How a student can save money on traveling in Russia: 5 working life hacks
Miscellaneous / / August 11, 2023
1. Get a student card at RZD-Bonus
«RZD-Bonus” is a preferential program of Russian Railways, available to all travelers. But for full-time students of universities and colleges, special privileges are provided. In addition to accumulating bonus points and access to special offers from partners, students receive 25% discount on tickets in compartments and high-speed trains with seats. Moreover, in some cases it can be combined with other promotions and get a double benefit. The discount applies only to travel within Russia.
To start using the privilege, you must perform three steps:
- Register with RZD-Bonus.
- Obtain a certificate of study from the dean's office.
- Send it through the feedback form in your account.
An important point - the right to a benefit requires annual confirmation. That is, every autumn after the start of studies, it is necessary to receive a fresh certificate from the dean's office.
Another discount available to students is 50% for commuter trains. This will come in handy for a short weekend getaway. She
valid only during the school year, from September 1 to June 15. But you don’t need to register anywhere - just show your student ID when buying a ticket.2. Choose subsidized airline tickets
Not only students, but all citizens of Russia under the age of 23 can fly by plane at a discount. You don't need to get special permission for this. It is enough to find subsidized tickets on the websites of airlines and show your passport during check-in. There are similar ones, for example,Aeroflot», S7 And "Ural Airlines». The secret of the benefit is that part of the flight costs in this case is compensated by the state.
The process of searching for such tickets with carriers may vary. Suppose Aeroflot has created a separate form for this, while Ural Airlines simply has a “Subsidies / Benefits” field in the general search engine. Another important point is that not all destinations are available with subsidized tickets. But there are many options: you can also look at them on the websites of airlines.
3. Live in a hostel or university campus
Study of the expert center of the project "Your Hod" and the program "More than a trip" showedthat expensive housing is one of the reasons why students may refuse to travel. Because their maximum budget does not exceed 50 thousand rubles. Makes it easier to fit in Youth and student tourism program. She suggests staying not in hotels and apartments, but on university campuses. In this case, accommodation can cost as little as 100 rubles per night. For example, for this price it is now possible to stay in a dormitory at the IKBFU in Kaliningrad.
You can go anywhere under the program: more than 200 universities in different regions of Russia participate in it. Campuses are not always located in the city: there are also options with educational bases in nature. For example, VSGIK offers to stay in cottages near Lake Baikal for only 870 rubles. Here, the price includes meals on the "Full board" system.
An additional bonus is free entertainment and activities: excursions, festivals, internships, participation in scientific research. All available event options are collected on the program website.
4. Visit museums and exhibitions with a student card
The same study from Your Hod and More than a Journey says that cultural-learning choose 70% of the students surveyed. The good news is that this is also one of the most profitable entertainment options: many state museums and galleries have discounts for students. For example, in Armory - 46%, and in Hermitage — 40%. Sometimes a cultural program can be completely free. For example, every first Sunday of the month, students can freely visit the Tretyakov Gallery.
It is more profitable to get to the production of theaters. Here, in addition to student luck, you will need. Cheap or completely free tickets can be obtained at the box office an hour or 30 minutes before the start of the performance - the number of passes is limited, so it is better to be among the first to go to the window.
5. Ask for a discount everywhere
Student discounts are not uncommon. And with the help of it, it is really possible to save 10, 15, 25%, or even more in cafes and restaurants. You also need to ask about the benefits in shops, cinemas, entertainment and sports centers. You should not be shy: not in all places information about benefits hangs in a conspicuous place.
You can prepare in advance: make a travel plan, check the websites of the places you plan to visit, or purposefully search the Internet for discounted prices. For example, if you are going to the capital, study the site "Moscow students»: there is a long list of places that offer student discounts.