Student Travel Groups

Planning:
Before you can set out on your travel group adventure, you need to make sure you have the proper documents. At the very least you will need to have a passport. Some countries will also require a tourist visa, immunization records or an international health certificate. Check the US State Departments website for each country that you plan on visiting. If you plan on driving, which is not recommended, you should also carry an international driver’s license. Before you leave home make sure you make copies of all of these documents, leave one set at home with your parents, give one set to your group travel organizer and email yourself a copy. This covers you in the event your documents get lost or stolen. Keep your documents together in a passport holder under your shirt, or in a zip pocket in your pants. Be very aware of your surroundings and how sought after an American passport is. On my third study abroad trip, I was in a flea market in Budapest and the lady saw my string to my passport holder that held my passport under my shirt. She started asking me a lot of questions, one of which was how much I would sell it to her for. I got out of there rather quickly. Just be very cautious with your passport and ID.

Safety & Health:
Is student travel dangerous? It is no more dangerous than visiting any major city in the US. Your first advantage is there is always strength in numbers. By taking a few extra precautions, you can have a reasonable expectation of safety. If you are from a small town in the US where everyone leaves their doors unlocked, large cities around the world are obviously more dangerous than your small town. For the most part they are not any more dangerous than large cities in the US. Before you head out on your great adventure, check with the US Department of State for their current travel warnings. If you are going to any developed country, you can obtain what health supplies you need while you are there. If you are particular about the brand you use, then bring your own with. Make sure you bring enough medication for the entire trip. It needs to be clearly labeled in the original bottle.

Groups & Organizations
One of the most well known student travel groups are Spring Break Groups. These groups usually fly out of the same major airport, to some sunny, warm, tropical destination. They spend 1 drunken week in the sun before returning home to finish out their school year. Although that is what most people think of for Spring Break, there are other options. Find out more about Spring Break Groups.

Students can also form their own travel group with help from an adviser, parent, or group leader. This is popular for those that are currently studying a foreign language. A group of students studying German may get a student travel group together to go explore Germany for a month during summer break. You might plan on getting a German Rail Pass and plan on staying at Youth Hostels as you explore the country. Another option is to set up an exchange with a school in Germany. Here you would go visit them during your summer break and then they would come visit you during their fall break. This is really cool as you get to experience their life for a month, go to school and events and live with their family, then they get to do the same with your family.

There are companies out there that will do all the planning for you. The downside of using those companies are that they are usually more expensive. Check out NACEL Student Exchange, People to People, or Contiki Travel if you are interested in taking that route.

SBI!