Student Travel Deals
So you know where you want to go, who you’re going with, and for how long. How are you going to make your travel arrangements? We are going to list the top 5 student travel sites in our opinion and why we feel that they are the best options for you as a student traveler. Please bear in mind that you should always do some legwork because you may be able to find some random deals here and there which can beat the student sites in terms of price, but these are definitely options that you must consider when planning a trip. Also be aware that most sites offer weekly specials so make sure to check those out before you settle on the price that is quoted. Some sites also require some type of proof that you are in fact a student or may require you to sign up for a student card before you can complete your purchase so if you tend to be last-minute, leave time for such issues which may arise. If you do have some more time, you can often reserve a student flight without having to pay for it and this will provide you with some additional time to search for better student deals even if you find a good price on a student flight, hostel, etc. So here we go…
1. STA Travel
This is arguably the most popular company for student travelers to use. They have been in the business for several decades and in addition to a very powerful website, they have over 400 branches around the world. If you are looking to speak to someone face to face or are concerned about what you will do if you have problems while you are out of the country, this is probably the best option for you as they also have a 24-hour call center. Of course you will want to check their prices. Student discounts are offered as is the ISIC card, for a price, which in addition to flight discounts provides other discounts when you are travelling. Flights are available for international travel as well as domestic travel.
2. Student Universe
The site may not be as appealing to the eye as STA’s but can definitely compete with their student travel deals. Like STA, Student Universe offers 24-hour assistance but they are online only so if you are looking to speak to someone in person it is not going to happen. That being said, they do not require a student discount card which will save you some cash but they do verify whether you are a student or not and are then able to provide you with discounted fares as well as deals on hostels, rail passes, etc.
3. iTravelosophy
After logging in and verifying that you are a student in one of several ways, eith with a .edu e-mail address or an ISIC card, you are ready to go. Prices are competitive and the website is fairly easy to navigate. They don’t have the type of reputation as the other student travel sites but they are clearly making an effort to break into the market. Good deals can be found if you spend some time looking around their site.
4. AA.com/college
American Airlines offers a 10% discount on their flights to student travelers. You can often get a good student deal through AA after the discount. It can’t hurt to check out their deals before booking a student flight with one of the other sites and you know what you’re getting as opposed to sometimes finding yourself on a relatively unknown airline.