Planning for Your Gap Year

Getting ready to take a gap year may sound like an enormous task, and it is, but if you get started early and take it step by step, you’ll get through it easily enough. Make a list of the things you need to do and get organised.

Here are some things to think about to help get you started.

Budget

At the very beginning of your gap year planning, you’ll need to come up with a budget, so that you know how much you need to save. Consider where you’re going, the exchange rate and costs of typical items. If you’re going on an organized volunteer placement or tour, think about what’s included and what else you will need to pay for. Are you going to stay in hostels or nice hotels? Are you going to participate in a lot of activities?

Think about all the factors and try to come up with a rough daily figure, including three meals, snacks, water, accommodation, transport and activities. Multiply that by how long you plan on going away for and then double it because you always spend more than you expect to.

Visas

Check with the country’s embassy to see if you are required to have a visa. Sometimes you can purchase a visa on arrival, but sometimes you need to apply for one in advance.

If you plan on working abroad as part of your gap year, you will need to apply for a work or working holiday visa. These can take quite a bit of time to process and usually need to be done in advance. Check the embassy’s website to see the requirements, the time it takes to process and whether they need to be mailed to you in your home country.

Don’t forget to make copies of your visa(s) and passport. Leave one at home with your family and take one or two with you.

Flights

Obviously, you’ll need to arrange flights to get to your gap year destination. If you have more than one destination, you’ll have to arrange flights in between. You can do it all in advance or you can wait and book your connecting flights after you arrive at your first destination.

There are pros and cons to doing this. Arranging all your flights in advance allows you to have your gap year all planned out, so you don’t have to worry about it once you’re in country and maybe have limited internet access. Booking in advance may also be cheaper.

Waiting to book your flights until after you’ve arrived at your first stop gives you more flexibility. You could change your mind completely and decide to go to Malaysia instead of Brazil on the recommendation from a fellow gap year traveller. Spontaneity can have great appeal, but last minute travel can also be costly.

Accommodation

It’s a good idea to have reservations for at least the first night you arrive. If you’re getting in late, the last thing you want to do is wander around a strange city with all your stuff in the dark. Even if you get there in the daytime, looking for a vacancy can be time consuming and frustrating. Accommodation for later stops on your gap year can be arranged further on.

Immunisations

Plan ahead to see if you need any vaccinations for any of the destinations you are going to. Some are just recommended but some are required. Immunisations should be given at least four to six weeks prior to departure. If you’re travelling with i-to-i, we’ll give you all the necessary information. If not, speak to your physician to see what they recommend or visit www.cdc.gov/travel/

Prescriptions

If you take any prescription medications, make sure you pick up enough to last your entire stay. Make sure the bottles are labelled clearly with the prescription so you don’t get hassled at customs. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, consider bringing an extra pair.

Insurance

Some health insurance providers will cover you while you’re abroad. Give them a call to see if you’re already covered overseas. Even if you are, it might be worth investing in travel insurance and if you're travelling with i-to-i you will have to. There are a number of travel insurance providers. Depending on the option you choose, they can cover missed flights, loss of personal belongings, money or passport or emergency evacuation. Before you go, decide what’s best for you and shop around for the best price.

Emergency Contacts

Before you go, compile a list of all of your emergency contacts, including your bank and credit card. Compile another list of all the places you’ll be during your gap year (with as much contact information as possible) to give to your family.

Staying in Touch

Keeping in touch with your friends and family can be difficult on your gap year. E-mail is often the best way to communicate from abroad. It’s (usually) free and the time difference doesn’t matter.

You can also purchase calling cards while you’re abroad. These are usually pretty cheap and the locals can help you find the best deal. Alternatively, you can take your mobile phone and get a sim card or purchase a temporary phone abroad. Beware that when you take your mobile overseas, you may get service, but you’ll be charged dearly for it. Check out our friends at ekit for a great deal on phonecards, SIM cards and mobile phones before you.

Packing

What to pack depends on where you go and what you’re planning on doing. Research your destination; consider how long you’ll be gone and what change of seasons you’ll see. When picking out your luggage, think about how often you’ll be carrying it around. If you’re going to a volunteer placement for six months, you’ll only need to get your stuff there and back to the airport. If you’re backpacking Latin America, however…

If you’re travelling with i-to-i, we’ll send you a country guide with suggestions about what to pack. Just remember to get started early because the longer you put it off, the more likely you are to forget something.

So there you have it! Now you know what you have to do, it's time to start doing it. Obviously this guide is just a starting point but it should help you to get your gap year planning started.