The Benefits of Booking Your Volunteering Abroad Trip in Advance

Avid travellers always book their trips way in advance in order to ensure they have complete options of where and when they want to go. Travellers who book early tend to have a greater choice of destination, projects, and dates in comparison plus you may be able to benefit from cheaper rates.

Historically, October to February are the cheapest and most popular times for your trip booking. These months mostly see the largest booking for summer volunteer abroad trips.

 

If you are wondering why some people book their International Volunteering placements so much in advance, here are some reasons why you should follow suit.

Benefits of booking your volunteering abroad trip in advance

 

1. You get time to research

If you decide to book early you get to choose from the best available options for you. You can compare not just the price but the companies, their programme offer, insurance policies, destinations and projects they provide. You will have enough time to put in queries and ask questions to find out the right volunteering trip for you.

2. Project spots are easily available

Unlike last minute booking where you have limited placement choices of where you can go and the type of volunteer programs you can choose from, when you book early, you have an abundance of choices. Most projects will have plenty of spaces and choice of start dates if you can get in early. You also have enough time in hand if you need to change your travel dates and get into another available space.

3. Air tickets are cheaper

Everyone knows booking air tickets early on has lots of monetary benefits to travellers. The same ticket can cost more than double if booked closer to the travel date. Frequent travellers know this and always book themselves changeable and refundable tickets early on. If the plans change for any unforeseen reasons, you can always cancel or change your flight dates.

4. Lots of time to get organised

You can put your mind at ease when you have enough time to prepare for your volunteer abroad trip. No last minute rush for travel insurance, mandatory vaccinations or maybe just to pack small things you want to take at your project. You will have enough time to go through your pre-departure booklet and arrange for all things necessary to get the most out of your international experience as a volunteer.

5. Easier to budget your trip

In addition to saving on air ticket prices, booking your trip early on allows you to budget yourself and pay your programme fee in installments. Once you put in your application fee, most companies allow you to pay the rest of the programme fee in installments. You are also left with a lot of time to save a few extra pounds to make your journey extra pleasurable.

It is a common practice for families with children to book their trips early on as they know school holiday dates and are able to get all the benefits and the best options. It doesn’t stop international volunteers from doing the same.

Most companies nowadays allow a change in dates and destinations until much closer to the travel date depending on their terms and conditions.

So, if you are planning to volunteer travel in 2024-25, it is time for you to hop on, stop contemplating and book your trip today.