4 Ways I Plan To Keep Traveling as a Full-Time Graduate Student

During my time as an undergraduate student at Howard University in Washington, D.C., I took advantage of every break, holiday, and summer vacation. That experience was transformative — I didn’t even hold a passport when I entered university in 2011. I visited places I’d only ever seen on TV or heard about, like Berlin, Accra, and Abu Dhabi. The seed was planted, and I remember telling myself that as long as I could travel, I would.

When I began working full-time, I maxed out my allotted vacation to fit in as many trips as possible. Last-minute weekend trips? I was down for it. 2-week jaunts throughout Southeast Asia? I had already requested the time off.

However, I’m returning to school full-time this fall for a master’s degree, and I still plan to travel just as much as I did before school. Only this time, I have a strategy to maximize my little free time.

1. Plan Staycations

The first semester in school is always the most hectic. You’re acclimating to a new environment, catching up on coursework and reading, and getting involved with organizations and clubs. This is especially true if you’re returning to school after a long absence, like me. 

As I enter grad school this fall, I plan to stay close to New York for the first few months. Fortunately, I love living in the Big Apple and booking staycations with my points and miles.

I’ll be looking for hotels that serve 2 purposes: relaxation and ample space to work and read. For instance, hotels that offer dedicated coworking spaces, be it a lounge or an in-house coffee shop, catch my eye. I’m no stranger to New York staycations. In fact, despite how busy the city can be, New York offers some of the best hotels for a restful weekend — or even a weeknight. 

Newer hotels, like the Moxy Williamsburg in Brooklyn, are perfect for work and play. It’s relatively affordable as standard rooms starting at 42,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night this fall. That said, Marriott Bonvoy doesn’t publish an award chart, so rates can be higher or lower depending on seasonality and demand.

Moxy rooms are infamous for being tiny, and the Moxy Williamsburg is no exception. However, the hotel has more than 13,000 square feet of meeting and event spaces, from its 3 bars and restaurants to its coworking spaces, making this hotel an excellent choice if I want to study during the day and rest (or explore) at night.

Other Marriott Bonvoy hotels in the city, such as the New York EDITION and 11 Howard, offer comfortable rooms and dedicated workspaces. 

Programs like World of Hyatt also offer affordable points stays in the city. That’s because Hyatt is 1 of the few hotel chains still using an award chart. While many Hyatt hotels in New York fall on the higher end, some Category 5 (and even Category 4) hotels offer a good mix of comfort and functionality. 

I plan to stay at the Hyatt Place Long Island City / New York City and Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson, both offering communal spaces such as rooftops and larger-than-average guest rooms. Both hotels are Category 4 properties, so I can apply a Category 1-4 Free Night Certificate to each reservation. 

A few years ago, I enjoyed a stay at Hotel 50 Bowery and took advantage of the Living Room coworking space (which you get access to, thanks to a $30 destination fee). At night, The Crown rooftop bar transforms into one of the hottest destinations in New York’s Lower East Side. As a Category 5 hotel, the Hotel 50 Bowery isn’t eligible for a Category 1-4 certificate. However, with reasonable award rates starting at 17,000 per night, it’s still a pretty good deal for a weekend study/relaxation session.

2. Take Trains and Buses

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of ground transit, whether a bus, a jitney, or Amtrak.

I’ve raved about my Amtrak Guest Rewards^® Preferred Mastercard^® for its many benefits, so much so that it’s my primary credit card for most purchases. The card offers benefits such as a complimentary single-visit Amtrak station lounge pass, a 5% points rebate on Amtrak award travel, and a 1-class upgrade. These perks can significantly enhance your travel experience and save you money, especially if you’re a frequent traveler.

But Amtrak’s route network is also unparalleled, especially on the Northeast Corridor. From New York, I can visit cities such as Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Boston in 1 day — and be back home in time for dinner. While cash tickets — especially those close to departure — can be expensive, this is when I’ll opt to redeem Amtrak Guest Rewards points.

While we don’t have a valuation for Amtrak points, they can be worth up to 3 cents per point. These points are extremely valuable, particularly along the Northeast Corridor. This is especially true for last-minute trips, where cash prices can cost hundreds of dollars — even in coach! But you’ll typically find reasonable award pricing on Amtrak tickets, even at the last minute. For instance, I’ve found one-way tickets between New York and Washington for just 2,800 points. 

Grad school often involves late nights and early mornings, much like how travel can be. But did you know you can save money on late-night and early-morning Amtrak travel? 

If you aren’t familiar with Amtrak’s Night Owl, it’s a unique program that rewards travelers who take Amtrak trips at off-peak hours with incredibly low fares. Night Owl fares are available on Northeast Corridor trains between Boston and Washington, D.C. Union Station and for departures between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. Night Owl fares can be as low as $5 — or 700 points — each way, making it an excellent option for budget-conscious travelers or those looking to maximize their points. 

If you’re looking to take a break from the monotony of school and you’re located on the East Coast, consider booking a Night Owl fare to save cash (or points). Here are some prices we’ve spotted in the past:

• Boston to Providence: $5
• Philadelphia to Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI): $10
• Philadelphia to New York: $10
• New York to Washington: $20

Finally, buses like Greyhound and BestBus, Long Island Rail Road, and Metro-North trains are also great options for traveling short distances from my home in New York. Not only are they frequent, but they’re pretty affordable — and I can use a travel credit card to earn bonus points.

3. Book Short-Haul Domestic and International Travel

While I plan to stick close to home during my first semester of grad school, there may be times that I want to fly to a new city for a quick getaway. 

I likely won’t go too far, but that’s fine because 1 of my favorite airline programs, British Airways, offers fantastic award prices on short-haul domestic flights. That’s because its distance-based award chart makes booking American Airlines partner awards easy (and cheap). (You can also book short-haul British Airways awards.)

This is especially true for short-haul flights on the East Coast, particularly New York, where I’m located. Short-haul, nonstop flights (under 1,150 miles) cost 16,000 British Airways Avios, which are easy to earn from instant transfers from many credit card rewards programs. To put that into perspective, flights from New York (JFK) to Chicago (ORD), Boston (BOS) to Washington (DCA), and Miami (MIA) to Dallas (DFW) all fall under the 1,150 mile-band! 

Another option is Delta SkyMiles. The program often gets a bad rap — sometimes deservedly — but can offer incredible value on short-haul SkyMiles tickets. Like many airlines, Delta doesn’t utilize an award chart but adopts dynamic pricing. While award prices can be sky-high on some routes, other routes are dirt cheap.

For instance, a one-way flight from Atlanta (ATL) to Nassau (NAS) can cost just 14,000 SkyMiles. 

You can even find deals on medium-haul routes, like Los Angeles (LAX) to Honolulu (HNL). In this case, a one-way ticket will cost you just 12,000 SkyMiles. It’s even cheaper if you have a Delta SkyMiles credit card.

Note that the cheapest tickets are often in basic economy (which is the most restrictive), but the restrictions may very well be worth it for a short trip. Keep an eye out on the SkyMiles Deals page — sometimes, there are some dirt-cheap international award sales!

4. Take Advantage of Student Airline Deals

Every student’s favorite word is “discount.” And now that you’re a student, you can take advantage of some incredible discounts on travel, which I plan to do when school begins. While most student-specific discounts don’t offer massive savings, they can at least shave off some of the cost of an otherwise expensive ticket.

Here are some travel companies that offer discounts for students and young adults:

• Air France: Special rates for students, up to 2 free checked bags, and changeable tickets
• Amtrak: 15% off travel for students between the ages of 17 and 24 with the promo code V814
• ANA: 10% off fares to the U.S. and Canada
• Cathay Pacific: Extra baggage allowance and free changes when traveling from Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco or Chicago using the code USSTUDENT
• Emirates: Up to 10% in Economy Class and 5% in Business Class
• Etihad: Up to 10% off flights with Etihad Airways
• Iberia: 10% off for travelers 30 and under (15% off for bookings of 4 or more)
• Qatar: 10% off when you join, 15% off after your first trip, and 20% off after your second and third trips
• Singapore Airlines: 10% savings with exclusive student fares on all Economy class and some Premium Economy fares
• United Airlines: 5% discount on United economy and basic economy for members between 18 and 23 (ends December 31, 2025)

Some individual hotels or brands, like the Wyndham Dolce and Geneva Marriott Hotel, offer education discounts. If you find a student or education discount, be sure to call or email the hotel ahead of time to ensure the rate is still available.

Note that some companies may require proof of enrollment. However, you’ll typically need to show something like a tuition bill or student ID card.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a parent with young kids or an undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate student, school doesn’t have to mean the end of your travels. With some creativity, flexibility, and, of course, points and miles, you can travel even if you’re a full-time student.