Language Travel Abroad: Planning Your Own Trip vs. A Packaged Itinerary

After months of painstaking planning and researching you have finally decided where you want to go to learn the new language, congratulations! You have conquered the first big step towards language travel.  One of the first things you want to do is actually see and explore the new city, town or country you are in. But the question is do you plan your own trips or sign up for a packaged tour? There are clear pros and cons associated with each and we will discuss them further throughout this article.

When you are finished reading, you will have all the facts needed to make the proper decision that is right for you. After all when you come to a country you want to make the most of your time there, and especially learning the language!

According to ACS Distance Education, “Package tours or itineraries are excursions, which “package” a variety of services together to make a single combined trip”. Typically they include language courses, accommodation, activities, and meals. Sometimes depending on the tour it may include a guide/teamer as well. You can also choose the duration of the tour. Some tours are 1 day, 1 week or to several weeks if you choose, so there is some degree of flexibility involved.

Prerequisites

If you currently want to enroll in a language program abroad make sure you check the guidelines and necessary educational credentials you need to have in order to study in that particular country. For example, a SC GEOS Sprachcaffe high school program in Toronto or Montreal requires the completion of grade 8 or 9 in your home country, completion of English level B2 and a study permit. These academic requirements will be in addition to your approved student visa and letters of recommendation from your school.

Registration

Before committing to a package itinerary with a company you will first have to complete a registration form either online or on paper. Many of the sections you will have to fill out are standard such as your full name, address, and contact information. 

Working Holiday

If you really want to receive the authentic experience of a country and immerse yourself into the daily language of the local people then perhaps a working holiday is for you. Examples include working on a farm, being an Au Pair for a family, serving in a restaurant, and volunteering at an orphanage or hospital. There are so many options of jobs you can do while also actively learning the local vernacular around you and bettering yourself in the process. Programs like Languages Abroad offer a vast variety of working holidays to choose from.  They are especially ideal for people who love being helpful, while learning the most from their trip abroad and receiving the best of both worlds.  

Multi-Destination Package

The benefit of multi-destination packages is that travelers do not have to limit themselves. They can receive a multi-dimensional experience of a country’s language, such as being exposed to varying accents throughout different regions. An example of such a tour can include a cross-country Canadian package that starts in Montreal, stopping in Toronto and drives through the Canadian Rockies into Vancouver. A Canadian multi-destination packaged tour can offer students the memorable chance to compare and contrast French and English influences of the country. Or if a traveler can’t decide whether to start a new language, or continuing to improve their current foreign language then they should choose to create their own package. For example a tour that travels from London to Paris.

A multi-destination package allows for a more smooth transition between locations that saves you from the hassle and planning and booking all the accommodations and activities. There is versatility within package tours that can give you a more well-rounded educational experience that can be more daunting and challenging if going on your own.

Sightseeing and Networking

Many packages offer exclusive sightseeing and networking opportunities that you might not normally have the knowledge of if you are planning your own trip. You would be offered a schedule of activities such as cultural trips, excursions, dinners, or even dance courses that would encourage you to put to practice new language skills. Events such as a movie night where you can practice your English at a cinema and board games encourage comradery and teamwork. These are ideal environments for fostering a new language.

Accomodation

Students have the option of choosing what kind of accommodation they want. Usually they have the choice between a homestay or a residence. A homestay would be more beneficial if you want to be fully engrossed into the culture because you are actually living with a local family. Some homestays are located centrally in downtown, while others are found farther along the outskirts of the city giving you exclusive access to parts of the city others would not have. A residence would be very close to the school or could even be located in the same building. Staying in a residence would be more convenient and you would be staying with many other international students and school leaders. However there would be less opportunity to become more acquainted with the locals and city, so pros and cons are associated with each accommodation.

Structure

Many people who thrive in a structured environment choose a packaged itinerary. Especially if you need motivation to do activities that you normally would not do alone.  A packaged tour in a good way can lock you into an agreement. An itinerary guarantees your participation in the activities you plan to do unless it is cancelled for some unforeseen circumstances (weather, political instability, strike, etc.).

Packaged tours can also be time efficient for someone who is only living in the country for a short duration. Therefore they need to see and do as much as they can. In order to maximize their experience, an organized tour can save a lot of time, and money especially when it comes to planning and navigating around a new foreign place.

Ideal for Making Friends/Solo Travelers

The social aspect of a packaged tour is a major attraction for many people. Solo travel can be a scary experience and intimidating. A group tour can help ease those anxieties. Your chances of meeting new friends that could potentially bloom into a short or long-term friendship are higher, than if you were alone.

“A week long packaged tour was exactly what I wanted when I first traveled alone to Australia. I wanted to meet new friends. I sought the comfort and ease of being in a group setting with a guide who was native to the country, and knew exactly where to go. A tour with Wayoutback was perfect for me at that time in my life because it was my first big trip abroad alone. I was also fortunate enough to have met amazing people on my tour and we all really got along. At the end of the week we became a small family and were actually really sad to part ways. I was so glad and thankful to have chosen a tour for my first solo travel experience and met such amazing people on the way”.

Economical

Probably one of the most beneficial factors from a packaged itinerary is that you can save more money with a bundle deal. An itinerary tends to be cheaper altogether, as opposed to booking everything individually in addition to purchasing all your food and attraction entrance fees. They also usually include a guided tour, attraction discounts, travel insurance, round trip transportation, and sometimes even airfare. Make sure you ask questions and know exactly what is included in your package.

Flexibility

While organized structure can be a definite bonus for people, packaged tours can also be inflexible. It’s important to know beforehand when you purchase a tour that you commit to follow the itinerary, flight arrangements, and accommodations. Most likely, if at the last minute need to change your plans you will not be allowed to do so, or have to forfeit your tour altogether. Other inflexible factors of a packaged tour could include any dietary requirements you may have, and the commitment to meeting at a particular place and time.

When you are responsible for planning an individualized trip, your choices are flexible and your schedule is open to any changes you want. You can choose the time, the place, and food and also control the pace of your trip as well.

Independence

If you are not a very social person and work best doing solitary excursions then a packaged tour with a group could be uncomfortable and not as enjoyable. There is also the risk of being placed in a group you don’t get along with and tensions could develop. There’s also the question of food and accommodations. What if you find out they are not what you want after all? The inflexible option of a tour could be an unavoidable problem. However if you are on a trip alone, you can make those appropriate changes and are not stuck in a controlled environment.  For some people, traveling and making plans on their own forces them to learn a language because they have no one else to rely on but themselves in order to survive.

“After I already had the experience traveling in Australia I felt more comfortable planning my own Europe trip the next year. I really enjoyed how open and flexible my travels were, and was able to experience a versatile time abroad on my own terms”.