Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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__ Students find deals on spring break trips BY AMBER CORRIN U-WIRE MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The hit-or-miss na ture of the airline industry can make it difficult to predict when and where travelers can find the best deals. But with the help of the Internet and special student fares, finding affordable prices needn’t be an overly complicated process. Regardless of the season, a tittle savvy can go a long way when it comes to getting a break for the break. “It’s important to keep in mind your time frame. Prices for advance purchase, usually a minimum of 21 days or two months in high season, are almost al ways lower. If you give enough time you can find a good price,” said Gary Wong, manager for Travel Network in Morgantown, W.Va. With the com mencement of spring break on the horizon, many students are scram bling for airfare and accommoda tions for their va cations. Though good deals for spring break 2005 are getting increas ingly difficult to come by, being flexible is key to finding a decent price. “Packages from Pittsburgh are pretty much gone, though there are some available if students can travel to other airports like Baltimore or Cleveland for their departure,” Wong said. Though space is available, it does not necessarily guarantee a discount price — at this point students will pay in the area of $300 to $400 to drive to their destination for domestic travel, and around $800 to $900 to travel out of the country, Wong said. Some destinations, such as Europe, require an extra cushion of time for planning, Wong said. Travel in the sum mer months is also the most expensive no matter what the destination is; travelers can lessen the blow by traveling on weekdays. For travelers headed to Europe on a budget, hostels are the best — and sometimes only — way to go. “A lot of people don’t know that student travel exists — that these discounts are out there. We work with the largest airlines in the world — this isn’t any secondary product; it’s the same seat you’d have if you paid full price.” ANAND RAJARATNAM DIRECTOR FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENT UNIVERSE Prices for hostels range from around $10 to $50 a night, depending on the hostel and amenities. Some hostels also allow travelers to do work at the hostel in exchange for their bed and sometimes a meal. Students already looking ahead to summer and beyond can take advantage of a significantly greater pool of options. Online travel companies, such as Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz present travelers with an array of discount fares. In addition, some Web sites have been created to cater to the budgetary needs of financially challenged students. Student Universe, one online outlet for student travel, partners with other online travel companies and offers special discounts for verified students and faculty. Other companies geared for students, like STA Travel, boast amenities such as packages, tours, accommodations and insurance for the budget traveler. Airlines nave ex cess capacity, but they don’t want to sell a $200 ticket to a business traveler; they want to sell it to someone who would otherwise not fly,” said Anand Rajaratnam, director for business develop ment for Student Universe. By negotiating agreements with air lines and other online travel companies, or ganizations like Student Universe offer students dis counted airfares, and also give airlines a way to sell discount tickets without creating waves in the gen eral public, Rajaratnam said. “A lot of people don't know that student travel exists — that these discounts are out there. We work with the largest airlines in the world — this isn’t any secondary product; it’s the same seat yOu’d have if you paid full price,’’ Rajaratnam said. No matter the destination or time frame, com paring prices is the key to successfully navigate the travel industry. “We’ll be the first to admit discounts can be hit-or miss; we just don’t always have something available. It’s like that with any company; comparison shop ping is the most important thing,’’ Rajaratnam said. THP36AMEC0CK Online five days a week. Gravy. www.dailygamecock.com TRAVEL 4 LIKE YO i MEAN I * hmmmmKmiim 1 London.$324 Paris.$439 Madrid.$455 Amsterdam.$425 Prague......$462 Lima, Peru......$643 Mexico City.....$294 Los Angeles.....$226 Subject to change end availability. Taxa* end other tppftettfe fee* ere not Included, Far***#* rouodtrip from Cotymbie, Ufa Go Europe price la per pec*on end baaed on dorma end doub&aftwin occupancy. Ail price* correct et time of printing end tubject to change without notice. Let's Go Europe » See Rome, Florence, Nice, Barcelona sn4 everything in between_ t_ from$360*Air Eurail Passes from $241 l » Huge ditcounte for youth under 26 yo. Hostels & Budget Hotels [ » Cheep tleepe etarting from $12/nt [travel 1 800.554.7547 lwwwslalravel-?°"y | www.miyos.com