5 STEPS FOR PLANNING A SUCCESSFUL GAP YEAR

The Leap, founded in 2002, specialises in experiences in Central/South America and Africa and have been helping people plan their gap year adventures for over 20 years. Milly Whitehead, a director shares her top five tips to make the most of your gap year.

If you are thinking about taking a gap year but have no idea where to start, then we are here to help. So, to start the ball rolling let us start with the first 5 steps...

1. Structure

Do not look at an 18-months of unplanned time. Break it up into chunks of time. As an example, this is a well-trodden timeline:

 Finish school

 Have a happy summer – festivals and holidays

 September – get a job (or several)

 January or Feb leave the UK. (Trust us everyone leaves the country then and if you are still here – it is lonely)

 Return in May/June

 Return to work

 University starts in September

2. Get a job

We recommend that you save £300 for each week you are away. You should try to save at least £1000 for each month you are travelling. Some countries are more expensive than others so consider this when making your plans.

3. Ask yourself what kind of traveller are you?

This is an important question to ask yourself (and be honest with yourself) as it will determine what you do in January and how you travel.

 For example, if you are a team person then you might want to look at doing something with other people, so a social life is guaranteed.

 Or are you a lone ranger (or with one of 2 friends) who wants to pop a backpack on and hostel hop your way around the world – happy to find jobs or volunteering experiences as you go? You are responsible for making all your plans and going with the flow.

4. What type of travel experience are you after?

How you answered the last question will influence your travelling style:

 If you are a team player then look for “team experiences” where you meet new people, have constructive days planned such as The Leap team volunteering and adventure programs, doing a ski season, working on one of the summer camps etc

 Want to travel independently – then head off with a friend in tow, plan your route, seek great overseas contacts, and don’t buy cheap insurance!

5. Try to head off the beaten track?

Whilst many gappers tend to hostel hop their way around the world, consider making your gap year meaningful. If you can, try to join some sort of volunteering or charity work whilst you are away, and we promise it will be far more rewarding than just spending your day sightseeing. You will come back home with a deeper understanding of the country, and you will have made a positive impact on the communities you have visited. Trust us –this gives you a magical insight into your experience.

Finally, you will never get another year off so grab it and make the most of this opportunity!

For more information:

 Download our free gap year guide: www.theleap.co.uk

 Email: milly@theleap.co.uk

 Instagram: @gapyearexperts

 Telephone: 01672 519922

A great way to earn money before your travels or while you are abroad is to work as a Barista! Winchester Coffee School offers a range of courses teaching you everything you need to know about being a Barista. They have given our pupils a 20% discount code on their training courses over the summer. Please quote LWC20 when booking.