Winter holidays are just around the corner and many students soon will travel home to celebrate the holidays with friends and family. For many students, the cost of traveling can burn a hole in their pockets. This season, however, they can learn some ways to save on the high costs of traveling.
For one, the Ride Board in the basement of the University Student Commons helps students looking for a ride or wanting to give a ride. Students can post messages in hopes of finding someone headed for the same destination. Riders pitch in for gas and sleeping expenses to save on the high costs of bus, train or plane tickets.
Kriston Proffitt, a psychology and Spanish major, said she posted on the ride board to catch rides to visit her friends at different colleges in Virginia. She has heard back from students willing to give her a lift but has not taken anyone up on their offer just yet.
“Four people called to give me rides to Tech, JMU and U.Va.,” she said. “I like it because you don’t have to pay for a bus or train ticket, and it’s a lot cheaper to just help pay for gas.”
Another method students use during the holidays comes through special discount credit cards offered to college students. These cards give college students and others an opportunity to save on bus, train and plane tickets.
Adam Nelson, the marketing director for a discount credit card company, said students primarily use the discount card to save on travel costs.
Samantha Baum, a junior fashion merchandising major from Philadelphia, said she has been using a students discount card since her freshman year.
“I use the card because of the train discounts,” Baum said. “It makes it a lot cheaper for me to get home and see my family and friends back in Philadelphia. Traveling can get expensive and this is a great way to save, especially over the holiday season.”
Students can save on other travel expenses just by doing a little research by phone or the Internet. When asked, many travel companies, including airlines, have standard discounts they offer college students. By spending a short time researching, students can compare prices.