7 steps to the ultimate gap year

Part of the excitement of planning your gap year is deciding where you'll go and what you'll do. Take a look a look at these tips to make sure you've thought of everything before you set off

1. Consider the places to go on a gap year

If you're wondering how to go about planning a gap year, the first thing to do is work out what your goals are, and whether these are linked to a particular country or activity, as not everywhere will offer the same type of experience. You won't want to return with gaps on your CV so make sure you know what you want to achieve.

Before you settle on a destination, you'll need to read the government's foreign travel advice for specific countries. It's also worth checking to see if there are any special entry requirements, as some countries expect you to have at least six months left on your passport at the date of entry.

When considering the best time of year to travel, do your research to discover whether there are any seasonal weather conditions you'll need to account for, such as monsoon season in South Asia or hurricanes in Florida during the summer months. You can also read about any festivals or religious observances you should be aware of.

If you're still at university, make sure you're back in the UK for the start of the academic year and be sure to meet any course or job application deadlines.

Unless you're embarking on a structured gap year programme, you should plan your itinerary with a degree of flexibility - including any must-see attractions, activities or experiences you've set your heart upon. This is because you'll need time to explore new places and account for changes to your schedule.

You can get some help deciding what to do with our gap year ideas, or visit specific country profiles on our working abroad pages.

Find out what work and internship programmes are currently available at gap year opportunities.

2. Decide who to travel with

If you have friends with similar interests, you may wish to go travelling together and coordinate the trip. The advantages of this include:

not feeling lonely, as there'll always be someone there to pick you up when you're feeling down or homesick
being able to share the cost of everything, from taxis and other forms of transport to meals and rooms
feeling safer having someone to watch your back in places where everything's unfamiliar to you and where you don't speak the language.

However, even though it can seem a daunting prospect, there's nothing stopping you from going it alone. In fact, there are many benefits to this, including:

not being held back by other people, varying budgets or different expectations
increasing your self-confidence and independence, while developing strong communication and interpersonal skills - see the skills that employers want
the chance to meet new people and make friends, and joining an organised group or project can help with this.

3. Raise the money

According to Studential.com, the average gap year costs around £2,500 but it is possible to buy a round the world ticket for around £1,200 so there are cheaper options available. You also need to be aware of the ‘hidden' costs that sneak up on you before travelling. For example:

Passport - A UK passport is £75.50 to apply for or renew.
Visa - The cost varies hugely from country to country, but you can expect to pay between £20 and £150.
Vaccinations - Costing between £30 and £80 immunisations and tablets can be crucial to your travel particularly for things like malaria tablets.
Sightseeing - A day-long bus tour of the city costs around £25, but touring the streets and many museums will be the cost-free version of this activity.

There are plenty of ways to fund your trip, including:

getting a part-time job
organising a fundraising event and asking friends and family to sponsor you
selling items you no longer need either online using a site such as eBay or at a car boot sale
working abroad on a gap year programme or taking on seasonal jobs as you travel, such as teaching English abroad.

If you have any regular payments such as monthly standing orders or direct debits, make sure you finish paying for these before you leave. Alternatively, check you have enough money in your account to cover all outgoings while you're away.

Budgeting is important to keep track of what you're spending, even before you set off on your travels. Whenever you go to buy something in the shops, consider what the same amount of money would get you on your gap year - for example, £1 will buy you lunch in Thailand, while £10 should cover a night's accommodation in India.

4. Book your travel

If you're heading to Europe then an Interrail pass might be the right choice. If you intend on travelling within one country by train, the One Country Pass is your best option. Prices start from €127 (£109) for France, €105 (£95) for Italy and €182 (£156) for Spain - and there are 30 options to choose from. For those who want to travel across a number of European countries, there's the Global Pass. This gives you access to 33 countries and prices start at €185 (£158.50) for a standard youth (aged 12-27) four days within one month pass.

For those heading further afield, you should consider a round-the-world travel ticket, consisting of multi-stop flights. This will enable you to tick off all your must-see places in the one trip, with the ticket lasting up to 12 months.

Specialist gap year travel companies such as Trailfinders offer a selection of tried and tested routes, but you can also plan your own journey - you'll just need to decide where you want to go and how long you wish to spend in each place. Expect to pay at least £1,200 for a round-the-world ticket but depending on the class and where/how far you wish to travel it can reach upwards of £10,000.

5. Organise your gap essentials

Your gap year checklist should cover the following areas:

Healthcare - visit the doctor for vaccinations within plenty of time, as they may need to be administered up to a year ahead. You'll also require medical tests (x-rays) or certain medication (malaria tablets) to work in some countries.
Travel insurance - check that you've got adequate coverage - for example, adventure travel insurance if climbing, jet skiing, bungee jumping or zorbing.
Passport - make sure that it's valid for the duration of your trip. Also, some visas require your passport to be in date for even longer after you plan to leave. To enquire, visit GOV.UK - Passports.
Visas - apply for tourist and working holiday visas. You need to check specific country embassies for information on how far in advance they should be purchased and how long they last for.
Banking - you'll need to notify your bank and the Student Loans Company (SLC) that you're travelling abroad.
Safety tips - make a note of your passport, bank and insurance policy details and leave them with a friend or family member along with your mobile number and email address. Read our top gap year safety tips.
Prepare for a culture shock - read up on the country's religion, culture and customs, speak to other travellers and check relevant online guides and forums.

6. Discover what to buy before you go

When you set off, you only need the basics, so your gap year packing list should only really include:

a rucksack that fits and won't hurt your back (a good weight is 55 or 65 litres, but don't go above this as 75 litres is too heavy). Pack it and try walking around with it on for several hours
limited clothing, as you can buy items while you're there
comfortable, practical shoes that you wear in before you leave
a travel towel
accommodation for the first few nights - try Hostelworld.com, HostelBookers, Hostelling International and StudentUniverse. You could also take a look on Airbnb.

To make sure you've got everything, take a look at this kit checklist from Gap360.

7. Plan for your return

After having such a great time on your gap year, you'll need to have plans in place for when you get back, to avoid the post-holiday blues:

Make sure you keep money aside for a return flight home, plus money for rent and living costs while you're looking for a job. You'll need to be back in the UK for at least three months before you can claim Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA).
Find time on your gap year to update your CV with the relevant skills, jobs and experience from your time away - you should then be able to apply for jobs straight away. Always remember to tailor each application to the specific job and company - see CVs and cover letters and applying for jobs.
So you don't feel down, it's also a good idea to have something lined up to look forward to. This could be an internship with a company you're interested in working for, or a course to develop your skills or knowledge of a topic.