Why Travel Abroad is an Essential Part of High School Education

But Where Can I Go?

The world is your oyster! With all sorts of organized volunteering, Language Learning, gap year, exchange and study abroad placements available worldwide, whether you’re 14 and looking for a structured program, or 18 and looking for the chance to encounter the world at your own pace, here are some suggestions to get you started:

Europe: Great for Language Learning, internships, and gap years abroad.

An obvious choice for high school students looking to travel abroad, Europe offers young people a whole host of new cultures to experience, accessible thanks to the prevalence of English throughout the continent.

France, Italy, Germany, and Spain are ideal for language immersion in historic and cultural hubs, internships in England will always offer an incredible array of resume-boosting skills, while gap years either studying or volunteering are an easy way to discover some of Europe’s less-visited gems. High school students with an adventurous streak will also find websites for budget-friendly organizations like Workaway, Help Exchange (Helpx), and WWOOF interesting to investigate: these consist of volunteering opportunities in exchange for accommodation and food, and require the young person to organize the placement, making them far less formal than those arranged by agencies.

But what about…

Cost? There’s no such thing as a free lunch, and traveling is no different. Western Europe will certainly rank as one of the pricier destinations for living costs around the world, while the less-discovered, but equally fascinating countries in Eastern Europe (such as Slovenia and Hungry) remain more economical to visit. What’s more, the 12-27 year old European rail pass is reasonably priced, enabling you to explore the whole continent cheaply and easily.

Connectivity? internet connectivity is rarely an issue in any part of the Europe, and it’s unlikely you’ll find any hostels without Wi-Fi, or towns lacking in internet cafes for when you need to contact home. If you want to ensure you’ll be connected wherever you may be, numerous global and European sim cards (with data) are available. 

Safety? Travel in Europe is very safe. Pickpocketing and other petty crime is more likely in very touristy cities (Barcelona, Rome and Paris are viewed as the worst), so remain cautious and conscious wherever you go. If you’re extremely concerned about safety, Switzerland, Finland, and Norway have been found to be the least dangerous countries to visit around the globe, while Canada, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Japan, Australia, and New Zeland present "insignificant" risks relative to most countries worldwide.

Asia: Perfect for any type of purposeful travel.

Still retaining its title as the number one global backpacking destination, many teens are drawn by the chance to explore lush jungle and ancient temples in South-East Asia. But the whole continent offers plentiful opportunities: learn Mandarin, one of (probably) the world’s most useful languages in China or Taiwan, help out in volunteering projects in rural communities in India, study for an internship in a dynamic, internationally renowned city such as Singapore, or just experience life in the sweltering heat of any of these fascinating countries.

But what about…

Cost? One of the reasons for Asia’s burgeoning popularity as a travel destination has always been the cheap price of traveling in this huge part of the world. Dorm beds (bunkbeds in a shared room) can cost as low as $4 per night in Thailand, and a full meal only $1 in Vietnam, Cambodia and various other nearby countries.

Flights and travel insurance policies will always be the greatest expense, but this guide shows how the cheapest destinations to fly to from the US include Hong Kong, The Philippines, China, Taiwan, and Thailand, giving numerous starting points for high school students looking to explore this part of the world. Bear in mind that Asia is a huge continent, with costs of living varying significantly between, and even within countries.

Connectivity? Wi-Fi is generally available and global sim cards are also a reliable way of ensuring you have connectivity.

Safety? Again, the size of Asia means that safety varies between countries, but on the whole, South East Asia is viewed as a safe place to travel. Although attitudes towards women are different than in more liberal, Western countries, as with travel anywhere in the world, being cautious and taking basic travel precautions (including paying more, where possible, for better rated bus and tour companies) should ensure a safe, happy experience here.

Australia and New Zealand: Best for adventure travel.

Both Australia and New Zealand offer stunning scenery and abundant adventure opportunities: think diving in the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, surfing at world famous hotspots such as Bondi in Sydney, camping and trekking through rainforest near Cairns, or stunning ice-topped mountains (featured as Mordor in The Lord of The Rings trilogy) in Tongariro National Park, in the north of New Zealand.

But what about…

Cost? Australia is certainly not the cheapest destination to travel in, and you’ll find that, like parts of Western Europe, living costs here will be similar, if not more, than prices in the US. Traveling around this enormous country is made easier by a well-connected (if expensive) network of internal flights, and the much cheaper Greyhound — the excellent national bus service which covers main cities and smaller destinations in between and is a backpacker favorite. New Zealand is similarly expensive, but also has the Kiwi Experience bus service which offers guided but flexible travel throughout the country.

Connectivity? internet is widely available throughout both of these countries, and cities often provide free Wi-Fi access.

Safety? Australia has more than its fair share of poisonous bugs and animals, but both Australia and particularly New Zealand are regarded as safe countries for tourists. Be aware that the ozone layer here is much thinner than in other parts of the world, so the risk of sun burn and more serious sun-related conditions is much greater.

Latin America: Fantastic for language immersion and volunteering programs.

A lot of high school students sign up to Latin America for a chance to engage with the still prevalent indigenous Andean cultures, as well as the beautiful scenery: from the snow-capped volcanoes of Patagonia in Chile and Argentina, to some of the world’s most biologically diverse rainforest in the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. Here you’ll find plenty of opportunities to pick up Spanish cheaply, volunteer in development projects, or just enjoy the slow pace of Latin American life and the fascinating archeological sites littered across the continent.

But what about…

Cost? Cost of living varies significantly across Latin America, with Brazil, Chile and Costa Rica ranking as the most expensive places to visit, while Bolivia, Guatemala and Nicaragua exist at the other end of the spectrum. Flights are a quick, but sometimes expensive, way to traverse this enormous continent, while bus travel is the norm for most locals (and comes with a significantly cheaper price tag).

Connectivity? internet connection is variable throughout the continent, with big capital cities providing the most reliable connections. Visiting or living in rural areas will mean you’re unlikely to be connected to the internet, but should be within traveling distance of a town with an internet café.

Safety? Although only recently appearing on the backpacker circuit, South America is a surprisingly safe place to travel, with Uruguay, Chile, Argentina and Ecuador being regarded as some of the best places to visit for the safety conscious, just be aware that attitudes towards women are more progressive in many other parts of the world. Political uprising and the risk of drug-related violence are an issue in small parts of some of the countries here, so it’s always worth checking out the advice from the U.S. Department of State website before planning a trip. Bus travel can be dangerous given the state of roads and the poor upkeep of vehicles, so traveling with reputable companies is a must.

Africa: Meaningful volunteering of all kinds, helping people and protecting wildlife, as well as travel far off the beaten path.

Cage diving with sharks in South Africa, tracking lemurs in Madagascar or working alongside peace-building NGOs in Rwanda, all are opportunities offered to intrepid visitors to this continent. Africa might have the fewest organized programs available to high school students, but experiencing life here will most likely radically alter your perspective on the world, leaving you with more far more questions than answers.

But what about…

Cost? Given you’ll probably be traveling by organized tour in Africa, costs will be limited to the upfront cost of your program fees plus spending money. Ensure you get clear guidelines from your provider about the prices you’ll likely be facing when you get to your country of travel, as cost of living can vary wildly (and actually be more expensive than you might have anticipated) in some parts of the continent. 

Connectivity? It’s unlikely you’ll have much access to internet if traveling to rural areas, but internet speeds within cities are getting increasingly faster.

Safety? Again, high school students are strongly recommended to travel to Africa with an organized tour, as the lack of well-established tourist infrastructure and political instability in some countries make them increasingly difficult to visit. As in all countries, tourists can be more of a target for muggings and pickpocketing, and are recommended to avoid cities such as Rustenberg, Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg and parts of Cape Town (all South Africa) which are known for high levels of violent crime. Ensuring that you follow the instructions of your guide at all times (particularly on safari and other dangerous activities) will also prevent the possibility of accidents during your travels.