Introducing Our 2025 Travel Review Contest Winner

After an exciting final round filled with inspiring stories and incredible community support, we’re thrilled to announce the winner of the GoAbroad Travel Review Contest.

This year’s contest featured 7 outstanding finalist entries and generated tens of thousands of engagements across our Instagram community. Each finalist brought a powerful story to life, and the final 72-hour engagement race highlighted just how impactful alumni voices can be.

Meet The Winners

Congratulations to Areeza Kabani, whose review earned the highest engagement during the final round with an impressive 7,220 total engagements. As the winner, she takes home $500 cash and a GoAbroad Travel Bundle.

Program: Internships Abroad in Barcelona – Summer
Program Provider: Expanish

In her review, Areeza shared how studying abroad in Barcelona became the best decision of her life. From built-in housing and immersive day trips to forming deep friendships and traveling together to Morocco, her experience captured the true power of studying abroad. Her story deeply resonated with our community, highlighting how stepping outside your comfort zone can lead to growth, connection, and lifelong memories.

As Areeza put it best:

“If you’re debating going abroad, do it. Please.”

Travel Review Contest Runner-Up

This year’s contest brought in so many powerful stories that we couldn’t end without recognizing one more standout review. We’re excited to give a special Runner-Up recognition to Eddie Kaake for his compelling and heartfelt story.

Program: Humanities & Social Sciences in Europe
Program Provider: CES Maastricht

In his review, Finding Home in Limburg, Eddie Kaake reflects on how studying abroad allowed him to reconnect with his roots while embracing new experiences through CES Maastricht. From immersive coursework to built-in travel across Europe, his journey highlights the depth and meaning of cultural exploration.

As Eddie shares,

“CES Maastricht allowed me the opportunity of a lifetime to go and live not just in the Netherlands, but in the province my family originates from”


Thank You to Our Community

We extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our finalists, alumni, and supporters who participated and showed their support throughout the contest. Every like, comment, share, and save helped amplify these meaningful stories and celebrate the impact of global experiences.

A special thank you to Medjet for sponsoring this year’s contest and helping make this celebration possible.

What’s Next

Stay tuned for more initiatives coming next year. We’re just getting started, and there’s plenty more ahead. Subscribe to our partner newsletter to stay in the loop on upcoming contests, campaigns, and opportunities that could be the next big win for your marketing strategy.

Author

  • Mika Ramos

    Mika Ramos is a Junior Marketing and Content Editor at GoAbroad.com, where she writes about travel trends, study abroad opportunities, and stories from people living and working across the globe. She enjoys traveling and has visited Japan and other parts of Asia, experiences that shape her perspective on culture and place. Mika also follows travel and culture-focused vlogs that highlight everyday life in different countries. Her work draws on research, personal travel experiences, and a genuine interest in how people connect with cultures through international travel and global education.

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