money

[Thumbelina1988]

This summer is my first as an counselor and being at summer camp. I am British so I'll being spending about 10 weeks in the states. My problem is I am currently abroad in Malaysia as part of my gap year. I guess I'm a little worried about costs I will incur while the states. I'm already surviving on a student budget while I'm away.

While at camp my food and accomodation is provided for but is there any other costs I'm not aware of that will come up? I already know I have to buy my own sheets and blankets and any extra counselor stuff.

I'm also planning to travel after camp. I'm planning to take a greyhound bus with my ticket costing $21. Does anybody know any cheap hotels in Greensboro, North Carolina. I'm currently not booking or planning anything but I have to be careful.

Can anybody help? Any help will be appreciated.

[Marzz]

How long are you planning on traveling after camp and where are you planning on going? Are you planning on going anywhere other than Greenboro? The price of your bus ticket sounds low. I would check into bus and train passes specifically geared toward international travelers. i don't have much experience in this area, but I know they exist and I'm sure there are others on this board (and the ACA board) that can elaborate. Many international staff travel together after camp, and sometimes with American staff as well. If your camp has staff from all over the country, you may be able to stay with some of your fellow counselors during your travels, reducing your costs. Don't forget about youth hostels too. If you are planning on staying in hotels, count on about $100 a night average. Some will be more, some will be less, but $100 a night is a good ballpark figure. Also, if you have an STA travel office near you, stop by and ask for input, I have a friend who works for STA in California, and her office helps a lot of international students with simmilar travel plans.

Good Luck!

[Trees]

The only costs I can think of are related to "entertainment" type things--nights out, snacks, and so on. Are you going to a "full season" camp (kids stay the whole summer) or a "session" camp (kids stay for a week or two before you get new kids)? At session camps, you may have more expenses because you'll have a day or two off between sessions where you'll have to pay for all your meals.

Some people come to camp and spend a LOT on going out, restaurants, and buying random stuff at Walmart... some people don't spend anything. It depends on you. The US can be very expensive, though it's not like London.

Check http://www.tripadvisor.com for help with hotels/motels/hostels anywhere. It's VERY helpful. It's fairly easy in most places (definitely not all) to find a motel in the $40-$60 range.

[runrachrunn]

I would suggest that you see about staying in a youth hostel - they can be anywhere from $8- $20 a day, and often include a meal (or two).

[KiwiCRB]

There are youth hostels in the US?

[laurathistle]

There are hostels all over the world. Hosteling International is the "official" one and you need to be a member. They have guaranteed standards of cleanlieness and stuff that independant hostles don't.

I worked for the Scottish Youth Hostels assoc. for three years and have stayed loads of hostels and I will be in the US when i finish at camp.

Check out www.iyhf.org (http://www.iyhf.org) for exact locations.

[Flukie]

You absolutely can limit what you spend while in the States - but you just need to keep an eye on it. It is easy to spend money on the weekends, but there have been weeks where I've spent almost nothing and weeks where I've spent a lot more! So you just need to be aware - and be okay with telling people if they try to get you to do stuff with them all the time!

[Trees]

Well, Hosteling International hostels are cheaper if you're a member, but anyone can stay and it's just a few dollars extra per night. There aren't as many hostels in the US as in Europe and Canada--especially there aren't as many independent hostels--but they're especially a good option in big cities, where you can find a bed in the middle of the city at a much cheaper price. I live a couple of blocks from the Sacramento HI hostel and it's gorgeous!

Also, in the US I would say hostel prices are higher than that... certainly at the HI hostels; I would say expect to spend $15-$30 US for a dorm bed.

[Thumbelina1988]

[QUOTE=Trees] Are you going to a "full season" camp (kids stay the whole summer) or a "session" camp (kids stay for a week or two before you get new kids)?

I am going to a session camp. Camp is for 8 weeks. There are two sessions of 4 weeks but children can stay for the entire time. I think the second session starts a day or so after the first one finishes.So I don't think I'll have time off between sessions. That should help me.

I'm not the going out type so I won't spend too much there and as I'm only 19 I can't drink in the US.

[clarabelle1985]

me and jenny know a great palce to stay in ny city - lol dont listen to jenny it wasnt that bad and u do get ur own individuak room

[Angel_Jenny]

WHAT?? The "Horsebox"? yeah sure it was a roof over our heads which is the main plus point! oh wait... our room had no roof LOL! Dont worry everything will be just fine!
At the camp we were at we got our camp "pocket money" in three parts through the summer.. do u know how u are getting yours? that helped me! I brought £100 in $ then had the money from the camp but I kept hold of that so now have spending money for this year!! x

[clarabelle1985]

we stayed in this "hotel" in lower mannhattan was called whitehouse bowery hotel had tons of corridors with little boxes of them the roof wasnt filled in jsut lattice work. the room had bed tiny cupboard and enough room to stand jsut. u could fit badg under bed. it was safe and clean enough and not to noisy at nigt i thought but then i slepp though enything. i stayed there two nigths on own once jeeny lef tand had no probs at all really secure and have luggage room to use on day cheek out they have internt and tv room downstairs it was really reasoble as well only $30 a night per perosn in hight of summer and really handy for subway. if anyone wants ill dig out website may be useful to have some idea of palce to stay in ny as most ppl end up ther efor going home and hard to get resnoble accomdation in summer some friends from camp ended up paying liek $200 a night for holdiay inn

[Angel_Jenny]

yeah its safe "inside" building LOL! Well I couldnt sleep 1st night! Police sirens going off all the time, voices and showers! we were backed on to showers and they were on continuously through the night!! The lights stayed on too and flickering lights annoyed me! Its great though if u keep hold of the eye masks and ear plugs u are given on plane!! hehe or stick music in your ears and starts snoring quietly ;) ahem (claire :-p) x

[armadillo]

Thumbelina, I can't personally recommend any hotels in Greensboro (that's where I live, so I've never had to stay in one!) but I can tell you that most of the city is pretty safe and everything is generally nice around here. I don't know if we are really big on tourism here, so the hostel options may be very limited.
Why are you wanting to stay in Greensboro? Would it be after camp for a few days before you travel? Because you may be able to stay with some of your new American camp friends and save some money! I just love being a hostess to our international staff before and after camp, and during breaks. I try to maximize my time with them, since the live so far away during the year.