Crash-Course Guide to Student Travel in Europe
Step One: Where to Go?
Two things will likely influence where you go in Europe more than anything else: How much time you have and who you are traveling with. Other considerations, the most important being your budget, will come into play, but the first two are the first things you need to think about.
Deciding exactly how much time you have (two weeks, two months, etc.) will give you a good start on deciding where to go. Obviously, you will need more time to travel from London to Amsterdam than you will need if you just want to visit Rome. Be realistic; you want to enjoy your vacation, not stress out on getting through all the destinations in time.
Who you are traveling with is your next consideration in deciding where to go. If you are going to travel in a group, you will have to weigh your interests in with those of the people you’re accompanying.
Finally, take into account a realistic budget. You will need to be able to pay for several documents, round-trip air travel, food and lodging. These are the essentials; things like tours, shopping, and other entertainment will obviously cost extra. You can save a bit of money if you’re traveling in a group by cashing in on group discounts or by staying in student hostels instead of hotels.
Step Two: Paperwork and Documents
Much of the paperwork and documents you will need can be started many months in advance of your trip. Some travel agents recommend starting the paperwork as soon as you start thinking about overseas travel, so that when it comes down to the time to leave, you don’t have any loose strings needing tied. The following tips and links will get you started on this leg of your journey.
Passport: Everyone knows you need a passport when you go abroad, but how to you get one? Pop in to your local post office, library or courthouse and you will be given a packet with plenty of information to keep you busy. In addition to filling out the application, which is not at all complicated, you will also need to have two pictures taken. Make sure you read about the pictures — and ask the personnel from whom you get the application — to make sure you understand where to get the photographs taken and in what format they should be submitted. Believe me, the government is very picky about this. The U.S. State Department keeps a great deal of information about the stuff you’ll need at www.state.gov/travel.
Visas: Generally, you won’t need a visa to travel in Europe as long as you will be in and out in under three months’ time. However, if you’re going to be traveling in eastern Europe, you just might need one. To be safe, check out www.state.gov/travel to check out the country you plan on visiting.
Driving: Most European countries will let you drive, as long as you currently hold a driver’s license and obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP). You can secure your IDP at your local DMV (where you get your driver’s license) for about $15, according to AAA. In order to rent a car in Europe, you will usually need to be at least 25 and hold your IDP. (Some countries, however, rent to 21-year-old drivers, but the fees can be higher, according to Car Rental Express.) Be forewarned, though, that most vehicles in Europe are manual (stick-shift) and not automatic.
Student ID: The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is the most widely recognized and accepted student identity card. By keeping it with you and ready for presentation, you will secure some serious discounts on travel tickets, hotels, museums and historical sites. The costs for these cards vary by country — usually around $10 to $25, according to ISIC.org — but the cost is offset by the savings you’ll get. You also get medical benefits — up to $2,000 in medical expenses and up to $5,000 in evacuation fees if anything happens during your travel. Learn more about the ISIC at http://www.isecard.com/corporate/affiliate/hostelworld/index.html
Money: If you have a MasterCard or Visa, this is your best and least expensive way to go. Failing that, make sure to exchange your travel cash into Travelers Cheques. You can always go for the exchange rate, but it’s hard to determine where you’ll get the best exchange rates. Go to a local bank and ask for help if you’re really unsure.
Before you leave, make sure to make two copies of all the above information. Leave one copy with someone back home, and place the second copy in a location separate from the originals. There is nothing worse than having something unexpected happen when you’re far from home and being unable to locate your back-up copies of important documents.
Step Three: Find Your Flight
The plane ticket will be the most costly item on your list, so shop around before you buy. Summer travel adds cost, so make sure that you look a few months beforehand to secure early-buyer discounts. Another great option to look for, which will add only a few extra bucks to the ticket cost, is an open-ended ticket. This allows you to fly into one city, and then fly out from another, saving you the hassle of getting back to your original city and allowing you to roam a bit.
A few things to consider in getting the best ticket price? The most important one is the time of year you decide to travel. Summer is the most popular season for travel, so the fares are the highest at this time of year. During the low season, from November 1st to March 31st, you’ll get the lowest rates.
Next, try to leave on a weekday (Monday through Thursday) because the airlines aren’t as full and it will knock a few dollars off for you. Many travel agencies are now open, too, which are dedicated to students and with the purchase of the ISIC, you’ll get some serious discounts through these agencies.
Finally, need I say it? Have fun and take lots of pictures; you’ll treasure them for a lifetime.
