How to Spend Your Gap Year Travelling the World
The term ‘gap year’ (according to Google) is typically an academic year taken by a student as a break between school and university or college education. But I ended up having 5 ‘gap years’ after school and never went to university so, take the term with a pinch of salt.
However, if you need a break from school or work, here are a few ideas for how to spend your gap year travelling the world.
How to Make Money when Travelling
There are so many ways to make money whilst you travel, especially in this day and age. With more and more companies allowing employees to work remotely, living the digital nomad lifestyle is no longer a whimsical dream. But if you haven’t found that perfect remote job then I have some great alternatives for you.
Working Holiday Visa
Fancy working as a barista in the centre of Sydney? Or maybe working on a farm in Queenstown? A ski instructor in Whistler? If you want to mix work with travel this is the perfect option for you, popular countries that offer this visa are Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Take a look at the individual country's government websites to see the visa process, cost.
It's a great way to explore a new place, getting a job allows you to create more funds for further travel but also working allows you to meet new people. You can choose how much time you spend working vs how much travel you do in those countries, meaning it's more flexible for people in different situations. And certain countries allow extensions of the visas, so if you fall in love with the place you never know how long you will be able to stay.
Workaway
Workaway is a popular website that backpackers use to find jobs in return for accommodation and volunteering opportunities whilst travelling. It's common for hostels to offer free accommodation for a few hours of work a day. You do have to pay for a membership for workaway to access these job listings so there is an initial cost but in the long run, it could help you travel more budget-friendly. Although this isn’t paid work it’s a budget-friendly way to travel.
Camp America
A popular way to get away during the summer months and an option to explore the US whilst experiencing summer camp. If you enjoy working with children and think you could be a camp counsellor this could be perfect for you. You will work within a camp for a minimum of 9 weeks then after the camp, your visa allows you 30 days to explore the USA as you wish! With different roles within the camp, you can find a job best suited to you, you will also receive a set amount of money for your time spent working in the camp.
It's aimed at British uni students who want to travel and work in a new place over the summer holidays. You can gain valuable career and life experience and meet some lovely other camp counsellors who may just become travel companions after the camp has ended. Note the application process can take some time as you have to go through background checks, interviews and visa applications. So make sure you leave enough time if this is what you choose to do, the application window for that summer tends to close in March/April.
Start your application or discover more about Camp America here!
TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language)
TEFL is a qualification that allows you to teach students around the world who want to learn English. TEFL courses are taught online, in person and in some schools. After you are TEFL certified you can look for jobs in person or online should you wish to work remotely. Some countries will require you to be degree-educated for TEFL jobs but not all.
It can be a great way to travel and earn at the same time, it will allow you to spend a long amount of time in one place. You can get to know what it would be like to live in a new place, meet local teachers, and give back to children or adults by helping them improve their English.
Where to Travel on Your Gap Year
South-East Asia
A very common destination for first-time backpackers and for a very good reason, with plenty of diverse countries and cultures to explore! You could opt for the popular loop starting in Thailand -> Laos -> Cambodia -> Vietnam. With plenty of other countries such as Borneo, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines to explore you won't be short of destinations to add to your South East Asia itinerary.
Interrailing Europe
Interrail is an all-in-one pass that lets you explore 33 countries by train. I loved my time interrailing Europe, it's more expensive than backpacking around SE Asia, but depending on what countries you choose to visit it is possible to do it on a budget. Eastern Europe offers a more budget-friendly trip and is home to some stunning landscapes and bustling cities. Discover the Tatra Mountain range or hike around and enjoy the waters of Lake Bled, Slovenia or explore the historic city of Prague.
Check out my 3-week Interrailing Route here ->
Australia/New Zeland
Both Australia and New Zealand have so much to offer, so if you have the budget and the time why not explore both. New Zealand is known for a great backpacker culture with a strong adventure spirit, from amazing hikes to bungee jumps and white water rafting it could be a great place to kick off your adventure! Australia is home to stunning beaches, vibrant cities, rainforests, reefs and the outback, it's such a diverse country to explore and you will leave longing to go back, trust me!
Discover more about travelling to Australia here ->
Central America
Central America is an unofficial continent that encompasses the countries between Mexico and Colombia. Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. I think this is a fantastic travel route for those who love all things adventure. You could be hiking volcanoes, taking nighttime rainforest walks, learning to surf, or watching turtles hatch on a beach.
Let me know if you are planning your gap year soon, I'm here to help if you have any questions!
