Program Reviews

The program was absolutely fantastic for helping me get settled and feel at ease in a completely new country. From the very first day, they provided practical support with accommodation, local orientation, and even cultural tips that made the transition much smoother than I ever expected. Beyond the logistics, what really stood out was the sense of community they fostered among participants—I never felt alone, even when navigating language barriers or unfamiliar customs.

And the best part? They actually delivered on their main promise: they successfully helped me secure a position as a teacher at a local school. The placement matched my skills and interests, and the ongoing guidance from their coordinators gave me confidence in the classroom from day one. It wasn’t always easy—teaching abroad comes with its own set of challenges—but the rewards, both personal and professional, have been immense.

So if you’re even slightly curious about living and working overseas, whether for just a semester or an entire year, I’d say: don’t overthink it. Go for it. The experience will push you, shape you, and leave you with stories and friendships that last a lifetime. Just be open-minded, patient with yourself, and ready to embrace the unexpected—because that’s where the real magic happens.

Best program ever! They were there to help me every step of the way. I couldn't have done it without Travelbud. I faced many obstacles in my personal life before I moved abroad, but the care and support I received from Travelbud were unmatched. They helped make this trip happen. I always heeded Charlotte's guidance, and before I knew it, I landed in Japan. This was the best decision I've ever made. I knew this was an opportunity of a lifetime, so I was not going to hold back. Thank you, Travelbud!

The TESOL course was amazing and I made so many incredible friends and connections but leaving them at the end of the course was really hard. We all went to different parts of the country so hopefully we'll find ways to see each other again but it felt like leaving all my friends in my home country all over again.

We had breakfast with our school Principals the day after we arrived and it was really nice, was mostly just a getting to know you meeting.

They found out I liked Matcha so took us to a matcha cafe after breakfast as well which was really lovely.

We also did a CPR training course on ny first day which was taught in Thai and such an interesting experience. We had to rely on gestures and pictures but some of the Thai teachers would occasionally translate the important information to us. It was a lot of fun.

I just moved to Japan so there isn't to much to say. But I like working for my company. everyone is super nice and great at explain ho to do all the paperwork.

Working at the schools has been great so far and all teh students are really nice.

The only thing that I have to say that would be a con for me is that I am not really near any other ALTs or friends that I have made before coming to Japan or that all ready live here. They are all in Osaka or Tokyo so that is a little hard on me but I will try to make it work and see how it goes.

My name is Shannon, & I am here to share a little about why I am so proud and grateful for my teaching abroad experience in Costa Rica. Firstly, the Travelbud team genuinely made my experience so much better with their encouragement, support, and enthusiasm. I was very nervous when I started, but they made sure I never felt alone. It's a crazy (and scary!!!) change to move away from home, but equally so rewarding and amazing. This experience is 1 of a kind and I wouldn't trade it for the world..

I can say with confidence that this has been the most rewarding and exciting experience I have had. TravelBud made the process of moving to a new country a hassle free experience. I was put into a TEFL program in Costa Rica where met lifelong friends and build a network in a new country. We had plenty of free time to explore and enjoy local activities. My time in the TEFL program was truly such a memorable and fun time and I will always remember it fondly. Going through TravelBud, I felt a peace of mind and overall excitement for the journey that was ahead. I highly recommend them :)

I didn't know what to expect when uprooting my life to move to Costa Rica and embarking on this training. I was so lucky to have such an amazing group of fellow teachers around me including an utterly sensational and supportive course leader, Carla, who always kept the course fun and light while also putting my skills and experience to use and giving me responsibilities in the classroom.

I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a new challenge. I came here to deliberately make life more challenging for myself, leave my cushy life back in England, and discover who I was deep down in this brave new world.

Already I can feel I have changed so much and, come what may, I will never regret the courage it took to boldly go into the unknown. The sentiment as to why I left and the opportunities this course has provided me can be summarised in a poem that is close to my heart:

'I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.'

All in all - 10/10 would highly recommend.

I found this program back in 2022.. I was scheduled to leave in the summer of 2023. Life happened thus I ended up going in 2024. The inquiry was completely smooth from the start of it all to arriving in Costa Rica! It was a great experience to learn about myself. It was very humbling and pushed me to develop my Spanish. If you are looking to take sometime away from the hustle and bustle I recommend teaching abroad. I would recommend Costa Rica to anyone looking to travel and live somewhere for a bit and network/connect with ticos!

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!

Thanks to TravelBud my dreams of teaching abroad came through!
The process to get to the destination can be quite long and time consuming but with the support of all the staff, we prepared everything. I received a lot of assistance throughout the months prior the departure but also, during the following months of my teaching. Now I am a proud teacher in South East Asia and this would have never happened without TravelBud.
In conclusion, I can not recommend this organisation enought if you want to teach in a new country.