What Parents Need to Know before Sending their Kids on a Post-Graduation Trip Abroad

After your children graduate from high school or college, you will probably want to reward them for this major accomplishment. For some parents, this means a new car or a check, but for other parents it means the gift of a trip abroad.


Sending your kids on a post-graduation trip abroad takes a major leap of faith but it also takes some pre-trip preparation. In order to prepare yourself, here are some things you should know.


1. Visas need to be obtained: Your child will need a visa for every country they plan to visit, unless they have a Schengen Visa, which permits travel between 15 different European countries on a single visa. They may need to apply for some travel visas in advance, while others can be obtained upon entering a country.

2. Money may not last as long as planned: Even the most frugal traveler can accidentally overspend when trying to learn the conversion rates of the currency in the various countries they travel to. Make sure you set up a system for your son or daughter to notify you and for them to obtain additional funds when necessary.

3. Roaming charges hurt: Cell phone roaming charges can create a gigantic bill for your son or daughter to return home to. Call your cell phone company in advance to find out if there is any way to activate the phone for international usage to avoid those charges. If not, look into alternatives such as Skype.

4. Your home health insurance policy doesn’t cover them while abroad: While your child is travelling out of the country and outside the network of doctors that your insurance company uses, your health insurance policy is useless. An international health insurance policy gives your child the accident and injury coverage they need while travelling and can include many other useful benefits like medical evacuation benefits. International health insurance is also a flexible and affordable policy that offers continual coverage even as they hop across regions and countries.

5. There may be additional taxes: European countries have a VAT, or value added tax that is imposed on many purchases including restaurant and retail expenditures. There are ways to get this VAT tax refunded at the airport, so make sure your children are careful about collecting the right documents to do so.

The gift of a trip abroad means more than just a fun post-graduation vacation for your child. Traveling abroad gives them a sense of the world and their own role within it that they can carry with them as they move onto their professional career. By preparing for the trip in advance, not only do you help minimize wasteful travel interruptions but you also teach your children the value of planning ahead.