How Your Teaching Package Can Impact Your Summer Break

With so many teachers just back, or about to head back from summer break, it’s worth considering how your package and teacher benefits can impact your holidays.

Working internationally means many families use the holidays to travel, reconnect with family back home, or just relax after a busy school year. 

But did you know that the benefits of your teaching package can have a big impact on what your summer looks like? From whether you can afford to fly home, to what happens to your apartment while you’re away, it’s important to think about not just your school life – but your holiday time too – before signing a teaching contract.

Flights: Paid or Out of Pocket?

One of the biggest perks for many international teachers are annual flights. If your school provides them, your summer plans suddenly become a lot more flexible. 

Instead of debating whether you can afford long-haul tickets for your whole family, you can instead think about where you want to spend your summer!

• Flights included in your package (annually): You can either head home each year without worrying about the cost of travel, or (if you school offers flexible flights) use your allowance to travel to another destination.

“At our last school in South Korea we were lucky that they changed their policy after COVID and gave us an allowance instead of booking our tickets. Instead of returning home to Australia, we visited Mexico and the USA. And because the flights were a similar price we didn’t have to spend any of our own cash towards flights.“

• Without flights included: If you want to return home annually, or do a big trip, you’ll need to save and budget througohut the year. For families, this can mean it’s impossible to “go home” or go on a big trip every year. So think about your priorities before agreeing and make sure it’s what’s right for your family.

Accommodation: What Happens When You’re Away on Summer Break?

Each school offers different accommodation packages. Some provide no housing perks, others give you a housing allowance while some offer on-site housing. Each has its quirks that impact your summer (and budget).

1. School-Provided Boarding or On-Site Housing

If you live in school housing, especially boarding facilities, you’re probably rent-free, and possibly also lucky enough to not pay any utilities. While the school year can be hectic if you’re a family working in boarding, cost wise it’s a major bonus, especially when you travel. Because you won’t have to cover any costs while you’re away. 

Pros:

• Zero rent while you’re away.
• Maintenance often happens during holidays – so your air con, appliances, or paintwork may be upgraded while you’re gone.
• If you decide not to travel you can enjoy the peace and quiet of living on campus without students (or staff). 

Cons:

• Less independence – accommodation offered in boarding or on campus is usually smaller and gives less flexibility for larger families.
• If you’re in boarding, you may need to pack away personal items if the school uses any of the spaces for summer programs.
• Maintenance can also be a downside if you don’t go anywhere over holidays. For example, pools closed all summer for upgrades, power being turned off for work being done etc.

2. Provided Housing (Apartment or Villa)

Some international schools will provide you with a fully paid apartment or house, usually near your school. Depending on the school this can include sometimes include utilities (though it’s getting rarer). 

Pros:

• Your home is always available – you can stay during summer without having to pay rent.
• If you choose to travel or go home for the summer you won’t have to cover any rental costs.

Cons:

• If utilities aren’t covered, you might need to pay ongoing bills even when you’re away (e.g. internet).

3. Housing Allowance (Find Your Own Place)

Many schools offer teachers a housing allowance, which gives you the freedom to choose where you live. But this also means extra responsibility – especially during the summer.

Pros:

• Independence to choose a home that suits your family’s needs.
• More flexibility with location – closer to city life or further from school.

Cons:

• You’ll need to cover rental costs even when you’re away. 
• You may need to hire someone to check on your home, water plants, or pay for ongoing maintenance.

Extra Considerations Over Summer Holidays

Beyond things like flights and housing, there are some other smaller (but equally important) factors that can impact your summer break:

• Pets: If you have pets, you’ll need to arrange (and pay for) someone to look after your pets while you’re away (like a professional pet-sitter). 
• Plants: It sounds trivial, but if you don’t want to come home to a house full of greenery, you’ll need to think about arranging for someone to drop by regularly to water and look after your plants.
• Mould and Humidity: In tropical or humid countries, mould can spread insanely fast if air circulation is poor. Without dehumidifiers running (which means leaving electricity on), you may come back to a very unpleasant surprise.
• Security: If you live in a country where break-ins are common, you might need to consider who is keeping an eye on your home while you’re away.

“Living in boarding we left dehumidifiers running because we knew how bad the mould could be. But, because there were maintenance works scheduled (which we weren’t unfortunately told about) the power was cut while we were away. We came home to a house full of mould, including all over my eldest daughter’s bedding on the top bunk. It was awful and such a bad end to our summer holiday”.

Questions to Consider 

When comparing teaching contracts and offers, it’s important to remember that it’s not just about the salary – especially with a family. Consider some of these questions to help decide if the benefits package is right for you.

• Will you be able to afford to travel home each year (if you want to)?
• Will you be paying for an empty apartment while you’re away (and can you afford to)?
• What happens to your pets, plants, or home environment while you’re away?

For families, especially with multiple kids, these differences can add up to thousands of dollars – and can shape whether summer feels like a refreshing break or a financial headache.

Summer Break Wrap Up

Enjoying a long summer with the chance to travel can be one of the biggest perks of international teaching. But how you experience it depends heavily on your package. Before you sign a contract, be sure to look beyond the salary. 

Consider flights, housing, utilities and more. Those little extras play a huge role in your quality of life – not just throughout the school year, but when school’s out for summer!