Oregon daily emerald., April 10, 2000, Page 5A, Image 5

Student travel can be affordable
■ Student discounts and
other secrets can knock off
big bucks from expenses
By Brian Goodell
Oregon Daily Emerald
For students, a trip to Europe
can be an enlightening experi
ence. It can also mean spending
money — lots and lots of money.
Even if the flight over is cheap,
little things add up. A train ride
can cost about $100. A good deal
for a room is $50 and food can run
anywhere from $5 for the cheap
stuff to $40 for the good stuff.
To the uninformed student, a
trip to Europe can mean a trip to
bankruptcy court.
On Thursday, the staff of Eu
gene’s Council Travel gave rough
ly 100 students a quick lesson on
how to make a trip to Europe work
on a thin budget.
“We negotiate fares specifically
for student, teacher and youth
travelers with every major airline
in the world — not just to Europe,
but everywhere,” Nancy Kivlen,
regional director for Council Trav
el, said. “Students can get up to 50
percent off airline tickets if they
book through us. ”
The trick to saving money in
Europe, Kivlen said, is to get an In
ternational Student Identification
Card. Most destinations in Europe
honor student discounts but will
not recognize a University of Ore
gon ID With an ISIC, students can
save on anything from train fares
to theater tickets.
The ISIC also insures youth
travelers for up to $10,000 on
medical expenses and serves as a
phone card with 24-hour access to
English-speaking operators.
“This option is great if you’re in
a country like Czechoslovakia or
Greece where nobody speaks Eng
lish,” Kivlen said. “This card is es
sential for anyone who wants to
travel to Europe on a budget.”
Senior sociology major Katie
Garrett, who attended the semi
nar, said she purchased the card
before going to Europe last sum
mer, and it paid off.
“I was able to save about $300
off the cost of my flight to Ireland,”
Garrett said. “Most of the places I
visited offered a student discount
too. I think I saved a total of about
$500 on my entire vacation. ”
Another trick to saving money,
Kivlen said, is to take advantage of
the Eurail pass. This pass offers
travelers in Europe the option of
spending a bulk rate to have un
limited travel on most of the trains
in Europe. For $388, a student can
have unlimited access between 21
European nations. The pass is also
good for most of the ferry trans
portation from the Baltic coun
tries and the U.K. to the mainland.
Junior journalism major Robert
Mackay, who plans to travel to Eu
rope soon, said he would definite
ly buy a Eurail Pass.
“If I’m going all the way to Eu
rope, I don’t want to see just a few
of the countries,” Mackay said. “It
looks like this is the best and the
cheapest way to see all of Europe. I
think it’s a great deal.”
In addition to the Eurail pass,
students can purchase a Euro
pass. The Euro pass works like the
Eurail pass but only covers three
or four countries for about half the
cost of the Eurail pass.
Kim Henry, manager of the Eu
gene Council Travel offices, said
students can save a lot of money
Travel tips
Make sure you have a signed, valid
passport and/or foreign entry visa
no later than six weeks prior to
your departure.
Make two photocopies of your
passport ID page— one for home
and one to carry with you.
Contact the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention for health
and shots information.
1-888-232-2338 or www.cdc.gpv
Remember, in a foreign country,
you are subject to its laws.
Do not be a target for theft Avoid
conspicuous dothingand expen
sive jewelry, and do not carry ex
cessive amounts of money or un
necessary credit cards.
SOURCE; U.S. State Department
on airfare by traveling before the
peak season, which starts on June
15. If the traveler leaves before
June 15 but does not return until
after peak season begins, the lower
rate still applies.
Kivlen said Europe’s least ex
pensive area to visit is eastern Eu
rope.
“It’s one of the best deals you
can get,” Kivlen said. “Eastern Eu
rope is extremely inexpensive and
really good for budget travel.”
If a trip to Europe still seems out
of reach, Kivlen said students
should consider a work abroad
program.
“We have access to information
on programs where you can work
in Ireland, Germany, Holland; and
you can make a living while see
ing Europe,” Kivlen said. “This is
a great way to see Europe on a
budget.”
15th Anniversary
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Need another reminder?
vfluw* \ ODE online has it all: news,
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Data taken from 1998 uo Health center Survey. Office of Student Life
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