From Hanging Out at ''Hollywood North'' to Snowboarding on the South Island, These Lesser-Known Destinations Make for Memorable Student Travel
WATERTOWN, Mass.--(COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--Apr 23, 2003--Question: What combines backpacking, nude beaches and air travel? Answer: The 2nd Annual StudentUniverse.com Top Ten Alternative Summer Destinations list. From flip flops to ski boots to trail shoes, a variety of gear is necessary for the sun-worshipping student traveler to experience this list of summer travel places, as chosen by StudentUniverse.com, the leading seller of deeply discounted student and faculty air travel on the Internet. This ranking of off-the-beaten-path locations, based on StudentUniverse travel bookings and summer travel forecast, gives student travelers cool information on summer hot spots. The ''Top Ten Alternative Summer Destinations'' information includes attractions and nightlife at each destination, and per diem budget.
StudentUniverse.com Top Ten Alternative Summer Destinations Capri, Italy Suck a lemon. The fruit dominates this Italian island, and even shows up in a popular liqueur called limoncella. The island that brought the world Capri pants, insalata caprese and la dolce vita is a great place to visit while touring the sunny beaches of the Amalfi Coast. Fly into Naples and then cruise the two-lane, mountain-hugging byways of Italy`s seaside towns.
Per diem: $60
Charleston, South Carolina Party like a rebel on the shores near Fort Sumter. During the day, hit the waves at Folly Beach, one of South Carolina`s best surfing spots. At night, head into historic downtown Charleston to dance the ''shag,'' and for all kinds of shopping and restaurants.
Per diem: $50
Cuzco, Peru At 11,000 feet in the Andes, you can`t help but feel lightheaded about Cuzco. This ancient Incan capital is the gateway to Machu Picchu, one of the world`s greatest archeological sites, and home to the Inca Trail. Visitors can learn of Andean folklore and Inca traditions, raft on the Urubamba River, experience delicious traditional meals and view ancient monuments. When the sun passes behind the mountains, dance at one of Cuzco`s 60 discos or barter the night away at the Chinchero market. Per diem: $25
Key West, Florida Grab your cheeseburger in paradise. The southernmost part of Florida, best known for its lime pie and margaritas, has unforgettable sunsets, great beaches and fascinating wildlife. Along with great diving and snorkeling, this laid-back beach town vibe redefines the pace of life.
Per diem: $50
Lisbon, Portugal Lisbon is one of the most affordable and fascinating destinations in Western Europe. With an intriguing seafaring past, fun beach resorts and quaint historic towns nearby, its postcard perfect landscape of olive groves, vineyards and rolling fields makes it hard to find a reason not to visit. At night, visit the Barrio Alto and experience the music at a fado house.
Per diem: $40
Mallorca, Spain Heard about Ibiza, Spain`s big party island? So has everyone else. Be among the first to discover Mallorca, which, like its trendy sister, has the beach parties, nightclubs and shopping. But there`s more to Mallorca, with the beautiful Serra de Tramuntana mountain range for hiking, plus Gothic cathedrals, Stone Age ruins, quaint fishing villages, and endless orange and olive groves to explore. Per diem: $45
Martha`s Vineyard, Massachusetts This island is a summer retreat for both Spike Lee and Bill Clinton, and was the filming location for the fictional town of Amity in ''Jaws.'' The Vineyard is not all glitz and glamour though; it`s both an upscale and downscale beach getaway - nude and clothed - crisscrossed with bike and Vespa paths, one-of-a-kind shops, golf courses and a historic carousel. A chance encounter with a celebrity is likely as the Vineyard`s party scene appeals to all. And the spirit of the original party guy, John Belushi (who is buried on the island), is always nearby.
Per diem: $65
Mt. Hutt, New Zealand Wax `em up and go going skiing or snowboarding this summer. Just outside of Christchurch, Mt. Hutt is a great place to hit the slopes. The season runs from June through October and offers some of the best skiing in the southern hemisphere. Don`t forget to pack sunscreen and long johns!
Per diem: $40
Vancouver, British Columbia ''Hollywood North'' is both cosmopolitan and postcard-pretty. Vancouver features great shopping and nightlife with plenty of places to sail, swim, fish or hike - don`t miss Stanley Park - and you`ve got an all-around terrific city. Some of Vancouver`s neighborhoods might look familiar - the ''X Files'' and ''24'' were shot here. At night, wind down in the local coffeehouses.
Per diem: $40
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin Head to the `Dells for cheesy, all-American fun. Plopped in the middle of farmland is an amazing assortment of amusement park rides, waterslides and weird museums (learn about the circus, UFOs or the glockenspiel). The natural attractions shouldn`t be missed either - there`s great canoeing, climbing and camping in the area. Oh, and don`t forget to try the curds!
Per diem: $45
For additional information about each destination, including airfares, attractions and lodging, students can visit www.StudentUniverse.com. StudentUniverse sample round trip fares* to these alternative summer destinations include:
Atlanta to Madison, $167rt Austin to Boston, $284rt Boston to Naples, $560rt Chicago to Lisbon, $529rt Dallas to Charleston, $219rt Los Angeles to Christchurch, $1006rt Madison to Key West, $259rt Miami to Lima, $409rt New York to Palma de Mallorca, $569rt Philadelphia to Vancouver, $472rt
*Fares are subject to availability and change without notice. All are for midweek summer (May/June 2003) travel and include a $5 service charge. Fares displayed for U.S. domestic travel and travel from the U.S. to destinations within 250 miles of the U.S./Mexico or U.S./Canada border include 7.5 percent U.S. transportation tax. Fares listed do not include a $2.50 September 11th Security Fee per flight segment (maximum charge per trip $5 one way/$10 roundtrip). These as well as any additional taxes, airport facility charges (ranging from $2 to $18) and federal segment fees (up to $3 per segment; a segment is defined as a takeoff and landing) will be shown after flights are selected. Final ticket sale is subject to verification of current student/faculty status.
About StudentUniverse
StudentUniverse (www.StudentUniverse.com) is the leading seller of deeply discounted student and faculty air travel on the Internet. The company has preferred partnerships with Orbitz, Travelocity, Yahoo! Travel, Cheap Tickets, American Airlines, British Airways, Air France, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, KLM, U.S. Airways, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and more than a dozen other global airlines. The company uses proprietary online verification and net-fare search technology to offer special travel discounts to verified students and faculty. StudentUniverse`s unique ability to automatically verify student enrollment status enables its airline partners to distribute excess capacity online - without reducing revenue from core business customers.
|