Be sure to dust off that teacher ID and pack it in your weekend bag this summer. Whether you are planning a summer vacation, piggy-backing a couple of fun days onto a conference or dreaming of the perfect retirement trip, don’t miss these great ideas for saving money on your next getaway. We have seven travel discounts just for teachers that are sure to make your next trip more affordable.
1. Hotels
In most circumstances public school employees qualify for special government hotel rates. These rates are some of the cheapest available and are often a significant savings off the regular price. Sometimes the rate is restricted to government employees on official business and occasionally it does exclude educators. Be sure to confirm the rate and exclusions with the hotel prior to your stay.
2. Car Rentals
NEA Members can save big on car rentals. We found discounts as much a 25% off as well as unlimited mileage, roadside assistance and more. Featured companies include Alamo, Hertz, Enterprise, National and Dollar Rent-A-Car. Login to you NEA account to see these offers and book your next trip.
3. Teacher Identity Card
Receive discounts for worldwide travel and activities with the International Teacher Identity Card. This includes exclusive educator flight prices with STA Travel. You don’t need to travel internationally to take advantage of all the discounts. There are more than 125,000 travel discounts right here in the United States. Save at Regal Cinemas, Target, Costco, Firestone, Six Flags, Dell and more.
4. Take a Cruise
Cruise companies often offer special discounts to active or retired teachers. Register with Vacations to Go to be notified of discounted sailings on popular cruise lines like Holland America, Norwegian and Windstar. Since cruising includes meals and accommodations, it can be an inexpensive way to travel as long as you don’t add on excursions and other extras.
5. Attractions
Teachers are eligible for a variety of discounted attractions throughout the US. There are so many programs available it’s impossible to list them all. Your best bet is to Google your destination to determine if there are any educator discount programs. You could also call ahead. Some of our favorites include SeaWorld Teacher Study Pass, Kennedy Space Center Educator Study Pass, LEGOland Florida Teacher Pass, and the Art Institute of Chicago Educator Pass. There are literally hundreds of options all over the US.
6. Educators Travel Network
There are two different companies that offer Bed & Breakfast and home exchange services. The first is Educators Bed & Breakfast Travel Network. They boast 7500 destinations worldwide with rates of just $45 per night. The second is Teachers Travel Web. It’s the same concept however Teachers Travel Network has no per night rate. They only charge an annual membership. This is an excellent way to stay inexpensively and learn more about the history or culture of your destination.
7. Educational Tours
While it might not seem like a vacation to take your students with you, this is a way to travel for free. Tour companies like EF Tours offer teachers a free spot on the tour for every six students that enroll. This covers airfare, hotels and most excursions. It could be an excellent way to tour an exotic or dream vacation for free! Other companies like Explorica offer a free training trip prior to taking your students. Learn from experienced guides how to lead student trips and have plenty of time to explore on your own.
Blog taken from our friends at We Are Teachers. Written by Shellie Deringer.
Did we miss anything? What awesome travel discounts for teachers have you discovered? Let us know in the comments below!