IN ASSOCIATION WITH Student Guide | TRAVEL
TRAVEL
BREAK TIME
With terms so short and sweet, a holiday is never far away. Maud Sampson shares some top tips for maximising your time off
TRAVEL Bus, train, plane: whichever mode of transport you choose to reach your destination, make sure you get the best cut-price deals by checking Skyscanner, STA Travel and StudentUniverse before you leave. If you go by four wheels, Megabus operates in the UK, Europe and North America and offers great value (but often slow) city link services. Or buy an InterRail pass to travel around Europe by train at a cut price. But beware: it doesn’t cover journeys in your country of residence so make sure to factor this in. Rather avoid public transport? Register with car-sharing community BlaBlacar for a legitimised hitchhiking experience. With over 1 million registered users in the UK and Europe, the network connects people to empty seats in vehicles travelling in the same direction, ensuring costs are shared and new acquaintances made. Or for an unconventional way to travel that has an added money-making bonus, become a crew member on a cruise liner and sail around the world: workoncruiseships.com has more details.
ACCOMMODATION Try renting through Airbnb, which allows you to take a house, room or apartment, often for considerably less per head than staying in a hotel. For those with tighter purse strings, try couchsuri ng.org: there, you’ll i nd free accommodation in someone’s house and a high possibility of meeting some fun and like-minded hosts. Hostels are guaranteed fun, but you may need to bring your own bedding or pay to rent a towel. CHARITY If you’re considering volunteering for a charity during your time off, then do some research. Beware of organisations that ask for a huge lump sum before you’ve even started, always ask for a breakdown of where your money is going and remember that the needs of the project you are involved in come i rst: you can’t sleep in or take an unscheduled day off because you’re not being paid. Try Raleigh International or National Trust conservation work in the UK.
WORK Don’t have time or the means to save up for a trip? Then pay as you go by combining work and travel. For the eco-conscious among you, WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) is a non-monetary exchange network connecting volunteers and host farmers across the world. The concept is simple: in return for a few hours work every day, WWOOFers are provided with food and accommodation, and the added bonus of total immersion in a local culture. For a more structured work / holiday experience, try Camp America where you work for two months at a summer camp in the US as a paid mentor or camp assistant, with time for travel after.
PLUS Not all your fun is to be had abroad. If you don’t i nd the time to globetrot, volunteer at a UK festival (try Wickerman or HowTheLightGetsIn) and enjoy the event when not on duty. See festaff.co.uk/jobs-at-festivals for further information.
18 Sep–16 Oct 2014 THE LIST 135