By Prof. Eric Pardue

In the mid-1990s, I was stationed in California and spent weekends in the Bay Area. I then had the privilege of staying at Space-A lodging on San Francisco's Naval Station Treasure Island for just four dollars a night. This small sum rented a dormitory cot and shared restroom. None of this experience was glamorous, but the price could not be beaten. The days of four-dollar lodging are gone in the Bay Area, but there are still ways a person can cut costs in one of America's most expensive cities. In this article, I offer tips to help veterans save money during GGU's Campus Weeks.

General Travel

Consider staying just outside San Francisco proper in cities like Daly City. For those of you with cars, you will find properties with garages and less restrictive street parking than in San Francisco. Savings opportunities exist in nightly rates, taxes, and fees that do not show up until the moment of truth when you book your property. Travel time from the Daly City Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station to GGU is approximately 21 minutes by train.

If flying in from out of town, forgo a rental car in favor of BART and other public transportation. The vehicle may not be that expensive, but parking is costly and complicated in San Francisco, especially when staying in hotels. A cost-conscious student is wise to book lodging close to public transportation or within walking distance of GGU.

Booking lodging early gives students an inventory advantage. Many other students are coming to San Francisco the same week you are. It is wise to book early.

Hotels

Based on your attendance certainty, consider non-refundable hotel rates on the hotel's website or third-party platforms. Contact your preferred hotel directly to ask if they offer discounts or free room upgrades for veterans. Be aware that the price you see on the first click is not the price you pay – there are often resort fees and other taxes to consider. If you find yourself booking last minute, look to websites and apps like Last Minute Hotel.

Alternatives to Hotels

Look for private rooms or apartments on Airbnb and other hosting platforms. Before committing, don't hesitate to message the host first to ask for a discount. Play with the date settings to see if you can land a "weekly discount" already baked into the price. Depending on how the host sets pricing, booking a whole week may be the exact, close to the same, or even cheaper than staying just long enough to cover your campus week. You will not go wrong by using those low-cost or comparatively free days to unwind with Bay Area downtime.

Veterans can chip in to share short-term rental expenses by becoming Campus Week roommates.

If you have a solo plan, consider staying at a hostel instead of a hotel to save money. Hostels typically include private rooms with private facilities and shared lodging with shared facilities. Hostels in San Francisco are excellent for students who want to mingle with other travelers and stay on a budget. The website hostelword.com shows an array of options.

Space-A Lodging

The Marines' Memorial Club is a six-minute drive and a 14-minute walk to and from GGU. Unlike many hotels in San Francisco, parking prices are competitive, and they do not charge a resort or early departure fee. Compare the member and non-member nightly rates. Purchasing a membership will help save money if you stay often.

NOTE: Marine’s Memorial has extended a special discount for GGU student veterans! Book your stay with the code “GGUVET” and show your student ID at check-in to recieve the member rate. This rate may fluctuate throughout the year depending on dates, room type, and how many people are in the room. This offer is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Various military installations within driving distance of GGU offer Space Available lodging. Staying on base is typically a car-dependent option and will add a time commitment to getting to class. Please factor in time, distance, tolls, gas, parking, and your off-campus leisure preferences to see if this is a wise choice.

The Armed Forces Vacation Club (AFVC) offers properties in and near San Francisco on its website. AFVC is a good option for students bringing their families to the Bay Area for Campus Week.

Strategic Spending

Rock your points! Campus Week is an excellent time to cash in your credit card travel points for free nights of lodging and your flight. If you do not have a good points accumulation credit card, consider applying for one to help offset travel costs.

Booking a flight late Monday night through Tuesday, at least 21 days out, often results in a lower price for air tickets.

My favorite websites for flight discounts are both Google Flights and Skyscanner. A clever move is to pit these sites against each other using the equivalent of incognito mode (private browsing.) Also, consider using a Virtual Proxy Network (VPN) to change your IP address to a country outside of the United States – prices are often different when booking from overseas. Be sure to research and leverage all discount membership options from companies like Costco and USAA and compare options.

Do you have any travel tips to share? I'd love to learn from your experience.

Eric Pardue is a professor at the Management Department, School of Undergraduate Studies at Golden Gate University. He is an avid traveler who has been to over 80 countries, a retired Air Force veteran, a GGU Alumnus, and a management consultant. Eric, his wife, and his newborn daughter live in Quito, Ecuador.