TravelBud

I had always wanted to try teaching abroad ever since college. After spending 10 years working in the states, my wife and I decided that we wanted to try something new. Travelbuds was with us every single step of the way. They helped me with documentation, logistics, school-matching, and most importantly, they assured me everything was going to be okay. I’m so very thankful.

I had a disappointing experience with the placement process. I completed significant preparation, maintained a strong academic record, and obtained medical clearance from my doctor regarding concerns in my medical history. Despite that, I ultimately felt that older documentation and medical-history concerns were weighed more heavily than my actual qualifications, communication skills, and ability to succeed abroad. Communication throughout the process was generally professional, but I left feeling discouraged after investing substantial time and effort into preparing for teaching abroad. From my perspective, the process felt more focused on avoiding potential complications than evaluating applicants holistically as individuals. I understand organizations have policies and screening standards, but I would encourage future applicants to also explore direct-hire opportunities with Japanese schools and companies rather than relying only on placement/recruitment programs.

My experience with TravelBud was far different from what the marketing suggested. Costs increased beyond what was advertised, communication became inconsistent, and the support I was promised wasn’t there when the placement became unstable. I was even routed through the special economic zone in Laos with little to no guidance, and the school they placed me with did not follow through on payments and I waited more than 8 months for a placement guarantee which made it impossible to stay in Thailand legally to wait any longer before my tourist visas expired. They would not issue a refund nor a partial refund for not getting me a guaranteed placement. What concerned me most was how quickly things fell apart after asking them basic questions. I encourage future teachers to check the Reddit reviews that cannot be astroturfed or mass flagged by their marketing team on Google to only show the good reviews and hide all the bad ones.

TravelBud, as the entity that marketed and sold this program package, is fully accountable for the operational failures and the discriminatory rejection carried out by its partner, XploreAsia. They sold a defective service and are hiding behind vague slogans like "Lifetime Placement Guarantee" and "Guaranteed Job Placement." 1. Complicity in Discriminatory Practices TravelBud is culpable for the unethical nature of the product it sold: Admitting to Discrimination: TravelBud's communication, through Support Manager Charlotte Del Grande, explicitly detailed the discriminatory nature of the rejection, citing my private, mild neurodivergence (Autism spectrum) as a factor for denying the "Future Placement Support." Unprofessional Blacklisting: TravelBud sanctioned the rejection based on vague, subjective complaints about "short-term memory" and discussing "personal matters." I demand that TravelBud provide the specific, written job requirement that states my personal conversations violate the terms of their guarantee. 2. Policy Failure and the "Flute Rule" TravelBud sold a program that operates under the flawed logic of the "Flute Rule," and is therefore accountable for the resulting injustice. The "Flute Rule" Explained: This refers to the arbitrary job requirement in international teaching that demands a Bachelor's Degree in any subject, regardless of its relevance. My degree is in Music Performance. It’s exactly like telling a brilliant metal band guitarist that they must first learn to play the flute just to get the job! The Policy Injustice: TravelBud is liable for selling a program based on a requirement that rejects skill (120-hour TEFL) and valid credentials (Associate's degree). The program relies on a prejudicial, secret feedback mechanism to reject applicants, demonstrating a complete disregard for professional fairness and making a mockery of their "Lifetime Guarantee." 3. Accountability and Strategic Action This is being addressed as a failure in Strategic Legal Action and Policy Reform, not a minor customer service issue. As a strategic thinker specializing in Consumer Law and Policy Reform (with a Law Background), I am challenging this injustice through formal channels. I have filed formal complaints with the OCPB, UTEP, and BBB, asserting that TravelBud is liable for selling a program based on deception and discriminatory practices. I am currently pursuing all available regulatory avenues to force accountability and expose the misleading nature of their guarantees.

This company is not worth your time or money because if you have any type of ADHD or Autism diagnoises they will rightfully deny you. They will also not refund your money back once you start paying for the program. Waste of time for people who are diagnosed with mental disorders

I am coming up on 6 months into my placement as an English teacher in Japan and could not be happier that I chose to work with TravelBud! TravelBud makes it extremely easy to begin the process of moving your life abroad, from facilitating a TESOL certification course, setting up interviews with prospective schools, and even connecting you with incredible people making up an in-country support team. Every staff member I have spoken with from this company has been incredibly kind, patient, and more than willing to answer any and all questions I had about teaching, living abroad, and the entire process of doing so. If you are thinking about teaching abroad, I cannot recommend TravelBud enough - they are a perfect resource to make the process of moving your entire life to another country as seamless as possible, whether it's your first or tenth time doing so!

Living and teaching in Costa Rica was a very unique and fulfilling experience. It gives you a chance to learn a lot about the culture in a different way than just traveling, because you are part of the work force and after a while just start to feel like a regular person. I was placed with a host family in San Ramon who took really good care of me, and was able to easily make friends with the other teachers and even some students so I had a little community. I think overall, the cost of the program is too high for what they actually can do, and they need to improve some organizational aspects. Here’s some stuff I wish someone had told me! Advice: - have at least 1.5 years on your passport. Travelbud recommended me 1, but with border runs it’s much better to have 1.5 if you plan to stay for a full year because you often need at least 6 months to enter some countries. - use Natives Way for border runs - it’s very affordable and organized! - ask lots of questions about your placement. What did previous participants say? Or are you the first one? What does it mean for your taxes? - be proactive about making friends and ask them for advice! I found I learned a lot more from my local friends and host family than I did from TravelBud, which honestly makes complete sense. - learn Spanish before you come, it’ll help you make friends and honestly without Spanish I would’ve felt pretty lost and unsafe. Some people can get by, but I always felt thankful to have it! - practice logical safety. I think some people create this image in their minds that Costa Rica is 100% pura vida 24/7, but you need to be mindful of your surroundings. - take a photo of your passport and the stamp you got. - use YouTube to help you understand how to teach (I like the channel PapaTeachMe) - try different foods, travel lots, learn as much as you can, and just take it all in! Pros -orientation the first month is fun and helpful - you are guaranteed to get a job - offers you an added level of safety, and some helpful connections to get started - lots of opportunities for traveling Cons - they don’t always vet the placements like they promise (one of my friends had quite a negative experience with his) and they focus on jobs that are easy to get, not necessarily helping you find the best one for you. For me personally, I had one amazing school, one school that I had various issues with including weird hesitance to send me my paystubs, strange comments from my boss about the personal appearance of employees, lack of basic materials like markers, and one online job where I had a different student every class and felt like a robot reading off slides. I found a different online job on my own, which I absolutely love and I’m still working with them. All to say - Ask questions!! Push to find the job that’s right for you, or at least to know what you’re signing up for. You don’t have to stick with the first/easiest option. You can also find jobs yourself just on google, Facebook, etc, I was able to get 3 interviews on my own and took the online offer. - don’t offer consistent advice about taxes, so you kind of have to figure it out on your own. - expensive cost that doesn’t align with qualify/level of support - some inaccurate information (usually better to ask on-site team) - jobs have low pay I think if you choose to sign up for this program, you will learn a lot no matter what. Be proactive in creating a positive experience for yourself, and enjoy this unique time in your life!

Approaching this new job at first felt very nerve racking and overwhelming, however I do not regret a single thing! The whole process before moving to Korea was a very smooth transition. I had a lot of help and support from Aubrey, who was very sweet and was always able to help straight away when I had a worry, question or concern! Teaching here now has allowed for me to change my lifestyle for the better. I’ve experienced so many new foods, sites and made loads of life long friends! I used to have a voice in the back of my head that told me to not do it, but I’m glad I decided to not listen to it because moving to Korea to teach is probably one of the best things I’ll have ever done in my entire life!

A few months ago, I decided to leave Canada to go teach abroad. I contacted Travelbud who helped me choose Thailand as my destination. They helped me with all the preparation stuff (documents, visa, info about the country, etc). They were always there if I had a question or needed an information to explain what were the next steps. Then, I started to work with their partner agency in-country partner (first, I didn't know I was about to work with another agency). Even if I was now preparing with in-country partner, people at Travelbud were still there to make sure everything was fine. So, after all the documents and visa preparation, packing and everything, I left home and came to Thailand. I did my TESOL course with the in-country partner in Hua Hin, and met a lot of nice people from all around the world. After a month, I left for my placement in Mahachai. I am now an English teacher living in Thailand. It's a completly crazy new experience, but I like it! I'm glad I chose that program to have the chance to live all the experiences I am living right now.

Moving to another country can be daunting regardless of how adventurous you may consider yourself. I have travelled before, however, moving to South Korea to teach felt particularly scary! I am so glad that I chose to use TravelBud to support my move, and I can honestly say I’m not sure I would’ve been able to get here without them! From the first email I sent to enquire about the opportunity the support has been endless. I first contacted Kim regarding my thoughts and feelings about teaching abroad as I hadn’t yet graduated university and it was a tumultuous time given Covid. Kim was a fantastic mentor and guide as she discussed her own experiences with me and helped me to make a decision on where I might want to go. After this she helped me to prepare my documents, and was so understanding of my (often) late responses given that I was completing my degree. I have a tendency to be rather unorganised, however, Kim and Enzo were both incredibly patient and sent me helpful reminders to gather my documents to send off to Korea. One aspect of TravelBud that I found incredibly beneficial for me was that I didn’t have to search for a school that fit my criteria, they did it all for me. They were both so helpful in preparing me for my interviews, and they sent me many examples of questions that I might be asked. I felt so prepared for my interviews and never felt as though I was having to go in blind. It can be incredibly difficult to manoeuvre all of the documents, and interviews, and time-zones, so having somebody that could guide me definitely helped a lot. The most difficult aspect of preparation for my move was the anticipation! I have truly enjoyed my time out here, and I can’t advise the move to go and teach abroad enough. During the week I work with the most amazing children, who have taught me as much as I have taught them. They have such big hearts, and I adore being their teacher. Then I get the wonderful opportunity to travel and experience South Korea on the weekends (which I have taken full advantage of!). From spending days on the beautiful beaches down south in Busan and Yeosu, to traversing the beautiful and dystopian city streets of Seoul, every weekend has been packed with something to do. Perhaps the highlight of my time here so far has been this ability to travel around the country so easily and so comfortably. One of my favourite places has been a small city named Jinju that I stumbled upon whilst finding new places to visit on my weekends. Most recently I attended the lantern festival in Jinju which lined the palace gardens and river with the most beautiful painted lanterns. Despite trying to see somewhere new every weekend, I still feel like I have so much more to discover, and I look forward to each new adventure! With more and more adventures to go on every weekend, and a Christmas trip to Tokyo in the works, I truly cannot stress what an amazing opportunity and experience this has been. I also have to give thanks to TravelBud, Kim, and Enzo for the support that guided and helped me be able to take this massive step and have the best year experiencing all of these amazing things! If you’re even considering the prospects of teaching in South Korea, my advice would absolutely be to do it, and make your life easier, do it with the help of a company like TravelBud!

"Put me on a sandy beach in the south, please", I so naively requested all those months ago. When I first expressed to the ever so helpful TravelBud team my desire to be placed near water and warmth, I had no concept of where or how good it would be. Through the tireless efforts of members at TravelBud, most notably Aubrey, my big post-grad tropical living dreams came to fruition- and more. While of course, the beach and blue water is delightful here in Songkhla, there is a uniqueness and warmth to the community that draws me even more than the sand and sun. Although I've only been in Songkhla a little over a week, I am already dreading the day I depart. If that day comes, that is... People here have welcomed me with open arms. From the security guard who protects my apartment at night to my most wonderful Thai teacher I share a classroom with. There is something to be said about Thai culture's infamous "friendly" nature. It is genuinely, true. I feel honored to share the English language with my students, and thankful to TravelBud for exceeding my greatest expectations. At the end of our lives, we are not going to recall all the "instagramable" landscapes we ventured to as much as we will recall becoming part of a community greater than ourselves. To me, Songkhla is somehow both of those things. Thank you TravelBud for the peculiarly perfect placement.

I grew up and went to college in the same small town. I love my home, but when I graduate from university I knew I needed to do something out of the ordinary. I needed to step outside of my comfort zone and get uncomfortable. A friend reached out to me with the same thoughts/situation and asked, "want to go teach English in Thailand?" Immediately I said yes. She sent me the link to TravelBud and the rest is history. TravelBud has been nothing but great with constant support and help. My friend and I joked with our representative from TravelBud that we asked her a thousand questions a day because quite frankly we did. Bless her soul, she responded quickly and thoroughly. It was definitely nerve-racking leaving the place I have called home for the past 22 years, but TravelBud eased these nerves. Because of this program, I was able to travel the world and parts of myself that I didn't even know existed. TravelBud has changed my life, and I would recommend this program to everyone. This is a community I want to be a part of for life! 47/10 if you are questioning doing this program, don't think, just do! Watch how good your life gets. Peace, Madeline

I have had the best time doing my TEFL and have just began teaching abroad! I have made so many friends and created a really strong support system out here, whilst being able to immerse myself in a completely new culture! I felt really supported and guided the entire process, and really feel I made a good decision for myself!

I was placed just outside of Bankgok, Thailand in a small primary school. My apartment was a 10 minute walk to school, and I had very easy access to public transportation during the weekends. There were plenty of markets and a mall very close by. So, anything I needed I could easily access. The teachers and parents were the most kind and welcoming people. They were so happy to have me and my coworkers, and were very accommodating to us. I felt right at home within the first few weeks. The TravelBud program connected me to a program in Thailand who helped me with my TESOL as well as a cultural orientation so I knew a bit of what to expect in Thai culture. I always felt very safe and taken care of with these two programs. They really do want you to have the best possible time, and are often reaching out to check in and see if you need anything. I met the most amazing people from all over the world, and still keep in contact with many of them. I miss my students dearly and wish that I could have stayed much longer. I have never been to another country that I fell in love with as much as I have with Thailand. I could not recommend this country, or program more. The memories I made, the experiences I had, and the people I met were truly life changing.

TravelBud was the saving grace to my travels abroad. After getting in contact with them in 2016 after I had completed my degree - they helped me with every little thing that I needed from the very beginning of initial questions right until I was actually in Korea and at my school. They were professional, prompt with responses, and incredibly friendly with every conversation that we shared. I would recommend TravelBud as the company that you choose to help you to get abroad. They made the whole experience stress-free and easy. Truly the best 4 years of my life!

Honestly, amidst the entire COVID craze and when the japan borders were closed, the on-the-ground team did great with being as supportive as possible with its limitations. And I mean many limitations such as most of the schools not interviewing until the end of the year, or when borders opened. The support team was especially great, as they check in with you very thoughtfully. The program does listen to your specific preferences (such as age group, location, etc) but as I said, it was limited due to borders closed. I think if it weren’t COVID, if I had applied in another time, my experience would’ve been even more great due to more school options and an in-person cultural immersion. People think it’s sketchy at first, which is fair paying so much money, but when you think about it’s worth it as they do the hard work for you with their connections to schools and prioritized getting into the country.

WOW. Where do I even begin? I came to Thailand in the middle of COVID, in May of 2021. We had to postpone my trip three times, which at first I thought was an inconvenience, but as hindsight is always 2020, I see how the timing of my Thailand experience was near perfect for me. Travelbud helped me every step of the way, from answering my daunting visa questions to explaining the neverending, always-changing COVID situation to me. They helped me jump through all the hoops, no matter how high or small. They made me feel comfortable moving across the world, even though we were in the most uncertain of times. Saskia in particular helped ease my mind on several different occasions. Travelbud sets you up with a two-week orientation when you get to Thailand, where you meet other teachers from all over the world. I made one of my best friends through my orientation group. I will forever be grateful to Travelbud. My school has a lot of foreign teachers, so I had a big group of friends to travel with as well. I finished my two-week quarantine in June of 2021, and Thailand went into lockdown the first week of July. During that time, I traveled almost the entire country from top to bottom; it was the coolest thing to experience. We felt as if we had the entire country to ourselves, constantly being the only people on beaches and on islands, or in restaurants or on the streets of Bangkok. I saw Thailand in a way that only a lucky few did in 2021. This was my fourth time coming to Thailand, so it's safe to say my love for this country runs deep. The culture is unlike anything you've seen before. Thai people care about others, they are full of joy, and everything is centered around food. The FOOD... is so amazing. I hardly eat western food, and it doesn't bother me. Granted, the only western options I have in my town are Mcdonald's and Burger King... But I live so close to Bangkok, that I can go get my fix whenever I want. I was placed in a suburb of Bangkok, which I loved because I really immersed myself in Thai culture. I have so many Thai friends, and feel like I am officially Thai (Chan Khon Thai!!)! The people are the best part of this experience. Thai people and the international people I've met on my journey are relationships that will last forever. I now have places to stay all over the world. I have learned to speak a lot of Thai, even though most Thai people speak some level of English. You won't feel alone here, you won't feel helpless (at least all the time lol). The Thai people are welcoming, they make sure you are doing okay. Traveling around is incredibly easy, as Thailand has awesome transportation systems. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I have learned so much about the world and about the person I want to be through living here. I have been shaped and molded into a better Courtney since moving here. I have learned how to love harder, how to listen better, and how to have joy despite any circumstance I may find myself in. I could write for hours about the impact Thailand has had on my life. The last thing I will talk about is my teaching experience. I was SO lucky with getting placed at a private school. I only had 15 students in my first year and got to move up with them in my second year. I know my students so well, and teaching them has been the most challenging, rewarding, and joyful experience of my life. These kids are precious, and they have taught me just as much, or possibly more than I have taught them. If you are even considering moving to Thailand to teach, let this be the final push you need to go. DO IT. Face the fear of leaving your comfort zone and charting new waters in a new country. The culture shock wears off, you learn how to navigate the BTS in no time, and the heat becomes normal (just kidding, that you don't get used to). You can overcome any problem or challenge thrown your way. You have endless support from Travelbud, from your school, and from the amazing people you will meet along the way. I promise this isn't a decision you will regret. I will look back on this time in my life and be filled with such joy and love. Thailand has changed me from the inside out, and I can earnestly thank Travelbud for getting me here. If you've made it this far, thank you, and this might be your sign to move across the world. Thank you Travelbud, from the bottom of my heart. XOXO, Teacher Courtney.

I've had a terrible experience with TravelBud. Please Stay Away from them!!! -I've been waiting almost a year to get a job in Japan after paying my fee -They promised me a job within a few months and made it seem as if it will be easy to get the job and that they would get it for me, there is still an interview to pass and those schools take the best of the best, they do nothing to actually get you in to the school -They are way too costly to make me wait so long and give me this horrible service. I also hardly get feedback from them on my job placement and when they do give me feedback it's to say I will soon get a placement -Other recruiters do this for free, I suggest to rather go with those recruiters. I thought by paying such a high fee, I would get amazing service and get a job quickly -I've wasted R5000 and will not be moving forward with this program, what was promised was not delivered -I feel as if I've been scammed and my money taken away with nothing gained

"I love life in Vietnam. I love teaching, the low cost of living and the lively social setting of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). I earn £1000 a month (after tax) for 80 hours work per month, and can save £200+ every month. There are tons of expats, so you can make lots of Western friends quickly - but you also can make Vietnamese friends too. The people (especially in Saigon) are very friendly and it's easy to find people who will help you practice your Vietnamese! I have lots of free time to explore new hobbies such as photography and playing guitar, as well as spending time with friends. I would definitely recommend the program and living in Vietnam"

I found the program to be very beneficial. Originally I was going to do everything myself, but decided to go through the program to have extra support and guidance. I found that it was a very worthy investment, as the support team was well-organized and helpful in getting me acclimated and prepared for my experience. The support with logistics, paperwork, bank accounts etc. is facilitated and also the cultural orientation was valuable. Meeting so many other people was a great way to start my time abroad, as I made friends and developed a network from the start. While there is room for improvement, I found overall the experience to be smooth and helpful. My teaching placement worked out for me and I am happy where I was placed. It was a pretty seamless process and I have been enjoying and learning much in my time here. Originally I wanted to be in a bigger city with a lot of ex-pats, but my placement turned out to be in a small area. I decided to just trust in the process and it turned out that I had a great experience. I still made friends and had a life-changing experience. I think that you might grow and learn more being outside your comfort zone. If you're new to teaching abroad and you want a strong support network to help with all the logistics and also as a way to meet others, I think this program is a strong option.