Top Travel Leads

If you’re planning to travel, it’s well worth giving some thought to how you can get the most out of your trip. Sure, visiting new places is exciting in itself, but things like community volunteering work really transform your adventure into something unforgettable.

How, you ask? Well, some of the top reasons to get involved with this kind of work abroad are as follows:

Make a tangible difference

Perhaps the most obvious reason to travel overseas and do some community volunteer work is that it gives you the unique chance to make a tangible difference to local people. You’ll be able to see the effects of your work unfolding right before your eyes – and being able to watch how your actions improve the lives of people in need is massively rewarding.

Visit exciting places

Community volunteer work doesn’t only give you the chance to give something back to the places you visit, it also lets you explore some of the most exciting, colourful countries in the world. Among the destinations you can head to are South Africa and India – and who hasn’t dreamed about exploring at least one of these?

As well as spending time working on your chosen project, you’ll have weekends (or other free time) to head out and explore. For example, if you decide to help out children in need in Jaipur, you’ll be able to check out the top attractions of one of India’s most famous cities!

Get under the skin of the destinations you travel to

Aside from how intensely rewarding they are, community projects are great for travellers for another reason: the chance to get a more realistic picture of their chosen destination. With the best will in the world, you often just won’t get to understand a country or city when you’re simply passing through. By working in the midst of local people for several weeks, you’ll be able to see the place as it really is, and get to know the people who live there – something you’ll never forget.

Get great work experience

Of course, a lot of us decide to travel partly because we want some kind of work experience – whether this is intended to help with uni applications or in getting a job upon returning home. Community volunteer projects look fantastic on CVs, even if the tasks you perform are not directly relevant to whatever qualification or position you’re going for.

That said, a lot of projects offer the chance to do things like work with children, which could be absolutely perfect if you’re hoping to pursue a career in education. Others give you an opportunity to work on theatre projects, which might give you the edge over other applicants if you’re fighting for a position in drama school.

Make friends!

Last, but certainly not least, community volunteer projects can be a great way of making friends. If you’re planning on incorporating a stint volunteering as part of wider travel plans – a gap year, for example – it’s likely you’ll be keen to strike up new friendships as you travel. By getting involved with a close-knit project, you can meet likeminded people and fellow travellers, as well as getting to know the people who actually live in your chosen destination. The friends you make in situations like this could easily become lifelong mates – and you might even decide to travel together in the future.

Have you been lucky enough to secure a sabbatical? If you have, make sure you take full advantage of your career break! If you’ve never even heard of a sabbatical, read on to find out why it’s something you should consider.

This type of break is an agreement between you and your employer that you can take a period longer than your usual annual leave allowance off work – typically around 12 months – with the guarantee that your job will be waiting for you when you return.

Some employers even offer paid career breaks, although this typically means you will have to spend some of your time off gaining qualifications or work experience. In my opinion, this is no bad thing as having a year away from the office means you have plenty of time to dedicate to bettering yourself.

Learn a language

Getting to grips with a new language is an extremely worthwhile thing to do with your time off work. Communication technology ranging from videoconferencing to Facebook has meant the world has got a lot smaller.

As a result, for a business to truly perform in the international marketplace, it is vital employees are able to communicate with potential clients and customers overseas. By learning a new language, you could really set yourself apart from your colleagues by providing your employer with a useful skills set.

If your company has dealings with North and South America, it is well worth being able to speak Spanish. Even in the US, many people are able to speak this language, as it is the national dialect of nearby countries like Costa Rica and Ecuador.

You could spend some of your break learning Spanish and arrive back at the office with a new and valuable talent that your employer will be able to take advantage of. It may also prove useful if you are considering spreading your wings and taking the next step on your career ladder, as it will mark you out from other candidates.

Of course, you’ll also be able to speak Spanish when you’re in Spain, which will make it easier for you to conduct business there – and communicate with the locals even when you’re on tenerife holiday!

Take language lessons abroad

There is no better way to learn a language than to take classes in the country it is spoken natively. By doing this, you have ample opportunity to put your skills to the test even when you’re not in the classroom, such as by visiting a local market or a restaurant.

Take Spanish classes in Ecuador and when you’re not in a lesson you’ll be able to explore the country’s bustling capital city Quito. You could also spend a few weeks on the Galapagos Islands, where Charles Darwin famously conducted research on the unique animals that live there while he was establishing his evolutionary theories.

Guatemala is another great place to learn Spanish. You’ll be situated in the heart of Antigua, a world heritage site and firm favourite with travellers visiting Central America. Exploring further afield will also allow you to visit Mayan ruins like El Mirador and Tikal.

Alternatively, consider Costa Rica as the base for your learning. The rich biodiversity of this beautiful country means you’re certain to want to schedule in a few weeks to explore the natural environment. Even wandering through the rainforest, you’ll probably have plenty of opportunities to test out your new Spanish skills.

How to arrange paid work in Canada

Your dreams of travelling around the world might involve months spent on the open road, seeing some of the world’s most beautiful sights without any worries to think about. Well, we all wish things could be that easy, but, to spend a long time hopping from place to place, you will need to earn enough money to fund your trip. One of the easiest ways to do this is to work abroad.

Canada is an ideal location to arrange paid work in, which could be perfect if you had planned to stop at the North American nation on your adventure.

However, if you don’t know where to begin finding out about how you can work in a foreign country, we’ve put together some tips to help and make your travel plans that bit easier:

Working holiday visa

The first thing you need to do (before getting overly excited and thinking about what clothes to pack) is look up how to apply for a working holiday visa, which is now known as the International Experience Canada (IEC) initiative.

If you are granted a visa, you will be able to work and travel in Canada for up to 12 months – which gives you plenty of time to earn some money and see all the sights!

What do you need to know about the IEC?

Holidaymakers aged between 18 and 35 who are from a particular set of countries are eligible for IEC work permits, so you should check whether your nation is on this list first.

If you are from the UK, for instance, you will be allowed to apply for the visa, but the number of applicants that are accepted is restricted, so make sure you get your form in as soon as possible once you have decided to spend the next few months living in Canada. In 2012, for example, there are only 5,350 places available for UK applicants, so make sure your application is glowing so you can take one of these positions. Application process aside be ware that coming to or leaving from Canada on usa flights security is tight so be prepared as to what is you can and can’t bring on board.
The submission will be judged on how you fulfil the eligibility criteria, which includes police certification, proof of funds, medical examinations and what your job intentions are. Don’t panic if you think you need to have led a squeaky clean life in order to be accepted, but I’d definitely recommend spending time researching your position thoroughly before submitting your application.

Getting accepted – the next steps

Hopefully, you shouldn’t have any problems in being accepted for a working visa and you will soon receive a Letter of Introduction, which you can swap for a permit when you arrive in the country. Once you have been given the Letter of Introduction, you can book your flights and start thinking about where you would like to live and work.

Your work permit will last for 12 months from the date you arrive in Canada, and during this time you have total flexibility over where you stay and what employer you choose to work with. You don’t need to worry about any restrictions on how many hours you put in, which means you can work really hard and save a lot of money over a short period of time – and spend the rest of your break on the road.

Get a job

The next step is easy; after choosing whereabouts in Canada you want to base yourself, you should think about securing yourself a job. This will help you get the most out of your experience, and enable you to start earning money as soon as your plane lands.

So, all you have to decide is whether you want to work the ski season, become a barista, do administrative work, clock up the hours behind the bar, help out in schools… The choice is yours!

If you’re looking to sample the best that the Tuscany region of Italy has to offer, you certainly need to spend some time in Pisa. With its wealth of historic attractions, exciting festivals and amazing food, stopping here will definitely be the highlight of your trip to Italy and there are often many late deals to be found that can make your visit to Tuscany quite affordable.

Want to know what exactly makes the city so special? Read on to find out more!

Piazza del Duomo

There is no shortage of fantastic architecture and landmarks to be found in Pisa, but without a doubt the most famous ones are located at Piazza del Duomo.

As duomo is the Italian for cathedral, it really should be of little surprise that it is in this public square you will find the amazing Pisa Cathedral. Next to it is the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa, with many people who see it taking a photo where it looks as if they’re holding it up – joining them in this makes for a classic souvenir. Climb to the top of the building to take in wonderful views of the rest of the city, as well as Piazza del Duomo’s other landmarks.

These include the 12th-century cemetery Camposanto Monumentale and the Baptistry of St John, two beautiful structures that have contributed to the square being nicknamed Piazza dei Miracoli, or the Square of Miracles.

Knights Square

Pisa’s Knights Square is another must-see while in the city. The former headquarters of the Order of the Knights of St Stephen, here you’ll discover the historic Church of Saint Rocco, which was built in 1575, and a statue of Cosimo I de’Medici, the first grand duke of Tuscany.

Museums and festivals

Of course, it’s not just Pisa’s astounding public spaces that make it a great place to visit on a Tuscany tour, it is also rich in culture and home to a wealth of amazing galleries and museums.

Situated on the banks of the River Arno is the wonderful Museo Nazionale di San Matteo (or National Museum of St Matthew), which contains numerous sculptures and paintings that date back as far as the 12th-century. The Lungarno Simonelli Museum, meanwhile, houses excavated Roman boats and other artefacts from this era.

If you time your trip to Tuscany right, you could arrive when one of Pisa’s vibrant festivals is taking place.

Each June 16th witnesses the Festa di San Ranieri, where the locals honour the city’s patron saint by lining the banks of the Arno with torches, while the Pisa Cathedral becomes the location of the International Festival of Holy Music every September with choirs from across the country performing.

Food

Tuscany is a region famous for its high-quality cuisine and Pisa’s no exception. Make sure you sample the best of what the area has to offer by trying local specialities like ciechi alla Pisani (baby eels in garlic and tomatoes). If you want a slice of pizza – you are in Italy after all – visit Il Montino and have the cecina, which includes chickpeas as a topping.

Exploring the rest of Tuscany

By booking car hire from Pisa Airport, you’ll be well-placed to see the rest of Tuscany – whether you choose to visit other bustling cities like Florence or wish to explore smaller towns like Cecina and Empoli.

Whether you’re planning to make Pisa the mainstay of your time in Italy or you’re keen to see lots of other places too, leave a comment and let us know!