• HOME
  • ABOUT
  • PRESS
  • CONTACT
    • CONTACT
    • WORK WITH GABBY
  • SHOP
    • PACKS LIGHT PRODUCTS
    • GABBY RECOMMENDS…
FREE PTO TRAINING
Packs Light
  • Start Here
    • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Packs Light Shop
    • My Bucket List 🪂
    • “Where I’ve Been” Map
  • Blog
    • Destinations
      • North America
        • Canada
        • Mexico
        • Puerto Rico
        • United States
        • U.S. Virgin Islands
      • Middle East
        • Oman
        • United Arab Emirates
      • Europe
        • England
        • Germany
        • Italy
        • The Netherlands
        • Poland
        • Portugal
        • Spain
          • Canary Islands
        • Sweden
      • Asia
        • Japan
        • Republic of Georgia
        • Sri Lanka
        • Thailand
      • South America
        • Colombia
      • Africa
      • Antarctica
    • Solo Female Travel
      • Solo Travel Articles
      • Solo Female Travel – Start here!
      • Black Travel
      • Study Abroad
      • Young Travel
        • Gen Z Travel Articles
        • Join the YTN Facebook Group!
        • Young Travelers Network – Interview Series
      • Budget Travel
    • Digital Nomad
      • Digital Nomad Articles
      • How to Get a Remote Job + Travel
      • Digital Nomad Visas
  • The PTO Dashboard 💰
  • Shop
    • Packs Light Shop
    • Tools & Recs
    • My Amazon Shop
    • My ShopLTK
  • About

What is a PTO? How to Travel and Study Abroad For Free

by Gabby Beckford July 23, 2022
by Gabby Beckford July 23, 2022
Reading Time: 2 minutes

What is a paid travel opportunity (PTO)? Who can apply to them? What are some examples of Packs Light PTO?

Every week here at Packs Light, we share paid travel opportunities (PTO) that help make travel for fun, for school, and for work more accessible.

There seem to be a lot of questions still surrounding what they are and how they work, so I'm here to answer them! You can also go to our PTO Home Page to see more resources and FAQs about PTO.

What is a PTO? (also known as a Travel Opportunity or Funded Travel Opp?)

While ‘PTO' is not a dictionary-defined word, it’s the term I've coined to encompass best all the different types of opportunities I find, share, and believe are worth applying. The requirements for each opportunity differ on a case-by-case basis meaning these are funded travel opportunities for everyone. 

You don’t have to be a student or have specific experience, and some are as simple as clicking ‘submit'!

These are all the different types of funded or partially-funded travel opportunities we seek and share…

Competitions

Conferences

Cultural Exchange Programs

Fellowships

Free Online Courses

Internships

Training Programs

Workshops

Awards

Leadership Programs

Summer Programs

Speaking Engagements

Scholarships

Grants

Creative Contests

Entrepreneurial Contests

Travel Contests

FT/PT PTO Positions

I’ve decoded the puzzle of applying to and successfully winning this form of financial aid and, to this day, have racked up $75,000 worth of travel opportunities, and that’s allowed me to work abroad and study abroad and see the world in a way I would’ve never otherwise. 

And I want the same for you.

How can you find them?

I'll start with my own personal experiences of Opportunity Hunting. The simple answer is that this is what I love to do. The longer is, I search for them.

As a child, I was constantly entering writing competitions, sweepstakes, spelling bees, and any sort of contest I could be part of. During high school, I applied for over 100 scholarships to fund my college career. After graduation, I applied for well over 100 jobs that interested me.

Doing this, I've won monetary prizes, won once-in-a-lifetime opportunities like my study abroad, graduated debt-free, and so much more. I've always felt that if something is available, why not take your chances and apply for it?

Because of this, I swear incredible opportunities just present themselves to me on a daily basis!

Watch my TEDx talk on how I use developed Delusional Confidencee, my key to success.

Past Winner Stories

I know what you're thinking:

“Do people actually win these opportunities?” “I've applied to them before and NEVER won. I give up…”

I understand your frustrations.

The truth is, the reason you haven't won any in the past is 1) you haven't applied the right way and 2) you haven't applied enough. We'll talk about ways to increase your odds of success later, but to answer your question, YES, people actually win these! And I help you do it.

But I won't try to convince you myself: listen to the past winners!

World Youth Forum - Russia
World Youth Forum – Russia
Airbnb 100 Cooks Contest - Italy
Airbnb 100 Cooks Contest – Italy
Fulbright ETA - Russia
Fulbright ETA – Russia
Embassy of Azerbaijan Essay Contest
Embassy of Azerbaijan Essay Contest

Check out some examples of past winners on the Winners Wall who have received access to some pretty incredible experiences, all thanks to PTO!

If you’re going to get started, why not start today?

PTO are released year-round. And as quickly as they are released, they are awarded. Even during a time like this, there are opportunities out there, and willing to work with dates further into the future. All they’re looking for are viable applicants, and that includes you!

My goal is to give you everything you need so that you, too, can win these scholarships and see you succeed.

Go to our “PTO Start” page for more information, and o get started today!

LEARN MORE ABOUT PTO!

Share this with your friends and family so you can all take advantage of these Paid Travel Opportunities.

How to use travel grants & contests to see the world for free

Liked this? Check these out!

My “Ins and Outs” of 2025 in Life, Love, and...

January 5, 2025

6 Steps to the Perfect Travel Vision Board (Free Template!)

December 15, 2024

ClassPass is the Fitness Solution for Frequent Travelers

August 31, 2024

How You Can Get Upgraded on Almost Every Flight (Do...

August 14, 2024

How these Young Women Lived Their Solo Travel Dreams at...

June 30, 2024

Is Angloville Legit? 4 Alumni Spill the FAQ Tea about...

January 28, 2024

5 comments

Abby July 7, 2022 - 9:46 PM

Thank you for this 🙂

Reply
Gabby Beckford November 19, 2022 - 9:27 PM

Of course! 🙂 I hope it inspires you to start applying! Happy to help you however I can!

Reply
samrina June 20, 2022 - 8:57 PM

Gabby, that is amazing.

Reply
Gabby Beckford November 19, 2022 - 9:27 PM

Thank you Samrina!!

Reply
Tiyandza Dlamini April 28, 2022 - 5:39 PM

Amazing

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

* By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website.

Gabby Beckford

Gabby is a multi-awardwinning creator. She is a full-time travel influencer, Gen Z travel marketing expert, and public speaker. You'll find her featured in the likes of Good Morning America, National Geographic, CNNTravel, Forbes, Travel+Leisure, and even the TEDx stage.

previous post
The BEST Way To Rent A Car If You’re Under 25!
next post
Spring Break in Puerto Rico: Free Itinerary and Cost Breakdown
New York City_Headshot Gabby

Gabby Beckford is the Creatorpreneur behind Packs Light. She has 500K+ followers across her platforms, Founder of SeekPTO, has given a TEDx talk, and is a 2024 ADCOLOR Influencer of the Year Finalist. She is a digital storyteller and 20-something mogul whose mission in life is to empower women to seek risk, seize opportunity, skip debt, and see the world—ASAP! Read more About Packs Light & Gabby Beckford.

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Shop
  • Work With Gabby
    • …Brands
    • …Visitors
  • Contact Us
    • FAQ
  • Destinations (Start here)
  • Solo Travel (Start here)
  • Digital Nomad (Start here)
  • PTO (Start here)
  • ✨ The PTO Dashboard
  • Young Travelers Network FB Group
  • My Bucketlist
Packs Light Logo - 30º
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • Email
  • Tiktok

Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Packs Light LLC

Packs Light
  • Start Here
    • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Packs Light Shop
    • My Bucket List 🪂
    • “Where I’ve Been” Map
  • Blog
    • Destinations
      • North America
        • Canada
        • Mexico
        • Puerto Rico
        • United States
        • U.S. Virgin Islands
      • Middle East
        • Oman
        • United Arab Emirates
      • Europe
        • England
        • Germany
        • Italy
        • The Netherlands
        • Poland
        • Portugal
        • Spain
          • Canary Islands
        • Sweden
      • Asia
        • Japan
        • Republic of Georgia
        • Sri Lanka
        • Thailand
      • South America
        • Colombia
      • Africa
      • Antarctica
    • Solo Female Travel
      • Solo Travel Articles
      • Solo Female Travel – Start here!
      • Black Travel
      • Study Abroad
      • Young Travel
        • Gen Z Travel Articles
        • Join the YTN Facebook Group!
        • Young Travelers Network – Interview Series
      • Budget Travel
    • Digital Nomad
      • Digital Nomad Articles
      • How to Get a Remote Job + Travel
      • Digital Nomad Visas
  • The PTO Dashboard 💰
  • Shop
    • Packs Light Shop
    • Tools & Recs
    • My Amazon Shop
    • My ShopLTK
  • About

Read alsox

17 Amazing Study Abroad Scholarships & Funded Programs for High...

February 28, 2021

Study abroad scholarships: How I won $40,000 (and tips so...

December 4, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Awardees of the 2024 Solo Not Solo Grant...

January 7, 2024