We want you to get the most out of your time abroad.
That’s why we take the hassle out of travel so that you can concentrate on what really matters: your project.
What do we mean by making your experience hassle-free? This is what you can expect:
- More than just basic logistics
- No hidden fees
- Absolute flexibility
- Pay in instalments
- Projects Abroad Guarantee
- Our expertise
- Going the extra mile
More than just basic logistics
You shouldn’t have to waste your time shopping around for necessities that should be included in every project.
That’s why we take care of everything as standard in our programme fee. This includes:
- Airport collection and drop-off
- Accommodation
- Three meals a day
- Transport to and from your placement
- Training and workshops
- Project materials
This is on top of us organising your placement. You can see everything we provide here.
As you can see, we provide more than the basics. On value for money, we believe we're unbeatable.
"I would highly recommend Projects Abroad to anyone as they’re well organised and take the stress off of you especially when you have to travel far from home. It’s comforting knowing they’re always only a phone call away if anything goes amiss." - Mairi C, High School Special Medicine volunteer in Sri Lanka
No hidden fees
There are no hidden costs with Projects Abroad.
Our programme fee is slightly higher because we offer more than many other organisations. We never sneak in hidden fees. Our fees include everything we say they do. This is an important part of our eight-point Responsible Volunteering Checklist.
When you first apply, many organisations charge a ‘registration fee’ in addition to your programme fee. At Projects Abroad, you pay a deposit to secure your project, which is deducted from your programme fee.
We’ll also never charge you more for international banking fees or credit card charges. We don’t charge you extra for visa advice, training courses, extra meals, transport to and from your placement, pre-departure advice, airport drop-offs, or anything else.
These are the hidden costs that add up and end up costing you more than you’d originally budgeted.
Trust and transparency are everything to us. We don’t like surprises and we don’t expect you to either!
"Projects Abroad were the perfect organisation to go with and the freedom and care they provided was the perfect balance." - Callum B, Building volunteer in Nepal
Absolute flexibility
We take care of all the arrangements but ultimately, it’s your trip, your rules. That’s why our different travel styles, flexible start dates, and bespoke itineraries give you the freedom to build the trip you want.
Want total flexibility? You can join our Flexi Trips at any time. Just specify your start and end dates when you apply and leave the rest to us. Our projects run year-round and have participants arriving almost daily.
If you’d rather join a group travelling at the same time, then our High School Specials and Team Trips run on fixed dates during major holidays. Our commitment to flexibility means you can choose the experience that works for you.
We also pride ourselves on being able to accommodate nearly all preferences. For example, do you:
- have specific dietary requirements?
- want to stay with a friend?
- want your own room?
- have accessibility requirements?
- need an interpreter?
Let us know and we will make it happen. We can arrange all of these at no additional cost, wherever logistically possible. This is all possible because of our amazing staff. You can trust us to take care of the details.
Pay for your project in instalments
We realise that it’s not always possible to pay your fee in one go. That’s why we offer an instalment plan. You can spread the cost of your project by breaking it up into smaller payments. Pay as much or as little as you like – whenever you like – as long as your full balance is paid 3 months before you travel. Learn more about our Flexible Payment options here.
We have lots of comprehensive fundraising advice prepared by our expert staff and alumni. We’ll even give you a personalised fundraising webpage that you can use to raise funds for your trip.
"I don’t believe words can truly describe the unforgettable experience I had. From the people, cultures and trips, the memories I gained will forever remain with me. Not once did I feel unwelcome and Projects Abroad worked very hard to make sure everyone felt safe and happy." - Jenny G, Childcare volunteer in South Africa
Projects Abroad Guarantee
We understand that plans can change unexpectedly for a variety of reasons and we don't think you should be penalised for unforeseen events. As part of our hassle-free approach, instead of losing out on your trip if you cancel, you can postpone it instead.
With our Projects Abroad Guarantee, you can cancel for any reason up until the day of travel. We’ll then hold your project for you, at the same price you initially applied for, up to two years from the cancellation date.
We’ve always had this guarantee, but COVID-19 has made it more relevant than ever. That’s why we created our COVID-19 Refund Guarantee, which gives you peace of mind regarding travel bans.
Book with confidence, knowing your money is protected.
"Projects Abroad took care to ensure the trip was specific for our school. That is actually why I chose Projects Abroad. We have an African drumming class at our school and Projects Abroad made sure my students participated in an African drumming class while in the country. Projects Abroad made sure each participant went home with a djembe drum." - Wesley Thomson, Greenbrier Academy Group Leader.
Our expertise
We can take the hassle out of travel because we’re experts in what we do. We have over 30 years of experience arranging safe, meaningful, and exciting projects for over 130,000 participants. You can trust us to take care of everything.
All our staff, in all our destinations, are trained and vetted to the highest standards.
In addition to our in-destination staff, we also have a central Operations team. They’re in charge of training, programme development, risk management, and safety. We have specialist staff covering all aspects of a trip, from finding the right visa to ensuring our projects meet the highest ethical standards.
We even have Project Experts on hand to offer advice on which project to choose or to support your application. You can contact us at any time to get started.
Going the extra mile
The hands-on approach of our staff around the world means that we can cater to your needs. If there’s something particular you want out of your trip, they can help you organise it. Whether that’s advice on sightseeing during your time off or doing a specific task during your project, they can help make it happen.
Being locals themselves, our staff know the area and community well. While you’re finding your feet, they can organise things quickly and easily. The best part is that they’re always happy to do so.
Going the extra mile is something that comes naturally to us. We believe it makes our projects just that little bit more special.
Now that you know what to expect with our hassle-free approach, start planning your trip!