BUNAC???

If you're going after June 30th, then I think you can apply after March.

Good luck!

I sent off my BUNAC application today.  Suddenly, I'm very nervous.   :\\\'(

Aww, don't worry Gyladene, you'll be fine!!

Thanks!  I feel a little better now.  I think it's just the thought of going overseas for the first time (and all alone, at that), that's making me a bit jittery.  A good kind of jittery, though!

Totally understand that feeling.  Trust me, once you're there though, it's AMAZING.

Thanks, kawaii.   I have no doubt it'll be great (if I don't spend all my time stressing about finding a job).

To all the other past/present BUNACers, I have a question about flights:  Is it possible to go in with just a one-way ticket?  I've heard people say they had no trouble getting in with just their one-way ticket, but then I've heard others say you HAVE to present a return ticket or else you'll be refused entry.  Can anyone here clarify?   

I always go over with a round trip ticket. Usually it really isnt that much more than a one way. Plus it's proof that you don't plan on staying forever. I usually find good deals at statravel.com When I did BUNAC I had a round trip, as the other two times i've been to the UK. I'm going back for a visit in March, and I got a round trip ticket for around $450 from Tennessee to London. I think they can deny entry if you dont have proof you're returning. But not 100% sure on that

Thanks for the advice.    Yeah, I read several other threads on here that talked about plane tickets, and most of them said what you said - that you could possibly be denied entry if you just have a one-way.  I just thought if you showed any proof that you will be returning home (for instance, my class schedule for next fall), then maybe you would be okay.  But who wants to take the risk?

Right now, it seems that one-way tickets are cheaper than round-trip (contrary to what the other posters were saying)  I guess it's because I'm going during peak season (May-Aug).  All the one-way tickets I'm finding are around $400, while the round-trip tickets that I'm finding right now are between $800 and $1000.    

Where are you flying out of/to? I live in Knoxville, but I've flown out of ATL, Nashville, and Louisville in order to get really cheaper prices. If you can play around with the dates and take off/departure places, it really helps.

Hmm, I never thought of that!  I was just going to fly straight out of my hometown (Albuquerque, NM).  I'll tinker around with the dates and cities and see what comes up?  The longer you wait to book the flights, the more expensive they become, correct?

Thanks for the tips!  I really appreciate any help I can get.

I've found that going midweek can cheapen the tickets, and that the longer you wait (closer to time you want to leave), the more expensive they get.  Unless you want to gamble a bit and go for last minute deals when they're trying to unload any extras, which I guess would be okay if you don't have a set date that you want to leave.  I find it cheaper to leave from a smaller airport (Toledo, Ohio) than it is to leave from larger airports not too far away (like Detroit or Columbus)...I don't know why that has been.  I think Detroit is sometimes cheapest for my area, but with the cost of gas to get there, or a cab ride, it wouldn't be worth the saved $40 or so anyway.  So if you need to factor in gas money, remember to take that into account!  I'm also one to spend a bit more to get a better itinerary...I'd rather pay a bit more than have 12 hour layovers every again 

This is random, but what are you taking for money?  Traveller's checks, cash, and/or credit/debit?  I took travel checks once and they were a hassle...HSBC didn't believe that AAA was a legit travel company and took over 45 minutes to cash my checks after they checked around.  Maybe it was just them though, I don't know    Though some consider it risky to take a lot of cash, I like to take it because you can exchange it for free at the post office 

Yeah, from my search, it seems like I might as well fly straight out of my city.  It's about $200-$300 cheaper to fly out of the next closest airport, but the problem with that is GETTING to that airport...which would more than likely offset any savings on my part anyway.   

As far as money, I worked a whole lot this year, so I have some money in savings and I expect to cover the rest with my tax return.  I have also hear not to bring cash because there's no way to track it if it winds up stolen/missing, but I always keep an iron hold on my cash anyway.  Maybe I'll bring both cash and checks.

I'm still waiting to receive my BUNAC blue card and handbook (they should be here by Friday).  Maybe once I get that, I'll have a better idea of how to bring my funds. 

Yeah, from my search, it seems like I might as well fly straight out of my city.  It's about $200-$300 cheaper to fly out of the next closest airport, but the problem with that is GETTING to that airport...which would more than likely offset any savings on my part anyway.   

As far as money, I worked a whole lot this year, so I have some money in savings and I expect to cover the rest with my tax return.  I have also hear not to bring cash because there's no way to track it if it winds up stolen/missing, but I always keep an iron hold on my cash anyway.  Maybe I'll bring both cash and checks.

I'm still waiting to receive my BUNAC blue card and handbook (they should be here by Friday).  Maybe once I get that, I'll have a better idea of how to bring my funds. 

get travelers cheques.....an american express office is literally down the street from the Natwest bank you will sign up at through BUNAC.

get travelers cheques.....an american express office is literally down the street from the Natwest bank you will sign up at through BUNAC.

Thank you!  Now that I've received my handbook and read through it I was thinking about going the traveler's cheque route.  Knowing there's an A.E. office down the street from the bank in London has just sealed the deal. 

I hate to admit it, but I've never used traveler's cheques before so I'm not too sure how it all works.  I know they work like cash, but...  If I were to take my US money to the A.E. in London, would they then convert my cash dollars into traveler's cheque pounds?  It's probably a dumb questions, but this is all so new to me.

I hate travelers cheques. I've always just taken my debit card and made a few large withdrawls once I'm there.