Study Abroad Europe – Guide to Public Transportation

With the dismal reports out there regarding the rise of the British Pound and the Euro, students from America looking to study abroad might be re-thinking their study abroad plans in Europe this year. Due to the strong pound and Euro it has made the past few years a bit challenging for American students that want to study abroad in Europe and see the beautiful sites the continent has to offer.

With careful planning and research, you could immediately begin getting ready to study abroad in Italy, Spain, France, England. Once you arrive at your host country you will find public transportation is a necessary way to get around. When you are staying on campus at your guest university or a few miles away in an affordable apartment, travelling back and forth as well as getting around town will be easiest and cheapest with public transportation.

While you are staying in your host country, it would be best to know where all the public bus stops and trams are when you need to travel around the town. It would be best to do some prep work before your arrival, such as investing in a map that shows the various stops of public transportations as well as searching the Internet to find out about fares and if they offer daily, weekly, or monthly passes.

Typically, the monthly pass will be the most beneficial and cost saving than paying on a weekly or a daily basis. Check with the website if you can pre pay ahead of time, as that will certainly be one less expense for you to worry about when you are studying abroad in a foreign country. There are many discounts available for study abroad students. If you cannot purchase a ticket online, budget the monthly fee, so you will never be stranded looking for loose change while you are trying to get home some evening.

If you happen to study abroad in Europe the rail service is a popular, easy, and affordable way to travel. The National Rail service provides a pre-paid travel card for travelling by train. Typically, the cost of every pay as you go journey is recorded on the card and is kept on record. When your total on the card reaches a pre-defined amount, a cap is placed and further trips made within the same day are free for the rest of the day to prevent those of being stranded in a foreign town.

One type of card for Paris, France, the ParisVisite, can be bought in one, two, three, or five day increments. The card can be used on suburban trains, trams, buses, and metros in your zoning fare. You can even pre-purchase the ParisVisite card on line so you can take advantage of trains from Zone 5 at the Gaulle Airport as soon as you arrive in Paris, France.

Be practical once you arrive in your host city, as the local prices will be a bit higher. If you have done your research and homework, you will be just fine. Take advantage of any study abroad discounts ahead of time. Always check online before you are in your host country to see if these public transportation cards can be purchased ahead of time. Doing so will certainly help with your budget.