Students take note! Here is how you can save big, have pocket friendly summer holiday trip

The sun is beating down and the summer vacations have officially begun in some parts of the country. This is the best time to make the trip you have been planning. But, if you are a student, you no longer have to pinch pennies, as holiday trips and vacations can fall under the limit of your tight budget. As a student, one can avail several cut down on prices as well as concessions. One can avail the concessions on both train as well as flight tickets. Moreover, tickets at tourist spots and sites are subsidised for students. So, if you are a student, take advantage of this status and save on your summer vacation trips. 

Save at heritage sites and tourist spots:

India has an abundance of heritage sites, many of which recognized by UNESCO. Generally the prices of entry tickets at such places are low as Rs 10 to Rs 50, but can drop to Rs 5 if you are a student.

In case of museums, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, the students can benefit from up to 75 per cent cut on the price of the ticket. For example, most national parks have an entry fee of Rs 100 or above. On the other hand, students need to pay around Rs 20 to Rs 50. 

To benefit from these concessions, make sure you put your school or college identity card in you travel bag. The id should be within reach at the ticket counter to have your ticket at reasonable rates. Absence of proof will not guarantee a discount on your ticket and you will end up paying the general ticket price. 

Concession on Train Journeys:

Train journeys are very symbolic to summer vacation getaways. If you are a student travelling long distances then you should avail the concessions from IRCTC. Please note that the concessions can be availed on over the counter tickets and not on the tickets bought through IRCTC website.

The students who fall in the SC/St category avail 75% concession in second and sleeper class, monthly season ticket and quarterly season ticket whilst students of the general category can avail 50% concession in second and sleeper class, monthly season ticket and quarterly season ticket. 

Girls in the graduation level and boys up to 12th standard can get free second class monthly season tickets. Meanwhile, students enrolled in government schools in rural areas get a 75% concession in second class travel.

Discount on flights:

Despite most domestic flights dropping their air fares to reasonable and affordable rates, you can save more by applying the student concession. Note that the student will be asked to present their identification at the boarding pass counter. If the student fails to present so, he or she will have to pay the remnant fee that was cut off as discount. 

While Indigo and SpiceJet offer a 6 per cent off, with additional baggage allowance of 10 kgs, GoAir has a 5 per cent off on air tickets. 

Meanwhile, Vistara slashes 10 per cent on air tickets booked for student passengers. Air India, compared to other airlines, benefits the student with 50 per cent off of base fare. However, Air India gives this discount only on routes between hometown and place of study.

Budget friendly international trips:

Not many people know but you can save a lot on your international trips if you are a  International Student Identity Card holder. The card is issued by the ISIC Association and benefits students all over the world to get discounts on their travel expenses such as stay, food and travel.

Additionally, the card also avails insurance trips. With the ISIC, the students can have a budget friendly trip overseas, with discounts at various places. Moreover, there are many places where the services get free with this card. 

The student can get a card from the website www.isic.co.in or an issuing office in your city, with charges up to Rs 590 for a year. Visit the website for discounts offered on this card at various countries. 

The students need to note that to avail any of the above mentioned concessions and discounts, they will be required to present their identification card authorized by their school ,college or university. Failing to present so will not make them eligible for the discounts and concessions.