As the school year comes to a close and graduation ceremonies wind down, many high school and college graduates embark on the cultural phenomenon known as the gap year. For young adults craving a gap year adventure before entering the workforce, and for travelers of all ages planning to travel abroad, not all destination cities are created equal.
For gap year travel, and any long-term trips, travelers must factor in cost-of-living more so than travelers visiting for shorter periods. Factors like the exchange rate, cost of food, and cost of public transportation become even more important than the cost of international airfare. While many European cities are notoriously expensive, there are many top international destinations with surprisingly cheap day-to-day costs. For gap year travel that won't wipe out your budget, consider heading to one of these surprisingly cheap international destinations.
Istanbul, Turkey
As one of Europe's up-and-coming hotspots, perhaps the most attractive thing about Istanbul is its relative unpopularity with U.S. tourists. Travelers should take advantage Istanbul before the masses catch on and prices skyrocket. This busy and vibrant city has everything an international traveler could want: breathtaking architecture, important historical sites, busy marketplaces, and world-class dining and nightlife.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
A recent boom in Kuala Lumpur's economy means that the bustling city is teeming with tourism attractions, but still dramatically more affordable than traditional international travel favorites. Savings on travel costs will add up quickly in Kuala Lumpur, from low price fine dining, to low cost luxury hotel accommodations and inexpensive cab fares. The city will leave even the most distinguished international traveler fulfilled, with museums, shopping, beaches, and jungles to marvel at.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon boasts the striking cathedrals, monasteries, and museums that travelers expect of prime European locations, but for a much lower price tag. Travelers cut costs in many ways, with cheap authentic Portuguese food abundant in small taverns and affordable nightlife in the areas surrounding universities. Head to museums on a Sunday: many of them are free for one day only.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires is one of the top value international destinations in the world. Lodging accommodations, dining, and shopping are all shockingly affordable in Argentina. Enjoy the vibrant street life of El Puerto de Buenos Aires, witness the country's signature dance, the tango, and make sure to witness a soccer game, all without breaking the bank.
Very Cheap International Flights
You may carry out a search for cheap international flights and find that there are a number of bargains or good deals. But wouldn't it be great to get a free flight and free accommodation when you decide to go travelling? You may be able to do this through a recruiter or employer.
Earning Your Cheap International Flights
The international language of commerce is English. Everything from programming guides for software applications to business studies degrees and diplomatic meetings in faraway lands use American English rather than British English as the lingua franca. Japanese businesses will use English rather than Mandarin to communicate with Chinese clients.
So what better way to get a cheap (or free) flight than to teach English for a few hours a day in a foreign country? English as a Second Language courses that give you the rudiments of teaching can be carried out over one weekend in many cases. One of the best ways to get a cheap or free flight that you won't find on those cheap international flights links is through teaching English on your travels and having a qualification helps no end.
Navigating the Pitfalls of Cheap International Flight Links
Exercise caution when applying for English teaching positions. There are scams everywhere, and teacher sites or recruitment agencies that claim to cover the costs of travel may refuse to reimburse you upon your arrival. Answering ads directly from schools that advertise on reputable websites is one method of preventing yourself from getting stung. Reviews by former employees will also help.
A free flight and accommodation may be just two perks of the job, but you will also need to ask questions, particularly of those employers in less developed countries: Does the accommodation have electricity, for example? What floor will your apartment be on, and will there be an elevator in the building? How many hours of tuition will you be expected to give each day before the costs of your flights and accommodation are worked out? How much money will you make per hour of tuition?
Remember your dollars will probably be like gold in many undeveloped regions, so the currency exchange rate may result in you only receiving a pittance. Often, you may have to work for a full year to fulfil the terms of your teaching contract. However, just $50 will probably sustain you for a month or more in many places.
Exploring the International Work Place
If you don't feel comfortable teaching English, you may find other means of employment to pay for your travels. Searches for cheap international flights links probably won't throw up too many employment searches but if you are good with your hands, you may consider working for a charity. People with skills such as carpentry and bricklaying are often sought in the less developed regions for programs similar to Habitat for Humanity. Again, you may only be paid a pittance (if at all) as the exchange rate for your dollar will be very bad.
If you're looking to make wiser investments, maybe consider buying property on the international market. Property will probably cost a fraction of what you'd pay for in a big US city, and the new developments are usually world class. If you decide to seize such an investment opportunity, the property developers will often be more than happy to cover the costs of flights and accommodation. Management companies may also guarantee some form of rental income in case it stays vacant for part of the year.
So check out all of these opportunities if you've been hit by the travelling bug. There's far more to cheap international flights links than just cheap international flights.
Both Evvie Meier & Huzaili Aris are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Evvie Meier has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family Travel, Web Development and Travel and Leisure. Evvie Meier is the marketing director of Trax.com, the leading travel meta-search engine, aggregating ?>super cheap flights and hotel rates from across hu. Evvie Meier's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
Huzaili Aris has sinced written about articles on various topics from Video, Northern Spain and Baby Shower. Huzaili Aris loves to travel and reveals more tips on how to find at his website. You'll also find trav. Huzaili Aris's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.
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