USIT is the first port of call for student travelers but it's more than just a ticket agency. It deals with all international travel aspects for young travellers. It gives customers advice, sets them up with visas and rail passes and even administers travel vaccines. It is also responsible for the Work in Ireland Program, a program that helps foreign people adjust to their new city. All non-EU nationals participate in this program but it is most popular with Americans and Canadians. Another bonus: USIT has a resource room for participants so that they can use the internet and print for free. Next time you're planning an important trip, pop into USIT and one of the staff will be able to answer your many questions. read more

USIT - Travel Services Near Me - Dublin, D

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I'm writing this review from the perspective of a Canadian in Ireland on a working holiday visa. When I decided to come to move to Dublin on a working holiday visa I had the option of doing it myself (cheaper, but no support) or doing it through SWAP (a travel agency in Canada that partners with USIT here in Ireland). I chose the second route for the support, since I'd never done a working holiday visa/moved abroad. And while there isn't a language barrier between Canada and Ireland (there's Gaelic, but everyone in Dublin seems to speak English) and Ireland is a western country there are hurdles to moving abroad. And paperwork, so much paperwork. USIT is the local support team for the working abroad people (not just Canadians, but for anyone on a working holiday visa). They have an orientation session where they explain how to GNIB card (if you need one), how to get a PPS number, how to get your tax certificate, how to open a bank account and how to file taxes. They have job and apartment listings. There are computers, free wifi, and a printer, which is perfect for printing out the many many CVs you'll need. They can go over your CV and make sure it's formatted right, which was helpful because how CVs are formatted here are a bit different from how resumes are formatted where I'm from. They have interview rooms if you need someplace to do a Skype interview (instead of say doing on at the hostel you might be at). The organize different events for work abroad participants, which is a great way to meet people. Best of all there is someone, in person, during the office hours to talk to. And sure you could look online for the answers, but sometimes it's best to talk to someone in person. Sometimes you might be faced with a situation or a question that you can't find the answer to. As someone new to Dublin it's really nice having that support system and the people working at USIT have been fantastic. I can't speak for the travel agency part of USIT, which I'm sure is what most locals would use them for, but the work abroad support team here is great. read more

In addition to being a one stop travel shop USIT are pretty well known for the hoards of us who've headed off on our year away to exotic places such as Australia New Zealand ,South America etc. Their the only Irish agents for the work in Canada programme, SWAP as Jenni mentioned. I was in Canada with USIT two years ago and found them really helpful with any questions I had. Contact by email was the only way to get them but they always responded quickly and manged to sort out any problems I had. They also do cheap flights, travel Insurance, J1 applications(oh to be 21 again) as well as plenty of travel of advice and passport photos. Huge Aston quay store, where staff are generally bright and friendly and well versed on all the many world travel options. If your a student or Independent traveler, USIT will be able to help you out. They also have a call centre with longer opening hours to the office. read more

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This place is unavoidable when you want to do a J1, because you need someone to sponsor your visa as a student. I did my first J1 visa completely through USIT, and it was very expensive, despite the "great deals" advertised. My first J1 experience was a complete disaster and j vowed never to do another, and to never use USIT again as a sponsor agency. However, naturally I decided 2 years after this that I just *had* to do another J1 visa, except I decided this time that I would do it all myself. After securing a job in the states, I was told I would need to sort out my visa. This is where USIT comes in. I exhausted every other possible option to avoid USIT, but it was impossible. I contacted other agencies which were similar to USIT, but USIT seemed to offer the cheapest deal to suit what I needed for the job I had been offered. I got in touch with an absolutely fantastic agent working for USIT, Patrick, who I would recommend to anyone and everyone looking to do a J1 visa. He was so helpful, honest and really genuine. Such a contrast to the person who I had dealt with my first time dealing with USIT. He helped me sort out the best deal for me and he told me it was possible to book my own flights, which meant I definitely saved money due to the hidden fees which can sometimes occur when USIT book your flights for you. I would recommend USIT over any of the other visa sponsoring agencies, but I advise you ask for Patrick! read more

Usit is great for travel planning, several of my friends have sorted out their foreign working holiday visas there. They always have fantastic travel deals advertised... but I never reserved through them so I can't common too much on first hand experience However, I did frequent the Usit office upon my arrival in dublin as they handle the "swap program" and have facilities for new arrivals (computers, jjob boards, orientations), as well they organize social events for the SWAP program - I encountered a lot of other swappers who always attended and loved their events as a way to meet others in the city. Also to be noted they will help you understand the Irish tax system, and to this day if I email in random questions the usit staff is very helpful. read more

In an age where everyone can book their own flights online, travel agencies seem a tad redundant, but I was very impressed when I came here to sort out my trip to Australia and New Zealand. They were a lot cheaper than any flights I had found online. They also sorted out my Visa and I even got those for free thrown in because I'd booked the flights with them. The staff were super-nice and helpful, they also gave me a lot of tips on where to go in Australia and New Zealand. I would not usually use a travel agency when booking my holidays but I've made it a habit to check with Usit first. read more

USIT - Travel Services Near Me - Dublin, D

At the start of my second year of college I decided take the big leap and work in Canada for the summer. So I found USIT advertising the early bird offer and was overjoyed that they could help me in my first ever voyage alone as I was 19 and very nervous about organising the trip. So in October I signed up as a camp counsellor for Canada , got all references , Garda vetting and health check uploaded and ready to go. Had my interview with USIT and they said i'll get an offer within the next few weeks , and then waited , and waited and waited.. Every time I called to check on my application they said the girl managing my application was away in Vancouver, Bristol , Munich and Gibraltar! I beyond anxious at this stage having signed up in October it wasn't until LATE MAY during my exams I got a phone call saying would I like to go to America instead I explained I wanted to go to Canada but they said there was no more camps left in Canada and the money I paid was not refundable ..... Stressed out in the corridor 10 minutes before my next exam I said fine ill go with the American camps knowing I could transfer what I paid over. But in May I had missed their early bird special so I had to pay €300 more , but at least I was getting offers from camps. The only problem was that they were all camps for adults/with or without disabilities and I had explicitly said in my application and mentioned to staff that I didn't want to work with adults and wasn't comfortable yet working and caring for adults as I have had a very bad experience in the past , they said they wouldn't put my application up for any of these sort of camps. After denying many camps I eventually found a Religious Camp, knowing this could be my last chance I accepted and started to go through with the visa process which was very stressful as I had few weeks left ( my visa arrived 2 Days before I was meant to fly out.) Before I left I was given a SIM card package where I had to buy a plan so I could use my phone in America. So I paid the +€80 and activated my SIM card. When I arrived it worked for 2 days and then stoped working... In the hostel they organised for the first night I was the only girl not in a room with other camp counsellors , the group that were in my room were very drunk and smashed bottles against walls and stayed up all night I was on the top bunk and the girl below me blocked and moved the ladder so I couldn't leave. I had never been so terrified. When I finally arrived at camp I had to perform religious acts and services even when I said I wasn't comfortable doing them because of my own religion , but I couldn't call anyone for advice or help because of my SIM card no working . Our camp was suitated on top of a mountain far from any shops or people and I didn't have a car or drive to go to one. Some staff were very nice and helped out even expressing to our director that I was working two positions the arts director and archery director (as there was only 8 staff for the entire camp including washing up and cooking) and was only getting paid one fifth of the amount they were getting as program staff. The kids are the only thing that made me get through it. As the camp summer was coming to a close the director decided to end the last week of camp earlier than our contract and told us we couldn't stay in the accommodation, so basically kicked us out. Me and an other Girl also hired from the same company were practically homeless for two days with nowhere to stay and couldn't contact anyone for help. Another staff member offered that we can stay with his parents three hours away for the two nights so we wouldn't be out on the streets. I had then to pay for a €30 bus ticket to Boston even when USIT said that our employer would pay for transport to and from camp. USIT also never provided any information about how we were to withdraw our pay check so I called them at the airport and they said I could transfer the money to my Irish bank account when I got home my bank could only be accessed in America so I couldn't get any of the money I had earn over the summer. read more

I don't mind USIT too much, but I'm not going to rave about its services either. Yes they're handy and they do offer a good service, but they are also expensive and, if volunteering is your intention, catered more towards the needs of the volunteer than that of the community to which they are sent. For me personally, I'd prefer to feel like I'm actually properly immersed in work and not on a self-gratifying holiday with a bit of work thrown in. But that's just me, and plenty will disagree (and I'm not complaining, good work is still done regardless). They are a good first point of call for anyone looking to go abroad, and can sometimes get good flight deals etc, particularly if you're looking for an around-the-world trip or something like that. My enduring memory of them, however, will be our teenage attempts to forge their student cards to get into clubs. Needless to say, that rarely bore fruit. I'm still around four years older than my true age according to them. I should change that. Oh well. read more

USIT - Travel Services Near Me - Dublin, D

TERRIBLE company. Will never go near this place again or direct anybody towards it. Made it clear I wanted to pay every installment over phone due to my work and usits opening hours. €500 was paid in person, lost it all due to a non refundable deposit scheme. Rang/emailed my 'rep' every day, no answer. Rang reception, nobody wanted to take payment. Unable to ask any questions at all because everyone was "busy", This happened last year, I think the girls name was Kelly I was dealing with. Appalling rep of the company. read more

They constantly interrupt any videos I watch with annoying ads. So f**k these guys

I am not usually the type of person to write reviews but this company is absolutely awful avoid when you can !!! I decided to go on a J1 last year and was sponsored by USIT. I had to change my flight for leaving Ireland to the day after it was organised for. I obviously had to pay a flight change fee but that wasn't the problem !! The company told me and my friends as we changed our flight date we would have to pay them a fee for new documentation (over €100). When we arrived at customs with our documentation they told us that there was no need for the new documentation as we were arriving within a set number of days !! Also this year I was going to go on another J1 and decided to try USIT again (why!) I could not go due to unforeseen circumstances and told them this. They stated (could not find this anywhere but accepted it!!) that the second payment is nonrefundable and on top of this 3 months later I have still not received my refund that they accepted they would send out to me. Save yourself the hassle and choose another J1 sponsorship company !! read more

Went into USIT after a Trailfinders visit and they worked out a Round the World Ticket about 800euro cheaper than Trailfinders, who were adamant it couldnt be reduced no matter how many flights i had on the ticket. They are the same airlines and everything. So happy i took the time to go in, Fiona Fitzgerald was a great help! read more

Where to begin. Selected USIT for my J1 to the USA after asking a friend what company they had gone through the previous year. Can only wish I had have asked around and got reviews of other company's. I started my application with ample time (January) before the summer season. I selected the premium package (at a more expensive price) as it advertised "we sort the job for you" "we set you up with interviews until you get a job sorted" etc etc. False. €200 non refundable deposit also. So I filled out my application and stated I wished to go to San Francisco. Time passed and I wondered why I hadn't got through to the jobs portal. I chased this up with a few emails and was told they needed my renewed passport or a copy of the receipt to confirm i had applied for a renewal. Before even starting my application I had rang and asked about this as I knew it would take a month or so and was told this wouldn't be an issue and I could still apply and pass on my new passport details once it arrived. So I sent a copy of the receipt to them and they came back and said no, that they needed the actual new passport.... My new passport eventually came at the end of Feb/start of March and I sent them the details. Another week or so passed and I eventually had access to the jobs portal. The only problem - there were NO jobs for San Francisco. Over the course of March and April I plagued USIT with emails about when more jobs would be posted. I was told they were working on it and there would be weekly job updates. False again. By this stage I had been working flat out at my part time job at the weekend (alongside my final year studies) to pay for the program. You are tied to book your flights and insurance with USIT at an extortionate price. You are not allowed to book your own flights (for half the price). So all in all I had paid €1560 to USIT. End of April came and I got a phone call to tell me that if I didn't submit a job offer form within a week I could not par take on the program. By this stage I had sorted everything out on my behalf - accommodation in San Fran and a Gaelic club transfer to a club there. USIT had promised sorting me with a job and I foolishly believed them. When I asked for aid to try and sort a job on my own at this late notice I got an email telling me to "try jobs.ie" - an IRISH jobs site. These things happen I get that. I was unwilling to change my destination at such late notice as I would have been travelling to another destination alone. I also felt aggrieved that I had stated my destination back in January and USIT gave me absolutely no aid in finding a job here. However after paying €1560 I was disgusted to find out I was not able to get any of this back. I drafted several complaints and emails. I even went down to their office in Dublin and there was told that a manager does not deal with complaints in person and would not come down from their office to speak to me. A great way to treat a customer who has paid €1560. I did not get a single penny back. I was told to use my extortionately priced flights and insurance to 'go on a holiday'. There is no protection in place for their customers. I'm sure these situations arise every year and they fail to do anything about it as they are out to make money off naive students. To say my summer was ruined would be an understatement. They took me for a fool and I am writing this review to ask any student who is considering J1 to shop around and more importantly do not pay for your package UNTIL you have a job guaranteed. Sort your own job - do not rely on USIT. I had always wondered why so many young Irish people travel out on holiday visas and work illegally - why would they risk it and not go on J1? My experience with USIT made me understand just why people do this. Avoid USIT. No better than a loan shark. read more

Do NOT do Camp USA USIT, it's a total scam. The cost starts at €800ish and rapidly moves to over €1,000 per person. They only fly you to New York so if the camp is anywhere else you need to pay extra for those flights too. You also pay extra for visas etc. They're not very helpful at all throughout the application process and don't seem to know how to secure visas. They also seem to be unaware of camp inductions when making travel arrangements. It can be quite embarrassing having to explain to the camp officials why you will have to miss the induction week - especially when it's through sheer incompetence on the part of Camp USA USIT. They haven't a notion how to file the correct paperwork at the right time. Paying the full fee also does not guarantee you'll get to go either. You will be left waiting for months only to be told in late June that you won't be going anywhere and then they're extremely reluctant to pay you back your money. It'd be quite funny if it wasn't so frustrating. Try Camp Counselors USA or one of the other companies, but definitely avoid Camp USA USIT. read more

booked our honeymoon with fiona fitzgearld first mistake for the money we paid i was sorry i ever had delt with her or this company useless from the start limo was late showing up to collect us from airport. hotel in vegas couldnt be faulted but arrived in orlando hours too early we couldnt get into a room eventually was given a hotel room which was a pure disgrace substandard we contacted fiona who proved no help worse than useless she was the company we contacted were no help either and had to suffer a room which i wouldnt put a dog into i felt both fiona and her company were useless and no help at all fair enough on gettin home they paid for a hotel room for us at a wedding we attended this year i de safely say i wouldnt have any dealings with this company or there incompetent staff read more