A student's first thought would be "Oh, yes! I want a big city, lots of people and lots of fun!" ...Well, yes, but the truth is that a lot depends on why exactly you're going on a summer work program. Ask yourself whether you're going to support yourself financially, to have fun, or whether you simply want to try something new and be independent.
We can guarantee you that work + fun go hand in hand, and also that you will definitely have to be responsible and independent.
There is a wide variety of jobs, from small towns to big metropolises.
Most students choose small resort towns, which guarantee a dynamic workload, which in turn means more working hours. Employers in most small towns help find housing or even provide it at an affordable price for students.
The advantages of these resort towns are that finding a second job is easy because of their seasonal employment. You should be well aware that when working in a small town, getting from your first job to your second will be easier, which automatically reduces the participants' expenses.
Residents of small towns are much friendlier to foreign students and help them – you could even boldly say they take care of them. Lifelong friendships are formed.
Let's give the big cities their due as well. Yes, it would certainly be a dream come true, but in most cases students' summer work programs in big metropolises are not successful. The reasons are that the distances from point A to point B are very long, and transportation costs could equal a day's worth of meals for a student in a small town. Housing isn't easy to find, and even if you do find something, you'll have to prepay for at least 6 months, while you only need a place for 4.
These are the reasons that lead us to advise "Work and Travel" applicants to choose a smaller town and enjoy their summer – and then, with just as much confidence, we advise them to visit those metropolises too!