I'm currently a freshman in college, looking to take off time from school and travel.

[mhemmel03]

I need some advice on how to arrange to travel to Europe for cheap, and also how to possibly set up a job and living arrangements in advance.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

Jobs are pretty hard to come by right now, though if you're planning to travel before Christmas there is usually seasonal work available. You'll need a work permit though.
Cheap accommodation comes in many forms. It depends how low you want to go. Youth hostels are probably the simplest. You can find more information here:
http://www.yha.org.uk/

[fredkins]

How old are you?

[ummmm]

19

[ummmm]

Just post your reply in the box that says 'type your answer here'

[fredkins]

ummm are you being silly?

[puternut]

Also by 'Europe' do you mean UK?

Where are you from. Freshman suggests US - message doesn't back this up.

Visiting and working is difficult as regards the visa you need and is generally NOT ( I repeat NOT) allowed

look at http://www.ukba.homeo...immigration/visiting/ for more info

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

No Fred. The OP posted his age in another thread by accident. Ummm just transferred the answer here.

[mhemmel03]

Yes, I'm from the US and yes, I'm looking to travel to the UK.
No, I'm not 'being silly', 'fredkins'

[mhemmel03]

oh wait the comment was for the user ummm, sorry. Also, with youth hostels do people usually stay for extended periods of time?

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

Not as a rule mhemmel03 but it's a good starting point. There are man B&Bs (bed & breakfast) hotels around with varying degrees of quality
http://www.bedandbreakfasts.co.uk/
or you could rent a room in a shared house perhaps? British students often house share.
http://www.spareroom.co.uk/

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

man=many :)

[mhemmel03]

thanks mojo-jo-jo!

[dzug2]

Just to reiterate you are not allowed to work here without a work visa - which you are almost certainly not eligible for.

If you arrive without a visa (which as a tourist is entirely legitimate for up to 6 months) and there is the slightest hint you are going to work (eg you don't have funds for all your stay) you will be sent straight home.

[mhemmel03]

Why am I "most certainly not eligible" for a work visa?

[buildersmate]

Because that's the way it works. You are not being singled out - its exactly the same if a UK passportholder comes to the USA - we can come on a tourist visa but not to work.

There are loads of people in this country who originally came here to study, have stopped studying and work 'under the radar screen' - most come not from your country but from a long way east of here. People with passports from an EU country can (by and large) work here - but that's what the EU allowed for. So the immigration people are hot on establishing the purpose of your visit, and that you've got the funds to finance it without working.

We have exactly the same issue as you have with folks from Mexico trying to get across to work in the USA. But it would apply to you as well.

[dotty.]

what you should do is contact british univerity halls of residence as during the vacation they let out the rooms really really cheaply to tourist and visitors, you get food too, a good one is canterbury halls in the middle of london near kings cross.

[spudqueen]

I know Canterbury Halls - Cartwright Gardens! Ah, that takes me back...........

[dotty.]

lol yes cartwright gardens, the sem-circular park bit, the beds are narrow and the lift a bit scary but it's secure and cheap

[mhemmel03]

Hmm alright well thank you everyone. I'm still looking into other options, like possibly getting work through a nanny agency and working for a family that would be living or traveling to the UK.