Online Resources For the Voyager in You
The abundance of travel resources can be bewildering, so we’ve compiled and organized some links for you.
Travel Guides – On & Off the Beaten Track
“Take the road less traveled” might seem like a cliché and a little harder to do these days, since travelers seem to cover every inch of the planet However, there are still hundreds of destinations that aren’t clogged with tourists. Here are some guides that lead you towards less-than-typical destinations.
- Lonely Planet – This series of travel guidebooks explores destinations for the curious and budget-minded. Sign up for their newsletter, check their blogs and magazines, and explore lodging and travel services.
- Let’s Go -- This site is run by “budget-savvy travelers” who enthusiastically provide news, stories, and helpful guides
- Break Away – Offers some more cool ideas for alternative breaks
Travel Deals – Searching for Bargains
Track the latest deals in airfares, travel packages, hotels and lodging, car rentals, rail transportation, and trip planners by using the interactive features hosted by these popular sites. Free member registration is recommended:
- Travelocity & Orbitz – Both offer competitive deals for airfares, lodging, cruises, and ground transportation
- Sidestep – Compares travel prices on multiple sites
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Wing It – Air Travel
It’s a given that air travel can cost a big chunk of change, especially if you don’t book well in advance. Before you reach for your wallet, ask yourself: Does my mom, dad, or big brother participate in a frequent-flyer program? Your family members could be sitting on untapped reserves of frequent flyer miles. Check into this possibility, but remember that some rewards programs have blackout periods for holidays and summertime travel. Even if you can’t use these programs, with advanced planning, you can always find deals to fit your budget.
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Ground Control – U.S. Ground Transportation
Not everyone needs to get someplace fast, and why should you? Instead of flying, consider options for ground transportation.
Car rentals can be the answer to a perfect road trip. Share the costs and driving responsibilities with friends, and you have control over where to stop and when to hit the road again. Be sure to check on age restrictions, credit card requirements, insurance, and other factors.
Bus travel is not only affordable, you get to see the world close up while spending less than half the price of a comparable flight. Book a leisurely bus trip, settle in with your favorite music, video, or book, or chat with people on the way to your destination.
- Greyhound – Reserve one-way or round-trip tickets, find stations, and sign up for Road Rewards with the largest and one of the oldest bus services.
- Peter Pan – This bus line serves passengers in over 100 cities
Train travel in the U.S. is costlier, but the experience on the rails can be just as fascinating as the destinations.
- Amtrak – Rail passes for U.S. travel
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International Travel – Ground Control
The writer, James Baldwin, once wrote: “I met a lot of people in Europe. I even encountered myself.” In Europe, train travel is the preferred method for natives and travelers. Bus travel can also be comfortable, affordable, and accessible.
- Busabout – This outfit puts together packages for bus travel in European and North African countries, with their “hop-on-hop-off” network, a much more intimate way to see these regions.
- Eurail – Provides discounted train passes for non-European visitors, with a flexible variety of options
- Eurotrip – Helps you determine the best kind of rail pass for your travel needs and focuses on traveling on a tight budget. You can also find links for cheap flights and hostels within Europe.
- Rail Europe Youth Discounts – For travelers 26 and younger, cheaper rates and passes for train travel.
- Japan Rail Pass – For foreign visitors, passes within the Japan Railways system.
- VIA Rail Canada – Check destinations, book travel, and obtain discount passes
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Spin Cycle – Ride a Bike
If you think traveling by bus through cities, villages, and gorgeous landscapes is a cool way to see new places, taste new foods, and meet new people, how about an even more adventurous travel option? Biking not only ensures plenty of exercise, it’s thrifty and eco-friendly.
Take a Hike – Outdoor Adventures
Let’s face it. You’re just not that into cruises, hanging out in airports, or taking long rides. Packaged trips to Cancun or Ft. Lauderdale may be a shade too tame or predictable.
If your passion leans towards fabulous vistas, fresh air, the tranquility of Nature as well as her bracing spirit, then camping, backpacking, hiking, kayaking and other outdoor activities are desirable and affordable options. You can savor nights under the stars. And who can argue that few flavors taste better than food cooked over a wood fire? You may already belong to an outdoors club or a related student organization. If so, you may be more than ready to do more long-term ventures.
Most state and national parks charge very reasonable fees for park use. Consider these activities and destinations popular among college students.
- The Appalachian Trail – What a great way to slow down. Beginning in Georgia and ending in Maine, this 2,175-mile scenic trail touches 14 states and is home to over 2,000 “rare, threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant and animal species.” While you can’t do the whole thing in one summer (it would take four or five months of 20-mile-a-day stints), like most hikers, you can do it in sections.
- Catskill Mountain Guide – Provides resources for exploring the beauties of this New York State region and surrounding areas
- Green Monkey Eco Tours – If environmental conservation and biodiversity is your thing, consider educational tours hosted by this organization
- The National Park Service – Check their site for info on facilities, fees, reservation policies, and nearby attractions. Regions within their jurisdiction are also home to historical and cultural sites, educational programs, museums, and interpretive centers. You can find similar online information for state parks.
- The Outdoor Club – A California-based organization for outdoor enthusiasts
- Whitewater Guide to Rafting Trips – Search for regional rafting trips by state or country
To learn more about the glories of the hiking habit, consider these sources as well:
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Lodging – Hotels & Hostels
Next to staying with friends or family, or sleeping under the stars, youth hostels are, hands down, the cheapest places to sack out, and they’re available worldwide. You’ll probably need to book these popular lodgings way in advance, in order to ensure the best deals and most desirable locations as possible.
- Hostels.com – Offers free booking services in many cities worldwide
- HostelBookers.com – Also provides free booking service for student travel and backpackers
- Hostels1.com – Booking youth hostels in North, Central, and South America
- Student Universe – A source for cheap hotels and hostels worldwide
Now it just might be that you’re staying put, but expecting visitors. Or you may be thinking of visiting a friend or relative who’s attending a college elsewhere. You’ll appreciate knowing where to stay near school.
- Hotels Near Campus – Offers discounts on campus and university lodging with online booking services
Passports & Documentation
- Passport Applications – All you need to know from the U.S. Department of State about applying, bringing required documents, replacing a lost or stolen passport, or getting one in a hurry
- Passport Location Finder – Search where to apply in your area
- Student Visas – Information from U.S Immigration Services, for international students studying in the U.S., who wish to go abroad while attending school
Happy, Safe, & Healthy Trails
Alternative Breaks
See CLD’s Alternative Breaks page for ideas about decidedly untraditional options.