It is always a good thing to join study trips. You will visit places and learn from the experience. However, some of them can be very costly. Between flights, local transportation and accommodation, you could end up spending a lot of money.
There are ways for you to be a part of a trip without necessarily spending a lot of money. Here are some tips to take into consideration.
Partner with agencies
There are a lot of study trip agencies that can help organise everything for you. They will create a learning package that suits you. Others can provide a trip customised based on your preferences. Of course, the trip will vary its cost depending on which places you want to visit. The agencies have connections with different places for accommodations and wonderful places for you to travel and learn. This makes it cheaper for you if you take the entire package.
Book in advance
When you make advance reservations, it might be cheaper. For many places, prices are higher if you make reservations closer to the date of the trip. Worse, they might not even be available anymore. You have to finalise the date of the trip, so you can also make bookings as soon as possible.
Consider homestay
This is an option where you stay with a host family throughout the trip. You live with them until the end of the trip. You cook, eat, and do activities with them. Since this is a study trip, it becomes even more educational. You learn local culture and practices. You don’t just read information about them, but you immerse yourself in them. It takes time to adjust, especially if you come from a culture which is totally different, but it can be fun once you get along. Homestays are a lot cheaper than other accommodation options.
Have a detailed breakdown of the expenses
You need to know in advance how much you are going to spend. This allows you to create a breakdown of expenses and prepare for them. Include everything down to the last cent to make it easier for you to find ways to have the financial resources you need. If you think it is still an expensive trip and you can’t afford it, you might want to change the details or have the trip rescheduled. Just make sure you don’t cancel it, especially if you will learn a lot from the experience. A studierejse in Madrid, for instance, will give you lots of insights about the city that are sure to be eye-openers.
It helps if you can enjoy your trip without spending a lot of money. Just make sure you don’t forget to have fun.