Internships abroad for solo female travelers

Get to know our team of Program Managers

Dallas

What motivated your own interest in gaining international experience?

I wasn’t sure what step to take after I completed my undergraduate degree. I wanted to continue my education but felt that it was important to gain experience too, to ensure I was on the right path. I might have lacked the confidence to travel alone but I found that I could sign up for a highly supportive international volunteering program. This really excited me and gave me the push I needed to try something new.

What were your own experiences as a solo female traveler?

Absolutely life changing! I initially joined a volunteer abroad program - although I signed up as an individual, and didn’t know anyone else who would be part of the experience, I quickly met others after I’d arrived (in Costa Rica) and made new friends really quickly. This experience got me out of my shell and gave me “the bug” - kicking off lots of incredible solo travel adventures. I realized that - even though I had a lot to learn in life - I was capable and resilient. After traveling and seeing more of the world, I did feel better equipped to make informed choices about what I wanted for my life and career. I eventually returned to studies but it was with a much greater sense of purpose and determination.

Karen

What motivated your own interest in gaining international experience?

As a child, I read a lot of English books from foreign authors and I was always fascinated by the bigger world out there. It was this curiosity and fascination that led me to explore the world as a young adult. The first step was scary but very essential!

What were your own experiences as a solo female traveler?

It was exciting, nerve-wrecking but super rewarding at the same time! I can still remember the moment when I stepped out of the plane, 11,000km away from home, and realized that I was very much on my own as an international student. I had to learn how to use public transportation, open a bank account and navigate my way around. But once I managed all of that, my confidence grew. Looking back, I would not have changed a thing because it all changed my life for good. I made many friends and nothing beats being in a new place, where you can savour interesting cuisine, immerse in new cultures, and learn a new language - it’s super fun and fulfilling!

Sarah

What motivated your own interest in gaining international experience?

There is so much more to life than what I believe my home town can offer, so I think my sense of human curiosity has always been a push factor when it comes to traveling abroad. Stepping into the unknown and pushing myself beyond the limits of what I’m accustomed to is for me, the only way to reflect on my own culture, values, and identity. Shaking up my perceptions leads to personal revelation and a new understanding of myself and others.

What were your own experiences as a solo female traveler?

For me, stepping outside my comfort zone and navigating the world independently has always been incredibly empowering. I like to look at it as a way of proving to myself that I am more capable, resilient and confident then I give myself credit for! Every solo trip comes with its own unique challenges, with these forcing me to develop problem-solving skills, patience, and the ability to manage uncertainty. When I take the leap to travel alone, I always come away feeling changed for the better.

Veronica

What motivated your own interest in gaining international experience?

I’ve always been captivated by different cultures, customs, and languages, which is why I knew I wanted to expand my horizons by gaining experience in another country. For me, there’s no better way to truly understand a culture, immerse yourself in it, and be transformed by everything it has to offer. I also firmly believe that every aspect of an international experience contributes to personal growth - not just the professional skills you acquire, but also the challenges you overcome and the confidence you build. These lessons stay with you long after you’ve returned home.

What were your own experiences as a solo female traveler?

As a solo female traveler, there were certainly moments of insecurity and doubt - times when I was surrounded by unfamiliar faces or struggled to make myself understood. However, I was determined to push through these challenges and discomforts, and in doing so, I quickly realized just how much more capable I was than I had initially believed. I transformed these obstacles into valuable learning experiences that ultimately shaped me for the better. By the time I returned home, I was a different person - more confident, self-assured, and resilient. In the end, solo travel became one of the most transformative and rewarding experiences of my life.

Preparation and support

To start putting plans in motion, the first step of your journey starts with the intern abroad application process. It’s free to apply and just takes a few short minutes. Your internship application will connect you with a Program Manager at Intern Abroad HQ, so they can receive your formal expression of interest. They’ll review your application and respond quickly, to outline the next steps and address any initial questions. From here, you’ll have all the preparation and support you need, to make your plans, one step at a time.

Our Program Managers (with additional assistance from our dedicated Campus Support team) collaborate with international internship coordinators and hosts all around the world and have the knowledge to advise you about each of our opportunities. They can help you narrow down your options and address questions about what to expect and how to plan.

Once your internship has actually commenced, your Program Manager remains in touch as a point of contact. However, your support network broadens, since you also have in-country coordinators and internship hosts to assist.

Accommodation for interns

Why do intern abroad packages include accommodation?

All of the international intern abroad packages offered through Intern Abroad HQ include accommodation. Some reasons why we take care to include accommodation within our intern abroad packages include:

• Cost-Effectiveness Bundling accommodation with our internship program often results in better pricing than booking separately. Our in-country hosts have established relationships with trusted accommodation providers, who are accustomed to hosting international students/interns. Fixed costs help with budgeting, avoiding last-minute price surges, which can especially impact travelers during peak seasons.

• Community & Social Opportunities Staying in the accommodation which is included in your intern abroad program means you’ll have greater opportunities to meet like-minded people (often other interns or higher education students). Access to a social network helps to build new friendships, prevent loneliness, and enhance the experience overall. Some travel dates are more popular than others, so check with your Program Manager if you want additional guidance about participation numbers, according to your preferred location and program dates.

• Safety & Security Intern Abroad HQ constantly receives feedback related to the established program accommodation, which is frequently utilized for guests. In-country coordinators assist to ensure reliable living conditions, while offering extra support as needed.

• Local Support & Assistance The accommodation provided through the internship program is linked to the local support provided from on-the-ground coordinators or accommodation managers. For example, interns who are staying with a host family have access to a local contact who can assist with questions related to public transport, safety, understanding local customs, and more.

• Proximity to Internship Location Intern abroad experiences are designed with a number of logistics in mind. Accommodations may often be booked secondarily, once your specific internship placement has first been confirmed. This can ensure that, where possible, location is taken into consideration, reducing your commuting time and costs.

• Convenience & Time-Saving You don’t need to spend hours researching and booking accommodation separately. Everything is pre-arranged by Intern Abroad HQ, so you can focus on other aspects of your planning and budgeting for your international experience. This is ideal for first-time travelers or those unfamiliar with the destination.

What kind of accommodation is included?

Internship accommodation arrangements include a mix of homestays and shared housing. Whether you’re staying with a local host family, practicing your language skills and enjoying the culture, or enhancing your independence in a shared space, there are a range of options.

Homestay Accommodation

Depending on your internship destination of choice, interns may be accommodated with a local host family in homestay accommodation. While the nature of each homestay varies from destination to destination, most homestays are an apartment or house with one or more spare rooms that are used to host our international interns.

Homestay hosts are well experienced and accustomed to hosting international guests. They understand that guests might prefer to have privacy and independence. However, they also provide an extra layer of support, as needed. Whether you have questions about what to do on the weekend, how to get around, the language or culture, they’ll be an extra resource during your stay.

Interns staying in homestay accommodation can usually anticipate having their own bedroom. In some cases, a bedroom may be shared with another guest of the same gender (this is more likely during the peak internship season, typically from May through September).

Internship destinations which currently include homestay accommodation are:

• Argentina
• Australia
• Costa Rica
• Guatemala
• Ireland
• Italy
• Jordan (upon request)
• Peru
• Spain (Seville and Valencia locations)
• Zanzibar

Shared or independent accommodation

Outside of the homestays, the accommodation arrangements on our internship programs can include shared housing with other interns, or independent rooms. Options can include fully furnished apartments, hotels or student accommodation facilities. The types of facilities and amenities vary by destination, but often include shared living spaces (bathroom, kitchen, lounge, dining etc).

In most cases, anywhere between two to six guests of mixed gender can be accommodated per space, offering greater interaction with other program participants, and independence for those who have traveled or lived alone before. Depending on destination, interns may have their own private bedroom, but may also be required to share with another participant of the same gender.

Internship destinations which currently include shared lodging are:

• Bali
• Czech Republic
• Greece
• Japan
• Jordan
• Morocco
• New Zealand
• Spain (Barcelona, Madrid and Tenerife locations)
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Thailand
• USA

Recommended destinations for private room accommodation

If you’re looking to secure your own private room (due to personal, health or religious reasons), this is possible in the following destinations.

Please note that there may be an additional cost involved to secure a private room for the duration of your internship, and while you may have your own room, the environment in which the room is based could be shared with others of the opposite gender.

Requests to secure a private room may be subject to availability. We always invite travelers to speak to our team about specific concerns or requests related to accommodation, so that we can advise you directly.

• Bali (private accommodation)
• Costa Rica (homestay accommodation with private room upgrades available)
• Czech Republic (shared dormitory-style accommodation with private room upgrades available)
• Spain (Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona and Seville locations - shared accommodation with private room allocations for guests)
• South Korea (private accommodation)
• Italy (homestay accommodation with private room allocations for guests)
• New Zealand (shared accommodation with private room allocations for guests)
• Tanzania (shared dormitory-style accommodation with private room upgrades available)
• Zanzibar (homestay accommodation with private room allocations for guests)
• USA (shared accommodation with private room allocations for guests)

Recommended destinations for female only accommodation

If you would prefer to be housed in female-only accommodation due to cultural, religious or personal preferences, please feel free to speak with our team for support and recommendations.

Recommended destinations for accommodation exclusion

If you would feel more comfortable opting out of our accommodation service to source your own accommodation independently, then please speak with our team. We will be happy to review your requirements for the internship and make some custom recommendations for you.

Meals inclusions

If you’d like the convenience of not having to worry about budgeting for meals, or want to avoid having to go and dine out every day, most homestay accommodations offer home-cooked meals for interns, which are included in the Program Fee. In some other destinations, meals are also provided for all interns directly at the shared accommodation.

The destinations that include meals are:

• Argentina (includes 2 meals per day)
• Australia (includes 2 meals per weekday; 3 meals per day on weekends)
• Costa Rica (includes 2 meals per day)
• Greece - Samos (includes 3 meals per day)
• Guatemala (includes 2 meals per day)
• Ireland (includes 2 meals per weekday; 3 meals per day on weekends)
• Jordan (includes 3 meals per day)
• Morocco (includes 2 meals per day)
• Peru (includes 3 meals per day)
• South Africa - Gondwana; Kruger; Sodwana (includes 3 meals per day)
• Spain - Seville (includes 3 meals per day)
• Spain - Valencia (includes 3 meals per day)
• Tanzania (includes 2 meals per day, only Monday to Friday)
• Zanzibar (includes 3 meals per day)

Even though meals are included for some programs, we still advise you to budget to cover your own treats and personal preferences. It’s normal to want to go out and explore the local food scene (and this can be a highlight of socializing with others too).

Depending on your own spending habits and lifestyle choices, personal budgets can vary enormously. If you frequently enjoy takeaway food and beverages, then you’ll likely have the same habits when you’re traveling. Plan to accommodate your dietary preferences and requirements, to ensure a smooth experience overall.

Connection and community

Connecting with others and finding a sense of community is always important. While this sense of connection can come from fellow internship participants, an open-mindedness to meeting people that are different from yourself is also crucial to the development of your cultural intelligence and global citizenry.

Whether meeting new people through your accommodation, local internship coordinators, or the internship placement itself, ensure that you make an effort to immerse yourself in the local customs and ways of life. Sometimes this can be challenging, if it all differs vastly from what you’re used to at home. However, it can be incredibly rewarding to foster relationships with people from different walks of life.

Since Intern Abroad HQ has a rolling admissions process, our experiences are available year-round and individuals can choose their participation dates with utmost flexibility. Some interns intentionally choose to travel outside of peak season dates, to source more affordable flights and other discount incentives for travelers.

Although participation numbers can vary at certain times of the year, there are peak periods, when many interns are across all programs. If you want to ensure that you’ll have the maximum amount of social opportunities with other interns, then speak with our team. Advance planning is always recommended but this is especially important for our busiest months - you won’t want to miss out!

If you want more guidance related to building relationships and support networks, check out our guide on Mental Health & Wellbeing.

Budget and spending

We don’t want money to be the reason you miss out on having an international experience for your internship, so we have some tips to help plan as strategically as possible.

• Don’t leave your plans till the last minute Planning in advance is sensible. It means you have more time to make an informed decision, more time to research, more time to budget and save, and a better chance to secure more affordable flights.

• Maximize the value of your experience by earning academic credit Ever considered that you could earn credits more affordably overseas, as opposed to on your own campus? Probably not, right? Well, this is a pro-tip, so pay attention. If you’re a student, there are a couple of ways to ensure your internship abroad also earns you academic credit. While this could be granted to you directly, via your own school, there are incredibly competitive tuition “add ons” available through Intern Abroad HQ. Have a chat with us about it - there are some fantastic opportunities which might be just right for you!

• Consider a destination that’s geographically close to you Want cheap flights? If you choose an intern abroad destination that’s closer to you, then flights are probably going to be a lot cheaper. Want to save even more? Then plan in advance - don’t leave booking everything to the last minute, or the cost of flights may increase closer to your departure date. (Just don’t book your flights until you have actually confirmed your internship plans first!)

• Choose an affordable destination Intern Abroad HQ offers international internships all around the world - some of these locations are more affordable than others. We list program fee tables, so you can check out costs, according to the chosen length of your internship. Program fees include accommodation (and sometimes meals), so the longer you stay, the more your participation will cost. Looking for a more affordable experience? Consider a short-term internship, in a country with a relatively low cost of living.

• Choose an internship with more inclusions Some internship destinations include meals and some don’t. If you choose an internship destination that does include meals, then you’ll ensure that your program fee covers more inclusions.

• Explore scholarships Young women are increasingly leading the pack when it comes to international travel and global career-building. As young women are more likely to be enrolled in college today it naturally follows that they’re also more likely to benefit from career hacks, like scholarships. Check out some of our general guidance and speak to your own university advisors. Maybe there are resources available that you don’t know about - you won’t find out, unless you research and ask.

Final insights and recommendations

We reflected on some of our own experiences as female travelers and want to share with others:

“Remember that there’s always help available. It can be challenging to navigate the unknown but you’re not alone in doing so - there’s such an amazing community of help and support available, you just have to communicate, keep an open mind, and good intentions at heart.” - Dallas

“The first step is often the scariest but the most exciting one you can take! You’re not alone as we’re here to support you. It’s normal to have feelings like anxiety, doubt or uncertainty but it’s important to press on. Show mutual respect to other cultures, be receptive and flexible in understanding that things do not operate as they do back home - but that’s where the beauty in diversity lies. Embrace this opportunity to learn transferable skills that will be super beneficial in the long term.” - Karen

“Stay open minded and get comfortable with the uncomfortable. No two cultures are the same, and what may be the norm for you is likely not the norm for someone else. Approaching every situation with a positive frame of mind will go a long way in shaping your experience as an international intern, so be prepared to step out of your comfort and embrace the unfamiliar!” - Sarah

“I will never stop emphasizing this: keeping an open mind. Being open to not only the incredible experiences, but also the lessons that come from the challenges you face; being open to receiving the kindness of people eager to share their culture with you; being open to seeing life through a different lens and gaining new perspectives; and being open to embracing the discomfort of unfamiliar places, with the confidence that you are strong and capable enough to transform it into the experience of a lifetime.” - Veronica

So what are you waiting for? Consider this your sign to get out and explore the world. The amount you will learn and take away from the experience is immeasurable!