Getting the most from your trip

Whether you plan to stay in one destination for a couple of months or whether you plan to backpack around the world, we have advice covering many aspects of your gap year travel.

Gap year travel is all about making it happen. The concept of gap year travel is incredibly popular these days. If gap year travel is something you want to do there's almost no excuse not to do it. Colleges and universities acknowledge that gap year travel broadens horizons. Indeed many of them offer deferrals to applicants wanting to do some gap year travel, as they appreciate that most people return home re-invigorated and with a much better perspective on life. Gap year travel is incredibly easy to organise as well. Real Gap Experience operates programmes all over the world so there is certain to be something to suit your interests - whatever you want from your gap year travel.

When you are planning your gap year travel it is important to prioritise where you most want to go and what you would like to do while you're away. When you research your gap year travel it's a good idea to buy some decent guidebooks and there's also loads of useful information to be found on the Real Gap website. Everyone has different tastes and it's impossible for us to say which part of the world is the best for gap year travel - all of our programmes have different benefits and it's very much a matter of personal choice. As a general rule, though, if you've not done much travelling before and don't want your gap year travel to be too off the beaten track then opting for a destination such as North America, Australasia or the UK is an excellent idea for your gap year travel.

Many backpackers decide to supplement their gap year travel by getting paid work overseas in order to earn some extra cash. It's possible to apply for working holiday visas for Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand and the USA before you embark on your gap year travel (speak to a Real Gap travel adviser for full details on how to do so). Working overseas, aside from the obvious benefit of giving you extra money, is an excellent way to meet people and fully experience the local culture on your gap year travel.

If you want to see as much of the world as possible with your gap year travel the best option is to buy a round the world plane ticket. This form of gap year travel allows you to circle the globe in one continuous direction, taking in pre-determined stops along the way, until you get back to your original starting point. With this type of gap year travel the general rule is that you have an entire year from the date you first left in which to complete your itinerary.

One thing you could consider for your gap year travel is to do some voluntary work while you are away. Some people choose to make voluntary work the main focus of their gap year travel, while others might choose to spend just a few weeks getting involved with a project as part of one of their stopovers. There are loads of voluntary work gap year travel projects to choose from all over the world. There are volunteer projects helping people, wildlife and the environment - and working for one of them is an excellent way to give ‘something back' to some of the countries you visit on your gap year. This aspect of gap year travel is a two-way process as well, and most volunteers gain a real sense of personal achievement from the experience.

 Why take a gap year?

Taking a gap year is probably the best thing you'll ever do. A gap year provides you with some breathing space and valuable time to decide what you want from life, making you more likely to make the right decisions for your future when you return.

Another great thing about taking time out is that universities, colleges and employers alike genuinely appreciate candidates who have stepped out of their comfort zone and worked and travelled abroad. Indeed, universities and colleges positively encourage taking a gap year these days, offering deferrals to gap year candidates. Returning gap year students are generally more enthusiastic about returning to study and feel re-invigorated by all their new experiences.

In short - a gap year gives you the opportunity to have the time of your life, see some amazing places and enhance your career prospects in the process!

Does a gap year have to be that long?

Despite the name, gap ‘years' can be as long or short as you wish them to be. If you're not comfortable going away for a whole twelve months on your gap year then it's fine to go away for as little as one or two months if that's what you prefer. You can still do or achieve quite a bit on a gap year even in a relatively short space of time. The main thing is that you're still taking a gap ‘year', taking some time out and experiencing a different way of life. You're almost certain to return from your gap year refreshed, with a new perspective on things and most probably with some newly acquired skills to add to future job applications as well.

Where can I go and what can I do on a gap year?

Where you go and what you do on a gap year depends where in the world you're interested in visiting and what you want out of your gap year. The only limit with a gap year is your imagination. You may want to backpack round the world, visit one particular country or do something really rewarding like helping out on a volunteer project in the Third World. It really is up to you.