How to Include Study Abroad Experience on Your Resume in Five Simple Steps

Not only is study abroad a great opportunity for young people to see the world, but it’s also a fantastic way to bolster a resume—if you weren’t aware, employers look on experience abroad very favorably!

The problem is, it can be difficult for students to write about their time studying abroad on a resume, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile. Where should it be included? And how should it be put across?

We understand this dilemma all too well. That’s why we’ve put together a guide on how to include study abroad experience on your resume in five simple steps. 

The process is straightforward, repeatable, and will vastly improve your success rate in securing job interviews. But before we get to it, let’s first consider the career benefits of study abroad…

The Career Benefits of Studying Abroad

Study abroad opens the door to a wealth of career opportunities, and it may land you a juicier pay package too: according to a survey from Hostel World, 41% of U.S. employers consider offering a higher salary to students with international experience.

When you think about the range of soft skills that study abroad develops in students, it’s clear to see how it might offer an edge in the jobs market. Below, you’ll find three key ways study abroad improves your career prospects—you could even use these later while writing your resume.

Confidence

There are a number of studies that suggest studying abroad improves independence and confidence. In the International Education Association of Australia’s annual report for 2020, for example, a huge 97% of students reported improved self-confidence from their time abroad.

From an employer’s perspective, study abroad demonstrates that you’re not afraid to step out of your comfort zone and take on new challenges—businesses are always looking for these kinds of confident self-starters to add to their ranks.

Project Management

There’s no shortage of distractions while spending a semester abroad. Completing your university work while juggling the disparate demands of cultural adjustment, new friends, and various foreign adventures shows that you can manage your time wisely.

The message this sends to potential employers is that you’re a flexible worker with a strong drive and effective problem-solving abilities. Now that’s a skill set that will be valued in any job role.

Intercultural Competence

During your time studying abroad, you learn how to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds in spite of cultural differences—this is called intercultural competence, and it’s a highly-sought skill in today’s global economy.

Positions at multinational companies, where you work with co-workers and clients from other countries, regularly call on cross-cultural communication skills. If you are also required to speak a foreign language, research shows employers favor candidates with study abroad experience.

Step-by-step Guide on How to Include Study Abroad on Resume 

You’ve learned how studying abroad can benefit your career, now it’s time to add your experiences to your resume! Follow our five-step process below to immediately expand your job prospects.

1. Reflect on Your Time Abroad

Studying abroad tends to draw on the same generic set of skills for different students—that is, self-confidence, communication, and leadership, among others—but you need to make your account of your experiences as personal and unique as possible.

The first step, therefore, is to think deeply about the lessons you learned from your time abroad, and how they transformed you into a more well-rounded professional. Perhaps you developed your ability to work under pressure? Or honed your critical thinking skills?

Think of as many lessons as you can; the more the better. Where possible, connect lessons with a specific scenario—like the first time you plucked up the courage to ask for directions, for example. Jot all of these ideas down into a list.

2. Tailor Experience to the Application

Not all of your study abroad experiences will be relevant to the position you ultimately apply for. To maximize your chance of success, you need to tailor your application. This may seem time-consuming, but it will help elevate your application above other candidates. 

From your list of study abroad lessons, pick out the ideas that are highly relevant to your chosen career path. As we mentioned above, intercultural competence is a great skill to highlight for roles involving regular communication with people from different backgrounds.

Other examples include adaptability for jobs with multiple responsibilities or problem-solving for positions requiring an analytical mind. You don’t have much space on a resume, so make sure to select only the most transferable skills from your study abroad experience. 

3. Decide Where to Include Study Abroad Experience

There are up to four sections where you could reasonably include study abroad experience on your resume. The one you choose will depend on how highly the employer is likely to value the study abroad experience as well as the type of study abroad program you completed.

The best practice for each section is as follows:

1. Summary: We recommend including study abroad experience in the summary of your resume only when the hiring company explicitly states a preference for study abroad among candidates.

2. Education: This is the most popular section for study abroad experience. Below your home college or university, add the details of your study abroad program, including the name of the foreign institution, length of study, and any relevant coursework or honors.

3. Experience: If you undertook work experience, an internship, or volunteering during your time abroad, they can be included in this section. As with any other job, state the duration of the role and list the key responsibilities in bullet points. 

4. Skills: You can refer to your study abroad experience indirectly in this section. This is a good place to add foreign language skills. Hiring managers will likely ask you about this section later on, giving you the chance to elaborate on your study abroad experience. 

4. Write About Experiences

Once you’ve settled on the appropriate section for study abroad on your resume, you can begin to write up your experience. If you’ve decided on the education section, there isn’t much room for creativity; just insert the details of the program using the same formatting as other entries. 

For the skills section, simply add the study abroad skills that are most relevant to the application. If you’re including your study abroad experience in the summary or experience sections, however, you’ll need to put some effort into actually describing your time abroad.

Here are some tips to bear in the mind for these sections:

• Focus on skills mentioned in the job description

• Demonstrate your skills with evidence

• Mention achievements from your time studying abroad

• Use action verbs, such as ‘managed’ or ‘led’

• Be concise

5. Check Formatting

Having written about your study abroad experiences and added them to your resume, all that remains is to check that the formatting on the document is consistent.

Ensure that font types, sizes, and styles are the same. Your study abroad experience should fit in succinctly with the rest of the section, and the resume as a whole. Once you’re satisfied, it’s time to submit your application to your employer. Good luck!

Broaden Your Career Horizons with Study Abroad

Study abroad experience will open up new career opportunities for young graduates, but only if it is included on a professional resume correctly. Students should select the right section for their international experiences and, where applicable, explain how they benefited from them.

By drawing out the study abroad skills that are particularly relevant to their career and writing about them in a compelling way, students can tap into the advantage that international experience gives them over other candidates in the jobs market.

Learn from Travel works with colleges and universities to deliver culturally-immersive faculty-led and virtual study abroad programs. If you’re interested in any of our travel packages, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Why Travel is Important, Especially When It’s Sustainable

Travel has been sorely missed during the pandemic. With plans put on hold for the foreseeable future, millions of intrepid souls around the world have missed out on exciting adventures, new memories, and unlikely friendships—all those good things that come with traveling. 

It’s no surprise, then, that appetite for international travel is high right now. According to Amadeus, more than three quarters of people intend to travel in 2022. With any luck, we’ll all be able to travel safely again soon, and reap the many rewards that travel has to offer.

When that time rolls around, it’s more important than ever that tourism is managed sustainably. This means protecting host communities, which are now endangered by the dual threat of commercialization and climate change. 

Through sustainable travel, it’s possible to enjoy all the benefits associated with traveling while supporting local people and the environment. Continue below to find out what you stand to gain from travel, especially when it’s sustainable.

The Importance of Sustainable Travel

We usually think of travel in purely self-serving terms. There’s nothing wrong with this—most of us travel for personal pleasure—but it’s important to also consider the impact that your trip will have on other groups.

Sadly, many great international travel experiences come at the expense of the host country. However, it doesn’t have to be this way; sustainable travel actively benefits local communities and the environment, securing a positive outcome for all parties—not just tourists.

What is Sustainable Travel?

Sustainable tourism, as defined by the UN’s World Tourism Organization, takes full account of “current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities".

Sustainable travel programs are engineered to conserve rather than erode the cultural heritage of local groups, while also providing them a valuable source of income. Environmental protection is likewise critical.

While delivering various benefits to host communities, sustainable tourism also offers visitors a more culturally immersive and enriching travel experience than resort-based tourism. 

By connecting with local people and learning about their culture on a deeper level, sustainable travelers are more likely to create memories and develop as a person—it really can be a formative experience, especially for students.

Learn from Travel works with local groups across Latin America to deliver rewarding study abroad experiences that benefit visitors and host communities. Explore some of our sample programs below:

• Sustainable Development and Conservation in Ecuador

• The Business of Flowers in Colombia

• Sustainable Design and Construction in Panama

5 Powerful Reasons to Travel

We’ve made our case about sustainable tourism, but what can you gain from travel? Continue reading below for five compelling reasons why travel is important.

1. Travel is good for your health

Have you ever felt burnt out with the daily grind, in desperate need of a holiday and a change of scenery? Travel is a great way to escape routine, giving you the time and space needed to unload any chronic stress and renew your zest for life. 

When you return home, you invariably feel refreshed to take on new challenges—that’s because travel allows you to hit the reset button. We all need the occasional break to keep our mental well-being in check, and there’s no better way to do that than to travel abroad.

With such an emphasis on the mental health benefits of travel, it’s easy to overlook the role it can play in keeping you fit. Swapping the sedentary lifestyle that most of us are accustomed to for sightseeing, hiking, and other activities will do wonders for your physical health.

2. Travel introduces you to different people

Travel forces you to leave behind your tribe (albeit temporarily) and engage with people from different walks of life. On this journey, you’ll encounter new ideas, opinions, and personalities that’ll open your mind and improve your cross-cultural communication.

It’s not uncommon to forge friendships or even romances while traveling. Tied by the shared experience of being far from home, total strangers will often form deep connections together. If you can speak the local language, opportunities to build relationships are even more plentiful.

Enterprising travelers can also take the chance to network with local business owners, academics, and recruiters. Making the right connection might just open the door to an international job in the future. 

3. Travel helps you discover new interests

At home, you live through the same values and customs every day; the large chunk of human culture exists beyond your native borders. The internet, of course, has broken these boundaries in the last couple of decades, but only travels allows you to truly see other cultures in action.

When you explore these cultures first-hand, you open yourself up to a kaleidoscope of new experiences and potential interests: different music, local food, cultural events, traditional pastimes—some of which you may find yourself warming to.

It’s not just cultural interests: travel facilitates other activities, like hiking or watersports, that may not be possible in your home country. Once your trip is over, you can extend the joys of travel by taking your new interests back with you and incorporating them into your lifestyle.

4. Travel aids your self-development

Travel is daunting. Swapping a familiar existence back home, with its comforts of friends, family, and routine, for a foreign culture in a new country takes guts. That said, stepping out of your comfort zone in this way is one of the best things you can do for your personal development. 

Each journey reveals something new about other people, other places, and, crucially, yourself. You learn to become more open-minded with every interaction, and each stressful scenario solved (trust us: there will be a few of these) turns you into a more confident person.

Travel also builds on a wide range of soft skills including leadership, communication, problem-solving, and creativity—all of these will help you better navigate the professional and social spheres back in your everyday life

5. Travel creates life-long memories

Through thick and thin, you’ll always have your memories to reflect on fondly—and by traveling, you won’t ever find yourself in short supply. From the most spectacular sights to the mundane interactions with locals, travel leaves you with moments to cherish for life. 

This especially rings true when traveling with friends, with whom you can recount your shared experiences abroad for decades to come. But even solo adventurers will find themselves inundated with new entries to the memory bank.

For the especially sentimental travelers among us, photo albums and souvenirs can help cement these memories. For adventurers without any memorabilia, the mere mention of the country’s name will conjure up those timeless moments in the mind, as if they were yesterday.

Traveling the World Responsibly

Travel breeds good health and happiness, introducing you to new experiences while making you more appreciative of the things you already have in your life. However, this means little if host communities are hurt in the process. 

The most rewarding travel experiences—for visitors and hosts—are those that are sustainable, protecting both the local environment and local cultures. Without such an approach, communities that have been eroded by unsustainable tourism for decades will finally collapse.

It’s the responsibility of all travelers to build a more sustainable future to ensure that this doesn’t happen.

Learn from Travel works with local groups across Latin America to deliver sustainable, community-focused travel experiences for students. If you’re interested in our sustainable travel programs, you can contact us here.

15 Essential Brazil Travel Tips: Culture, Safety, Budgeting, and More

For decades, Brazil has captured the imagination of partygoers, holidaymakers, and honeymooners alike. With bustling cityscapes, unparalleled natural beauty, and a one-of-a-kind culture, it’s no surprise the country draws in more than 6 million tourists every year.

Given Brazil’s sheer scale, any successful trip must begin with a thorough planning process. To that end, we’ve put together 15 essential Brazil travel tips, covering health and safety, money management, cultural adjustment, and more to help you get the most out of your experience. 

15 Brazil Travel Tips

Gathered from a pool of travel enthusiasts with years of experience on the ground in Brazil, here are 15 travel tips you should know before visiting the country:

1. Do your research

This might sound obvious, but we can’t emphasize it enough. Brazil is a huge country with distinct cultures in different regions. For instance, you’ll find greater European influence in the south, Afro-Brazilian presence in the north, and Caboclo culture in Amazonia.

Before traveling, spend some time learning about the different histories and cultures of each area you plan to visit. With a little research, you’ll have a far better understanding of your surroundings and be able to connect with locals on a deeper level.

2. Hire a guide

Unfortunately, no amount of research will afford you a native’s understanding of the country. If you have some money spare in your budget, consider hiring a local tour guide to take you through unexplored streets and to unseen attractions.

While you may be able to go without a guide in the cities, their expertise becomes invaluable in remote regions like the Amazon basin. Without one, you’re likely to miss out on many of the best bits.

3. Buy mosquito repellent 

Brazil is home to a number of prickly, venomous, and otherwise dangerous species. None, however, are as oppressive as its mosquitoes, which threaten with everything from malaria and yellow fever to dengue and Zika virus.

Provided you take the appropriate safety measures, you needn’t worry about these pesky insects. Safety measures, in this case, means getting vaccinated before travel, wearing long sleeves where possible, using mosquito nets at night, and regularly applying mosquito repellent.

4. Use licensed taxis

Steer clear of unlicensed, unmarked taxis. Rather than hailing a taxi in the street, it’s best to phone for a cab or pick one up from a taxi stop. Uber is another good option in Brazil’s big cities.

Hotel staff will be able to help you with finding a certified taxi service. Some hotel directories will also have contact information for English-speaking cab drivers, should you need them.

5. Drink lots of water

You’re likely to hear mixed things about the cleanliness of Brazil’s tap water. While it is safe in some parts of the country, you may get sick from drinking tap water if you’re not a well-accustomed local. At the very least, you’ll probably find the taste to be off-putting.

Given Brazil’s heat and humidity, clean water isn’t something you’ll want to go without. Your options are to continually buy plastic bottles, or, if you want to protect the environment and your bank account, invest in a water bottle with a built-in filter.

6. Get vaccinated

If you’re only traveling to big cities like Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo and are up to date with your routine vaccinations, you generally won’t need to worry about additional immunizations.

However, if you’re venturing into remote areas like the Amazon, you may require vaccinations for hepatitis A, typhoid, yellow fever, and malaria. Make sure to research your vaccination requirements before traveling, and contact your doctor if you’re unsure.

7. Consider flying

Did we say Brazil is a big country? Given the long distances between many of the major cities, you may want to consider flying as your primary mode of transport in Brazil.

If you’re traveling during the low season (generally considered to be June to December), you should be able to snag a good deal on flight tickets and save a lengthy bus trip that could span several days.

8. Learn some Portuguese

Unlike most other Latin American countries, Brazil’s official language is Portuguese. English isn’t widely spoken either, with only around 5% of the population having a basic understanding of the language.

A little Portuguese, therefore, will go a long way to helping you interact with locals. Basic phrases like “olá” (hello), “bom dia” (good morning), and “tudo bem?” (how are you?) are a good place to start.

Iguazu falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world

9. Be patient

Brazilian culture is known to be relatively relaxed and easy-going, with locals adhering to a much slower pace of life than what many westerners may be used to.

Try to embrace the country’s leisurely nature. This may mean being a little more patient than usual in hospitality settings while waiting for food and drinks to be served.

10. Watch your belongings

A good safety tip to follow wherever you go, make sure to keep a watchful eye on your bags when out and about, especially in crowded areas and transport hubs.

In addition, dress modestly, leaving expensive possessions at home if you plan to visit some of Brazil’s less developed areas. Theft is unlikely, but opportunistic criminals could still target you if you give them the opportunity.

11. Withdraw money before 10pm

If you’re out for the evening, be sure to withdraw some cash before 10pm. ATMs shut down at this time and generally won’t reopen until 7am or 8am the next morning.

Cash isn’t essential, however; the vast majority of shops, restaurants, and bars will accept credit and debit cards. A great solution for tourists is to use a pre-paid debit service like Revolut, which only charges a nominal fee for currency exchanges.

caipirinha is a drink made with CACHACA rum, limes, and lots of sugar

12. Make friends — but be wary

Brazilians are very friendly people, and you won’t find it difficult to strike up connections during your travels — especially if you learn some basic Portuguese.

However, like anywhere else in the world, there will be a few unsavory characters. Be cautious around strangers that are especially friendly, particularly in tourist areas and nightclubs.

13. Eat street food

For the culinarily inclined travelers, you’ll be pleased to hear that Brazil’s street food is delicious! Sampling the likes of pão de queijo, picanha, and kibe on street corners is one of the best ways to live like a local while saving some money

Be warned, however, that not all food stalls are made equal. Exercise your judgment; if there’s a long queue of locals by the stand, chances are the food is of a good standard.

14. Be careful in favelas

Any time you’ve heard about favelas — the more deprived and densely populated neighborhoods in Brazil’s big cities — it’s probably been bad news. But that isn’t always accurate; many favelas are completely safe.

At the same time, some are indeed controlled by local gangs and best avoided. If you have any doubts, hotel staff and tour operators will be able to advise on which areas are safe.

15. Consider seasonality

Prices for flights, accommodation, and other travel-related costs fluctuate heavily between the peak and off-peak tourist seasons. If your heart is set on attending Rio’s Carnival in February, for instance, be prepared to pay an arm and a leg.

On the other side of the coin, you can save yourself hundreds of dollars if you’re happy to visit Brazil during the winter months (June to December).

Brazil Awaits

With these tips, you’ll get to experience the best of Brazil while keeping safe and sticking to your budget — all that remains is to plan your trip!

Interested in visiting this enchanting country and learning from its culture? Learn from Travel is a leading study abroad provider with deep networks in Brazil. Contact us today to arrange your fully customizable, culturally-immersive travel program and make your travel plans a reality. 

A Brief Guide to Chile: Culture, People, History, Language, Food, and Arts

A long, narrow land straddling half the coast of an entire continent, Chile’s culture is as unique and varied as its geography. Indigenous roots and European influences come together to form a vibrant culture that’s reflected in the country’s people and felt across its communities. 

Whether you’re keen on visiting Chile or just a curious mind, learning about the Chilean culture will deepen your appreciation of this one-of-a-kind country. From remote Andean vineyards to vibrant cityscapes, it’s time to tour the many cultural charms of Chile!

The Chilean People

Chile’s colorful culture is a product of its people. Through the years, ethnic, religious, and linguistic differences have coalesced to form a distinct cultural identity unlike anything else in the world.

Ethnicity

Chileans hail from a mix of ethnic backgrounds. Many have direct European heritage, most notably from Spain, though you’ll also find Italian, French, British, and German representation in pockets.

Beyond Chile’s European and mestizo (mixed race) inhabitants, who make up about 85% of the population, the indigenous Mapuche people comprise around 9% of the country’s inhabitants — you can learn more about the Mapuche culture from our previous post here.

Religion

Chile separated church and state in 1925, but Catholicism is still a major part of life in the country — close to two thirds of Chileans identify as Roman Catholic. Religious beliefs find expression in a culture that emphasizes strong family values with respect for elders.

Other key tenets of Chilean culture include hard work, hospitality, and pride. The people are characterized as being friendly and welcoming, with a warm embrace awaiting those visiting the country as a tourist.

Language

Chile’s official language and lingua franca is Spanish, which is spoken by locals with a few of their own inflections. Around 10% of Chileans also speak English to an extent, while indigenous languages like Aymara and Mapudungun are now spoken by just 1% of the population.

The Chilean History

To understand Chile today, you must explore its past. Many different groups have called the country home through the ages, with each leaving their mark and contributing in their own way to the makings of modern Chile.

Ancient Chile

Evidence of human existence in Peru dates back some 12,500 years. Peru’s first inhabitants were nomadic, cave-dwelling hunter-gatherers, and early ancestors of the Norte Chicho people who eventually settled and formed the first agricultural communities in the north of the country.

The Inca city of Machu Picchu in Peru

The Inca

Many distinct cultures, including the Moche, Wari, and Tiwanaku, coexisted before the arrival of the Incas in the 1470s. Their rule was brief, buckling to Spanish colonial forces in the 1540s, though their legacy remains intact through various heritage sites and the Quechua language. 

Spanish rule

After more than two centuries under the thumb of Spain, Chile gained its independence in 1818 when José de San Martín defeated the final Spanish military forces in the Battle of Maipú. 

During this period, the native population was absorbed into the Spanish settler population to form the large mestizo population that still exists in Chile today.

Modern Chile

Various border disputes with neighboring countries broke out in the century following independence, though the perks of modernity also brought new innovations in the form of ports, railroads, and telegraph lines.

Power swung back and forth between liberal and conservative hands in the 19th and 20th centuries, with a slight shift to the left culminating in the election of Marxist president Salvador Allende in 1970.

Allende’s socialism was overthrown by a bloody military dictatorship in 1973, headed by Augusto Pinochet following a coup implicitly backed by the U.S. Following Pinochet’s exit in 1990, Chile has become more left-leaning and enjoyed strong economic growth. 

The Chilean Cuisine

Chilean cuisine brings together traditional Spanish favorites and indigenous ingredients, as well as flavors from German, Italian and French cuisine. The result of this melting pot is food that’s simple and delicious.

Seafood

Given that Chile’s coastline spans 4,000 miles, you won’t be surprised to learn that seafood features heavily in the country’s cuisine. Mussels, clams, shellfish, eel, sea bass, and salmon can be bought fresh at the many fish markets that populate coastal communities.

Seafood is also widely enjoyed in restaurants, often in the form of ceviche, curanto (steamed shellfish and meat), or paila marina (fish stew), which usually come with a healthy serving of vegetables. Empanadas de marisco (seafood empanadas) are a street-food favorite.

Meat

Like its Argentine neighbors, Chile is a meat-loving nation. Beef and pork abound, with popular meals including cazuela (beef stew), pastel de choclo (corn and beef pie), and the famed Chilean loaded hot dog.

As with Chile’s seafood, meat-based meals are typically served with an assortment of potatoes and other vegetables. If you only have time to sample one delicacy in Chile, make sure it’s empanadas de pino (beef empanada)!

Wine

Chile has a long tradition of wine-making that dates back to the arrival of the Spanish in the sixteenth century. Immensely popular internationally, Chile ranked as the world’s fifth largest exporter of wines in 2020.

Chile’s best vineyards are found in the Central Valley, a fertile strip of land that sits between the coast and the Andes in the heart of the country. If you’d like to learn more about the cultivation of Chilean wine, check out our previous post here.

The Chilean Arts

Drawing inspiration from the country’s impressive landscapes and — in many cases — their own experiences of political strife, Chile’s artistic minds have produced a number of works that have found fame both at home and abroad.

Pablo Neruda and gabriela mistral are two of chile’s most renowned poets

Literature

Chile is renowned for its poets, with Gabriella Mistral and Pablo Neruda both claiming the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1945 and 1971 respectively. Other acclaimed literary figures include magic realist writer Isabel Allende and prolific poet-novelist Roberto Bolano.

art is everywhere in chile, but especially in valparaiso, chile’s cultural capital

Art

From sculptures to street murals, art arrives in many forms in Chile. Arguably the nation’s most important painter, Roberto Matta played a central role in the international surrealist movement. The art scene today is thriving with dynamic expressions in painting, cinema, and photography. 

Music

Music is central to community life in Chile, as evidenced by the lively national dance called the cueca. Folk music still finds expression today in the form of the tonada, which now competes with a decidedly more international sound that draws on pop, rock, jazz, and hip hop.

The vacuña are similar to deer and inhabit much of the Chilean patagonia

Interested in Visiting Chile?

Not only is Chile’s culture utterly fascinating, but the country also boasts some of the world’s most dazzling landscapes in Patagonia and the Atacama Desert. It’s no surprise that, prior to the pandemic, Chile ranked as the third most popular South American country for tourists.

If you’re interested in visiting Chile, take a look at our sample itinerary here to get some more inspiration for your trip. When you’re ready to take the next step, don’t hesitate to get in touch — we’ll be waiting to help your plan your dream visit to Chile!

Learn from Travel is a leading provider of culturally-immersive travel programs. With a deep network in Chile, we’re well equipped to help you arrange your trip. Contact us today to begin planning your fully customizable Chilean travel experience.

Belize Travel Guide: Best Places, Activities, and Tips for Your Trip

With paradisal landscapes and a colorful culture, Belize is one of Central America’s most celebrated tourist destinations, drawing rave reviews from backpackers, honeymooners, and international students alike, and attracting more than one million visitors every year.

With so much to see and do in the country, it can be difficult to know where to begin. That’s why we’ve put together a travel guide to assist with your preparations. Below, you’ll find advice on safety, sightseeing, budgeting, and more to help you plan the perfect trip to Belize!

Best Places to Visit in Belize

Belize is home to a range of fascinating cultural sites and natural wonders, offering unrivaled opportunities for sightseeing and adventure. We’ve narrowed down the country’s best offerings to three must-visit attractions for your trip.

Belize Barrier Reef

Straddling the Caribbean coast lies the Belize Barrier Reef, the second-longest coral reef system in the world. Whether you’re looking for adventure or relaxation, Belize’s palm-fringed beaches and diverse marine ecosystems are sure to live long in the memory.

Visit the tranquil Caye Caulker or the vibrant San Pedro to access world-class snorkeling and diving at Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley, or descend the mysterious Great Blue Hole 100km off the coast of the country. For those who prefer land, nothing beats a cocktail on the sunlounger!

Mayan ruins

Did you know Belize is believed to have once been the epicenter of the Maya Empire? The great civilization left behind dozens of breathtaking temples, with the best ruins at Caracol, Lamanai, Xunantunich, and Altun Ha. The latter three are all accessible from Belize City.

Another popular attraction is the chilling Actun Tunichil Muknal cave. Hidden away in Belize’s tropical heartland, the “ATM” is a Mayan archaeological site that displays the skeletal remains of sacrifice victims from more than a millennium ago.

Tropical jungles

Preferring to stick to the coast, most tourists miss out on the abundant Maya Forest that covers the vast majority of the mainland. Belize’s jungles are extremely well preserved and secluded, making the country one of the best in the world for wildlife watching.

Head south to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary for unrivaled rainforest hikes and, if you’re lucky, a glimpse of the elusive jaguar. Just outside Belize City, Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary’s wetland lagoons show another side to the country’s diverse landscapes.

Belize sample itinerary

Check out our sample itinerary for a one-week trip to Belize below:

1. Arrive in Belize City and immediately catch a water taxi to San Pedro to soak up the best of Belize’s beaches and Barrier Reef at Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker.

2. After a couple of days, return to the mainland and head southwest to San Ignacio, a tourist hub with connections to Actun Tunichil Muknal and the Mayan ruins at Xunantunich.

3. Once satisfied with San Ignacio, return to the coastline for transport links south towards Placencia, finding time to stop off at Mayflower Bocawina National Park and Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary along the way.

4. After ample adventures in the jungle, finish up in Placencia for one more day of coastal paradise before returning home.

Best Belize Travel Tips

Now that you know where to visit, here are some useful tips that will help you get the most out of your time in Belize.

Listen out for different languages

Belize’s official language is English, however many locals are multilingual and will often switch between English, Spanish, and Kriol, an English dialect closely linked to Caribbean patois. You’ll generally be fine with English, though Spanish is more common close to the country’s borders. 

Live like a local

As with any trip, we urge you to step out of your comfort zone and immerse yourself in the host culture. This means leaving behind the tourist resort, and instead taking public transport, eating street food, and socializing with locals! You’ll learn more and save a lot of money this way.

Stick to tourist neighborhoods in Belize City

As a caveat to the previous point, remember to follow standard travel safety tips like keeping an eye on your bad when out in public. Belize is one of the safest countries to visit in Central America, though there are a few areas, such as Belize City’s Southside, that are best avoided.

Allow plenty of time for activities 

Compared to some other countries, Belize runs at a relatively relaxed pace. Make sure to leave plenty of time for transportation when it comes to tours, activities, and other bookings, as your connections may not always arrive on schedule.

Budgeting in Belize

Belize caters to both affluent travelers and budget backpackers. While luxury resorts abound, it’s also possible to travel the country on a tight budget of about $50 a day. If you’re planning a trip during peak tourist season (October–April), expect higher prices.

Below, you’ll find budgeting guidance for four key expenses: accommodation, activities, food, and transportation. Please note that the figures below are rough estimates, and should only be used to get a general idea of your budget.

Accommodation

Belize’s busiest tourist destinations are well served by hotels and hostels. The cheapest accommodation costs about $20 per night, while luxury resorts will set you back $130 or higher.

In the more remote, inland locations, accommodation will be pricier — keep this in mind if you’re planning any overnight stays in the jungle, and be sure to book early to access the best rates.

Activities

Depending on your budget, you may have to pick and choose from Belize’s big-ticket activities. Top attractions like snorkeling in the Barrier Reef or touring the ATM caves are likely to set you back around $100 each.

If you’re looking to limit spending, simply go without a guide and enjoy the charms of Placencia and Caye Caulker on foot. Many of the temples in the San Ignacio region, including Xunantunich, have a very nominal entrance fee of $5 that’s well worth the price.

Food

Belize has a wide range of food options for different budgets. Eating at cheap restaurants and street stalls will allow you to limit daily food costs to around $15, while regular sit-down meals at the pricier establishment will incur daily costs of about $50. 

If you have access to your own cooking facilities, check out this cooking demo from our friend Chef Silvia, who works with the nonprofit Hope Haven to provide food to families in need in San Pedro.

Transportation

Public transportation is inexpensive, and provides an economical (though not always comfortable) way to travel across the country. A bus ticket from Belize City to San Ignacio, for example, costs around $5, while a return ferry to Caye Caulker is priced at about $25.

Bus and shuttle operators will often provide transport to nearby tourist sites, offering a cheaper alternative to taxis. If you go with the economical options, you should be able to keep daily travel costs to no more than $10.

Plan Your Trip to Belize

Despite its small size, Belize is packed with delights befitting a country much bigger in stature. From sweeping sands and coral reefs to ancient ruins in the rainforest, adventure is never far away in this enchanted country. Get started with your planning today!

If you’re interested in arranging a trip to Belize, don’t hesitate to contact us. Learn from Travel is connected to a vast network of local providers and will work with you to design your very own culturally-immersive travel program.

How Much Does it Cost to Study Abroad? Everything You Need to Know

For most international students, cost is by far the biggest barrier to studying abroad. A quick calculation of course fees, accommodation, and other related expenses can turn the firmest of study abroad plans into a pipe dream.

The good news for aspiring travelers is that there are now more options than ever when it comes to studying abroad. With enough research and a razor-sharp budget, you’ll be able to find an enriching study program that fits your finances.

To that end, we’ve put together an exhaustive list of all the costs you to need consider and provided guidance on how to create a watertight budget for your trip. Careful financial planning is key to getting the most mileage (literally and figuratively) out of your study abroad experience!

The Costs of Study Abroad

According to research from the International Institute of Education, the average cost of studying abroad is $18,000 per semester and $36,000 for the full academic year. These are very rough estimates, and costs will vary widely based on your country and program of choice.

Below, we break down the different expenses that make up the total cost of studying abroad. Use these as a starting point for your budgeting.

Program Fees

Likely to be the biggest expense of your study abroad experience, program fees can range anywhere between a couple of hundred dollars to $40,000 for a full year. The fee depends on several factors, including the length of study, the status of the provider, and the program itself.

Some countries have excellent public education systems and charge international students very little. Where private institutions abound, such as in the US, UK, and Australia, costs are likely to be much higher.

Make note of any additional fees and always check to see if you’re eligible for financial aid in the form of travel grants and scholarships. If you’re unable to afford a semester-long placement, consider a short-term study abroad program at a more manageable price. 

Accommodation

Some study abroad programs include accommodation in their upfront costs, providing a homestay or other living arrangement (often with meals included) as part of the package. Where this isn’t the case, rent is likely to be one of your biggest expenses after the program fee.

If accommodation isn’t offered in your study abroad program, you should begin looking for places to rent as early as possible — your study abroad provider will be able to help you with this. Sites like Nestpick and Housing Anywhere can also be used to assess the rental market.

If you’re looking for estimates to factor into your budgeting, Numbeo provides average rent prices for different types of property across more than 10,000 cities around the world.

Living Costs

With rent and tuition covered, your next step is to work out a daily budget for things like food, drink, mobile phone charges, and other related expenses. Research the cost of living in your chosen destination using Numbeo and budget accordingly based on your personal needs.

It’s also advisable to earmark some money for ongoing, miscellaneous support. Try not to be too stringent with your budget; running out of money for daily living costs will quickly turn any study abroad experience sour.

Travel Costs

Travel-related expenses can be divided into three key areas: 

1. Visa costs

2. Flight tickets

3. Day-to-day transport

Travel visas may be necessary for trips exceeding 90 days. They generally cost around $160; you can find the precise price for your destination on the US Department of State’s website. 

Some study abroad programs will include flights as part of the package, but in most cases you’ll need to arrange your own tickets for arrival and departure. Costs vary depending on how early you book as well as the length of the journey, but you’ll probably need to budget at least $1,500.

You’ll also need to factor in daily travel expenses. Research the costs of buses, trains, and taxis in your chosen destination and budget accordingly. If you’re planning any sightseeing trips or visits home, you can account for these expenses in this part of the budget.

Insurance

Travel insurance for things like theft, medical emergencies, and natural disasters should not be forgone. An insurance plan with wide coverage will provide priceless peace of mind and allow you to fully immerse yourself in the trip.

Insurance may already be included in your program’s pricing; make sure to check this. Otherwise, comparison websites like travelinsurance.com can help you find a good deal, with basic packages starting at around $30 for short stays.

Medical Expenses

Some countries require you to have certain medical tests and immunizations before you travel and enroll in your study program. These may be accessible for free depending on where you’re based, or they could incur a relatively small fee.

Working Out Your Study Abroad Budget

Let’s recap. Your study abroad budget will consist of:

• Program fee

• Accommodation (if applicable)

• Travel costs

• Living costs

• Insurance

• Medical expenses (if applicable)

Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to working out a bulletproof budget.

1. Add Tuition, Insurance, and Medical Expenses Together

The costs associated with tuition, insurance, and any medical expenses are all one-off fees and should, therefore, be easy to tally up as a starting point.

For the purpose of this guide, let’s say that you’re planning a semester abroad in São Paulo. You find that your program fee is $3,500, while travel insurance and a mandatory Diptheria vaccination set you back $150 and $30 respectively. That’s $3,680 to start with.

2. Work Out Accommodation Costs

If your chosen program doesn’t provide accommodation, the next step is to set aside some money for rent. Using a site like Numbeo, estimate your accommodation costs based on your location and length of stay.

Let’s continue our example. During your semester in São Paulo, you need somewhere to rent for four months. Based on cost of living data, a one-bedroom apartment in the city center is likely to cost around $600 per month, so you set aside $2,400 for accommodation.

3. Calculate Travel Expenses

Start with your travel costs by checking if you require a student visa. Afterward, use a comparison website like Skyscanner to estimate the price of your flights, and remember to factor in any trips home you may wish to make during your time abroad.

This is where things get a little tricky. Based on your location and appetite for travel beyond your placement, set aside some money for day-to-day transport, using localized cost of living data to gauge the prices of buses, trains, and other transport links in your chosen destination.

Here’s how our student in São Paulo budgets their travel expenses:

• Visa: pays $135 for a Brazilian VITEM IV student visa

• Flights: allocates $3,000 for two return flights to São Paulo, which includes one trip home during the semester

• Daily travel: averages day-to-day transport costs as $5, which works out at around $600 for the semester

Altogether, that’s $3,735 for travel expenses.

4. Budget Living Costs

Last but not least: your daily living costs. Here, you’ll need to account for food and drink, clothes, phone bills, and other optional costs like souvenirs or a gym membership. Again, use recent cost of living data to make the most precise estimates.

For your stay in São Paulo, let’s say you set a daily allowance of $15 for food and $10 for other expenses. Across the semester, that amounts to around $3,000.

5. Tally It Up

All that remains is to add your separate costs together. Here’s our example of a semester in  São Paulo:

• Program fee: $3,500

• Accommodation: $2,400

• Travel costs: $3,735

• Living costs: $3,000

• Insurance: $150

• Medical expenses: $30

Total cost = $12,815

This is a very rough guideline and has only been used to demonstrate the budgeting process. When calculating your own expenses, it’s always best to overestimate costs and leave some extra money available for emergencies.

Affordable Alternatives to Semester-Long Study Abroad Programs

Studying abroad for a semester or full academic year is expensive. If you feel priced out of an international university placement, short-term study abroad programs led by third-party providers like Learn from Travel offer a more affordable alternative.

Our immersive programs provide all the cultural benefits of semester-long study within a more manageable two-week timeframe, and at competitive rates that don’t require years of saving. Take a look at some of our sample programs here.

Study Abroad is for Everyone

The wealth of study abroad opportunities available means it’s never been easier to find a program befitting your budget. And with life-changing experiences, professional development, and new friends all awaiting you on your travels, it’s likely to be money well spent!

Are you interested in culturally-immersive travel but have concerns about the price? Contact us to enquire about our affordable short-term study programs and begin your adventure today.

New Orleans: The Quintessential American City

Domestic Destination from Global Education

As part of our support for Agnes Scott College Global Journeys programs, we were tasked with developing a program based in New Orleans on the topic of social memory. This was a challenging topic to pursue in the American South, and in a city with a storied but difficult past. 

New Orleans is a true example of the modern American city, with its diverse culture, historical significance, and a truly global appeal, ‘The Big Easy’ is a vibrant, raucous, and incredibly interesting place to visit. Whether you know it as the birthplace of jazz or the heartbreaking center of Hurricane Katrina’s horror, its importance reaches far beyond its borders.

The people of New Orleans are what make it what it is.  From its deep indigenous roots to its modern-day diaspora of cultures from around the world, you will not find a more resilient, diverse, and celebratory population anywhere else in the country.

Visiting New Orleans can inspire and educate, and the fusion of multiple diverse cultures serves as a microcosm of contemporary American society. New Orleans is a gateway to the rest of the world - making it the perfect domestic destination for global education.

During our 8-day itinerary in March, students from Agnes Scott College encountered everything that New Orleans has to offer, learning from monuments, museums, and conversations with local guides and community leaders who helped imbue a deeper understanding of the challenging history of the city and its legacy in the present day.  

Why New Orleans for a Faculty-led Global Study Program?

There is no one singular thing that could sum up New Orleans, but there are two highly influential phenomena to consider in the very first instance: Jazz and Hurricane Katrina. As different as these two influences are, they are among the most important forces that have shaped the Big Easy of today. At the center of the city, however, like a beating heart, are the people of New Orleans.

Historically diverse, it’s key to understand how we got to the New Orleans of today - and on this program we do that by looking at the vastly diverse groups of people that have all converged in New Orleans. We explore history through the concept of social memory, a term that historians have used to probe the connection between social identity and historical memory. We can explore and understand the past to help us understand our present culture, context, and identities. Given it’s cultural complexities, more than a fair share of challenges, and a rich history, there is no better place to explore social memory in the US than in New Orleans. 

Indigenous history

A key part of understanding social memory in America is to look at the reality of history, which considers colonial conquest, slavery and how those things are reflected in today’s society.

Long before Europeans settled in America, New Orleans was a Native American settlement for over a thousand years. Our program in New Orleans took in a number of pre-settlement locations and monuments through an Indigenous guide, helping educate students and faculty alike on the deeper roots of the city that lie beneath the centuries of European architecture.

Civil war & removal of confederate monuments

Another key consideration with regard to social memory in New Orleans, is the significance of the city within the context of the Civil War. While New Orleans was captured relatively early on, it was spared much of the destruction of some other places in America. This means that historically, the imprint of the various cultures that influenced New Orleans still stands today, with French, Spanish and Indigenous remnants all visible.

Our program included meetings with organizations such as Colloquate, which helped remove confederate statues from New Orleans. The meeting provoked deep discussions on race and culture within America as a whole, which is exactly the purpose of study of social memory.

The birthplace of Jazz

It would be impossible to visit New Orleans without considering the hugely popular music genre that is jazz, now one of the most enduring and loved genres of music around the globe.

Our program included a visit to the NOLA Jazz Museum, Treme’s Petit Jazz Museum and even a balcony concert at the Jazz Museum. Agnes Scott college students got the full experience from history right through to today - with an incredible live performance!

Hurricane Katrina 

While jazz speaks of the huge impact that New Orleans has had on the world, more recent history recounts the impact that the natural world has had on New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina was one of the most devastating natural disasters the world has ever seen, claiming over 1,800 lives and causing $125 billion worth of damage - with a large part of that hitting New Orleans directly.

The category 5 storm caused damage to most major roads in and out of the city, 53 levees broke, and extensive damage to a number of high-rise buildings and hotels in the area - not to mention the effect this had on the people of the city themselves, a large number of whom sheltered in the home of the local NFL team, the New Orleans Saints. Even the stadium itself suffered significant damage.

Up to 80% of the city was flooded and it has been named one of the worst engineering failures in the history of the world due to the government flood defenses failing so drastically. In the intervening years, New Orleans did see a decline in population from pre-Katrina levels for over a decade, as many people who were displaced during the disaster remained away.

Our program included visits to the Lower 9th Ward Living Museum, which features histories from community members regarding those hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina, which imbued the students with a real sense of the resilience of the people of New Orleans and what it meant in real terms to have to deal with the natural disaster of such proportions.

Our domestic faculty-led program - what was so amazing?

Our 8-day guided journey through New Orleans focused on social memory, the presence of the past in today’s New Orleans, and the challenges of identity and culture in the context of the many forces that have shaped New Orleans. The highlights, as always, were the deep and difficult conversations students had with their guides and hosts, with faculty, and with each other. They went as deep into New Orleans fabric as they could have during a weeklong experience, but we really believe that they were transformed by this program.  

Some notable highlights include the following:

• A visit to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, the nation’s first memorial dedicated to the legacy of enslaved black people and the major injustices and violence black people have faced

• Attending a Voodoo Ceremony and Ghost Tour, which explores the links between the city’s past and present

• Various Jazz museum visits that take in the musical birthplace of jazz across the city, from Treme’s Petit Jazz museum to the New Orleans Jazz Museum

• Conversations with important stakeholders from the Mardi Gras Indian Council and Colloquate, learning about the multitudes of cultural history in New Orleans

• A series of exciting meals in important settings, time to reflect upon the deep history of New Orleans, and various live music events we enjoyed as a group
  

Across the 8 days, students were guided through the itinerary that included meals that challenged their palate, intriguing tours that opened literal and metaphorical doors, visits to off-the-beaten path locations, and meetings with many fascinating residents, such as our Indigenous Trans guide who took our group to see important pre-Colombian landmarks and shared insight from a unique point of view.

The bus trip from Atlanta also included stops at various landmarks on the way to and from New Orleans, breaking up the travel time and allowing the group to take in even more of America’s history along the way.

What students have said about this program

Students on the program were hugely impressed, as per their post-tour feedback. There were near-perfect scores across the board for how professional and engaging our tour guide was on the trip, with friendliness, organization, communication, and logistics all scoring top marks from the students’ point of view.

One student noted that the tour “gave [them] a sense of self and acknowledgment of [their] own culture.” Others declared the tour was “transformative” and praised the opportunity to get out of the classroom and to hear voices from people who deserve to have their narrative heard.

In particular, the Voodoo tour, the Mardi Gras council talk, and the wide range of activities that were organized for the students drew great praise. Almost every student who responded would recommend Learn From Travel.

The diverse range of activities, the tours, and the opportunity to learn directly from the people of New Orleans was of particular note to the students, all of whom also praised the lodging, food, and logistics of the tour as a whole.

What faculty have said about this program

The faculty leaders scored the trip with near maximum points across the board, from the lodging and meals to the guide and logistics of the trip.

The faculty leaders were extremely pleased with the tour guide, too, labeling them ‘amazing’ and praised the fact that any mishaps that did come up (as invariably happens on trips) were dealt with the utmost professionalism. They too would recommend Learn From Travel to others.

Highlights for the faculty included the ever-popular Voodoo tour, as well as the speaker on the monuments and the visit to the Lower 9th Ward Museum commemorating Hurricane Katrina.

Interested in a faculty-led global learning program in New Orleans?

With everything from guided voodoo tours, discovering the birth of jazz first-hand, and learning of the diversity, deep-rooted culture, and resilience of the incredible people who make the Big Easy what it is today, New Orleans is steeped in history, vibrant culture, and the somber realities of race in America.

If you’re interested in organizing a faculty-led program in New Orleans, on social memory or another topic, don’t hesitate to get in touch — we’ll be waiting to help plan and deliver your program in New Orleans!

Learn from Travel is a leading provider of culturally-immersive travel programs. With a deep network in New Orleans, we’re well equipped to help you arrange your faculty-led domestic study abroad. Contact us today to begin planning your fully customizable New Orleans travel experience.