Options open in travel planning By Any Allen alle0193@algonquincollege.com
Summer vacation is around the corner, and some students are gearing up to travel abroad. But the recession’s impact on finances could hinder their vacation plans. Second-year travel and tourism students Brenda Noble and Erin Smith said that while many students get help from their parents when funding trips, there are options open to them to make travel even more cost-effective. Noble pointed to last-minute deals available through airlines and travel agents as the best way to save a few bucks when planning a vacation. Companies such as WestJet and Air Travel Direct frequently offer discounts on air fare. “Flexibility is key if you want a deal,” Noble said, adding that students should be specific with what they want when dealing with a travel agent. Noble and Smith also said that backpacking is a great alternative for students who want to travel to Europe over the summer months. Hostels are clean and well-priced and, as a result of their growing popularity, have sprung up in chains. Hostelling International, the most famous of these chains, offers a network of clean, safe hostels across Europe. Students can purchase discounted rail passes to make travel through Europe even cheaper. If students are unsure where to start planning their vacation, the college’s Campus Travel agency is a good place to turn to. Second-year travel and tourism students are there from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day to help students do research, find airlines and connect with other travel agencies that can serve them in a greater capacity. Noble stressed that even though tourist centres in the U.S. and across the world have been shutting down due to financial difficulties, students shouldn’t necessarily worry that their travel plans will be shut down as well. “Even though it’s a recession, if you have the money, you can do anything,” she said.
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