Estimate costs of other expenses

You will want to consider the cost of cell phone use overseas. You will likely use your smart phone for voice calls, texting, and data downloads. It makes sense to look at your carrier’s international plans for the time you are overseas. Estimate about $100 for a package with international voice, text, and data. Then there may be additional charges, as this package likely provides for reduced, not free, phone calls and texts. Also if you exceed the data allotment there will be a charge. Suggest about $150 for phone expenses. If you are buying a SIM card and paying for voice/text/data you will probably wind up spending about the same amount. Also, while you will likely use email to communicate during trip planning, you may need to make a few international phone calls from your home country. You might want to have something in the budget to handle this expense.

Money exchange is an oft-overlooked part of the budget. Credit cards generally charge a 3% currency exchange fee, and ATMS now charge about 3% currency exchange fee plus a transaction charge of $3-6. Once you determine the portion of the budget that will be paid for in a foreign currency, you will want to add 3% plus additional money for ATM transaction charges. If you have a credit card that does not charge a currency exchange fee then you will only need to add the 3% to ATM withdrawals. See the information on this website regarding “Money Matters” to look at this topic in depth.

Budget for a small gift or honorarium for contacts, volunteer guides, faculty in the country you are visiting who assist you and your students, co-teach a class, or provide educational programming. This could be in the range of $15-$100 per recipient, depending on the amount of involvement and assistance they provide.

Tips for charter bus drivers, tour guides, taxi drivers, and perhaps housekeeping and hotel staff should be anticipated. You will likely need to obtain receipts to be reimbursed for these expenses.

There are various insurance companies that provide short-term health insurance for the days a student is abroad. Cost is generally quite reasonable. If you are buying this for your students factor in the cost, generally only about dollar per day per student.