Gap years can be one of the most unforgettable experiences of our lives. And what’s not to love? The excitement of exploring new countries and cultures is just part of what makes gap year travelling so incredible. You’ll also get to meet new people from all around the world, and learn new things, all the while becoming a more independent and open-minded individual.

An important part of the process, however, is planning. With possibly a whole year ahead of you, it’s a good idea to come up with a general plan of where you want to go and what you want to do. Of course, there’s nothing saying that you have to follow this plan to a tee (you most probably won’t), but some form of plan is necessary.

We’ll walk you through everything you need to know when travelling during a gap year. To begin, let’s go over some essentials to consider before you book anything.

Know Before You Go

We’ll start off on a more serious note: when planning your gap year travels, it’s a good idea to consider what your long-term goals are. In other words, what will you include on your CV when the gap year is over? It’s common for gap year travellers to include conservation work and volunteering in their itinerary. These are great ways to enhance your travels while giving back to the communities you’re visiting. Further down the line, employers will also value these experiences. Do your research to find out if these experiences are linked to a certain country.

It’s also a good idea to check the seasonal weather conditions in the country you’re considering. For example, summertime is monsoon season in South East Asia and hurricane season in the Caribbean and Florida. You can use the Foreign Travel Advice section of gov.uk to check the government’s travel advice for specific countries.

For each place you travel to, give yourself more time than you think is necessary. This will allow for changes in plans, sightseeing, and activities or experiences. You don’t want to miss out on anything because you didn’t give yourself enough time or due to some unforeseen circumstance.

Travelling Solo?

This brings us to another big question: are you going to travel with friends or alone? Each option has its pros and cons. Of course, travelling alone may seem more daunting but it can result in a more enriching experience.

Perks of Travelling with Friends

Apart from the joint excitement that goes along with planning your gap year travels, there are other advantages to travelling with friends, such as:

  • You’ll always have someone to talk to so you never feel lonely or homesick
  • It’s generally safer to travel with someone, even if it’s simply to have someone to watch your bags while you go to the bathroom
  • It can be a lot cheaper as you’ll be able to split the cost of travel and accommodation

Perks of Travelling Alone

On the other hand, travelling alone also has its merits:

  • You’re in charge of what you do and when you do it
  • You’ll improve your communication and people skills making you more likely to meet new people
  • Even though the initial thought might be intimidating, travelling alone will make you a more confident person

Gap Year Travel Options

Once you’ve decided who you’re travelling with, the next step is to choose where you’re going to go. The world is your oyster here, so try not to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. To help you out, we’ve put together the most common travel options.

One Country

We’ll start off small with the one-country option. As the name suggests, this option involves picking one country, such as Australia, and spending an extended period there. Planning is easier as you only have to book one return flight and you get the opportunity to fully experience one country.

This is a good option for people who might be travelling for a shorter period of time or who want to really get to know what life is like in one place. Perhaps you’re thinking about moving there full-time in the future?

Interrailing Europe

Next up is the hugely popular Interrailing train ticket. There is more and more information regarding the hazardous effects of aeroplane travel on the environment. If you want a more sustainable gap year travelling option, interrailing around Europe is a great way to visit lots of countries on a budget while keeping your carbon footprint low. The global pass gives you access to 33 European countries. Prices start at £157 for a standard youth (aged 12-27) which allows you to travel four days within one month.

Conversely, if you only intend on travelling within one country by train, you have the One Country Pass. There are 30 options to choose from. Prices start from £89 for Italy, £166 for France, and £155 for Spain depending on the number of days travel within the month.

Round-The-World Ticket

And finally, we have the round-the-world travel ticket. This is a good option for those of you who are considering travelling further afield as it consists of multi-stop flights. With the 12-month round-the-world ticket, you can tick off all your must-see places in one trip.

Of course, you can expect to pay a good bit more. Tickets start at £1,200 but, depending on the class and where/how far you wish to travel, they can reach upwards of £10,000.

Key Takeaways

In the end, gap year travelling is all about seeing the world and living new experiences. That being said, it’s definitely worth taking the time to come up with a general plan, at least for the beginning of your trip. It’s also a good idea to consider what you want to get out of your gap year and how it will add to your CV. Trust us, it will be worth it in the long run.

For more general information, visit our page on Gap Years. Need help funding gap year travels? We’ve also got everything you need to know about working full-time or part-time. Check out our live jobs board for job listings in your area.

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