<p>I am a current college student who has never been abroad. I am entering my junior year. I am busy for the rest of the summer so do not have time to travel abroad this summer. I also do not have time to study abroad during the school year because of other commitments. Next summer, I will spend it doing an internship so the only free time I see to take my first trip abroad would be before that internship starts or after I graduate or during a winter session… I really want to go abroad. I also want to enjoy myself while abroad and not be stuck taking a class in a very short period of time while also trying to soak up my experience. For these classes, you often end up spending a huge amount more than you would just traveling there. Any advice? Also, how much should I expect to have saved up for such a trip? I know that’s a general question and varies upon location but I am just curious. Please share with me your advice.</p>
<p>It doesn’t sound like you want to study abroad, but vacation abroad since you state you don’t want to waste time taking a class. You can do that and you are right, it might be cheaper.</p>
<p>I think you could do a winter term trip. My D’s school offers a number of choices, from the 2 weeks of Christmas to 2-5 weeks of winter term. One can take a class, volunteer, do research. You are not going to see as much of Europe in 3 weeks as in a semester, but it isn’t going to cost you as much either. The school offers a lot of funding for study abroad, which is a benefit you aren’t going to get if you travel alone.</p>
<p>Would you be interested in working abroad after college graduation? You could teach English in China. We know kids who taught English in France. What about the Peace Corps?</p>
<p>Programs such as Princeton in Asia have internships for recent graduates to teach English or to work for an NGO in, you guessed it, Asia (China, Japan, counries Central Asia) for one or two years. Applications are due during the senior year. </p>
<p>When you have a job.</p>
<p>If you have money December can be a fun time to vacation. In Europe there are often Christmas markets in the time leading up to Christmas. A few years ago we went to Jordan in December and had a fabulous experience. Weather was perfect. May is my favorite time to be in Europe in terms of avoiding crowds and optimizing weather.</p>
<p>^ Looks like a lot of people wouldn’t be traveling abroad!</p>
<p>I say travel abroad the first chance you get! You can’t always play things safe. You can’t wait for circumstances to line up perfectly “allowing” you to travel. You must make those circumstances line up your own. Go during the winter if it’s your only time to go!</p>
<p>Have you thought about going on your Spring Break, as well?</p>
<p>
No, the question you should be asking is how much am I WILLING to spend? How much you are willing to spend will constrain your choices of:</p>
<ul>
<li>WHERE and WHEN you can go,</li>
<li>HOW you can experience it, and</li>
<li>HOW long the duration.</li>
</ul>
<p>WHERE are you interested in going? “Abroad” is such a vague term. North to Canada? South to Mexico & Latin America? Across the Pond to Europe? Across the Great Water to Asia? Do you want to use a particular foreign language you studied in school? A R/T transoceanic economy-class plane ticket can cost anywhere from 500 to 2000 bucks depending on the destination. A trip to Canada or Mexico may only involve a bus ride.</p>
<p>WHEN will significantly impact the cost. Air fares will be at a premium during high season for that destination, i.e. warm destinations during winter holiday period; Europe during the summer. Holidays periods, in general, are more expensive. You can search fares on Expedia and vary the travel dates to get an idea of the impact on cost. Day of the week also impacts travel cost. Planes are less full mid-week and fares are, accordingly, cheaper. It’s all supply & demand… </p>
<p>HOW do you want to experience the trip: backpacking + youth hostel? hotel? Solo? Travel with friend and share rooming costs? Stay in one location? See a lot of places-- bus? train? rental car? Do you want to do this as in independent traveler, or do you want a travel package? </p>
<p>You know you have the rest of your life to do this. You don’t have to cram it in before you graduate.</p>
<p>
I’d emphasize this especially if the OP wants to visit a volatile place like the Middle East, where access to tourists can be cut off at any time. One of my biggest regrets is not taking the time to visit Syria before the war broke out. </p>