Being There - Where to Go, How to Get Around, Where to Stay, What to Do

By Kathleen Crislip, About.com Guide to Student Travel

All about student travel destinations - where to go, with country descriptions and the kind of work abroad or study abroad available by country, and how to get there, where to stay there, like hostels, and what to do there, like the top concerts and music festivals in Europe.

Where to Go - Student Travel Destinations
Where to Stay There
Getting There and Around - Trains
Getting There and Around - Planes (Airfare Deals, Too)
Getting There and Around - Buses
Getting There and Around - Driving

International Maps
Being There - What to Do
Being There - Travel Safety and Emergencies
Being There - Travel Health and Personal Care
Being There - Travel Journaling

Where to Go - Student Travel Destinations

SUnset in Port Campbell on Australia's Great Ocean Road

So, you know you want to go on a backpacking, student travel adventure -- where to? Some countries and continents are perennial student favorites, like Latin America and Europe, and some are must-stops on the backpacker trail, like Southeast Asia. Australia is about to become a truly happening place, since US students can now work down under. Look into a few place ideas, or look more deeply into a few places.

Where to Stay There

Hostels are the tried-and-true places to hang your backpack worldwide (even in the United States), but you've got a few other options, too, like homestays. You can nail down your first week or two of hostel reservations and let the grapevine tell you where to go next, or make some rock solid plans using the reviews and photos you'll find here.

Getting There and Around - Trains

Thalys Train Picture - Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam

Train passes with student discounts exist almost worldwide -- even in the US, student travelers can get a deal on Amtrak. Learn about Eurail passes and more about riding the rails 'round the world.

Getting There and Around - Planes (Airfare Deals, Too)

Cheap airlines are the biggest boon to budget travelers (that's you!) in this century. Of course, you can't quite see the country as you travel high above it, but budget airline travel is cheap, fast and inconvenient (you heard us). Cheap airlines internationally, like Europe's RyanAir and Easyjet, Mexico's Volaris and Asia's Dragon are somewhat akin to airlines like the US's Southwest. Except cheaper.

Getting There and Around - Buses

Most countries' bus companies aren't regulated in such a way that finding universal student discounts is easy. You can get 'em on Greyhound in the US, for instance, but in the rest of the world, you pretty much pick your bus, pay what's often a pittance anyway, and hop on.

Getting There and Around - Driving

Driving is not a big option in many countries -- you may be too youn to rent a car, or too scared (who wouldn't be?) to brave the wild and crazy traffic. In some places, though, like Mexico and the US and maybe even Australia, driving is the way to fly.

International Maps

Maps provide hours of entertainment -- trip planning, of course, plus frantic consultation while in-country. Enjoy this collection.

Being There - What to Do

What you're gonna do there is everything you possibly can, of course. You may want to map out a few don't miss things to do, though -- check it out:

Being There - Travel Safety and Emergencies

Remember that following the same precautions you do in your own hometown usually ensures a trouble-free trip. Get lists of US embassies and other government travel emergency help, too.

Being There - Travel Health and Personal Care

Why do we hate these? Let's count the ways...

Aside from avoiding food featuring live flies, there are a few health matters that should concern you while and before traveling, and some that don't (find out so you don't need to worry).

Being There - Travel Journaling

Travel journals track your action for future reminiscing, of course, but can also connect you with home and curb the blues. Keeping a travel journal sounds like Flintsone-era stuff, but it's not -- and having a travel journal helps when homesickness on the road happens. First, though, you gotta get a journal and, perhaps, some cool journal tools.

Kathleen Crislip
Student Travel Guide

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