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There are two basic ways for students to enjoy travel at discounted prices. The first is doing it on your own by taking advantage of the special programs offered to students and traveling where ever you like. The second is taking advantage of educational tours while in high school and college. In either event, almost all of the information in “For Student Travelers” is good for all students to know.
 

Student Identity Cards Educational Travel & Tours - Some General Information Passport and Visa Information Selected Student and Educational Travel Companies Study Abroad Programs

 

BETA - Basic Emergency Travel Assistance for students and educators. A plan that is accessible 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year and easily affordable enough for the student on a budget. Click Here for more information.

Student Identity Cards and More –

International Student Identity Card
What is the International Student Identity Card (ISIC)?
ISIC is the only internationally accepted student ID card and proof of current student status in existence. There is also the International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) and the International Youth Travel Card (IYTC). These cards provide a world of benefits and services to the nearly 5 million people worldwide every year. More than an ID card, they also offer:

Discounts to more than 33,000 locations in 103 countries   Mobile phone and a calling card communications package   Insurance plan  Emergency help line. These benefits are exclusive only to U.S. cardholders.

Student Discount Cards $22 Student Discounts World Wide. Save $100s Teacher Discounts! Save 100's, Spend $22 Teachers save money with ITIC

The International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) is an international non-profit member association established in 1949 and is the governing body of ISIC. In the 1950s, student leaders in a post WWII era had envisioned a concept of a single internationally recognized student identity document to promote international understanding through international travel and educational exchange opportunities.

Introduced in 1968, ISIC was made a reality to facilitate this vision and designed to create opportunities and aid travel for students through access to information, support systems and discounts and benefits. Today, ISIC not only offers these services but a range of innovative uses in different countries such as co-branding, bank and credit card features and other high-tech card capabilities. ISIC’s aim is …“to help facilitate student mobility, educational exchanges and travel, and encourage the dissemination of knowledge of other lands, culture, and systems so as to increase international understanding. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is an entity that promotes international co-operation among its 191 Member States and 6 Associate Members in the fields of education, science, culture and communication. UNESCO shares a close relationship with ISTC, endorses ISIC and recognizes it as a unique document that is the official internationally recognized proof of student status. ISIC, ITIC and IYTC also feature the UNESCO logo. Each country that issues ISIC has its own licensing authority. STA Travel, Inc. is the licensing authority for ISIC in the U.S. since acquiring it from Council Travel in 2002. The STA Travel Group is actively involved with ISIC globally and has licensing authorities for ISIC in other countries such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia.

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The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) offers an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) that enables students 12 and up to take advantage of reduced fares on international fights, receive emergency traveler’s assistance, and purchase travel insurance. In addition members may be eligible for other student discounts in individual countries. You can call 1-800-GET-AN-ID for additional information or write CIEE, 205 E. 42nd St., Dept. ID, New York, NY 10017 (tel. 212/822-2600 or fax 212/822-2699). Your application must include proof of your student status with a litter on school stationary carrying the school seal, the $20 application and registration fee, and one passport-size photo. You will also have to include $1 for postage and handling. Your identity card runs from September of one year to December of the following year. Your card comes with a guide listing student offices throughout the world.

For individuals between 12 and 25 who are not students but want to take advantage of these benefits, CIEE offers the GO25: International youth Travel Card. Fees are the same as for the student card and you must include proof of age. This card is valid for one year from the date of issue and comes with a hand booklet titled, Travel handbook: International Youth Travel Card Discounts.

Both cards carry basic accident and sickness insurance coverage and card holders has access to a hot line for help in medical, legal, and financial emergencies. Check out their web site for additional information. Council Travel - Discounted Travel and Air Fares for Students.

BETA - Basic Emergency Travel Assistance for students and educators. A plan that is accessible 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year and easily affordable enough for the student on a budget. Click Here for more information.

StudentUniverse is the online travel service that enables students to travel for less. By negotiating with the major airlines on their behalf, StudentUniverse provides students with exclusive, significantly discounted airfares. From destination guides to a proprietary booking engine, StudentUniverse is the leading online resource that allows students to research and purchase reduced-cost travel products online. Founded as a student travel agency in 1992, StudentUniverse launched its online presence in January 2000.

STA Travel claims to be the biggest student travel organization in the world. They advertise that there aim is, "...to provide you with all the services you need to make travel affordable, fun and safe...and still leave you enough money to enjoy yourself when you get there!" You may want to check them out.

For Educational Travel – Students...
I have been leading educational travel tours for many years now and know that one of the most invigorating ways to learn about a country and its people is to travel there. Educational travel combines your wanderlust with a nice mix of schooling, both formal and informal, to really increase your ability to understand our world. And, many of the educational travel opportunities are available to those of us (Like me who are over 55.) who are no longer students. Here are some opportunities for students.
 

Learn Spanish, Italian or French in language immersion programs! Global Student Experience offers summer, quarter, semester, and year-long study abroad programs in Europe. Expand your college education by studying in interesting cities such as Barcelona, Paris, Florence, and London. To learn more about our overseas study abroad programming in Spain, France, Itlay, england, Australia and Argentina. Don't miss out on an international learning experience! If you have any questions please contact us today! Global Student Experience, 17752 Skypark Circle, Suite 235, Irvine, CA 92614. 866.756.2443 (Toll Free). www.GSEAbroad.com

 

For information on over 1,800 short-term study abroad opportunities contact the Institute of International Education (IIE) and request the free booklet, Basic Facts on Study Abroad or Academic Year Abroad. They can be contacted at 809 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, 212/883-8200. The also have books on study abroad including the book, Vacation Study Abroad.

The council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) offers the free magazine Student Travels. Call them at 1-800-349-2433 to request a copy.

 

Student Travel Hot Deals! Last Minute Airfare Deals! Select your departure city and click Go! Albuquerque Atlanta Austin Boston Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Dallas Denver Detroit Honolulu Houston Las Vegas Los Angeles Milwaukee Minneapolis Montreal Nashville New Orleans New York Omaha Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Providence Raleigh Salt Lake City San Diego San Francisco Seattle Tampa Toronto Vancouver Washington Powered by

Many schools offer foreign language and social studies majors opportunities to study abroad. If you would be interested in a program of this type, just contact the proper college at your school or university. Additionally you can register for classes on your own. Summer courses are offered at Trinity College in Ireland and at Oxford or Cambridge University in England. Den Internationale Hojskoke (the International People’s College) in Denmark offers an interesting “folk high school” where you can take classes just for the sake of learning with no exams and no certificates. Other interesting foreign places of learning you may want to check into would include the Colegio de Estudios Hispanicos in Salamanca; the Goethe Institute in Berlin, Munich, or Dusseldorf; the Istituto Dante Alighieri in Florence; or the Alliance Francaise or Eurocentere in Paris. All of them offer language courses.

Educational Tours For Everyone...The Smithsonian Institution offers some excellent tours with their Smithsonian Study Tours and Seminars (1100 Jefferson Dr., SW, MRC 702, Washington, DC 20560, 202/357-4700 or (fax) 202/633-9250 that include country tours, river cruises, city tours, ocean cruises, and much more including some seminars at Oxford in England.

Earthwatch (680 Mt. Auburn St., Box 9014, Watertown, MA 02272, 1-800-776-0188) offers interesting tours that include search expeditions and archaeological excavations, biological and ecological research tours, and many more exciting opportunities. You do not need any special skills and you are actually a part of the “team” doing the research.

BETA - Basic Emergency Travel Assistance for students and educators. A plan that is accessible 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year and easily affordable enough for the student on a budget. Click Here for more information.

Selected Student and Educational Travel Companies
The following student and educational tour operators are listed in alpha, not in any order of preference. However, as you read through the descriptions you can probably pick out those I am most impressed with. Jim

 

Explorica, my preferred student travel company, is a company committed to bringing students the world using the latest Internet, digital, and cellular technology to streamline the process, making travel accessible and effortless, and -- more affordable. Not only will you find good, quality tours and some of the best prices around, but a company backed by years of dedicated experience in student travel. And now, with their new and exclusive Value Packages, you will know your entire itinerary - including finalized departure dates, total tour price, hotels, and Tour Director - before you book your tour. Click here for additional information about Explorica.

 

ACIS has been around since 1978 and is one of the leaders in educational travel. ACIS has provided educational tours to Europe and the world and has always been committed to helping students broaden their horizons by exploring new countries and experiencing different cultures. Click here for additional information about ACIS

 

CHA Educational Tours has been around since 1969. It is considered one of the "budget" companies that has allowed nearly one million students and teachers to experience the excitement of foreign travel. Click here for additional information about CHA.

 

EF Educational Tours - Each year, thousands of teachers take their students to destinations around the world with EF Tours. EF offers over 200 itineraries ranging from 3 to 32 days including tours in North America, Europe, the South Pacific, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Click here for additional information about EF.

 

The National Educational Travel Council advertises their company as one which introduces students to the world by, "...engaging them intellectually, physically and emotionally in the learning process." Although I believe that is the goal of all good student travel organizations, they have sorta' capitalized on this concept. Click here for additional information about NETC.

 

Passports provides educational travel tours for high school and college students, their teachers and professors, and adults. Travel trips are scheduled year-round to Europe, Scandinavia, Africa, the Caribbean, Asia and Australia at low, guaranteed prices. The discriminating educational traveler who enjoy special benefits will love traveling with passports.. Click here for additional information about passports.

 

Voyageur Educational Tours specializes in fully-escorted cultural and educational travel programs to Europe and other overseas destinations for American students and adults. Click here for additional information about Voyageur.

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If you travel as much as I do, check out Magellan's Catalog. From adaptor plugs to wrinkle-free clothing, their award-winning catalog has everything for travelers.

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Want to plan your own vacation destination and save money at the same time. Use the search box at your right for some great vacation destinations at great prices. Getting Away and OneTravel.com - Working together to bring you the best in travel!

At Travel Smith you’ll find packing lists for your trip including lists for different types of trips (walking tours, for instance, or adventure tours) as well as lists geared to specialized regions (the tropics, say, or northern Europe

BETA - Basic Emergency Travel Assistance for students and educators. A plan that is accessible 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year and easily affordable enough for the student on a budget. Click Here for more information.