Travel Essentials
Travel Essentials |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1. Travel Arrangements |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GENERAL FLIGHT ARRANGEMENTS: Some program sponsors include group flights to and from the program, usually offered at an additional cost. Others require you to make your own arrangements. If you do need to arrange your own transportation, be sure to do so well in advance of leaving, especially if you plan to travel during the summer or any other period when air travel is heavy. Make sure you know what arrangements have been made for the arrival of students and the requested arrival date, including availability of housing, before you make your final reservations. Often a designated meeting place and time are established so that program staff can greet students upon their arrival. Many countries list a round-trip ticket as one of their entry requirements. Before purchasing a ticket, also consider whether you wish to travel after the program ends. Shop carefully to find a flight that best suits your needs. Consider the following travel sites:
STA Travel and others companies may want you to show an International Student Identification Card (ISIC) for a discount. Plan to arrive on the first day of your program for AHA and Butler and on the appropriate day for other programs as required. Consider also the airport taxes costs out of US airports. For example, airport taxes from Newark are higher than those from JFK and Philadelphia.
STUDENT DISCOUNT TRAVEL: There are a number of discounts available for student travel. You can obtain discounts on international flights, rail passes and lodging. The following are agencies that you can explore:
Note: Rider University Students are eligible for an additional discount if they book their travel through the Student Universe Rider portal at: www.studentuniverse.com/travel/rider
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2. Travel Guides and Other Information |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
You can ensure your success abroad by knowing something about the country and being able to express yourself--even if only with a few words--in the language(s) spoken there. Here is a short list of travel guides, historical and cultural books, works of literature, films, news sources and websites.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3. Study Abroad Connections (Alumni & Other Students Abroad) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Be sure to ask for tips from Rider study abroad alumni who studied in your country of destination. Make use of the destination list of all study abroad participants. You may be able to visit them in their host country (and vice versa) while you are abroad. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4. Hostels |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
When traveling on weekends, during school breaks or at the end of your study abroad experience, you should consider staying in a youth hostel. Hostels are much cheaper than hotels and can range from dormitory-style room to private rooms. They may have restrictions like curfews, require you to bring your own bedding or limit your stay to a certain number of nights. In order to stay in hostels, you may be required to have an International Youth Hostel Pass, which you should obtain before your departure. Visit Hostels:www.hostels.com and Rick Steve's Travel: www.ricksteves.comMany countries have student hostels, restricted to use by university students. These usually offer more conveniences than youth hostels, like food service, and are great for meeting other international students. You may need a valid International Student Identity Card to prove your student status. Some independent hostels exist, open to students as well as to other travelers. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5. Transportation While Abroad |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Rail Travel: In many countries, rail travel is the most widely used mode of transportation. Buying a rail pass in the United States prior to departure can greatly reduce your costs. These passes usually offer unlimited travel for a specific period of time. There are special rail passes for students. Investigate the following sites: Eurail passes: www.eurail.com Britrail Passes: www.britrail.com RailEurope: www.RailEurope.com Deutsche Bahn: www.deutschebahn.com
The Association for Safe International Road Travel Email: asisrt@erols.com Make sure that you also check to see if your U.S. automobile insurance covers you and rental cars overseas. The CIE does not recommend car rental. Unlike the United States, most cities and ever towns in your countries of destination have very good and inexpensive metro, bus and taxi transportation (some nations require you to wait in a queue for taxis). They also tend to be safe, although in some countries pick pocketing is a problem (See section of this Handbook on safety and security.). Learning the bus and metro systems will give you freedom and the opportunity to fully explore your environment and any other cities you visit. Official taxis are a good form of transportation late at night, and, if you are in a group, they are very affordable. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||