Youth and Budget Travel

Following are information sources and contacts for students and other travelers on a budget:

ISTC (International Student Travel Confederation): Administers international student and youth (under 26) card programs worldwide. For a card, contact STA Travel, telephone (310) 824-1574, Internet https://www.istc.org.

Council Travel: Specializing in students.All locations tel. (800) 226-8624, Internet https://ww.counciltravel.com. In Long Beach, (562) 621-6603, fax (562) 621-6733. At UCLA in Westwood, tel. (310) 208-3551, fax (310) 208-4407. Student tickets. Domestic and Africa, Asia, Canada, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Hawaii, intra-Asia, intra-Europe, Mexico, Russia, South America, South Pacific and around-the-world travel.

STA Travel: All locations tel. (800) 777-0112, Internet https://www.statravel.com. In Hollywood, tel. (323) 934-8722, fax (323) 937-6008. In Los Angeles (near USC), tel. (213) 743-4782, fax (213) 743-4332. In Westwood, tel. (310) 824-1574, fax (310) 824-2928. In Santa Monica, tel. (310) 394-5126, fax (310) 394-4041. U.S. and Africa, Asia, Canada, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, intra-Asia, intra-Europe, Mexico, South America, Australia, South Pacific. Also charters, hotels, tours. Students a specialty.

USTN (University and Student Travel Network): Services similar to those listed above. The network’s Los Angeles campus outlet is the USC Travel Store; tel. (213) 743-4325. At UCLA it’s Bruin Walk Travel; tel. (310) 206-4280.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Hostelling International: Association of 5,000 hostels in 70 countries. Internet https://www.iyhf.org.

HI-American Youth Hostels: HI-AYH, Los Angeles Council, 1434 2nd St., Santa Monica, CA 90401; tel. (310) 393-3413, Internet https://www.hiayh.org. For hostel reservations, tel. (800) 909-4776.

The Internet Guide to Hostelling: Worldwide listing of HI and independent hostels; Internet https://www.hostels.com.

TRANSPORTATION, TOURS

American Adventures/Roadrunner: Adventure camping, hosteling in North and South America. Tel. (310) 324-3447, Internet https://www.americanadventures.com.

Green Tortoise: Adventure trips plus tour and transportation service operating buses between Los Angeles and Seattle. 494 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133; tel. (415) 956-7500, Internet https://www.greentortoise.com.

The Missing Link: Bus tours and service between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Internet https://www.themissinglinktours.com.

Busabout: European hop-on-hop-off, hostel-to-hostel backpacker bus service. Internet https://www.busabout.com. Available from Council Travel and STA Travel (see above).

Contiki Holidays: Tours in 48 countries for travelers 18 to 35. Tel. (800) 266-8454 or (714) 935-0808, Internet https://www.contiki.com.

Rail Europe: Rail services in 35 European countries. Tel. (800) 4-EURAIL, (888) BRITRAIL, (800) EUROSTAR, Internet https://www.raileurope.com/us.

Kiwi Experience and Oz Experience: Backpacker bus services in Australia and New Zealand. Call Council Travel or STA Travel (see above) to book trip. Internet https://www.ozex.com.au.

Stray Travel Network: Backpacker touring, transportation in Britain, Ireland and Europe. Sold by Council Travel (see above). Internet https://www.straytravel.com.

GUIDEBOOKS

Lonely Planet: Extensive information site with free electronic newsletter and a special area to trade information. Internet https://www.lonelyplanet.com.

Let’s Go: Budget travel guidebooks; Internet https://www.letsgo.com. View electronic newsletter, Yellowjacket, online.

Moon Travel Handbooks: Guidebook publisher with excerpts and updates featured on the Internet at https://www.moon.com.

Rough Guides: Information site with free weekly electronic newsletter. Internet https://www.hotwired.com/rough.

Transitions Abroad: Alternative travel, work and student publications. P.O. Box 1300, Amherst, MA 01004-1300; tel. (413) 256-3414, fax (413) 256-0373, Internet https://www.transitionsabroad.com.

HELPFUL INTERNET SITES

Government travel advisories: https://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html.

Travelers’ health information: https://www.cdc.gov.

More than 2,800 cyber cafes in 132 countries: https://www.netcafeguide.com/frames.html.

Air Courier opportunities: https://www.courier.org.

Free e-mail with international access: https://www.hotmail.com.

Backpacker accommodation: https://www.backpackers.com.au; for Europe, https://www.hostelseurope.com.

Sites that offer still more to backpackers: https://www.undergroundtravel.com, https://www.thebackpacker.net, https://www.gapyear.com and https://www.shoestringtravel.com.