I don't really like travel agents. I've been travelling a few times and never used one. I actually enjoy browsing around for the best deal for a flight, reading hotel and hostel reviews to make sure there are no cockroaches and making up the rest of the details when I get there. However, as far as travel agents go, STA isn't a particularly bad one. Rather than intimidating orange ladies with red neckerchiefs, this branch of STA usually has about four chilled out 20-something year old lads in checked shirts behind their desks. I've never seen the queues that Thomas describes but maybe this is just in the run-up to the university holidays. I went into this branch with a friend (who annoyingly pronounces it staaar travel), as she thought it would be the cheapest place to buy our tickets to NZ. Despite the friendly staff and fact that they apparently give discounts to students and under 26s, the prices they quoted for the flights to NZ alone were more expensive than flights I had found on the Quantas website which included 3 free stopovers. I've also been tempted to buy STA's travel insurance in the past but have always found better deals for my requirements elsewhere. As for volunteering, unless you fancy paying a grand to work for free, then you can find much cheaper (and some free) volunteering projects with companies such as Concordia. Only good if you are a student with no time and no imagination. read more

STA Travel - Travel Agents Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Sta travel is a hubbub of excited students planning their next jaunt. In those desperate few months before the summer things get a little mad and I recall my experience of waiting in a queue for upwards of an hour as a very frustrating experience. Couple this with me not actually going on holiday it made for quite the wind up. I'm trying to see the light with this place, it is student orientated they have lots of well sorted trips that can be booked to pretty much any corner of the world apart from maybe Afghanistan (the army careers office is further down the road) or maybe the poles. Yet again though these trips draw me into another pet hate apart from queuing, the gap year was for me about really plonking you in the middle of nowhere, no guides nothing. Then through your experiences, developing an interpretation of local culture and perhaps even a temporary role within the community; that's real travelling. In recent years more and more websites and travel stores have become gap year orientated creating series of frustrating package deals wrapped up as the real deal, go nurture lion cubs in the outback making a real difference £1200, go diving in some of the most beautiful reefs in the world in the name of conservation (aka a body to drag a measuring tape across the coral) £800 and teach English in Ethiopia amid the savannah grasslands (£900). In my opinion you may as well book yourself two weeks in Magaluf. read more

STA Travel - Travel Agents Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Want to plan a holiday but don't know how and when. You are surrounded by many 'why's and what's' and questions are creeping up with doubt in your mind. It's times like these that you will think, Hmm why not try that Sta Travel facing you everyday when you pass Oxford Road! In my opinion you can plan your own great trip just at home with good speed internet and not spend on any silly travel agent services! However if your trip plans to hit more than 6 destinations and you're planning on being a bag-packer, you might need Sta's assistance because then they're not bad at all! read more

"Star" or "S.T.A" ? Either way, STA markets for the Gap year adventures, round the world trips and life changing travels for students looking for the great escape. As the world's largest travel organisation for students and young people, STA claim to be the inspiration for adventurists and excitement seeking young ones. Plan your trip of a life time with one of the STA advisors. I accompanied one of my friends on her planning, enquiring and booking with various STA agents. They did their job, but A and C are gone and I'm here left behind. Too helpful and useful STA. read more

STA Travel is located on Oxford Road and handy for university students. It specialises in Student Travel and has many discounted rates if you are a current student. I used this branch of STA Travel to research a round the world trip. I didn't book it with them but I did like the service they provided. The staff were helpful and knowledgeable and are experienced student travellers themselves. The shop does get busy at times and you may have to wait before you can speak to an adviser. The travel shop also stocks various travel brochures that you can take away free of charge, great for doing some research! read more

I've never really seen the point of travel agents myself, I think if you have a computer, a brain and an internet connection you've pretty much got it sorted. That said, I've popped in here a few times because I heard STA can get cheaper flights for people under 26 and students. Whilst this is only half true (I haven't found a flight which is actually cheaper through STA) the staff in the branch were lovely and really helpful. Me and my boyfriend wanted to have a wander around Asia a few years ago and I went in and got loads of travel advice and some brochures which were really handy when planning routes and picking the kind of places to go. I'd say unless you're planning something so complicated you need professional help you should spend a few hours in front of the computer and save yourself the commission, but if you want a round the world ticket STA should be your first stop. read more

Great Student travel agency in Prime student area, Great discounted and affordable holidays- usually have promotional prices for different destinations throughout the year, good if you're planning a year out to go travelling, the staff are really helpful and discuss all your options with you. You can pay a deposit then pay the remainder in 30 days too, It can be busy just before the holidays start but there are chairs and you usually don't wait more than 10 minutes, they also keep you updated if any of the information changes e.g flight times, airport taxes. They even tell you if you can get cheaper flights from alternatives! Absolutely great! read more