We all hear about the amazing savings potential of working at international schools.
And yet… a lot of us aren’t saving anything at all.
So what’s going on?
#1 Way NOT to Save Money: Travel. A lot.
Take a trip every break. Then maybe another one. And why not squeeze in a long weekend somewhere, too?
Let’s be honest—many of us feel a bit uneasy if we don’t have our next trip planned.
Even worse if we don’t have two or three lined up.
And worst of all?
Your colleagues have already booked theirs… and you haven’t. 😅
(Actually—even worse is when your colleagues copy the exact same trips you’re going on. Ha.)
“But this is the time to travel…”
And to be fair—it kind of is.
You might not be paying for a car, insurance, or a bunch of other expenses you’d have back home. So naturally, you think:
Why not take advantage of this and see the world?
And you should.
But… all those flights, hotels, and “quick weekend getaways” add up fast.
You can’t exactly be heading to the Maldives every single break (even if Instagram makes it feel like you should).
Location matters (a lot more than you think)
Where you’re based can make a huge difference.
- Living near a major hub? You might find decent deals.
- Living in a smaller or more remote city? Get ready to pay a premium just to leave.
Those “cheap” trips suddenly aren’t so cheap when every journey starts with an expensive long-haul flight just to get somewhere affordable.
Are cheap flights even a thing anymore?
Remember when low-cost airlines were actually… low cost?
Now it’s:
- Pay for your bag
- Pay for your seat
- Pay to breathe (almost)
If you’re not strategic about:
- when you book
- where you search
- and how flexible you are
…you’ll end up paying way more than necessary.
And of course, there’s always that moment:
Your friend books a flight for a great price…
You go to book it 5 minutes later…
Price has gone up. 🙃
So how much are we actually flying?
Let’s be real.
Many international teachers are probably taking 10–20 flights a year.
And somehow… anything under 10 flights feels like you’re “not really travelling.”
(Cue your friends back home rolling their eyes.)
So… should we travel less?
In theory? Yes.
In reality?
…unlikely. 😄
A smarter way to approach it
If you do want to save a bit more, it helps to understand:
- typical airfare costs from your host city
- which destinations are realistically “cheap”
- and when prices spike during the year
That’s exactly why we have a comment topic on ISC where teachers share real airfare examples from their cities.
A few examples:
“A flight ticket to a destination within the country will cost between $150 and $200, and to countries in the region, you will need to fork out between $500 and $700. The most affordable airline is Ethiopian.”
Sandford International School (31 total comments)
“Sample RT airfare to the US is around $1200 USD. Most flights to US go through Doha or Dubai. You can also fly through Bangkok, Seoul or Tokyo.”
International School of Islamabad (63 total comments)
“Flying out on direct flights is not cheap. So a return flight to Manila leaves at 1:00 am (approx.) and costs $410. If one were to fly via Hanoi – a longer journey – the cost is nearly half.”
Canadian International School of Phnom Penh (28 total comments)
“Dakar/ New-York JFK 800-1000$ direct, Dakar/Paris 700-800$ direct, Dakar/Brussels 600-900$, Dakar/Madrid 300-500$.”
International School of Dakar (201 total comments)
Final thought
Travel is one of the best parts of international teaching.
But if saving money is also a goal…
you might need to slow down just a little on the travel madness.
Or at least… pick your Maldives trips more carefully. 😉
What is the dream Professional Development model at an international school?
Working in international schools still offers something many educators elsewhere don’t always get: access to meaningful, sometimes even adventurous, professional development (PD).
But in 2026, what “good PD” looks like has changed quite a bit.
Yes, some schools still fly teachers across the world for training. Others bring experts in. And some rely heavily on in-house sessions. But now there’s a third major player: high-quality online and hybrid PD, which has reshaped what’s possible for both schools and teachers.
The reality is that PD in international schools still varies widely.
Some schools provide generous annual PD allowances, giving teachers autonomy to pursue their own learning goals. Others centralise decisions and prioritise PD aligned tightly with school initiatives. And some—often due to budget constraints—offer very limited access at all.
For teachers new to the international circuit, it can still be surprising to be sent overseas for training—or equally surprising to find that everything is done in-house or online.
So… which approach is better?
The old debate—external conferences vs. in-house workshops—feels a bit outdated now.
What matters more today is ongoing, sustained professional learning, rather than one-off events. Research and experience both show that a single workshop (no matter how inspiring) rarely leads to lasting change in classroom practice.
Instead, the most effective PD tends to include:
• Ongoing coaching or follow-up
• Opportunities to apply learning in context
• Collaboration with colleagues
• Time for reflection
That could happen in-person, online, or through a mix of both.
One thing hasn’t changed:
Some of the most valuable PD still happens between sessions.
Meeting educators in similar roles, contexts, or challenges can be incredibly powerful. Whether that’s at a conference, through online communities, or even via social platforms, these connections often lead to:
• Idea sharing
• Future collaborations
• School visits
• Career opportunities
In fact, with today’s global connectivity, networking doesn’t have to be tied to expensive travel anymore.
Not all impactful PD needs a big budget.
Some of the most effective learning still comes from:
• Visiting another school with a specific focus
• Observing best practices in action
• Engaging in peer coaching
• Joining professional learning communities (PLCs)
• Participating in online courses or webinars
These options are often more practical, more relevant, and easier to sustain over time.
Funding is still a major factor—and often a sensitive one.
Schools that require teachers to apply for PD funding can unintentionally create perceptions of inequality. Even with fair systems, it can sometimes feel like:
• Certain staff are prioritised
• Opportunities are unevenly distributed
• Decisions lack transparency
On the other hand, fully open PD budgets can be expensive and difficult for schools to manage strategically.
For many teachers, the “ideal” situation is still:
• A clear annual PD allowance written into contracts
• Flexibility to pursue personal professional interests
• Some alignment with school goals, but not total restriction
• A mix of individual choice + collaborative learning
Because ultimately, investing in teachers’ growth benefits not just the individual—but the entire school community.
And perhaps the biggest shift today is this:
👉 The best PD is no longer defined by where you go, but by how your learning continues over time.
On ISC we have a comment topic related to this topic in the Benefits Information section on the school profile pages. It is called: “Professional development allowance details.” There have been 848 comments submitted in this comment topic on 100s of international schools from around the world. Here are just a few of them:
“There is no official budget. You can find your own once it aligns with the school goals for that year. You apply and then will head if it’s approved. Occasional opportunities come up where the divisional budget is used so you don’t need to apply for this…”
Bishop Mackenzie International School (68 total comments)
“The professional development allowance is €500 per year and can be accumulated over two years. All PD requests must be approved by the principal and align with the individual’s personal PGEP…”
American International School of Bucharest (133 total comments)
“WIS actively supports ongoing professional development, including workshops, courses, and conferences relevant to your role. Funding approval is required in advance based on relevance, budget, and timing…”
Windhoek International School (88 total comments)
“There is no set PD allowance. The schools participate in regional QSI school PD every other year in person. QSI PD has been a mixed bag, but in recent years, it has gotten much better. Here, teachers are sometimes able to apply to and attend CEESA schools’ PD…”
QSI International School of Malta (16 total comments)
“Budget is always an issue (surprisingly!) if an expat genuinely reaches out to their respective leadership team, showing their interest in doing some certain PD! School runs some not-so-effective PD (just for the namesake at times – to have them on paper) which are not useful…”
Sampoerna Academy (12 total comments)
How is the PD benefit at your international school? Please log in to our website and share what you know!