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Transport & Travel Boats Bristol Ferry Boat Co
Tel: (0117) 927 3416. Web: www.bristolferryboat.co.uk Operates a daily waterbus service around Bristol Docks. Single fares from any of the ferry's stops (including Hotwells, Temple Meads, Castle Park, Broadmead, Welsh Back, city centre, SS Great Britain, Millennium Square, and Baltic Wharf) start from £1.30 adult/£1 seniors & children.
Popular with commuters as well as sightseers Buses & Coaches Bath Bus Company
1 Pierrepont St, Bath. Tel: (01225) 330444. Web: www.bathbuscompany.com Operate the highly popular Bath City Sightseeing tour, and the Skyline Tour in conjunction with the National Trust which connects with the splendid Prior Park Gardens.
Ticket holders get a 10% discount on entrance fees to some of Bath's major tourist sites Bath Bus Station
Manvers St, Bath. Tel: (08456) 064446 You'll get general information and bus times by calling this line, and bus routes are sold in the station.
Travel cards can be purchased per day, week and month for cheaper travel Bristol Bus & Coach Station
Marlborough St, Bristol. Tel: 0870 608 2608 The information helpline - purely for timetables, no fares given - is open 7am-9pm every day, but you're better off checking the full timetables on the net at www.firstgroup.com (see below). Extensive bus networks cover most places that you're likely to frequent. Daily, weekly and monthly travel cards will save you a few pennies if you're a regular bus user; well worth investing in, since fares don't come cheap. Student Fare Savers too.
Route maps are available from many shops and newsagents in the city First
Web: www.firstgroup.com First run the majority of bus and rail services in and around Bristol and Bath, and can take you on all sorts of exciting rural adventures. Wide range of discounted and family tickets sold.
Studentcards, available from company offices and all of the region's colleges, allow up to 4 bus journeys per day. Not valid at weekends. National Express Coaches
Tel: 0990 808080. Web: www.nationalexpress.com You can find a ticket office at Bristol's Marlborough Street bus station, open 7am-6pm (8.30pm to collect tickets), and at the bus station in Bath if you don't want to ring or go online. Tickets can also be bought from over 2,000 local agents - including bus offices, travel agents, student travel offices and some newsagents. All tickets booked in advance include reservation. It's not advisable to just turn up on spec, although it is allowed. London coaches leave half-hourly at peak times, with most other major cities served every two hours or so.
The NX2 student card costs a tenner, but offers discounts of up to 30% Planes Bristol International Airport
On A38, 8m S of Bristol. Tel: 0870 121 2747. Web: www.bristolairport.co.uk
This little fella's growing all the time, and offers stupidly cheap prices courtesy of cut-price airlines RyanAir and EasyJet around the UK, Ireland and further afield. Reasonably-priced buses run day and night, with regular services from Temple Meads. A taxi from the centre of Bristol will set you back around £20.
They recently launched daily flights to New York, currently on offer from just £299 return Taxis Hackney carriages & private hire
The difference? Hackneys you can flag down, private hire you have to call up and book; if you flag them down, you'll be uninsured if there's an accident, so don't do it. In the former, you'll pay around £3 before getting in the thing, with around £1.25 charged per mile on vehicles with a meter. Private-hire fares vary wildly, from around £4 for a short trip, £6 for a couple of miles and in excess of £10 for anything more than that. Bear in mind that you can negotiate a fixed fare for the latter. Most cabs carry four passengers, but you can book six-seaters in advance. Remember to check for the cabbie's badge or private-hire licence (below rear bumper) as there are some dishonest types about.
Avoid the late-night city-centre taxi queuesif at all possible - not very nice places to be 'round midnight Trains National Rail
National train enquiry number (charged at local rate): 08457 484950. Web: www.nationalrail.co.uk Temple Meads doesn't fare too badly when it comes to direct services, you can reach most corners of the country without budging from your seat. The line from Bath to Bradford-on-Avon is pretty breathtaking, with easy access to such watering holes as the Inn at Freshford and Avoncliff's Cross Guns. It's worth investing in a Young Persons Railcard, saving you a third off most fares for just £20 a year. You must be between 18 and 25, or a mature student over 26 studying at least 15 hours a week.
Lots of offers and services to be found online, including TextMe - the service that texts you your itinerary so that you need never write it down Severn Beach Railway
Web: www.wessextrains.co.uk Regular services runs between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach, stopping at Lawrence Hill, Stapleton Rd, Montpelier, Redland, Clifton Down, Sea Mills and Shirehampton stations, daily except Suns.
The line is a little gem and could be the answer to your commuting problems; cheaper than the buses and more reliable
TRAVEL
Camp America
37a Queens Gate, London SW7 5HR. Tel: (020) 7581 7373. Web: www.campamerica.co.uk Still going strong, this is the organisation that'll keep you out of mischief for the summer months, giving you the chance to visit America and make a whole bunch of pen pals. Plenty to choose from.
Visit their great website for details Flight Centre
Tel: (0870) 499 0040. Web: www.flightcentre.co.uk Competitive air fares from this youth and adventure travel specialist, with four branches in Bristol: Clifton Arcade, the Galleries, High Street and Queens Road, boasting experienced, well-travelled consultants. They have a dedicated Student Flight centre online at www.studentflight.co.uk.
Voted one of the UK's 100 best companies to work for in 2005 by the Sunday Times Glastonbury Backpackers
4 Market Place, Glastonbury. Tel: (01458) 833353. Web: www.glastonburybackpackers.com Budget accommodation available to everyone. Public bar and cafe, entertainment and DJ evenings, even an open decks night every Thursday.
Situated in an historic 16th Century coaching inn Itchy Feet
4 Bartlett St, Bath. Tel: (01225) 337987. Web: www.itchyfeet.com Whatever you need for your journey over the coming months, Itchy Feet are there to help you prepare, whether it's packing lists, travel tips or friendly, helpful advice. Run by travellers for travellers, so no matter what your question, you're sure to find an answer. Find over 2,500 travel titles, maps, clothing and accessories in this award-winning store.
Now with a second branch in London's Wardour Street and excellent website. Marco Polo Travel Advisory Service
24a Park St, Bristol. Tel: (0117) 929 4123. Web: www.marcopolotravel.co.uk Independent travel agency that prides itself on its knowledge, expertise and creativity. Offers much-needed experience, too, since all staff are keen travellers.
Discover low airfares, tailor-made holidays, travel advice for women, and adventure holidays Saint Christopher's Inn
9 Green St, Bath. Tel: (01225) 481444. Web: www.st-christophers.co.uk Fun-packed pub-cum-backpacker hostel that's always brimming with smiling faces of all nationalities, merrily jawing about their travels.
Student discount, and mixed dorms available from as little as £10.50 ppn, including breakfast STA Travel
Claverton Down, Bath Tel: (01225) 464263 & 43 Queens Rd, Bristol. Tel: (0117) 929 4399. Web: www.statravel.co.uk With over 25 years experience, STA specialise in travel for students and young people, priding themselves on offering exceptional value for money and an excellent service too. Their young, friendly team, all extensive travellers themselves, are ready to help you pick the choicest of holidays from scores of countries worldwide.
Their online One Stop Shop covers everything from work visas and Inter Rail bookings to online TEFL courses Trailfinders
48 Corn St, Bristol. Tel: (0117) 929 9000. Web: www.trailfinders.com See panel story. Trips Worldwide
14 Frederick Place, Clifton, Bristol. Tel: (0117) 311 4400. Web: www.tripsworldwide.co.uk Latin American, alternative Caribbean (that means making sure that you see more than just the beaches) and responsible tourism flight specialists who'll design a holiday for you from scratch. The team have tons of travelling knowledge, and will find the right destination for you.
Their informative, award-winning website is full of useful information - you can meet members of staff online and take virtual tours of some locations. Wildwings
577-579 Fishponds Rd, Bristol. Tel: (0117) 965 8333. Web: www.wildwings.co.uk Specialists in wildlife-related tours to weird and wonderful destinations. New for this year are trips to the North Pole via submarine and they're even offering you the chance to travel into deep space! The travel agency offers discount airfares, hotel accommodation, visa advice and more.
Check the website now for 2006 tours (they get booked up quickly).
Trailfinders
48 Corn St, Bristol. Tel: (0117) 929 9000. Web: www.trailfinders.com Trailfinders is one of the UK's leading independent travel company, offering individual tailor-made holidays for 35 years. Their well-travelled, highly-trained and experienced consultants will help you choose the right itinerary, whether you're after a long weekend in New York, beach holidays in Asia, skiing in North America or even a dream round the world trip. Offering unbeatable value and service, Trailfinders can boast numerous awards, including being voted 'Best Travel Agent' by Observer readers six times and 'Best Independent Travel Specialist' by Telegraph readers for the last four years.
Student Guide - Bristol and Bath's best guide to all
you need around town, plus tons of free vouchers. To order your copy ring
0117 942 8491. Only £2.95.
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