BootsnAll Travel Community

Hey guys,

Hows it going? This is my first post ever, and I'm hoping to get as much out of it as possible.
I'm planning to go to Prague, Czech Republic for one month in the first week of July. I'm working for Ernst & Young in a marketing position. I got this position through an organization called European Study Abroad Center (www.goesac.com). They're mainly a study exchange center, but also helps in arranging internships. However, it's a whole program which is going to cost me $3,390. This fee includes accomodation, food on weekdays breakfast/lunch only, transportation pass within Prague, pickup from airport, czech language and culture course, site visits to Deloitte/Radio Liberty/IKEA/etc, guided tours, culture nights, something called the amazing race, and 3.5 day trip to Berlin with accomodation/transport/breakfast/local public transportation pass/guided city tour/visit to the German Foreign Ministry/final dinner,etc.

The thing is I am a University student at Canada and I don't have alot of money. What it comes down to that I will be spending ALL of my personal savings and working a bit longer for this trip. My parents would for sure pay for my flight to and back from Prague and help me in paying for personal expenses for shopping/dinners/etc. I've been to Europe only once when I went to U.K. when I was 8 and played Sega all day. I love to travel and may not get an oppurtunity like this again.

The coolest things are that I have a great internship lined up, a whole organized program, amazing city, might not get an oppurtunity like this again, and great experiences. However, it's simply alot of money (with me trying to work much longer in the coming weeks) and my parents aren't too supportive about it. Do you guys think it's worth spending all your money for this?

It sounds to me like you've already answered your own question.

I regret not going abroad when I was in school, now I have to leave my job to go (and it's still worth it... I hope!)

Sounds like a great opportunity for you. You'll see Europe from a different angle, not as a typical tourist.
$3,390 for a month, with everything paid, is not lot of money.
Try to earn some money before you leave, so that you can afford some local trips, and maybe stay a bit longer. There's a lot around that's worth seeing, within a couple of hour travel. You might like to visit at least one of the neighbouring countries - Austria, Poland or Hungary.

yeah.. that actually sounds rather cheap, from what i've been hearing (though i'm no expert).
i'd say go for it. you'd better live now, cause when your dead they don't let you out of your room. :P

While it isn't cheap, it does seem reasonable. You seem to be getting a lot in a little amount of time.

You could also take that 3K and travel to a few different places, but I think it sounds like a good opportunity to get a little bit entrenched in the culture and see things from a more local perspective. You can really learn a lot in a month!

quote:

$3,390 for a month

...that's not exactly too much since everything is included. if you start to calculate the rent, the food and everything else you'll add up little more for sure.

enjoy Europe!

Sounds like the chance of a lifetime to me. I passed up several opportunities to travel/study/work abroad while I was in college - I now consider cutting myself daily when I think about it. You may not get a chance like this again. Once you graduate, disposable income and time are a lot harder to come by. Also, it will be a juicy addition to your resume.

$3,500-4,000 is not a lot of money for a trip like this, especially considering the accommodations you will have and time of year you'll be traveling.

I say go for it. I'm envious!

Let me get this right, are you doing this marketing internship while in Prague? Also what is the czech language course, is that classes every day or is it a one-off?

From a backpacker perspective $3,390 is a lot for just accomodation - you said food is only included on weekends. So to answer your question of whether it's worth the money, it depends on the internship itself - what exactly are you getting for your money?

Ok. Figure flights to be about 600 dollars minimum, and living in republic, 800- 1000 dollars to live well.

You're getting a work experience, czech language courses, and loads of activities you probably wouldn't think of when you got there as an independent.

Yes. IF you have the money and it doesnt deprive you of future travel plans, yep. Worth it, ESPECIALLY if you get college credit for it. Its also an excellent resume filler if you want a job involving international marketing, which to me, would be the main draw as a college student.

I am confused by the idea of paying for an internship - I didn't think that was normal. Surely if you are working for them as an intern that should be free, or even them paying you...

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Flight would be around 600 bucks, however, my parents would be taking care of that. Also, I've estimated around 800-1,000 bucks to pay for additional meals (dinners throughout the month, and meals during weekends), drinking, going out in the day (museums, plays, etc) and night (clubs, bars, pubs), shopping, etc.

Yeah, the marketing internship is in Prague. The czech language course is on most days (around 15). As you see the program is mainly designed for "study" abroad, however, I wanted a "work" experience- so the money that they allocate for tution normally was allocted for my internship placement fee. The internship is not paid (something to do with visas and all) and my university doesn't accept it as a credit for now.

People have been telling me that it's too expensive and that I can go later much cheaper. However, it seems that I'm getting alot out of it as it's thoroughly organized.

If you're happy with this program and can manage, I'd say don't overanalyze the cost.

If you traveled without a program and arranged everything yourself, yes, you could do it for cheaper. And some people do prefer that kind of trip. I'm not a big fan personally of paying for things to be organized, and I think it is unfortunate if people come to believe that it's impossible to travel independently and you have to pay a lot of money - but if this trip works for you, go for it.

People rack up a lot of debt in college, and study abroad programs even through college cost a lot too.

I think as a current college student only available for a summer, finding an internship abroad on your own would be nearly impossible. (I don't know what that one will be like, but it definitely sounds different and will appear different on a resume than a two or three week work camp where the volunteer pays $300 or something).

An internship is not just working for free, it is a chance to learn. Even if it is not for credit, you can gain something from it - and you can put it on your resume and be prepared to tell future internships or jobs what you learned from it, even if it is mainly a change in your perspective or something. Independent travel is valuable too, and if you want this internship, I say go for it.

I just wanted to say I went ahead with the program and am just waiting for my Schengen visa. I'll definetly write a review once I come back.

Cheers,
Harry

good on ya' for going for it.

good luck!