What's it gonna cost?

The basic idea of volunteering is cheap but actually funding that accomplishment abroad is not. Here are my tips on traveling, finding the right program for your budget, and saving to make your dreams reality.

Where do you want to go?

Since not everyone is a millionaire, think long and hard about what you want to do. Specific programs and different countries have different needs in terms of volunteering positions. Many third-world countries need more childcare, healthcare, and education. Often with childcare programs, you will be located in a small rural town and will need to arrange train or bus travel from a larger surrounding city. Childcare programs often involve a live in situation to help care for the children 24/7 so think about if you could see yourself staying in one specific rural area for long periods at a time.

How much do you want to spend?

When thinking about volunteering abroad, you need to consider what you are willing to give and what you want to get out of the trip. Smaller organizations can range from donation basis, up to $300 for one week. While smaller organizations can be a bit more expensive, they are less structured and restrictive on how you are able to help the people you work with. In these organizations, you may contribute more personalized, one-on-one care with the and other volunteers.

Many organizations reduce the weekly cost the longer you plan to stay and commit to the program (i.e. the more weeks you spend volunteering with one program, the average cost to stay there per week could be cheaper by 10-15%)

How will you get there?

Google.com/flights is an accurate, free way to compare all flight costs across all airlines. Just type in where you want to go and the dates of your desired trip. Round trips will be more expensive than one-ways, so if you have the time and don't mind taking longer layovers in obscure cities, you can extend your trip for cheaper by traveling to a few different countries over a longer period of time.

For example, a round trip flight to Peru in mid-October can be about $600 plus transport to and from the airport, along with bag fees.  A one way ticket is about $200 cheaper.




If time is not an issue, you can opt for a longer layover of 40 hours and catch up on some reading, and sleep for almost $170 cheaper. I would suggest planning your trip a few months in advance to increase your flexibility of traveling time and decrease your spending.

You can also gauge how flight prices decrease over time.






Another option for picking flights is to use the Google Flights Map to pick your starting and ending destinations based on how cheap it is to fly between the US and international countries.


For instance, a flight from the US to Brazil may be cheaper than the US to Peru, so maybe plan your trip to take you from the US to Brazil and travel by train to Peru instead. Again, this may depend on your flexibility to travel.

When to purchase flights?

I have found that purchasing tickets 1 and 1/2 to 2 months before your trip is a sweet spot for getting a good price. Because airline prices and gas prices vary so much, it is best to wait until you feel you're getting a good deal. 2 months is also a good aim when thinking about what programs you want to go on. Some programs require you to apply and pay for the trip anywhere from a week to a month in advance of your arrival, so you will have ample time to get a good deal on the flights then pay for your volunteer program.

What does the program provide?

Lodging and living quarters

Many of the programs will offer a place to stay while you are volunteering, and hostels are very abundant in large cities.  Often, you will be staying with other volunteers in a base camp or facility and this lodging is included in your volunteer payment.  This is to keep you all on similar schedules and have all of the resources (dining halls, bathrooms) easily accessible to you.  However, keep in mind that you will be spending little time here.

Transportation

While some programs may be located in the heart of a city and only require a short 30-minute bus ride, remember that other programs could be and 8+ hour train ride from the nearest airport.

Food

Usually provided on the days that you are working (traditionally Monday-Friday in volunteer clinics).  When the programs give you time off on the weekends however, don't expect compensation for meals or lodging at a hostel in a different town.  Always prepare by bringing your own money to purchase meals while going out of town with other volunteers.

Local Activities

Cost of living in these countries is usually fairly reasonable, meaning you could survive for almost a week for what you would spend in 3 day in the US.  Since you are mainly traveling to help others, it is likely that you would be spending most of your time in the volunteer quarters, the clinic, or staying on base except for a day or two out of the week.   I would recommend that in order to save money and contribute the most to the volunteer experience, limit outside spending to one day if possible. 

Where should I stay in the meantime?

An awesome part of volunteering abroad is the opportunity to travel the world and experience the cultures of the area.  I chose to spend a few days in the city before and after my time abroad.  I think Airbnb's open up lots of opportunity for truly experiencing the city or country the way that citizens do.  When you stay at an Airbnb, you get the opportunity to talk with the hosts about where to eat and what to do.  It is also a good chance to pick their brain about what life is like there and also exchange your own cultural practices.  Below are a few homes that I have stayed at during layovers in cities.  These placed were owned by AMAZING, GRACIOUS hosts and I would recommend staying in these homes if you decide to travel to these cities.

San Jose, Costa Rica:

(Coming Soon: Lima, Ollantaytambo, Paris, and Bangalore)