Being a student in the UK can be more difficult than people realise. After all, with mounting student debt, all those essays and exams, and the issue of finding a graduate job afterwards, your life can get somewhat emotionally and financially stressful. However, one of the main luxuries afforded to students – a luxury that is rarely available again in life until retirement – is the benefit of long holidays. If you’re a student, it’s important to take advantage of your holidays and take the opportunity to travel while you can.

It’s all too easy to spend those long summer holidays at home, working during the day and catching up with old friends and family at night. However, if you spend the first half of your holiday working solidly and saving up your hard-earned cash, the best reward possible will be to spend the second half of your vacation travelling abroad – and the number of opportunities available to you are endless. For instance, you could take a six week backpacking holiday in India, China or South East Asia to discover some of the world’s most exotic and historic locations.

Alternatively, take some time out to travel around the United States. While taking a holiday in the USA is guaranteed to strain your finances more than a holiday in a developing country might, there are various ways you can save money. For example, if you choose to travel by coach during your American summer vacation, you could save a lot of money and limit your carbon footprints by not taking a flight. A coach journey from New York to Chicago might seem like a long and daunting prospect, but you’ll also be able to see much more of the country than you’d otherwise be able to.

Even if you feel you can’t afford to take such long haul trips, rest assured you’ll still be able to travel. Flights and trains to Europe can be expensive, if you don’t book early enough, but many coach providers provide services to the continent for much cheaper fares. This way, you’ll be able to get to Paris, Berlin or any other top destination in Europe conveniently and easily, while giving yourself the luxury of being able to survey the European countryside while you travel.

Or why not take the coach to one of many top destinations in the UK for a weekend trip that won’t break the bank. For instance, if you’re at university in Leeds and you’re planning to visit a friend in Cornwall, you’ll be able to take the coach to the sunny south-east with no problem at all. Or, opt for overnight coach travel from London to Edinburgh on a Friday night; you’ll arrive in Scotland’s stunning capital bright and early on Saturday morning, ready for a top-class weekend before having to return to your classes on Monday morning. Moreover, many UK coach travel providers offer student or young person’s discounts.

So, wherever you’re planning to travel to, rest assured that coach travel is likely to be your cheapest option. Just don’t forget to put those long holidays to good use while they last!

The UK government is aiming for a 60% cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 but we will not be able to meet our goals on climate change without curbing the demand for air travel. At present the experts predicts that only 5.5% of the UK carbon emissions is due to air travel and that the government should concentrate on the other 94.5% as the UK air travel industry generates thousands of jobs and billions of pounds in revenue and these figures are set to increase as the airline industry wants to increase the number of passenger movements in UK airports from about 200m per year now to about 470m by 2030. If this happens then air travel will account for over 10 % of carbon emissions in the UK. It will be more than 10% if other polluting sectors such as car travel are reduced due to an increase in public transport use and cleaner fuels.

What can we do to prevent this growth in flying?

The government has said it wants aviation included in the next round of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. What is this? Well…

There is an emissions trading scheme in operation internationally but many people are not aware that this is perceived to be the cornerstone of the climate change policy in the EU and USA.

Firms are set quotas on how much carbon dioxide they can produce per year, if they produce more than this allowance, then they buy an allowance from another firm that has not reached its quota on how much it can produce in one year! Get it?

Emissions Trading is particularly suited to the emissions of greenhouse gases, the gases responsible for global warming, which have the same effect wherever they are emitted. The idea of the carbon-trading scheme was to raise the cost to firms of continuing to pollute while creating a market to give an incentive to become more environmentally efficient.

Another suggestion to curb travel is airlines paying higher taxes on short haul European flights to reflect emissions, even if this results in higher fares. The thinking is that taxation through passenger duty would be easier and quicker than focusing on the Emissions Trading Scheme but any proposed increase in taxation would need to be enough to slow down the growth and eventually decrease the number of short haul flights.

A decrease in flights would be bad for airports and airlines as they would see a decrease in airport generated profits and could lead to a number of job losses and competitiveness for the UK economy, but other sectors of the UK economy such as domestic tourism would benefit thus creating jobs and revenue for the tax man to get his greedy hands on.

Most of the wealthier nations in Europe are developing an air dependent culture and its clear that something needs to be done. Frequent flying for business and pleasure and second homes abroad is fuelling this growth in air travel. Other forms of public transport such as rail are getting more expensive making domestic flights within the UK more affordable and convenient. In the USA this tends not to be the case due to the distance between major cities.

Carbon offsetting helps you to offset the carbon dioxide that you use when flying by planting trees or installing solar panels and thereby removing your contribution to global climate change. You contribute to pollution by flying; you reduce the pollution by planting trees! You are carbon neutral!

As the summer holiday season upon is us, many holidaymakers are already counting the days until they pack their bags and head for the sun.Unfortunately holidays do not always go according to plan; in 2007 the top three claims received by Tesco Travel Insurance, were for baggage loss, which accounted for 40 per cent of the claims; medical treatment with 30 per cent and 20 per cent for cancellations.Tesco’s Travel Insurance form has compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions from their policy holders, these include.If my flight, ferry or train is delayed, what should I do? At the time the delay occurs, make sure you obtain written confirmation from the airline, train or ferry company, giving exact details of the reason for and length of the delay, and pass on these details to your insurer. Check with the carrier as sometimes travellers are given vouchers entitling them to free refreshments.While I’m away from home, what should I do in the event of loss or theft of my possessions? Most importantly you should report any loss or theft to the police within 24 hours. If you are unable to contact the police, you should call either your tour representative or accommodation provider or carrier – for example, the airline or ferry company you travelled with.What if I need medical attention while abroad? If the medical condition appears to be serious, you should call our Emergency Helpline 0044 870 024 2796 (001 866 496 5249 for USA) as soon as you can for advice and assistance. Tesco Travel Insurance has treated customers for blood poisoning in Turkey, heart attacks in Mexico and road traffic accidents in the USA. For minor medical treatment, you should pay any bills yourself and keep the receipts as this will help us to deal with your claim.Does Tesco Travel Insurance cover existing medical conditions? Tesco Travel Insurance does not cover claims relating to existing medical conditions. This includes common conditions such as asthma and diabetes. If any of the following apply to you don’t worry, you can still call us for a great value tailored quote on 0845 300 8800.What is a travel insurance policy excess? This is the part of the claim that you agree to pay – we cover you for the remaining amount up to the limit of your cover. Our claims consultants will tell you the amount of the excess and details can also be found in your policy schedule. We will deduct the amount of the policy excess from the settlement of your claim, or alternatively our appointed specialist or supplier will collect this amount from you on our behalf.The insurance provider though states, the medical conditions that are not covered by their insurance policy, these include- If the policy holder(s) are awaiting surgery or any form of medical investigation/treatment, either as a hospital inpatient or outpatient.- The policy holder(s) have received medical treatment in the last 3 months for an illness or injury or have received medical treatment in the past month as a hospital in-patient.- The policy holder(s) are taking medication or have had medication prescribed for an existing condition.- The policy holder (s) are suffering from or have suffered from cancer or a heart-related condition.Jim Bruce, head of Tesco Travel Insurance said: “At this time of year, when people are looking forward to their hard earned break, it’s more important than ever to reduce the chances of an unforeseen event spoiling your holiday. Ensuring you have adequate travel insurance is the first step, and knowing what to do in the event of a mishap is essential too. We hope that, armed with the answers to these frequently asked questions, travellers will be able to relax and enjoy their holidays,”