Central, Southeast, and South Asia, and Spanish-speaking Latin America, where the currency is tied to the dollar. Consider Africa and Eastern Europe as well. You can still get a beer in Romania or a museum ticket in Senegal for 50¢.

Tim Ferriss, author of "The 4-Hour Work Week", calls this "geographic arbitrage."

"I can take a month in Argentina and experience world-class skiing with all the amenities for pennies on the dollar, while still earning income in the US," he says.

Before you go abroad, check international exchange rates here.

2.) Grab cheap fares.
Most of the mystery has been taken out of finding cheap flights online at sites such as Kayak, Orbitz, STA, and Sidestep.

If you have a far-flung or open-jaw itinerary (e.g. starting in Istanbul, finishing in Paris), it's also worth checking the prices you find online against those by discount ticket agents.

You must book well ahead to get the best deals. Be flexible and open-minded about your destinations as well. Find more tips here.

3.) Don't forget foreign discount carriers.
In the past few years, Southeast Asia, South America, and India, to name a few, have started their own equivalents of JetBlue or other discount carriers. Internal flights are an invaluable way to see more in a limited amount of time. For example, you can currently catch a flight from Mumbai to Goa on SpiceJet, or from Bangkok to Chang Mai on AirAsia, for less than $20 one way.

4.) Pack appropriately.
Packing appropriately prepares you to travel cheaply. For example, packing light makes you flexible and adaptable -- you can walk instead of always taking cabs, and you'll never have to buy an extra seat for your bag, or tip someone to carry it, or pay for more-expensive lodging for fear of theft.

Colleen Kinder, author of "Delaying the Real World" (a book aimed at 20-somethings that will give you all the inspiration you need to go on a life-changing journey), concurs.

"If you have one of those travel towels, you won't think twice about saying yes to a hostel that does not provide them," she says. "And how heavy your backpack is really does determine how many places you're willing to trek to in search of the cheapest option."

Check out this site and find out why taking an average-size bookbag might be best, even on a long backpacking trip. I did it, and it was great!

5.) Consider a cruise.
If you have a big posse and limited time for a trip, a cruise that leaves from an American port can be the way to go. Think $50 a day, all expenses paid. Check out CruiseCheap for last-minute deals.

EasyCruise is aimed at younger travelers and has a unique, á la carte approach to the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

6.) Crash on the couch.
If you have family or friends you can visit elsewhere in the country or overseas, that place should be at the top of your list. Lodging is your biggest expense for most trips, even more so than airfare. Don't have an Uncle Miguel? Try Web sites like Global Freeloaders, Couchsurfing, Hospitality Club, or even Craigslist. Warm Showers is geared specifically toward those on bike trips.

"Those are a really great way not only to stay with somebody and cut down on your expenses but to get the inside track on the best cheap restaurants and free entertainment deals," says Tim Leffel, author of "The World's Cheapest Destinations". Of course, use your common sense when crashing with strangers, and be willing to move to a hostel if things seem unsavory.

7.) Do good.
Lots of young people are interested in volunteering abroad, but the cost and the value of these programs vary. Some volunteer programs can have you paying $2,000 for a two-week trip. Leffel recommends the "reasonably priced" programs at Volunteers for Peace, as well as checking out Transitionsabroad.com, a magazine aimed at expats.

If you're up for an adventure, you can ask around once you get to a destination to find great local projects that need help but don't necessarily have the money to recruit overseas. Leffel says, "If it's something a local person could be hired to do, like construction or farming, that's not necessarily helping so much."

He recommends offering your special skills instead, like teaching English or computer skills, or imparting medical knowledge. Nonprofits worldwide tend to need grant-writing and clerical help from English speakers.

8.) Make it a working vacation.
There are tons of options other than teaching English. In a treehouse in Laos, I met a 24-year-old British guy who was taking a long-awaited trip around the world with his best mate. A graphic designer, he was toting his laptop, stopping off along the way to complete assignments at Internet cafes.

I have one friend who visited Bali as part of a performance troupe. Another friend, an independent musician, toured Eastern Europe playing at festivals and on street corners; another pal makes it to Thailand for a month or two every year, keeping up with his software programming assignments via the Internet.

Are you an aspiring musician, journalist, or photojournalist? Can you get some kind of online work that can be done anywhere, like tutoring with EssayEdge? The possibilities are endless -- just get out there!

9) Get off the beaten path.
Xcalak? Huay Xai? Krabi? Bornholm? Guaranteed, your favorite spots on any trip will be places you never heard of before you left -- the smaller, cheaper, less-traveled spots. Get there faster, and stay away from the pricey tourist traps, by chatting up everyone you meet along the way, whether travelers or locals.

Paid homestays in rural areas are another budget travel option that can be an absolute highlight of your trip. I'll never forget learning to cut rice and attending a wedding in a Cambodian village. Village Homestays lists opportunities in Thailand, Fiji, and South Africa.

10) Go long.
"The longer you travel, the less you spend per week," says Leffel.

If you can afford to take off work, save up, and rent out your apartment, you can spend far less money having the time of your life overseas than on basic expenses back home. The suggested target budget in Leffel's book is $1,000 a month for a couple. Depending on where you live, that can be less than your rent Stateside.

Kinder's book explains how to transition into and out of a long trip in a way that can help, not hurt, your career.