Planning A Gap Year

What accommodation can I stay in on my gap year?

There are many options to choose from when choosing your gap year accommodation.

Hostels are often a cheap and popular choice, although you should also consider hotels/motels, rented rooms/apartments/flats, host families and camping.

For more advice, take a look at our gap year accommodation guide.

How much is a ticket to travel around the world?

The cost of a round the world air ticket varies depending on the amount of stops and distance travelled. The more countries you fly to, the more it costs.

Smaller multi-stops range from £339 to £999, but for round-the-world tickets, you'll be looking at over £1,000.

For those looking to save money, we recommend the DIY approach and buy the flights you want individually to the different countries you wish to visit.

Take a look at our gap year flights guide for more help and advice on round the world tickets.

Do I need a visa for my gap year?

Yes, it is likely you will need a visa for wherever you are travelling to on your gap year, with the exception of the EU (although this might not be the case depending on how long you plan to spend in the EU, Please check the UK government website for more information).

Check the visa requirements for each country you are planning on visiting, and make sure you apply for any visas you need in plenty of time before you travel.

Do I need insurance?

Before you go off on your gap year travels, you will need to take out insurance.

There are many companies out there that provide comprehensive gap year travel insurance, including:

• Endsleigh
• InsureandGo
• Admiral
• PostOffice

Before purchasing any insurance, make sure you read the fine print, especially if you are planning on doing any extreme activities such as sky diving or rock climbing.

For more help and advice, please read our gap year insurance guide.

How can I get money for my gap year?

There are lots of ways you can get money for your gap year travels, either before you leave or while you're away. These include:

• Bar work
• Working on a yacht
• Hotel work
• Teaching
• Freelancing
• Waiting/waitressing
• Picking fruit/vegetables
• Mobile beauty or hairdressing
• Selling online
• Photography
• Busking
• Cruise ship or resort work.

For more help and advice with your gap year finances, take a look at our budgeting and fundraising guides.

What should I take on my gap year?

Although you will want to travel light on your gap year travels, there are some essential items you should remember to take with you. These include:

• Passport
• Debit and credit cards
• Accommodation bookings
• Insurance policy
• Flight tickets
• Traveller’s cheques and cash
• Medical insurance cards
• Spare passport photos
• Sun lotion

Please see our gap year travel kit guide for a full list of what (and what not) to take with you.

How can I travel on my gap year?

If you're thinking about travelling on your gap year, you need to think about the following:

1. Where you want to go (not just the countries, but the things you want to see and do when you get there)
2. Decide who you are going to travel with (if anyone)
3. Raise enough money
4. Book your travel itinerary (companies such as STA Travel can help with this)
5. Buy and pack your gap year travel kit
6. Plan your return journey.