Being a teacher means spending your life setting others up for success. A lot of work goes into educating our youth and young adults and we think that deserves some special recognition. A lot of teachers are looking for discounts for travel because they want to experience the world, but on a teacher’s salary. We have searched far and wide to compile a list of travel discounts for teachers. There is so much information on the web that it can be overwhelming looking for a deal, so we wanted to build a resource to save you time and list many of the great travel discounts all in one place for teachers who need some help in the time department. You work hard, and long hours, too. Let us do some of the leg work for you!
More...
Hotels
Getting there is only one variable of the travel planning equation. When you get there, you’ll need a place to rest. Luckily, if you’re traveling for work purposes, many major hotel chains will let you use the Government rates, which are pre-negotiated rates for government officials traveling on business. Make sure you check with your destination to see if you qualify for a government rate! If you’re looking for a discount on your hotel as a teacher on vacation, however, you’ve got some great resources at your disposal.
Hilton Hotels, Choice Hotels, Marriott Hotels, and Wyndham Hotels offer government rates for state employees while on business in the state they work in making it a little easier to afford that next professional development course.
Make sure you check with your destination to see if you qualify for a government rate!
IHG Hotels probably has the most generous teacher discount as it includes local government employees! Just make sure you verify that the hotel you are staying at qualifies.
Preferred Hotels offers a 20% discount on their best available rate during the summer as a way to say thank you to all teachers. They have properties all over the world with some very luxurious resorts for your summer vacation.
The National Education Association Member Benefits offers 20% off at Red Roof Inn as well as other travel packages just for being a member.
The American Federation of Teachers also has a wide selection of travel benefits for their members. They offer up to 20% off on over 7700 hotels around the world.
Teachers Travel Web is a network of folks who offer Bed & Breakfast all over the world! It’s like AirBnB for teachers, but only costs the registration fee. Yes, you read that correctly. They count on the friendliness of their members to host other teachers from around the world.
Rental Cars
Transportation on vacation can be a nightmare, but in the U.S. you’re covered with most of the national car rental chains offering great travel discounts for teachers! While many of the benefits for rental car companies are through association membership to NEA or AFT, several companies offer discounts of up to 35% just for being a teacher.
Budget offers up to 35% off standard rates for teachers. All you have to do is use BCD code D464700. The discount varies with dates, car pick up, and drop off, so make sure explore your options before you pay.
Sixt offers 5% off a standard booking for teachers. It’s not the biggest discount out there, but if Sixt is the only company that’s available, you might as well save some money!
Hertz, Alamo, Enterprise, and others all offer discounts through various association memberships, so check your member benefits pages before you book!
Flights
Flights are probably the most expensive and also the most overwhelming part of planning part of a trip. I always suggest planning the flights first and filling in the other details after. In my experience, the flight part of an aspirational trip is always the part where people say “I can’t afford it.” I totally understand how looking at an airline’s website can be depressing. However, learning how to use Miles and Points can get you from behind your desk to 35,000 feet in no time at all. Planned monthly expenses throughout the school year and the right credit card could get you to Paris for the summer or even Australia for winter break! Setting up a Google alert for airfare is also a great way to find amazing fares across the pond in either direction. Following travel hacking blogs on Facebook and Twitter can also help keep you in the loop for affordable fares to wherever you want to go!
Theme Parks
Looking for an easy weekend trip? Theme parks offer an all in one vacation and many of the major ones have great discount for educators! Many parks only offer discounts to teachers that work in that state, so be sure to check their discount page to see if you qualify for discounted tickets. Below we have a list of teacher travel discounts from major theme parks that’ll help you save some money on your trip!
Planned monthly expenses throughout the school year and the right credit card could get you to Paris for the summer or even Australia for winter break!
Disney
In Florida, you can save big bucks on your hotel stay during the summer months by using your teacher’s discount at the Disney Springs Hotels. They offer discounted nightly rates from May through September. You can also use your teachers union or trade association to score discounted tickets to each of their parks.
Seaworld
If you work in a state that has a Seaworld park in it (Florida, Texas, and California), you can receive a discount on tickets through their website after verifying your employment with a secure third party verification system. They also have numerous educational programs available for field trips!
Busch Gardens
Voted “World’s most beautiful theme park” 27 years in a row, Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, VA wants to share that beauty with the world’s educators. Teachers can receive discounted single-day tickets for themselves and a friend for $63 and single-day tickets to Water Country USA for $50.
Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL has educational programs that teachers can sign up to bring students to which include ticket discounts for everyone in the group.
Trade Associations and Unions
Membership has its benefits! Teachers unions and trade associations have tons of teacher travel discounts available for their members. If you’re an educator, you qualify for membership in numerous different organizations that will provide help with professional development, discounts on school supplies, lesson planning, and, of course, travel discounts! Below is a list of just a few organizations that will help you throughout your years of educating our nation’s youth!
National Education Association is open to all active educators, support professionals, students enrolled in a program that will result in becoming an educator, and retired educators.
American Federation of Teachers is open to just about everyone associated with education, from teachers and support staff to nurses and health professionals. If you teach something to someone, you can benefit from this union of professionals.
Association of American Educators is an association for all of those employed by an educational entity.
Between trade associations and these big travel-related companies, you are sure to find some amazing deals on your next vacation. Travel deals for teachers are everywhere, so make sure you ask before paying full price for something! Pair this list together with TBE travel hacking advice for teachers and you will be jetsetting off to your next vacation in no time!
And why not share this resource with your fellow teachers? Click to tweet the box below:
Here's a great resource that lists many of the great travel discounts for teachers all in one place!
If we find other amazing deals we will be sure to update our list. If you know of one we missed, be sure to email us or comment below!
GET INSTANT ACCESS
To the Travel Power Pack!
Download the Travel Grants Spreadsheet, Teacher Travel Mind Map, and Packing List!