Travel Advice

Changing Worlds can help you tailor make the perfect trip for you and your university group, whatever that group maybe. A university trip overseas is a fantastic way to compliment your studies and to help you develop the skills needed to succeed at university and in your chosen career after university.

We can arrange specific trips focused around the subject you are studying or the society you have joined; we really do have something for everybody. Get in touch today to see how you can bring your subject to life away from the lecture theatre. You can gain fantastic experiences within your field which will make you stand out to future employers and give you a really valuable insight into your industry in different countries, cultures and societies overseas.

We have such a huge range of trips available that we will do our very best to find a trip that suits every group and your trip requirements. Tell us how many of you there are, what your society or subject is all about, what you are looking to get out of a trip overseas and how long you want to travel for, and then leave the rest up to us. We will plan you a trip that will make your university years even more memorable. We aim to provide meaningful travel that will look great on your CV and also be fantastic for your personal development.

Group travel can take you anywhere and on a whole host of different types of trips, you can volunteer within a community, go on a language tour, teach your favourite sport to underprivileged children, teach photography or art and crafts, scuba dive, snowboard, work with animals on conservation projects… the possibilities are endless.

Do you need to plan an elective placement as part of your degree?
Look no further, we can help plan your placement for you. We will happily liaise with your lecturers to ensure all components necessary for your elective are met and make sure that the trip is as beneficial to your studies as it can be! We can tailor make a trip that is specific for your needs. We have opportunities in medicine, physiotherapy, sports, law, media and journalism, finance, wildlife and conservation, and so much more.

Contact our Changing Worlds team to discuss your particular requirements.

Tailor making the perfect educational trip for your students has never been easier – let us do the hard work for you and you can be safe in the knowledge Changing Worlds will ensure you have a stress free trip that is perfect for your needs and budget.

We know that teachers and lecturers have very different requirements for an educational and student cultural trip. This is why we have many different options that will cater for individual needs with our trusted teams abroad. We will be able to plan trips for you of varying duration, from just one week to many months. We can tailor trips to particular subjects, for instance group language lessons; what better way to teach students of Spanish than to immerse them into a new culture in Argentina and watch their language skills come to life. Or watch how group volunteering with a new culture can open the eyes of students and allow them to see the direct positive impact that can have on an underprivileged community.

Travelling with a school trip overseas has a host of benefits to pupils, they will experience a new sense of independence of being away from mum and dad but within a structured and safe environment. They have the chance to join group projects which will look fantastic on their CV as they apply for college or university or jobs in the future. These trips can even be tailored so they can be used towards the Duke of Edinburgh award. Students will come away with a new perspective and appreciation of different cultures, they will discover fantastic new things about the world and their own potential.

We aim to provide trips with a perfect balance of education and enjoyment. We will work with you to add excursions within your budget to ensure the students can obtain as much as possible from their trip overseas.

We can arrange school trips for groups of 5 or more people with children aged between 13 and 19. Just let us know how many people you would like to book a trip for, your budget and the kinds of things you would like to do or places you may want to visit and we will do the rest.

Give us a call today and with your help we will build the perfect trip for you and your students.

In some cases our placements will require Changing Worlds participants to use the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure service, or as it is now referred to ‘The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)’. We do this to check the suitability of an applicant particularly for those taking part in a project that involves working with children or vulnerable individuals, who are in a position of trust.

This is particularly important for individuals who have been out of education for over 5 years, and have not had to complete a Criminal Record check in the past 3 years.

We observe and adhere to the CRB / DBS Code of Practice which is concerned with the responsible handling, use, storage, and disposal of all applicants’ information. Changing Worlds also complies with the laws of the Data Protection Act 1998 and GDPR. For more information on our Privacy Policy please visit the Privacy Policy and Disclaimer section of the Changing Worlds website.

The CRB / DBS service that we use means Changing Worlds does not receive a copy of the CRB / DBS check results unless the applicant’s results come back showing an undisclosed incident on their criminal record. Any results received by Changing Worlds will only be used for the purpose of assessing the suitability of a specific placement for the applicant, and will not be used or accessed by any third party who is not entitled to receive or review the information.

All CRB / DBS results held by Changing Worlds will be destroyed after six months of the disclosure taking place. Before Changing Worlds releases any CRB / DBS check results to a third party for review, such as a host family or in-country coordinator, we will take steps to ensure that all actions are taken within the CRB / DBS Code of Practice and adhere to the Data Protection Act 1998 and GDPR.

For those of you whose child is looking into taking a gap year, internship or career development experience, or spending some time overseas on a Changing Worlds placement, trip or tour, we are here to help and answer your questions to ensure that your are safe in the knowledge that your loved ones are travelling with a reputable organisation offering a personalised service, genuine advice and complete in-country support, as-well-as value for money.

As an experienced and trusted organisation in the travel market, we have facilitated amazing trips abroad for people since 1999, and in this time we have learnt a lot about the key factors that influence a successful trip for both the travellers, and those at home. If you are about to wave your child off to travel the world and experience the freedom that comes with it, we think it is important that you are involved in the preparation process.

It can be an incredibly daunting prospect to leave your home country for an extended period of time, and we understand that it can be equally daunting for a parent to say goodbye! That is why we have compiled a list of questions and useful information to help those who are a bit anxious about the prospect of letting a child travel overseas on their own and possibly for the first time.

Staying safe and keeping your money and belongings secure is absolutely crucial and an essential part of having an enjoyable, meaningful and constructive trip overseas. We all know that travelling the globe can provide you with some of the most amazing friendships and memories, but as we are sure you are aware, it can sometimes be all to easy to fall into a false sense of security and become a target for criminal activity.

Many crimes committed against those travelling overseas are simply opportunists looking to make a quick buck, however in some rarer cases crimes can be detrimental to your trip. There are many steps that can be taken by yourself to help you avoid being a target of criminal activity whilst on your trip, and it is important that you take note and try to adhere, so as not to come up short and end up having a bad experience on what should be the trip of a lifetime. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe whilst exploring foreign lands:

1. As we are all aware, crime increases during darkness hours, so we advise you not to walk around on your own at night, do not take short-cuts in unfamiliar areas (dark alleys, beaches, etc.) at night, and try to arrive in new destinations during the day to give you a chance to get your bearings during daylight hours.
2. Try not to make yourself stand out as an easy target for criminals. In poorer areas it is advisable not to show off expensive equipment such as cameras, phones or expensive jewellery. (Keep your personal belongings safe at all times!)
3. Be sensible with alcohol, and keep an eye on your drinks at all times. Alcohol can be considerably cheaper when travelling overseas, but we do not see this as an excuse to drink more than your fair share. You become vulnerable when intoxicated, so make sure you know your limits, and take note of our Code of Conduct, so you do not breach any of the rules that keep our trips structured and successful.
4. Do not purchase or consume illegal drugs whilst on your travels. Changing Worlds has a no tolerance policy to drug taking, and you will risk being removed from your placement, trip or tour. Foreign laws can be extremely strict with regards to illegal drugs, so you may also be at risk of prosecution, a fine, a prison sentence or in extreme cases the death penalty.
5. Make yourself aware of laws and cultural faux pas that may land you in trouble whilst travelling. Things that are readily accepted in your home country may cause problems for you in other countries. For more information on this, take a look at our Responsible Travel section.
6. Make sure you only travel in licensed taxis. Unlicensed taxis are not only risky, but they are likely to try and rip you off.
7. Avoid making deals with strangers whilst overseas. If it seems like a scam, it probably is!
8. Always secure or lock windows and doors in your accommodation at night.
9. Remember to stay in touch with those you have left at home. Family and friends, especially your parents, will hugely appreciate regular communication, whether it is just an email or WhatsApp message to say ‘everything is fine and you are having fun’, it is a great way to let everyone know that you are safe.

All our Changing Worlds team members are seasoned travellers, and understand the risks that travelling, especially in certain areas, can pose to groups and individuals. Therefore, if you have any questions about staying safe whilst overseas then do not hesitate to get in touch and ask those burning questions.

We advise all our travellers to do some research into what level of cover they will require for their chosen trip. You can also check through our chosen travel insurance partners (get in touch for more information), and their dedicated insurance agents will help you find the best policy for your budget. It is vital that you are clear about your travel plans and any medical/health issues when discussing travel insurance options with our agents, as some insurance policies may not cover you for specific activities such as extreme sports or paid work, so policy extensions may be required.

It is also advised that you discuss your chosen destination countries with your travel insurance agent. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office website will outline any in-country issues that may influence your travels to a specific region of a country, and may advise you not to travel to a country altogether, which may influence the level of insurance cover for any travels to specific countries; please be aware of this when choosing your insurance policy.

It is important that, once you have taken out the right insurance policy, you print off a copy and keep your insurance policy documents and any relevant contact details with you throughout your trip. In case anything does happen during your time overseas and you need to make use of your travel insurance, you will then have all the required documentation to hand.

UK citizens travelling in Europe

If you decide to travel to countries in Europe, you have to make sure to get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before you travel. This card is free to all UK citizens and can be applied for before you travel. It entitles holders to receive the same level of free healthcare as they receive from the NHS whilst travelling in European countries. It takes around 2 weeks for EHIC card applications to be processed and for the card to be delivered so make sure you arrange this in good time before your planned travel date. You will still need to apply for travel insurance as well as obtain a EHIC card, as the the EHIC card does not cover all aspects of your travels. You will almost certainly need an EHIC card to take out a travel insurance policy for travels in Europe.

When travelling overseas, it is important to factor-in that different countries have different vaccination requirements in order to keep you safe from any localised diseases or other medical issues. Changing Worlds will provide you with assistance with regards to understanding which vaccinations are required for each of our destination countries; however, it is important that you discuss this in detail with a medical professional.

At least 6 – 8 weeks before your chosen travel date, you should visit your local GP or make contact with a travel clinic such Nomad Travel Clinic to discuss your vaccination and medication requirements. Your medical professional will be able to advise you of any recommended and required vaccinations for your chosen destination(s). You should inform your doctor of all your destination countries, and what activities you plan on doing, and in which regions you plan to stay while you are there, as different regions and activities have different health risks even if in the same country.

For more information and some useful advice on worldwide travel health, and to find your nearest Nomad Travel Clinic, visit the Nomad Travel website at: nomadtravel.co.uk

Some destination countries will require you to produce a certificate of vaccination in order to enter the country. For example, to gain entry to Ghana, you will need to produce a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate to prove that you have received the Yellow Fever vaccine, and are covered for the duration of your stay in Ghana.

You may find that you require a visa to gain entry into the country of your choice. Different destination countries have different visa requirements depending on factors such as your length of stay, your reasons for entering the country, and whether you will be obtaining paid work during your time in the country. Changing Worlds will supply you with any advice you need with regards to the visas you require for your chosen destination, and we will make information available to you to assist with your application.

It is important that you check your visa requirements well in advance of your travel date as, with many tourist and working holiday visas, you will need to submit an application to the relevant consulate, embassy or high commission before your travel date. In some cases, entry to your destination country will be granted at immigration on arrival without having to apply for a visa before the departure date for your travels.

Visas differ depending on your chosen destination country, and will allow you to enter the country for a specific period of time. Entry regulations and visa requirements are subject to change so do check with your Travel Advisor and on the consulate, embassy or high commission website for your destination country in the run-up to your trip, as most official websites will publish all relevant up-to-date information. It is hugely important to understand the visa requirements before travelling, and make the required application in good time to avoid any problems at immigration when entering your destination country.

With all visa applications, it is important that you have sufficient space available in your passport for the relevant visas required for your travels, and that your passport is valid for at least six months after your planned date of return.

For more information on visa requirements for all countries, visit the Visa HQ website through the following links: www.visahq.co.uk (for UK residents) or www.visahq.com (for residents of any nations)

Working Visas

For those of you intending to gain paid work whilst on your travels to help with funding your trip, or to get yourself out of some financial difficulties whilst overseas, then it is likely you will require a country-specific work permit or working holiday visa. Changing Worlds will again supply any relevant information about work visa requirements for your chosen destination country; however, we recommend checking with the consulate, embassy or high commission for your destination country and finding out more about the destination’s key points with regards to working in that country, to determine whether a work permit or working visa is compulsory.

Where you travel to on your trip overseas can be the most important decision you make. The destination can have a massive bearing on what you can do in-country, what visa you will require, the weather, safety and security and, of course, your budget.

What you want to do?

Each of our destination countries has different options, so you have to be aware that you will not be able to do the same activities in each country. Once you know what you want to do on your trip abroad, you can then find out which countries give you the opportunity to take part in your chosen activity. For example, anyone interested in nature conservation may be keen to work in the game reserves in South Africa, whereas someone eager to gain a paid work role may want to hit the adventure capital of the world, New Zealand. Anyone keen to gain some valuable work experience with a professional internship would love the opportunities in Ghana, and any sports enthusiasts looking to coach and play their chosen sport should look no further than Argentina.

Visa Requirements

Different countries require you to apply for different visas depending on your chosen activity whilst in-country, and the length of your stay. If you are looking for an extended stay with a specific activity, for example paid work in Australia for 12 months, you will need to obtain the Australian Working Holiday Visa. However, if you wish to travel for a shorter period, for example 2 months in India as well as volunteer on a community project, you will need a standard Indian Tourist Visa which is valid for 3 months.

Weather

The weather is also a major influential factor on the destination of a trip overseas. Some destination countries have peak times for sunshine, such as in areas of South America; some have wet and dry seasons but are hot all year round, such as those in northern areas of Africa; and some have distinct seasons. You must always bear in mind that the seasons are backwards in the Southern hemisphere to the Northern hemisphere.

Safety and Security

Staying safe and secure whilst abroad is extremely important. That is why at Changing Worlds, we constantly try to stay up-to-date about any potential problems that may affect your trip. Each country has a different record with regards to safety, some may be proven to be a safe place throughout, some may have better places for tourists, and some may be known to be places that travellers should avoid. Changing Worlds has teamed up with the FCO, Travel Aware, Know Before You Go Campaign to make sure travellers remain safe when overseas. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office website provides up-to-date information with regards to any risks that face travellers in a particular country or area. Take a look here for more information: www.fco.gov.uk

Budget

Your trip budget can be the final influencing factor which determines your destination, how long you travel for, and what you do during your trip. You will find that when travelling overseas one of the biggest budget limiting factors will be your flights. Depending on how far afield you are looking to travel, flights can be quite expensive or relatively cheap, so it is certainly worth thinking about how far your savings will take you before booking any flights. It is also advisable to do some research into the daily living costs in your chosen destination country, as this will allow you to set-up a weekly or monthly budget, giving you some degree of control over your finances so you do not end up stuck for cash towards the end of your trip.