Booking your Flights
Booking your Flights
Once your internship has been approved, you can book your flights.
Please make sure you avoid booking flights with low-cost carriers. While low-cost carriers may seem like a budget-friendly option, they often come with hidden drawbacks that could complicate travel plans. These airlines typically charge extra for essentials like baggage, seat selection, and even onboard meals, which can add up quickly.
Additionally, budget airlines tend to operate from secondary airports that may be far from city centers, making transportation more time-consuming. Flight schedules can be less reliable, with limited rescheduling options if plans change.
Please make sure you avoid booking flights with low-cost carriers. While low-cost carriers may seem like a budget-friendly option, they often come with hidden drawbacks that could complicate travel plans. These airlines typically charge extra for essentials like baggage, seat selection, and even onboard meals, which can add up quickly.
Additionally, budget airlines tend to operate from secondary airports that may be far from city centers, making transportation more time-consuming. Flight schedules can be less reliable, with limited rescheduling options if plans change.
Risk Management
We have a duty of care to keep you safe and these things are in place to assist with that. The following requirements are in place for all students travelling on a Swinburne University overseas program:
- Students can only book travel to countries that are DFAT level 1 and 2 in smart traveller.
- Students must be covered by Swinburne's travel and medical insurance (see Insurance for more information)
We recommend you register your travel plans with DFAT via the smartraveller.gov.au website.
This website also provides resources like:
- Up to date travel advice specific to the regions you are travelling in.
- Access to embassy/consular service information in case of an emergency.
- Means that family and friends can check your whereabouts in case of an emergency
Tips for Traveling & Flying
For some of you, this might be your first big overseas trip! And for others you might consider yourself a seasoned traveler. Whatever the case, these tips below can be helpful for you as you approach the travel part of your overseas program:
- Arrive at your host location from Australia as close to the start date as possible. It's best to do any extra travel after your study program to reduce the risk of getting sick before your program starts.
- Pack minimally if possible - this means you can make a quick layover if you have to run to your next gate!
- Have photocopies or photos on your phone of your key documents handy- your passport, bank cards and insurance documents
- Pack a spare change of clothes- you never know how long you might get caught somewhere, or if your bag gets lost, you'll thank yourself for packing clean undies!
Travel Advice
Accommodation - When Travelling
Consider hostels and accommodation with the following facilities:
- Kitchens: Save by cooking your own meals
- Breakfast Included: Take full advantage of the provided buffet by stocking up on bread, cereal, etc. to get you through until the next day’s breakfast.
- 24hr security, lockers & luggage Storage: for safety purposes
- Laundry Services or Washing Machines
- Free Wi-Fi and internet access
Consider couch surfing as an option. However to be on the safe side, make sure to couch surf with a trusted friend or group.
Living Cheaply
- Prioritise your purchases (do you really need to purchase alcoholic beverages? That t-shirt? Or souvenir? What would you prefer to spend your money on?)
- Ask locals where to find cheap airline, travel and living deals (i.e. groupon, cudo)
- Choose to walk when you can
- Hire or invest in a push-bike, if your destination is safe enough
Commuting
- Blankets (for overnight buses or long haul flights): Versatile uses such as warm clothing and neck pillows.
- Scarves & sarongs: Also have versatile uses such as towel, neck pillow, scarf, blanket, etc. Downside is it may not keep you as warm however, they can also replace a quick dry towel.
- A good neck pillow, sleep mask, ear plugs and/or noise-blocking headphones.
- A relaxation playlist on your music device designed to put you to sleep for the long haul travels.
- Baggage storage can be difficult even in Western countries. Apart from railway stations, some hotels don’t mind accepting bags (just remember to tip in the US).
- Cheap transit. A lot of cheaper options are known by locals and return home students. These include buses, railways and airlines.
- Plan travel early (i.e. weekend travels and distances between locations)
- Be cautious of the frequency you move around from location to location as it does get costly.
- Travel during off-peak seasons to save money
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