travel resources

Travel Documents

It is important for you to obtain the appropriate travel documents for your time abroad.

-Passport

All students studying abroad will need to carry a valid passport from their country of citizenship. Visit the U.S. passports application/renewal page for more information.

Non-U.S. citizens studying abroad can usually renew their passport within the U.S.  Contact your nearest Embassy or Consulate to determine your specific process and timing for renewal.

-International Student ID Card (ISIC)
An ISIC card can offer student discounts both abroad and locally and only costs $22.

Travel Gear and Packing

Pack using a checklist to make sure that you bring all the necessities for your experience abroad. You will likely purchase additional items and souvenirs while abroad, so leave space in your luggage or bring an extra bag. Also remember that many basic items can be purchased almost anywhere in the world. For some items, such as toiletries, it may make more sense to bring a small amount and purchase more locally as needed.

Eagle Creek provides a thorough packing checklist that may be helpful.

The following sites offer travel products for purchase:
REI.com Travel gear online or at stores in the Bay Area
Amazon.com Competitive prices on several brands of travel products
Magellans.com Wide variety of travel products

Practical Planning

U.S. State Department: Passport information, visa requirements, and government announcements and warnings about your destination

xe.com: A useful tool that allows you to convert U.S. dollars to foreign currency and vice versa

Le Travel Store: Figure out if you need a voltage converter or adapter for the appliances you plan to take abroad

Students Abroad: A website developed by the U.S. State Department for students traveling and studying abroad

Monetos European Guide: A guide for living and traveling in Europe

Travel Agencies

STA Travel (specializes in student travel)
267 University Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301-1714
(650) 322-4790

Online Travel Search Engines

travelocity.com Discounted prices on air, car, and hotels
expedia.com Discounted prices on air, car, and hotels
justfares.com Excellent prices for many regions of the world
studentuniverse.com Discounted airfare just for students
kayak.com A great site that searches multiple airlines consecutively
icelandair.com Consistently good prices for certain European destinations
orbitz.com Discounted prices on air, car, and hotels

Tips for Booking Flights

  • Flight prices are highly contingent on the season—consider going during off-peak season.
  • Flights are usually cheaper during mid-week travel.
  • Airfare Watchdog offers a great Q&A section with tips on finding the cheapest flights through online search engines.
  • If using a travel agency, contact at least three agencies or websites to assure yourself of the best fare.
  • When using a travel agency, ask the agent to check the published fares, the consolidated fares, and the student fares.
  • When buying tickets for extended travel, look into buying an open-ended ticket and thoroughly evaluate the airline's policies regarding changing ticket return dates.
  • When flying into large cities, check flights coming into different airports for cheaper alternatives.

Hostels

Most students who need short-term accommodations or plan to travel outside of their study abroad location will stay in hostels. Hostels are inexpensive, and offer a great opportunity to meet other young travelers. Hostel memberships are available from Hostelling International. You can find and book hostels through these websites:

Hostels.com
Hostelbookers.com
Hostelworld.com

Special Interests and Needs

Mobility International USA: Advice for travelers with disabilities