Great Ways to Get Cheaper Student Travel Around the UK and Beyond

 

1. Prepare to be amazed at the phenomenally cheap prices offered for coach journeys by Megabus, which offers cheap bus and train travel between UK cities and even over the Channel to various European cities. With fares starting at less than £1.50, Megabus offers significant savings over the cost of rail travel and means you won’t have to nag your parents to drive you to places anymore!

2. If you know well in advance that you’re going to be travelling somewhere on a certain date – to a wedding, for example – you can make substantial savings by booking your train ticket at least 12 weeks in advance. According to thetrainline.com, booking in advance can save you an average of 43%; sometimes much more. If you’re ordering tickets online in advance, you can also save money by electing to pick up the tickets at the station on the day, rather than having them posted to you for an extra fee. Just don’t forget to take the debit or credit card you booked with for proof of purchase (if your parents booked for you, you’ll need to get them to come along to the station with you to collect the tickets from the machine).

3. Organising a last-minute trip to Ireland? Then you can take advantage of the RailSail deal from Irish Ferries, which offers combined train and ferry tickets from just €42 (about £34) per person, each way (also bookable through thetrainline.com). The flat-rate fare depends on how far you are from the port, calculated by which zone you fall into – a bit like the zones on the London Underground. It’s ideal for last-minute trips because the fare doesn’t change, even if you book on the day. Even better, you can take two bags of any weight with you, and you don’t have to take a passport.

4. As with many purchases, it’s a good idea to shop around to get the best deal when it comes to buying flights. The good news is that there are lots of websites designed to help you do just that; SkyScanner, Cheapflights and Flightchecker are just three examples. You’ll need to compare airlines every time you fly, as there’s unfortunately no single airline that guarantees that they’ll always have the cheapest prices for every destination at every time of day, week or year. Also, don’t forget that sometimes, the budget airlines aren’t actually cheaper than an airline such as British Airways, so don’t rule out these supposedly more expensive carriers.

5.Another cheap way to travel is sharing a lift, either with friends or through a website such as Liftshare, National CarShare or Mylifts.com. These websites allows you to share journeys with others, clubbing together either on a regular basis or for a one-off trip, such as to a sporting event or festival. You pay the driver a share of the petrol costs, so you both benefit. You have to be 18 or over to use these services, and Lifeshare has a good list of safety tips to ensure you travel safely. This could be a good option if you need to get to somewhere that isn’t well-served by public transport, or that’s more difficult to access.

6.Finally, if you want to save money on travelling around your own town or city, have you thought about getting around by bike? Many places have dedicated cycle lanes to increase your safety, and as well as saving you a huge amount of money on bus or train fares, you’ll keep fit as well! If you have any other cheap travel tips you think we’ve missed, we’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below and help others save.