Student travel
If you are the parent of a college student, you'll no doubt be happy to save money any way you can. The costs of tuition and room and board can really add up, and if your child is living far from home, you'll have to contend with spending for travel.
Not many airlines offer special fares for students these days, but AirTran's X-fares program offers standby fares on nonstop flights for those ages 18-22. Fares are $69 one-way on most flights and $99 one-way for long-haul flights to or from West Coast cities.
While these fares are pretty good on many routes when you compare them to advance-purchase rates, they are a great bargain for last-minute travel. The big drawback is that they cannot be reserved in advance, so finding a seat could be difficult, especially during peak seasons. From Miami nonstop flights are available to Atlanta and Baltimore. Go to www.airtranu.com.
Southwest offers youth fares for fliers ages 12-21. You should be able to find advance-purchase fares that are more economical, but if students need to travel at the last minute, or they want a fully refundable fare, these fares will offer a savings. Sample roundtrip fares from Fort Lauderdale in February include $254 to Chicago and $278 to Seattle. Taxes and fees are additional. The fares cannot be purchased online, so contact a travel agent or Southwest at 800-435-9792.
Discounts often exist even when they are not advertised. Many are available with a school ID, but some, such as 15 percent off Amtrak, require a Student Advantage or International Student Identity Card (ISIC). These cards offer discounts on travel, shopping and more. Go to www.isic.org.
The Student Advantage card has savings on travel such as reduced rates on Amtrak, Greyhound, Choice Hotels and more, plus many discounts at retailers such as Toshiba, Target and Drugstore.com. Go to www.studentadvantage.com.
Hostels are often the cheapest lodging option. Hostelling International (www.hihostels.com) has a network of hostels.
Parents can often save money with special parent rates at hotels near campus. Be sure to ask when booking and also check websites or call the town's chamber of commerce or visitors bureau. Special rates may also be available for students and alumni.
Many students don't have credit cards, and they can find it challenging to pay for expenses while they travel. I recommend getting a prepaid debit card like the Visa TravelMoney card instead of carrying a lot of cash. This card allows students to be responsible for budgeting, won't affect credit history and will give you the peace of mind that if your child is traveling and needs gas, to fix a flat, stay at a hotel or book a last-minute airfare, they're covered. When purchasing cards, be sure to shop around for the best deal. Go to www.visa.com/travelmoney.
Remember that these offers can change at any time. If you are offered a special rate, be sure to compare it to other deals.
Simply Flexible Visa Offers New Kind of Reward
TD Banknorth has just launched a credit card that puts customers in control. The new Simply Flexible credit card rewards financial responsibility by allowing card holders to choose their interest rates.
For example, a card holder can select a very low APR if they agree to pay off 10% of their card balance each month. This is great news for over half of the card holders out there, who routinely carry a balance on their credit cards.
Tom Dyck, executive vice president of retail product management for TD Banknorth, was excited about the new product. He says that card holders who choose the Simply Flexible card will reap the rewards of lower interest rates, paying off card balances sooner, and having positive reflections on their credit reports.
In keeping with the competition, the TD Banknorth credit cards also come with 24 hour emergency assistance, auto rental collision insurance, and other security and convenience features.
The Simply Flexible card is available in a personal version, as well as a business Visa.