Vienna: Travel guide, prices and free housing · 2026

OOOleksandra Onystiukonystyuko · Jan 10, 2023Read

Every marvelous adventure begins with a spontaneous decision. Once you’d like to try something new, even have a bit of fear or uncertainty, but then your lifestyle will never be the same. Young people are courageous explorers who are open to the world. Then, something that can change and fill the life of many students calls ‘exchange programs’. I’m not an exception, so I’m ready to get new experience in Work and Travel USA program. Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” Exchange programs are about significant personal changes that have an important influence on the future. Students get an invaluable experience combining new culture, exploring a new city and country, new people and community, and learning new skills and many amazements. Definitely, these expand the worldview, but they can also help in finding yourself and your purpose in life. I’m convinced that youth trips also pump up everyone as a person, so after this experience, the difference with other peers who didn’t participate in it is palpable. So it is about growing up, and I’d say in a speedy, inconvenient at times way. Students are the drivers of change because they have the power to build a better society around them. Therefore exchange programs can be a great tool to recognize what best young people can take from other cultures and implement in their native land. During intercultural interaction in programs, students are able to share their own culture, traditions, and different features with each other, so the result is a combination of something greater. By the way, I hope in America, it is possible to learn and understand their world (I’m sure it will be 100%) and also get to know exciting things from other students from different cultures. Next, exchange programs are one of the most significant types of non-formal education. In schools or universities, we used to have typical studying with books, lectures, teachers, and other standard things, but in youth trips, students have practical lessons. New conditions force you to take care of yourself independently. This is a kind of school of life where students face many challenges – from organizing their budget to finding the necessary place in a new city. Nevertheless, the moment of really growing up also can be great thanks to youth traveling. Everything I described above related to my experience too. In July 2022, I was in Summer School “Waves and Ebbs of Democracy”: Lessons learnt from Central European 'There and Back Again” at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic, and it was a great three weeks. Except that we had an educational plan, I spent a fantastic time exploring a new country and communicating with new people from Georgia, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Serbia, Montenegro, and Armenia. Honestly, it was exciting to interact with them and share my thoughts and feelings about russian invasion of Ukraine. Sometimes I recognized that they didn’t understand the Ukrainian context, so my mission was to describe how it happens. I wanted first to introduce them to our culture and then tell them about our history and brave people. Nothing captivates people like food, so I decided to cook Ukrainian traditional cuisine borshch for the group. And they could give thanks by donating to our army. Two goals were achieved: in this way, we joined the victory of Ukraine, and international students learned more about my culture and Ukraine in general. (Video here) Furthermore, this program consisted of traveling in Central Europe, so we were in Budapest, Prague, and Vienna . The best opportunity to combine hard work and funny nights is to catch the moment as we did during our trips. Besides, I realized how similar we are: international students also can have responsible preparation for the test after a crazy night or submitting a task at the last minute. Because previously thought these related to Ukrainian students only, but fortunately, I

LLLiubov Lopakovalyubalopakova · Dec 10, 2019Read

Barcelona, Paris, Stockholm, Helsinki, London, Reykjavik, Vienna, New York, Miami, Boston, Washington, Amsterdam, Brussels, San Francisco, Los Angeles - these are the major cities I have already visited, and you know what? I found my favorite! This is a case where a city truly deserves its massive global popularity. Los Angeles is a unique city. I'm serious. A huge metropolis with completely different neighborhoods. So, which one is the most memorable? Of course, it's Hollywood! This is where the most famous film studios were born, this is where the Oscars ceremony takes place at the Kodak Theatre, here is the Walk of Fame, and everything around is vibrant—just like in movies and video games. By the way, the first film ever made entirely in Hollywood was the 1910 short film 'In Old California'. In short, spend your money on experiences.

YTYauheni Turavetsevgeniytyrovez · Dec 15, 2017Read

Everything for the first time From the airplane cabin Austrian Airlines, flight Minsk-Vienna, Vienna-New York. 1.5 hours to Vienna, a layover, and another 8.5 hours of flight to get there, across the ocean. Everything was new to me – after all, it was my first time flying in my life. The flight was not easy for me. I arrived in Vienna looking really red, as if I had just spent two hours in a steam room. I didn't expect it to be so nerve-wracking for me. I managed to pull myself together in two hours. During the long flight to the States, I thought about my future job at a restaurant, about what and how I would have to do, and if they would fire me if I did something wrong. In short, there were only questions to which I (alas) could not yet give answers. Upon arriving at JFK airport in New York, we (I was flying with a friend) had to go through passport control. And so, after standing in line for about an hour (there were a lot of people), our turn finally came, and we headed to the officer. We greeted him calmly, gave him the necessary documents, but that's when our adventures began. During the flight, we were offered to fill out a declaration, which is MANDATORY when entering the USA (a lot is written about this on the Internet), but we didn't attach any importance to it. A big mistake. We stood there not knowing what to do. There was a long line behind us. But we were lucky. The customs officer handed us the declaration and asked us to fill it out right there on the spot. I am grateful to that man for not sending us to the back of the line. Having finally passed passport control, we quickly rushed to get our suitcases, as time was running out and we might miss our bus. NY city We knew how to get to the bus station because two of our friends had arrived a week earlier. Using the AirTrain (they have them in Moscow too), we reached the necessary station and transferred to the subway. After about 40 minutes, we were coming out of the underground passage, and there it was before me, that very same, real New York that I had only seen in movies. An endless stream of cars, crowds of people, steam from the sewers – this is exactly how I imagined it. We were hugely impressed by the real New York, but there was no time to admire it, as we were in a hurry to get to the bus station. And we got lucky – we made it to the last bus to Cape May (New Jersey), which was our final destination. It took more than 4 hours to get to Cape May with one transfer. On the way to Cape May, we made a stop in one of the largest cities in NJ – Atlantic City. Late at night, we finally reached Cape May, exhausted and so tired that we almost missed the stop where we needed to get off. We got off. 2 a.m. An unfamiliar country, an unfamiliar city. No connection at all. No transport running. We are standing there with our suitcases. What the hell are we supposed to do, where are we going? We only had the address of the house. A few minutes later, a car pulls up, a man gets out and says: "Roman?" My friend answers: "Yes." And I thought, finally...

TBTuiana Budaevagirlfriend.206 · Jan 31, 2015Read

Good morning, afternoon, evening, friends) I would like to tell you why my blog is called "Center of Europe". I'll start by saying that in 2014 I applied for a US visa through the Work and Travel USA program, but I was denied. At that moment, it felt like a total fiasco, a crushing failure, and many other things I could have called it. BUT after the rejection, an even greater desire to visit America ignited in me, and I think I will succeed in the near future) A few minutes later, I called the director of the center and reported the refusal. She sympathized, of course, and told me not to be discouraged, as there are other programs. She suggested "Study in Prague" to me, specifically for the English language. Having set my goal, I "headed" there. And so begins the story of "Prazhka" (as I started calling it so affectionately after the trip). I got the visa without any problems. From the very first moments, it delighted me: when leaving the airport, I saw a bunch of signs with the word "POZOR"—which actually meant "Attention". Here I was in the center of Europe, where everything is "within reach": Berlin, Dresden, Vienna, Munich, and other European cities and capitals. Those lovely red-tiled roofs, uneven roads where you can only walk in flat shoes, people speaking different languages everywhere, of different nationalities, who are also kind and sweet. I made new friends with whom I still keep in touch)) ALL of this so charmed my heart that I realized travel is a door to new discoveries for the soul. So, people who are only striving for America, turn your gaze to Europe as well; don't be crushed by visa refusals, because there is always a choice and an opportunity. I can only add one thing: the desire to go to America will always remain, but now it's just another country to travel to)

AAliyaastana_85855875237 · Oct 31, 2012Read

Hooray! The Vienna-New York flight has finally appeared on the horizon :)))) The happiness of 56 people knew no bounds, although I think the Austrian Airlines representatives were just as happy :))). New York. Do you know what you see before passport control in New York? A painting covering the entire wall above the passport desks... A breathtaking view of New York after a 20-minute air walk, by a modern artist with a phenomenal memory... A mesmerizing sight... Passport control went fine - thanks to my English teacher ;) but there's nothing to be afraid of, just smile and don't panic... And everything will be 'hakuna matata'.... Do you know the best way to travel abroad? How to be happy even far away from your loved ones... Yes, someone was right - taking a trip with a loved one is a test of the strength of your shared frayed nerves :)))) or if it didn't work out somehow, don't despair - the world will take pity and adapt to overcome any distance with the help of Skype and Ova... ;) love and be loved... The story will continue from my boyfriend's perspective... Well, finally... Last summer was so enchanting that I decided to make a second march across the States this year too... I wanted to show my close friends how independent you become here and how you get the most necessary life lessons... Our group was met and taken to our destination by my good acquaintance - a guide to the Land of Dreams - Chris, who told funny stories and shared his impressions of interesting places he had managed to visit along the way... Upon arrival, the girls were slightly taken aback by our place of residence and our neighbors, tanned representatives from Mexico and Puerto Rico :))), then I started a tour of our summer city-haven - Wildwood, New Jersey. To be honest, private houses are very beautiful everywhere in America, coastal towns are distinguished by cheerful and friendly residents, the sun is friends with the rain and doesn't let you dry out on a hot day, life is like in a commercial :))).

AAliyaastana_85855875237 · Oct 31, 2012Read

The alarm went off at 3:00. At first, I didn't want to get up, but in a split second, I realized the importance of this specific call... Today, I am setting off on an independent, dizzying journey... To the dream of millions, to America... My parents and I are having breakfast together for the last time this summer... My dear mom was getting emotional; the table was filled with all my favorite dishes)))) After half an hour of pure enjoyment, I am heading to the airport with my parents and a couple of close friends. My phone is already blowing up, my friends are panicking about my absence—while I am busy admiring my treasure, my hometown. Airport. The first news I heard—some issues with our departure to the Foreign Dream... The second, in principle, everything is in place—so our coordinators are sorting everything out right now.... 6:00, phew, we finally boarded, and... The plane is taking off... Oh, this incredible feeling—the first Rubicon has been crossed—Austria, Vienna, here we come. Airport. Vienna. Nighttime Vienna, filled with thousands of lights, revealed an incredibly beautiful sight to us... The bright red signature uniforms of the flight attendants quickly stuck in our memory)))) Oh yes, I forgot to share—we were warned about one nuance))) we have to wait 24 hours in Vienna for our plane to the Big Apple... Since there were 56 of us woe-begone travelers, we had a lot of fun))) we decided to keep wonderful impressions even from such a situation))) - first, the commanders of our mini-squad, with honor (they didn't back down for a long time) and mostly using English and sign language, secured pillows and blankets for us), then we put on a whole show for representatives of different countries and nationalities in the waiting room—first, one of our virtuosos performed several dozen kuis on a national instrument, a couple of recordings were later found on YouTube) then we organized a mini flash mob—we visited the airport cafeteria, where it seemed everyone went crazy over our performance of this project))) oh yes, may the connection be active and stable - we called our relatives and they called us too—it's much cheaper for them to receive a call from outside!