The Ultimate Guide for Students Traveling Abroad for the First Time

Traveling for the first time can seem both scary and exciting. And those feelings may be amplified even more if you’re the parent of a teen who wants to take a trip. Maybe you’re not sure how to pick a destination, pack, or recover from jet lag. To help out, we’ve put together this guide based on decades of experience working with students traveling for the first time.

We answer questions such as:

• How do I plan for my first trip abroad?
• Where should I travel for the first time?
• What do I need to pack as a first-time traveler?

We’ll also cover:

• General first-time travel tips including travel safety
• Questions first-time travelers and their families have
• What to do during and after your trip

Why Should I Travel on My Own for the First Time?

The first question may be why you’d want to travel. What are the benefits? In a broad sense, when you go to a different country, you learn about yourself and the world, and you grow as a person. You get to participate in fun activities and meet new people. But that’s just the beginning. Here are more reasons to consider student travel. You’ll:

• Identify interests, passions and what you may want to study in college.
• Develop a global perspective that supports leadership skills and creative problem-solving.
• Work with people from diverse backgrounds and develop cultural sensitivities.
• Learn how to develop and implement projects that make a real impact on communities.
• Build and sharpen critical skills such as empathy and self-awareness to grow as an individual.

To gain these benefits, there are a lot of things you’ll need to do to prepare for a journey. So let’s get started, and if you have any questions along the way feel free to speak to one of our Global Program Advisors by reaching out to us. We’ll be happy to answer your questions.