Dear CBU: Letters from England
Entry #4: Travel Tips

Correspondent: Sally Lynch
Senior at CBU
Natural Science Major
English/Psychology Minor
Hometown: Covington, Louisiana
(45 miles north of New Orleans)

Over the past few weeks, I have covered the issues of campus life, new friends, and academics, and now, I would like to discuss something that I think everyone reading these entries is curious about: Traveling while abroad. At Edge Hill, students have many opportunities to see and explore the surrounding country, or countries! No matter what your budget, there is a way to travel throughout the UK and beyond!

I will impress upon everyone again that while academics should be a first priority, students should make travel a close second! Here is England students are able to take advantage of some pretty great discounts on everything from attraction entry fees to hostel rate, even train tickets! Make sure that you carry your Edge Hill ID on you at all times!

Thus far, the one student discount investment that I don't think that I could live without is my Young Person's Rail Card. I know that many of you might be hypnotized by the idea of a EuroRail pass, but trust me, the Young Person's Rail Card is the better investment. A EuroPass might be applicable to more countries, but these passes are only valid for a determined number of days, and they can cost tons of money, up to about $300!

A Young Person's Rail Card is valid anywhere in the UK, and costs only 20 pounds (about $40). The card is active for a whole year, and the best part is that it saves the holder a tone of money! Card-holders receive 1/3 off the ticket price of every single ticket they purchase; this adds up in a hurry! And, since train travel is the most efficient method of getting around England, chances are that you will take several trains during your stay.

Just to give you an idea of how vital a rail card can be to your peace of mind, and your bank account, my card paid for itself in only two trips. I traveled to Scotland early this semester, a trip that would have cost me about $84; with my Young Person's Rail Card, my ticket only cost me $62! Then, when I traveled to Wales, a ticket that would have cost me about $50, I only paid $32 for the roundtrip! Sounds good, huh? And even if you do travel outside of England, and have to pay to travel by train in places like Ireland or Italy, you will have already saved so much money, that you'll be able to afford it!

Another important tip for students is to take advantage of the cheap air travel available in Europe. Airlines such as Ryan Air, Aer Lingus, and Easy Jet make traveling by air almost as cheap and easy as train travel! Remember to book flights at least two weeks in advance, however, in order to take advantage of the best rates.

Make sure that you use your weekends! Sitting around campus is fine, but why do it over and over again when you could take a day trip to Liverpool, Chester, Windemere, Lancaster, or Manchester? All of these destinations can be reached by train from Ormskirk within three hours!

For longer trips (2 or 3 days), I personally recommend North Wales, Edinburgh, Dublin, and London While I have not made it to London yet, the regions of Wales and Scotland are really incredible- especially for anyone who is an outdoor enthusiast. Dublin is a great city, but I would recommend that time be made for the surrounding countryside. Too much city is not good for anyone! Killarney is another wonderful city in Ireland, south of Dublin by about four hours, and the area surrounding the city center makes up Killarney National Park where you can find plenty of hiking trails and wonderful views.

So, for any travel enthusiast who wants to get an early start on things, here are a few websites that you might want to investigate:

For train schedules and information (in the UK):
www.thetrainline.com
For train schedules and information (in Ireland):
www.irishrail.com

For cheap flights (there are plenty of options, so research the flights and the transportation to and from the airports before purchasing tickets):
www.aerlingus.com
www.easyjet.com
www.ryanair.com

But, don't overlook your new home! Be sure that you allow yourself time to become familiar with Edge Hill and Ormskirk, and by all means, take time to get to know your fellow students- American and English alike! I think that everyone will be pleasantly surprised by the activity and on-campus fun that this Lancashire community has to offer!

Check out some pictures with this entry!

Read Sally's Entries!
Entry #1: Hello to all my fellow Buccaneers back at CBU!
Entry #2: Subtle Differences
Entry #3: The A's, B's, and C's of Studying Abroad
Entry #4: Travel Tips
Entry #5: Q and A Session
Entry #6: The Countdown Begins!
Entry #7: Saying Goodbye
Entry #8: Re-Entry: the Ups and Downs

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