Winter is essentially upon us; you’ve probably barely had time to start thinking about Christmas gifts yet, but it may be time to start planning and saving for next summer’s adventure! Beat the winter blues away with these tips and suggestions to get you started in planning…
STA Travel – http://www.statravel.co.uk/
This travel booking company is great for students as they offer a wide variety of deals and destinations, which include campervan hire and bus tickets. They offer a number of tours exclusive to young people, as well as ‘round the world’ tickets and trips that focus in on specific routes and countries. Special flight prices are also offered just for students – allowing you to increase your in-country expenditure! There are almost too many choices, so get started with your research now to ensure you can snap up the best deals.
Trek America – http://www.trekamerica.co.uk/
With over 50 tours to choose from, aimed at young international travellers in groups of no more than 16, this is the best way to get the most out of your time across the pond. Every tour has a local guide who will show you the hidden gems of each location, as well as the must-see attractions. For one price, you get all your transport and accommodation included!
For food (which we know is very important to any student), groups equally combine their funds each day into a ‘kitty’, helping you to save money as you prepare and eat meals together. The toughest part about Trek America is choosing which coast you’re going to tackle first!
Contiki – http://www.contiki.com/
Offering hundreds of tours across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and North America, Contiki is a leading supplier in student travel packages. There are multiple travel routes available for each destination. This way, they cater for high-energy adventurers with action-packed days and wild nights and the more relaxed explorer who is content with late starts, a great beach to relax on and plenty of time to eat and shop!
All the difficult parts (such as finding and booking a decent hostel, arranging transport from place to place, locating an English-friendly restaurant that won’t give you food poisoning…) are taken care of, leaving you to have the best summer ever; worry free! The organization is also largely involved in charity and conservation work, priding themselves on providing you with responsible and enjoyable travel.
Interrail – http://www.interrail.eu/
If you’re confident in your planning abilities, this is the best and only pass you’ll need for an unforgettable summer. You can potentially explore up to 30 countries with the freedom to go wherever, whenever – a bit of a change to university life!
Visit the French Alps, the Italian cathedrals, the German markets and the Norwegian fjords that inspired Frozen! If you want to explore one country in more depth, then they have specific passes available for plenty of internal travel, and the length of the pass’s validity can also be adjusted to suit your needs and budget.
Student Universe – https://www.studentuniverse.co.uk/
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the choice, it might be helpful to use this handy website. Student Universe compares deals and tours across some of the travel companies listed and plenty more. Just remember to take your time, start planning early enough to shop around and make sure you take note of what you’re purchasing, as well as any possible hidden costs.
Good planning will make your trip so much more enjoyable, and also get you excited for the summer ahead whilst motivating you to get on with your work in the mean time!
Edited by Sarah Holmes
Image sources:
http://www.collegetimes.com/college-life/26-top-tips-inter-railing-summe…
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