You should travel as much as possible while you are still in college and before professional work obligations catch up with you. It’s also important that you do so safely and legitimately by choosing a trustworthy student travel company. Companies pay very little attention to their travelers’ well being.Five things to check before choosing a student travel company.
Unfortunately, there are agencies and companies out there which exist only as fronts or pay very little attention to their travelers’ well being. Avoiding these companies is especially pivotal in 2021, with post-COVID travel restrictions and measures being in place worldwide. Let’s talk about the five things to check before choosing a student travel company for your next trip abroad.
Is the Travel Company a Legitimate Registered Business in your Country?
The first order of business in terms of choosing a good travel agency is to check whether it actually “exists”. Luckily, it’s easy to check how legitimate a business is thanks to internet business directories. If you’re in the US, checking the National Corporation Directory for example will give you a good indication of whether a business is legitimate. This will help you avoid untrustworthy and otherwise fake travel companies, which only want to take people’s money and disappear shortly thereafter.
Related Read: List of The Top 8 Student Travel Tips
How do Their Prices and Insurance Policies Stack Up Against Other Travel Companies?
To find the best student travel company for your needs, you should always look at several and cross-reference them. This is especially important for their pricing, student discounts, and insurance policies. Choose the travel company which offers a good balance of insurance benefits and student discounts without sacrificing the service quality. You can also reach out to them via email, phone, or social media to ask for additional pricing and discount information.
Are there any Legitimate Comments, Testimonials, or Reviews Available Online?
The best way to determine how good a student travel company is is by looking for reviews and testimonials online. What do other students say about the company, its agents, and travel packages? This is similar to organizing your college obligations and essay writing before setting off. Ask yourself, “Can you buy an essay from a reliable platform?” before going on your trip to finish college projects on time while traveling. You can also reach out to said commenters and reviewers to get first-hand impressions and thoughts on the travel company before booking.
How Well-Designed and Up-To-Date is Their Website and Social Media?
You can always judge how professional and trustworthy a travel agency is by checking out its website and social media. Dubious agencies will put very little effort into their web design and digital content, giving you a good indication of whether to trust them. Some of the places you should look for the agency’s online presence at are:
- Google My Business
In addition to their main website, these platforms should also host the agency’s pages, user reviews, addresses, etc. All this info combined will allow you to gauge how real and reliable the student travel company is.
Are their Customer Service and Travel Agents Available 24/7 in Case of Emergency?
Lastly, you should make sure that the student travel company can support you while you’re abroad in case of an emergency. You might need to visit a local doctor or maybe even lose your travel documents abroad. Will the travel agency help you or distance themselves from the issue? You can find these details out by both looking for online reviews and outright asking the travel agency about their policies. This is an extremely important aspect of choosing a travel company to trust with your money and wellbeing
Learning How to Travel Safely as a Student (Conclusion)
While you should enjoy your international travel as much as possible, it’s also essential that you prepare for them as well as you can. Don’t settle for mediocre travel agencies with shady policies and a poor online presence. Always look for second opinions and reviews online before paying for your travel package. Once you’re all set, you can enjoy the actual trip knowing that there’s a dependable travel company backing you.
Bio: Merissa Moore is a specialist in content marketing, editing, and copywriting, as well as social media management. She is profoundly passionate about digital marketing and writing and loves to work on various articles, case studies, and publications as a writer or editor. In her spare time, Merissa tends to travel to new places and write travel journals about her experiences.