Summary
Take Advantage of Your Age and Score Tons of Student Travel Discounts
Individuals aged 12 to 26 are recognized as student travelers by the travel industry, making them eligible for various student travel discounts. Numerous travel providers, including Rail Europe, Greyhound, and YHA, extend student discounts. Hence, if you are planning a trip, there are numerous opportunities to reduce your expenses. Explore which available options best suit your needs.
Student Travel ID and Discount Cards
A variety of student travel ID cards, such as ISIC, are available and can provide discounts on everything from transportation to books and entertainment. Presenting a student travel ID at sightseeing locations worldwide commonly results in a student travel discount, even if such discounts are not prominently displayed. If you’re preparing for travel, acquiring a student ID card is advisable. Even with a nominal fee of around $20, you are likely to recover this expense within a year through savings accrued.
Student Airfares
Discounted airfares for students are typically accessible to individuals under 26 who are currently enrolled in an educational institution. Registration for these rates generally requires using a college email address.
Student airfares can provide substantial savings compared to standard airfare rates; typically, student flights are less expensive than comparable flights on Skyscanner. Furthermore, these fares often exhibit greater flexibility than conventional tickets. Companies such as STA and Student Universe represent examples of agencies specializing in student airfares, and it is beneficial to explore both if travel is on your agenda.
Train Discounts for Students
Providers such as Eurail and Amtrak offer a range of discounts for student travelers. Additionally, Rail Europe simplifies the process of locating and acquiring European train passes at a student rate on Eurail trains. In the United States, Amtrak presents certain promotions for student travelers; however, discounts are often applied on a regional basis rather than uniformly across the nation. National train systems, such as those in the UK, may restrict student travel discounts to residents (consider purchasing a UK Eurail pass as an alternative).
Bus Discounts for Students
Student travelers are eligible for a 20 percent discount on Greyhound with a Student Advantage Card. Hop-on, hop-off bus services, such as Busabout, are designed with student travelers in mind and offer affordable rates to begin with. Other budget bus options, including Chinatown buses or Boltbus, occasionally feature specials within the United States; nevertheless, their base rates are often competitive regardless. It’s advisable to arrange your Boltbus travel as early as possible to secure the best prices, as fares typically rise closer to the departure date.
Accommodation Discounts
Discounts for student accommodations can be challenging to uncover, as hostels generally do not offer reduced rates unless stays exceed a month. Nevertheless, discount cards for hostels are available, and promotions can often be found during off-peak seasons (such as winter in Europe).
Organizations such as YHA and HI provide discount cards for travelers that yield minor savings, while the Nomads Hostels discount card offers $1 off each night spent at their facilities. Although these savings may not be substantial, they can accumulate over a longer travel duration. For further details, consult this compilation of hostel discount cards.
If traditional hostels do not suit your preferences, you might still find value in hostel accommodations. Rates for dormitory beds can be as low as 50 cents per night in certain destinations, like Pakse, Laos, or around $20 per night in cities such as Sydney, Australia. Thus, budget-friendly choices are always available for frugal travelers. If minimizing accommodation expenses is a priority, consider opting for dormitory rooms.
For students seeking low-cost accommodations who prefer not to stay in hostels, various alternatives exist.
First, investigate Couchsurfing, which represents the most economical accommodation option available: it is entirely complimentary. Engaging in couch surfing allows you to spend the night at a local resident’s home, thus saving on accommodation expenses while gaining a genuine experience of the locale. This arrangement is mutually beneficial. Ensure you review your host’s feedback prior to making a request to stay, as safety should always be a priority.
Alternatively, if your budget is constrained yet you still desire a higher level of comfort while traveling, housesitting presents an appealing solution. As indicated by its name, housesitting involves caring for someone’s home (and potentially their pets) while they are away, in exchange for free lodging. Securing housesitting opportunities could be challenging for students, as homeowners often prefer candidates with prior rental or property ownership experience; however, if you can provide excellent references, it is worth pursuing this avenue.
Spring Break Deals
Spring break represents an ideal period for travel for individuals under 25, with numerous companies providing student discounts during this time. Platforms such as Groupon frequently offer excellent spring break deals targeted at students, while STA Travel is a reliable resource for saving money.
If you are unable to locate an appealing package, crafting your own spring break arrangements using discounted airfares and affordable lodging, such as hostels, is an option worth considering.
Understanding the Discount Labels
Before committing to a student discount, it is prudent to take a few moments to conduct thorough research to ascertain the authenticity of such offers.
Some student discount packages may be standard rates marketed as exclusive “student deals.” To determine whether you are genuinely obtaining a bargain, it is wise to compare prices with alternative offerings. If you encounter an appealing student airfare, for instance, visit a travel aggregator, such as Skyscanner, to ascertain whether you actually save money or if it might be more advantageous to book with a budget airline. Ultimately, investing time in research can be more beneficial than assuming automatic savings.
