How much money should I take with me?
In relation to how much you need on the programmes themselves (after you've covered the costs of getting there...):
This is one of those piece of string questions. All we can helpfully say is that we aim to offer things as affordably as possible, with nearly everything you'd need to subsist on the programmes included. For further information about inclusions, please go to go-to.co/what-you-get
Money for extras...?
A small budget for extras would open up opportunities for you to e.g
- pay for any meals that aren't included (e.g. in orientations or end of programme trips - see specific programme pages for details)
- buy souvenirs
- go to bars and restaurants
- visit sites and places during any travelling you might wish to do
- travel on trains or buses to see more of the country
How much money you bring really depends on your free-time preferences.
Our best tip for budget planning if for you to consider carefully where in the world you might like to visit with us and once you know then purchase a Lonely Planet (LP) for that destination. LP usually gives good indications of average costs of restaurants, hotels, bars and excursions - this would help you to make a more generalised plan of expenditure.
You would want to calibrate the budget inline with the amount of time you expect to be spending independent of our programme, e.g what you'd do on days off, nights out, and any travel you might plan for the pre/post-programme period - we encourage you to do independent travel before joining us or at the end.
Further tips
The amount of money you spend on your programme will vary depending on location and how you spend your free time. Accommodation and meals will be covered for all participants on short-programmes in all regions during actual teaching placement - but it's always worth bringing a little extra spending money.
Do some research into the currency in your region (Asia will generally be cheaper than Europe, for example) and plan accordingly. If you're likely to have nights out or do extra travelling during your time abroad, factor those costs in.
In order to lessen costs and the risk of being overcharged (taxis, tuk tuks etc), we advise that you familiarise yourself with the local currency before arrival. It's always handy to have a currency converter installed on your app and a check with your bank how best to used your cards abroad.
Because most insurance policies require an upfront payment when visiting hospitals, it is advisable that you budget a slushfund of at least 200 GBP with you as an emergency fund. This could also be used as a safety net if there are any other unforeseen problems.
For a breakdown of programme inclusions, please go to go-to.co/what-you-get