Cheaper European Travel for American Students

Thanks to recent government initiatives, travel and study abroad are more popular now than ever before among American students. According to the Institute of International Education's "Open Doors 2007: Report on International Educational Exchange," western Europe remains at the top of the list for students studying abroad, with 60% of the top 10 destinations lying in western Europe. Out of these countries, the Euro is the official currency for five-sixths of them.

With the Euro at an all-time high against the U.S. Dollar, the financial strain of traveling to Europe is felt more poignantly now than ever before by American students. When traveling internationally, not only must students worry about factors typically affecting trip costs, such as current gas prices and inflation, but they must also factor in changes to the exchange rate, which either stretch or shrink their budgets. Given the current trend, travel to and within Europe will only continue to become more expensive, increasing demand for more cost-effective travel options. This article explores cheaper transportation options for travel to and within Europe in three different categories: via trains, air travel, and ride sharing.

The biggest transportation expense in European travel is the overseas plane ticket. While a number of discount travel agencies, such as Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity are open to the general public, a number of websites dedicated exclusively to student travel exist, offering discounted rates to students. Of these, the two best ones for finding the deepest discounts are Student Universe and STA Travel.

Once you arrive in Europe, your options for getting around are as varied as there are modes of transportation. Of these, the most popular option by far is travel by train. In order to optimize your money, your best bet is to purchase a Eurail ticket (Eurail or Rail Europe) before you leave the U.S., which allows you to choose the countries you wish to travel to and amount of days/months on which you can travel beforehand. You can choose many combinations of countries, as well as single-country passes. But be careful: your pass is not valid on all trains, such as high-speed trains in Italy, and you must pay an extra fee in many places to reserve a spot on the train; many countries also require these reservations. Be sure to read the fine print on your ticket very carefully.

Another good option for traveling once you get to Europe is to travel by air. A number of discount airlines exist, such as RyanAir and EasyJet, often selling seats as cheap as a few Euros per flight. When choosing this option, keep in mind that usually the earlier you purchase your plane tickets, the cheaper they will be. Most of these airlines allow you to purchase your tickets online. Be aware that many of these airlines operate from secondary, not primary airports; be sure you know exactly which airport you are leaving from!

A third option for traveling within Europe is via car. Though it is possible to rent a car in Europe, the price of gas usually makes such an option rather unaffordable. Instead of paying the entire gas bill yourself, many Europeans have opted to instead share the ride, giving birth to many sites dedicated to institutionalized hitchhiking. If traveling to/from Germany, one free option is to go through Mitfahrgelegenheit; note: this website is in German. Other good sites include: http://www.hitchhikers.org/, http://www.autostopp.net, and http://www.ride4cents.org/. Most drivers and riders are perfectly normal and friendly, but as always, take precautions when riding with strangers.

As when planning for any trip, usually the earlier you start planning the details of a trip, the less money it will end up costing you. Keep an eye on the exchange rate before leaving, and check websites often for changes; you might find a lower airfare a week after you first check it, or you could find a new listing for a rideshare that wasn't there the week before. Keep in mind that your options for transportation are as open as you include in your search, and don't forget your options! Enjoy your trip!