<p>Know of any good outside sources to get loans (approx 5k) for travel this summer? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Why do you need to travel? In general, I think taking loans out for travel is not a good idea because it's usually not a necessity. How about starting to save now for travel next summer?</p>
<p>What about looking for a program outside the country that offers scholarships? It could be a travel option with a chorus or band, or a research opportunity outside the country...or a community service opportunity. Perhaps there is some financial support for these.</p>
<p>I mention this because some kind of funding for the program expenses would be better than taking out a loan for travel...just for the sake of travel (yes, I do realize that traveling is worthwhile...but not if you don't have the funds to support it). Agreed with others...perhaps this is the summer to work and save money for some travel NEXT summer.</p>
<p>I also question the wisdom of borrowing money for travel -- could you earn enough money from now until the beginning of summer to buy the plane ticket? Maybe you could get a job overseas that would pay for room and board. just a thought.</p>
<p>What is your goal in travelling? Do you want to improve a foreign language, investigate a particular country with regards to history/politics/other issues? Or just see a country other than the US?</p>
<p>I'd just like to point out that I'm on a full ride at college and have worked since my sophomore year of high school. I don't see what's wrong with taking out 5-10k to have the time of my life traveling (to take classes, volunteer, and improve language skills). Is it really that bad of an idea?</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with traveling, I think the sticking point is borrowing to do it.</p>
<p>I think it would be wonderful if the OP could do some summer traveling. But I agree that borrowing that sum of money is not what I would suggest. I still suggest looking for a summer program where he/she can volunteer, or take classes, or improve language skills where perhaps some kinds of stipend would be offered. Just as a point...there are MANY students who would love to travel for the summer. But the costs keep them from doing so as well as the OP. I have encouraged my kids to do study abroad and travel while doing so. The reality is that we just can't afford another dime for them to travel outside of school. It's not a "bad idea" but perhaps the goals the OP wants can be attained during a term abroad.</p>
<p>lots of people I know have gotten jobs as au pairs and lived in another country for a year, joined the Peace Corp or similar organizations after graduation from college or volunteered through organizations like Leapnow.
I think it helps a great deal to have the structure of the volunteer organization rather than just "traveling"</p>
<p>GetOuttaBuffalo -- I certainly understand your desire to travel and get outside the US. I also understand that you are looking for break from constant work and school -- I just think that you aren't going to want that kind of debt for a summer trip. The adults that are responding understand a little better than you how much that debt can weigh you down in the future -- and debt for travel is just like adults who take out loans for a trip to Disneyland or Europe, it just isn't good fiscal sense.</p>
<p>I originally ask you about earning enough money for a ticket abroad. There are jobs overseas that might at least pay enough for you room and board. I know that many youth hostels will hire kids -- just a room in exchange for several hours of work, sometimes a meal or two is included.</p>
<p>My thoughts are that you could definitely do some travel this summer for a lot less than $5000 -- $10,000. My son will be spending this summer in Spain, working at a job and improving his Spanish. He will earn just enough to pay for his room and board, a little travel in western Europe and a bit of spending money -- but it won't cost me anything.</p>
<p>Don't decide you can't do it without a lump sum of money -- explore some other options.</p>
<p>What are some other options? I've looked pretty extensively into it and even volunteer organizations cost money to volunteer with them. (ie the programs on idealist.org and cross cultural solutions..etc)</p>
<p>and also, people take out loans to go to college...and i dont have any of those. so how are loans to travel worse than college loans? (by the way, i dont mean to sound mad or antagonizing on this thread...i'm not at all, i'm just curious as to yalls thoughts regarding this)</p>
<p>If NZ interests you check out Seasonal</a> Work in New Zealand You would still need a plane ticket over.</p>
<p>thanks! anyone else? im thinking europe, asia, or south africa or south america</p>
<p>If you are willing to be adventurous, start looking for jobs in other countries. I know that you can easily get a work visa for Spain -- and they have lots of jobs at the resorts during the summer (or so it seems).</p>
<p>There are forums and boards out there for student travel/work and living -- try to google some of those.</p>
<p>DD worked in china teaching English; program paid for her roundtrip airfare, room and board and $450 stipend, plus free travel vacation of 4-5 days at the end. She went to Nicaragua for a month for free with her Universities' Engineers without Borders, spent 5 months in Chile doing study abroad (not free, but the same cost as being at her University, and the financial aid transfered), traveled to Brazil for a short visit as a high school student funded by the state, studied Persian at another university in another state in a program that covered all costs except transportation to the site, and covers free study abroad next summer. Opportunities are out there; you just have to look for them. :)</p>
<p>woa anxious mom-- what program was that called for teaching English in China?</p>
<p>And yes I understand I have to look for them...but opportunities like your DD had are not easy to find by any means.</p>
<p>Our local state college holds a study abroad fair each semester. around 2 dozen organizations, not all associated with the university, were represented. Many offered language programs such as the china one. See if your school holds a similar fair or check with their study abroad office for ideas.</p>
<p>I'm failing to see why the money needs to be borrowed. That's the attitude that too many adult American consumers have had. If you don't have the money now, you shouldn't spend it. (Your primary residence may be an exception to this rule, but that shouldn't justify loans that you can't afford, even after potential, and very likely, interest rate hikes over time).</p>
<p>Work a summer job to make enough money, saving every single dime you make (after paying the IRS), then take the trip.</p>
<p>I pm'd you; but for others who want info.. try googling key words of the country you are interested in and "summer camp counselor" or "English summer camp" along with the country name, or "free travel" Talk to your study abroad coordinator at your Univ. and see if they have a "work abroad" program, or summer exchange. Talk to the anthropology profs, check all around your University...are any of the profs doing research abroad and need assistants to go with them? Do you have an alternative spring break, or alternative summer break program at your school? Do any of the classes at your university study abroad as part of the class? Google, google and google some more. How about applying through the Boren program for summer study abroad? National</a> Security Education Program Hope this helps.</p>