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Hi Everyone,

Originally, I started this blog to review all camps in Thailand. However, we've only received reviews about Camp Thailand. This strongly suggests that Camp Thailand are the market leaders. Nevertheless, as you know from previous posts, there has been quite a lot of negative feedback, such that I myself have recommending boycotting it until further notice. I also commented on a student forum https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4121707#primary_content So how should you potential campers respond to this?

Firstly, it's important to know that most of the experiences offered by the camp can be got independently, at a mere fraction of the cost. There's nothing to stop you going to any of these elephant camps, etc, under your own steam and experiencing them at your own leisure.  Having your own freedom is one of the joys of travelling. The camp experience offers a certain amount of security together with the big group experience. For example, you're sure to make new friends and meet interesting people. But is it worth spending close on £1,000 on this, particularly as the TEFL aspect is so suspect?

Our advice, if you're having second thoughts, is to team up with a group of friends and travel independently. Don't be frightened of travelling in SE Asia. It's one of the safest places in the world if you're careful and follow sensible, common sense precautions. It can also be so much more exciting and rewarding to experience a developing country in a freewheeling kind of way, rather than the packaged version the camps will give you.

If you want to teach in a school, just an online course will be enough. Just go round to any school and offer your services for free or something minimal and there's a really good chance they'll take you on. If you want to teach for several months or a whole year, go direct to a well established placement agency, who should place you for free. Schools like English For Fun and Island TEFL, etc are exploiting your lack of knowledge to make a financial killing.  Don't be conned.

Be a real traveller! Good luck.

EFL Greg