Whether you are going for a vacation trip or a part time job during your gap year, you should never take for granted getting yourself a gap year travel insurance. Why? You never know what’s going to happen next. Not that you are hoping for it, you just want to be sure that if the unwanted happens, you will not feel any financial stress. Getting a gap year travel insurance has also been a part of many travellers’ itinerary over the years. People nowadays are already smart enough to know that spending a bit for a gap year travel insurance is better that being drowned in expenses in case something happens during their gap year.

But what exactly is a gap year travel insurance? There is actually so much to learn about it and this guide will help you understand everything about it.

First, like all other usual travel insurances, a gap year travel insurance incorporate the common inclusions such as: medical expenses which include dental services, emergency evacuation, and any medical treatments; funeral expenses and the repatriation of the body in case of accidental death; third party inconveniences such as travel delays; compensation for any acquired disabilities; and any loss of belongings within the time frame of the trip. Nonetheless, you should take note that travel insurance inclusions may vary from one company to another. But the abovementioned details are usually included in travel insurance contracts.

The allotted financial assistance for each insurance coverage also varies depending on the needs. For instance, for medical expenses & repatriation, the allotted financial assistance can be as high as £1,000,000 and for loss of passport, you can get a financial help of around £200.

Now for the additional elements about the gap year travel insurance: You have probably noticed with other kinds of paid services that when you pay more, you get additional services. That’s a common fact. And it surely goes the same way with gap year travel insurance. You can get other policies to be included in your insurance as long as you pay an additional fee. For instance when you are travelling abroad, not all insurance contracts cover overseas travel. But you can have an overseas gap year travel insurance in a different price.

There are actually many other things that can get covered by gap year travel insurance for an added cost such as Personal Liability and pre existing conditions. Personal Liability insurance is the part of an insurance that allows the insured person to be protected from lawsuits. But this doesn’t mean that the insured can go ahead and break the law. This insurance policy has its own limitations and does not support all law breaking activities. This policy is commonly used in unexpected situations like when your cat scratches a passerby or when a man hurts himself because of a safety pin sticking out of your luggage. On the other hand, not all insurance contracts cover pre existing conditions. In fact most of them do not cover it. But probably for an additional cost, you can have your pre existing conditions to be covered when you go for a gap year. So if you have an asthmatic condition, arthritis, or diabetes, you can be insured to get assistance as you enjoy your gap year. But of course, this still needs to get confirmed and discussed by your chosen insurance provider.

Another possible additional insurance inclusion is for those who are planning to do some risky sports. Yes there is a specific coverage for this. So if you are planning to do some water or winter sports, it is important to have this policy included on your insurance contract. And speaking of risks and dangers, travelling to another country that has local or international danger warnings can call for another insurance policy. There are insurances for hi jacks, hostages, and kidnappings. Although this is not as likely to happen as the other mentioned events, there are people who know that they need this insurance coverage.

OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS

Commonly, insurance companies offer gap year travel insurance coverage for as long as eighteen months. The age requirement for a person to be eligible for a gap year travel insurance may vary from one provider to another. But usually, the age limit is not older than 65 y/o and not younger than 18 y/o. To give you a quote on the prices of a gap year travel insurance, it actually differs depending on the extent of the location where the insurance contract allows its coverage. For the whole Europe, you can get a rate of about £130 to £170 and for a worldwide coverage including US, you can get a price of about £280 – £370. Please take note that these are just rough calculations of the rates per person in a single trip of 365 days.
As a conclusion, getting a gap year travel insurance is not a waste of time and money after all. Considering all the possible inclusions of a gap year travel insurance, it can really save you a lot of money when one of those mentioned events happens to you or to your family. So to enjoy a secured gap year, try as much as possible to get insured.

Was a couple of years ago when I bought a worldwide policy. I was eagerly looking at the “small print” of activities that were and weren’t included in my cover. I was reading the list and thinking a) I haven’t done most of this and b) I’m not really sure what some of this stuff is!

Sure I have things like “Go to Antarctica” and “Eat 1.5kg of M&M’s in one sitting” on my life to-do-list but at heart I am an activity junkie. Notice I didn’t say Adrenaline Junkie. I won’t lie. I cack my boxers at heights but I still love pushing the boundaries

So over the last couple of years I have been ploughing through this list and I thought I would share it with you in the hopes that it might inspire you to try something new. The activities highlighted in red are ones I still need to do.

How does your own list compare? Anything on here you would really recommend? Let me know in the comments!

• Abseiling
• American Football
• Archery
• Ballooning (organised excursion)
• Bamboo Boat Rafting
• Baseball
• Big Foot Skiing
• Black Water Rafting
• Bobsleigh/Skeleton/Luge
• Boogie Boarding
• Bouldering,
• Bungee Jumping
• Canoeing
• Canyoning
• Cave Tubing
• Caving
• Cricket
• Cycle Touring
• Cycling
• Deep Sea Fishing
• Dog Sleighing
• Elephant Trekking
• Fencing
• Football
• Frisbee
• Glacier Crossing/Hiking
• Gliding
• Go-Karting
• Hang Gliding
• Light Aircraft/Helicopter (as a passenger)
• Heliskiing/Boarding
• High Diving (platform only)
• Hockey (field only)
• Horse Riding (casual with no jumping)
• Horse Trekking
• Hot Air Ballooning
• Ice Climbing
• Ice Skating
• Jet Boating/Shotover Jet
• Jetskiing
• Kayaking
• Kite Surfing
• Kite Skiing
• Kite Buggying
• Lacrosse
• Marathon Running/Triathlon
• Martial Arts Training
• Micro Lighting
• Motorcycling up to 125cc
• Mountain biking (on and off road)
• Mountaineering (with ropes)
• Overland Expedition
• Paintballing
• Parachuting
• Paragliding
• Parapenting,
• Parasailing (behind a boat)
• Parapenting (behind a motorised vehicle)
• Potholing/Caving (as part of a group)
• Quad Biking
• Roller Blading
• River Boarding
• River Kayaking
• Rock Climbing (with ropes)
• Rugby
• Safari
• Sail Boarding
• Sand Boarding
• Scrambling
• Scuba Diving (down to 30 meters)
• Sea Canoeing
• Sea Kayaking
• Shark Cage Diving
• Show-jumping
• Skateboarding
• Skiing Cross Country
• Skiing
• Skiing (off piste with a guide)
• Skydiving
• Snowboarding (off piste with a guide)
• Snowboarding (on piste)
• Snow Blading (on piste only)
• Snow Kiting
• Snow Mobiles/Skiddoos
• Snow Shoeing
• Surfing
• Tobogganing
• Trekking/Hiking under 6000 metres
• Wake Boarding
• Water Polo
• Water Skiing
• Weightlifting
• White Water Rafting (grades 1-3)
• White Water Rafting (grade 4-5)
• Windsurfing
• Yachting (in territorial waters)
• Zip Climbing
• Zip Wiring

The following are Dangerous sports that aren’t covered by the insurance but still sound like too much fun. Again the ones in red I still need to do!

• Air Travel (other than as a fare paying passenger)
• Base Jumping
• Cliff Diving
• Cresta Run
• Crewing on vessels from one country to another
• Endurance Tests
• Free Climbing
• Gorge Swinging
• Horse Jumping
• Hunting
• Ice Caving
• Ice Hockey
• Martial Arts Competitions
• Motor Sports/Rallying
• Mountaineering (without ropes)
• Mountaineering Expeditions
• Piloting a Private Aircraft
• Polo
• Powerboating
• Professional Sports
• Scuba Diving (below 30 metres)
• Self Defence
• Ski Acrobatics
• Ski Jumping
• Ski Stunting
• Solo Sea Sailing
• Speed Skating
• Stunt Flying/Acrobatics
• Use of Weapons
• Wreck Diving
• Yachting Out of Territorial Waters
• Yacht Racing
• Zorbing

The Snow and Cold on Mount Washington, New Hampshire

This city is located in the White Mountains along the east coast of the United States. It has been labelled “Home of the World’s Worst Weather.” Being 1,917 meters above sea level, the city is known for extremely cold temperatures, heavy snowfalls even during summer months and high wind speeds year-round. Geologically, the reason for the extreme weather is due to the height and the location of the city. Nestled in a high valley among the mountain range, the city is situated in a corridor and receives constant winds from both the Atlantic Ocean, and the western side of the mountains.

Papua New Guinea Volcanoes

The country is known for extreme rainfall and volcanic activity. The country is located 160 kilometres north of Australia and is on the south-western Pacific Ocean. Typically 2,000 millimetres of rain will fall per year but some areas receive more; especially during the monsoon season which occurs in the winter. Papua New Guinea is home to “Ulawan” which has been dubbed the “Decade Volcano” due to its recent volcanic activity and its close proximity to human population.

Typhoons in the Philippines

This country experiences many typhoons and earthquakes throughout the year and contains three active volcanoes. The Philippines is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is an area in the Pacific Ocean that is home to high seismic activity and extreme tropical climate. Approximately 30 typhoons will hit the country in a given year.

The Heat in Death Valley, California

Located in the Mohave Desert valley near the California and Nevada border within the USA, this valley has earned its name through its reputation of having extremely hot and dry weather. Temperatures normally reach 49 degrees Celsius during the day. The high temperatures are due to the depth of the valley; the high mountains surrounding it don’t allow for adequate air flow and the air becomes trapped with little room for movement. In addition, the trapped air prohibits clouds from moving in and providing rainfall.

Australian Droughts
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the south-eastern portion of Australia has experienced extreme drought conditions in the past decade. Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland are the hardest hit areas and have had some of the highest rainfall deficits recorded, which in turn affected both domestic flights and tourism within the country. Between the years 2002 and 2010 the area only received 10% rainfall. Scientists at the National Centre for Atmospheric Research partially blame the recent increase in droughts to the global warming, but this area is known to have natural shifts in rainfall patterns which lead to on going drought conditions.

This year’s TNT Sun & Snow Travel Show takes place on Saturday 15 October 2011 at the QEII Centre in Westminster, London. This is London’s only free travel exhibition during the winter season, the TNT Sun & Snow Travel Show is dedicated to travellers aged between 18 and 39 and showcases sun, snow and adventure travel during the winter months and going into 2012. There’s some pretty awesome discounts and one-off deals on offer that are only available on the day.

I’m not going just to find myself a holiday. There’s also some great travel seminars on offer from leading travel organisations and publications such as Lonely Planet and National Geographic Traveller. You can gain insight into the publishing world with tips on how to make money from travel writing, blogging and Twitter. Grant Martin from Gadling is also coming over from Chicago. I certainly won’t be missing that seminar (12:15, be there).

Entry is FREE for those who pre-register online or just £2 payable at the door. To book and for more information on the speakers visit www.tnttravelshow.com.

1) end up in a Turkish prison

2) and well…there isn’t really a number two.

The long and the short of it is “don’t end up in prison.” Think of it that way and the entire world is going to open itself up to you. I don’t really want to talk about the “where” in this post, that’s for you to figure out. I want to talk about the “why”. Yes, also something for you to work out on your own, but I figure if I already have your attention, why not drop some knowledge.

The Why (catchy, isn’t it?)

Everyone who takes the fabled gap year trip has their own reasons for doing so. You may think that it isn’t as important as where you go, but if you think about it, the why directly influences the where…which circles back to the what (the trip itself). Who’s on first? Never mind.

Is your trip meant to open your eyes to the world around you? Do you want to immerse yourself in different cultures, live like the locals and slowly realize that it’s a big wonderful world? Then you’re going to want to pack it off to a place where something like that’s possible, and likely not a place that just drips of “tourist trap”. You need to be a traveler, not a tourist.

What about if you want to use the time to help others? Give back to your global neighbors and pitch in your part to help humanity raise the bar a bit? Charity work it is! Get yourself together with an international aid organization and see where it goes from there. Just a word to the wise: please be safe. Some of the places that need help most are the places with an unsavory rep. Going with a well known and respected organization is generally better than showing up wide-eyed with a pack slung across your back.

Not that any of you would ever really want to think this way, but what if your trip was more about fueling a few hours, weeks, months and maybe years (no prison, no prison, no prison) with fun fueled debauchery? Best not show up to a country where alcohol isn’t permitted, or prices are sky high, or the drinking age is something you can limbo under instead of step over. Follow my meaning?

The gap year trip can be a life-changing experience if that’s what you’re going for. Something that forever shapes the person that you want to and will become. Before you set out to spend significant time and money someplace, think about why you want to go there. No need to write a manifesto about it, or a pithy post on the internet (wink), but just get a solid idea and then run with it. Safe trip and travels!

Steve Zimmermann has drank with Aussies in Italy, danced on floating stages in Austria, sailed with dolphins in St. Vincent and pulled boats through creeks in Ireland.  He is a Lancaster, PA based writer who worked on the PR side of travel tourism before embarking on a career as a copywriter who happens to do a lot of traveling.  Follow him @zedcreative and say hello.

Balcony

A balcony can be also used to great effect. Slip on to the balcony, closing the curtains behind you. Your room mates will never know, unless you howl to the moon like a wolf. I’ve seen and heard things man…

Possible dangers: The world is your audience.

Outdoors

Some hostels have a roof. Some have a garden. You’re still ‘in’ the hostel but you get that great natural feeling with the breeze on your… *ahem*. Feeling more adventurous? Abandon the hostel altogether and head down the beach.

Possible dangers: Sand getting in places it isn’t meant to be.

Showers

Image: ·júbilo·haku·

A favourite in a lot of hostels, the showers offer privacy provided you keep the sound down. Use the girls, it smells better, apparently. For extra comfort check if the hostel has a disabled shower. It tends to have more room and handy ledges and handles.

Possible dangers: Slippery when wet.

Kitchen

Most hostel kitchens close after a certain time so provided you can get in you shouldn’t be disturbed. There is the potential that you might be interrupted by someone sneaking in a for midnight snack. But seriously, people eat in there and from what I have witnessed backpackers have no qualms about eating and preparing food on the kitchen surfaces. Is this really the right thing to do?

Possible dangers: That isn’t mayonnaise.

TV Room

This really does depend on the hostel. Some TV rooms are used more than others and some are more open. I would hope that you would be wise enough to use your own judgement. More practical than some of your other options; crank up the volume to drown out any sounds and use the sofas for comfort.

Possible dangers: Insomniacs.

Laundry Room

Image: Tayrawr Fortune

Normal people don’t tend to do their laundry at 2am making it an ideal hideout. For added thrills try turning on the washing machine.

Possible dangers: Security cameras. Some hostels have been known to have weekly viewings of the shameless acts of debauchery.

Storage Cupboard

Not exactly built for comfort but it serves its purpose. Unless you are short might be advisable to give this one a miss. They don’t tend to smell nice either. Better make it quick.

Possible dangers: Broomsticks, linen, bleach and other such objects falling from the shelves.

Dorm Room

This should really be a last resort and should only be used if the timing is right. Here’s a clue: if there are people in the room, it’s the wrong time! People are not above turning on the lights and shaming you or throwing things in your general direction. Return from a night out early and you should find the room empty.

Possible dangers: The guy who never goes out. There’s always one!

If you want to get a feeling of what a Gap Year is like in under 5 minutes, watch this clip!

Is the Gap Year dead? Naturally it’s evolved over the last ten or twenty years but taken some radical shifts over the last few due to changes in our education system. We may have also seen a decline in the length of a Gap Year. That is to say the amount of time spent travelling which means that a “Gap Year” might be a misnomer. Call it what you will but an extended period of travel longer than a “holiday” out of your comfort zone is still an experience very much alive and kicking. It’s also still very attainable.

It’s true while some travellers may spend their time in a drunken haze (adequately portrayed by the internet sensation Orlando talking about his Gap Yah), there are many personal and professional benefits to be had from travelling if you go about it the right way.

How do you make a Gap Year a worthwhile experience?

Work Experience

Financing a Gap Year is normally everyone’s chief concern and ‘mental roadblock’ when contemplating a Gap Year. One option is to spend part of the year working/temping in the UK and then use that money to travel. Another option is to get valuable work experience while you are abroad. Start thinking ahead, especially with seasonal work abroad. You might need to time your round the world ticket with certain seasons and countries. Perhaps you could work a ski season in New Zealand next year? How about you teach English as a foreign language in China? You could get a working holiday visa (WHV) for places like Australia or Canada. On my Gap Year I did random jobs from retail and trucking to event management and running pub crawls! The possibilities are endless. Think global.

Career Prospects

Real Gap Experience conducted a survey of over 500 UK businesses with some interesting results. Let me drop some knowledge on you…

Responses showed that:

• 61% of business’ believe that travel can demonstrate a candidate’s ability to act independently.
• 53% of business’ have the view that travel enables an individual to put themselves in different environments.
• 46% of business’ feel that you will be comfortable meeting and engaging with new people as a result of travel.
• 42% of business’ now believe that non-academic experience is more valuable than 10 years ago.
• Having done a Gap Year myself I know these statements to be true but it’s great to know that employers feel the same way about Gap Years and travel.

Volunteering

Real Gap’s survey found 1 in 2 employers concede that voluntary work experience abroad has a positive impact on their decision to interview a candidate. How about you save turtles and surf in Costa Rica? How does learning martial arts with Shaolin Monks in China take your fancy? You could work in a community in Zimbabwe or on a lion breeding programme in South Africa. There are so many options for positive volunteering throughout the world. Check out Real Gap Experience and i-to-i for inspiration.

Experiences

It doesn’t have to be all work and no play. If you’re looking for inspiration of things you could get up to we have plenty of articles, features and posts on this site.

Here are just a few:

• You could road trip up the East Coast of Australia.
• Floating pub crawl? You’ll want to go Tubing in Vang Vieng.
• How about a Bungy jump in the Alps?
• Party with 30,000 people at a Full Moon Party.
• Have profound moments when your alarm clock doesn’t go off.
• Take the most amazing travel photography.
• Have a Kiwi Experience!
• Go diving with Great White Sharks.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Feel free to browse around the rest of our site for more inspiration.

Whether you are off to university, work or travel, I’ll offer my own general piece of advice. Life doesn’t ever go the way you think it will. I never went to my first choice university thanks to an exam board mess up. My Gap Year journey didn’t even go “right”. I had to skip Cambodia and Vietnam because I got caught in a Typhoon and a sacked of a trip to Vancouver to go to stay with a Sorority in Alabama. But you know what? I don’t care. Every little set back, change of plan or disappointment still led me to this point in time and well, I’m doing just fine.

I’ll leave you with some food for thought:

“If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it”.  ~Mary Engelbreit

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”  ~Victor Frankl

“There is a certain relief in change, even though it be from bad to worse!  As I have often found in travelling in a stagecoach, that it is often a comfort to shift one’s position, and be bruised in a new place.”  ~Washington Irving

“Just because everything is different doesn’t mean anything has changed.”  ~Irene Peter

“Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights.”  ~Pauline R. Kezer

“We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance.”  ~Harrison Ford

“3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage… all to turn 3 ambitious linear concepts based on movement, learning and food ….into 3 beautiful and hopefully compelling short films…..”

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

Rick Mereki : Director, producer, additional camera and editing
Tim White : DOP, producer, primary editing, sound
Andrew Lees : Actor, mover, groover

As much as I’d like to think that each and every person you meet on the road is broadminded and accommodating, reality can be a little different…

The Spiritualist

Image: Mark Fischer

Deep. Meaningful. Full of crap. On an overnight train from Bangkok I once overheard a soliloquy from a 20-something backpacker re-telling his encounter with Buddhist monks. I didn’t quite catch the "punch line" to his epic tale but as he raised his wrist to show his blessed band it drew gasps from the two 18 year old backpackers who had just started their trip. I mean sure he kind of had me too… the first time I heard it. After the third masterfully practiced account of his tale I thought to myself. A) What a douche. B) Does this really work on women?

Excuse me while I throw up.

The Perpetual Traveller

Image: Office Now

How long have you been travelling? 3 years. Wow, that’s amazing, where have you been? Australia. Anywhere else? No I just moved to Sydney and have been working ever since. Now please correct me if I am wrong but that isn’t travelling! That’s called moving to another country. I think people have an over romanticised view of long term travel and they like to give off the impression that they have been doing it for such a long time. Sure stop off somewhere and work for a while to gain some cash. I can accept that as part of the travelling process but 3 years in once place. Pu-lease that ain’t travelling, you ain’t impressing no one!

The Couple

Image: epSos.de

Yes I get it you’re in love and it going to last forever. Or, we’ll be away from each other for a year and he’s never going to cheat on me. Seriously give me a break. I’ve met hundreds of people travelling so I have a pretty broad sample to base my opinion on. Yes travelling couples do make it and yes not everyone is an adulterous scumbag. However, it’s a well known fact that travelling can make or break a relationship. I’ve seen numerous long term relationships end while couples are travelling. I’ve seen countless people (men and women) ‘hook up’.

Is that your boyfriend you’re sucking face with? Oh no he’s back in England working. This is Dave and he fell in on for me one night. Travelling really has destroyed my faith in long term relationships and people being able to commit.

The Competitor

Image: pinguino

You tell a story. They always have one better. Yes I am sure that a midget rode a penguin at sunset to bring you your lost iPhone whilst you survived at the North Pole. Normally I just bite my tongue but on the odd occasion I just have to put these idiots in their place. Penguins live in Antarctica, not the Arctic, numb nuts.

The Pauper

Image: GKS.

You’ve had to go through hardships and make sacrifices to go on your Gap Year. The recession did hit hard. I’m sorry daddy had to sell your pony so you could go travelling. Everyone knows the type of traveller I am talking about and has forever been immortalised in the Gap Yah clip. These people must just come from another world. One girl, who lived between England and South Africa, told us about her sports car and her million pound flat. Oh no that wasn’t the best part. She then went on to tell us, and I quote "daddy built an electric fence to keep the blacks out". Un-bloody-believable!

Shut it woman. Where’s my unicorn at?

I’ve only just got to Naples. I’m stood in the queue to get a train ticket to Rome. A friendly chap skips me to the front of the queue to get my ticket and escorts me to the platform. Wow people are really friendly and helpful, until they start demanding obscene amounts of money for their “assistance”.

It was resolved quite quickly. He got angry. I got on the train and waved. Amusing.

The notion of a hostel was a brand new concept for me. Thankfully on arrival the room was empty. My friend and I were pretty shattered from our early start so decided to have a quiet one. I’m ashamed to say we were in bed by about 10pm. I’m fast asleep, tucked up in my duvet when the door bursts open and four girls come in. Clearly they had just arrived, turning the light on and dumping their suitcases on their beds. Without any kind of warning all four of them just started stripping off. Was I dreaming or was I just in Europe? I just lay perfectly still and risked a sideward’s glance to my friend. My eyes just screamed “is this really happening?” Eventually they did notice, and they didn’t seem to mind us at all. The proceeded to hurl complex Spanish at us to which all I could reply was “Que?”. Of course I now know from my extensive experience that this is pretty timid compared to the things that go on in hostel dorms.

I must admit that back then I was pretty attached to my guidebook, highlighting yet again my inexperience. Now days I rarely read a guidebook and if I do it’s merely just to flick through the pictures. Back then I had my head buried in it, planning my days carefully. Admittedly it meant by carefully planning we got to see as much of the city as possible within a small timeframe. However, as I am sure some have you will have experienced, guidebooks are not infallible.

It was our last day and one particular church was left on our agenda. Of course we only had one thing left to see and being a Sunday many places were closed. We got to the Church and it wasn’t going to open to the public for another couple of hours. Not to be defeated we sat on the steps and decided to wait. The weather had been perfect the whole week and yet on this particular day the heavens decided to open and big fat droplets began falling on my face. We decided to make a run for it and after several twists and turns in trying to find shelter we ended up in a tiny take away pizza place. Giant pizza a metre long each were laid out. You just went to the counter and indicated how big a slice you wanted. They folded it in half and wrapped it up in white paper, similar to what you would get in a chip shop. To this day it’s the best pizza I have ever tasted.

We were wet and cold but after eating copious amounts of greasy warm pizza we waddled our way back to the church which had now opened. We took a seat and admired the art work. Kumbaya was being sung in latin and well… we fell asleep… for like an hour. Not a proud moment but the pizza was just that good!

Lesson? If you’re backpacking on a gap year my advice would be to expect the unexpected. More importantly to embrace the unexpected. Forget the guide book and the plan. You never know what will happen.

Have any interesting first backpacking experiences? Tell us about them in the comments below!

Image: xiquinhosilva

I was talking to a friend of mine about my own Gap Year. A Gap Year is far longer than just a year. I spent well over a year before I’d even left day dreaming, looking at a world map and wishing I was somewhere else. When you get back from a Gap Year the memories will always be with. You may hear a song that takes you back to the Full Moon Party or an image of a beach will have you wishing you were back on Fraser Island.

My friend, feeling inspired, decided to write a tribute to Gap Year backpacking. Take 5 minutes out of your day to listen to the video below. If you’re thinking of going travelling or have already been I promise you that at least one line will really hit home and have you thinking.

The lyrics are at the bottom of this post. Let me know if you identify with any of it or if it makes you feel particularly inspired. Oh and don’t forget if you like the video give it a thumbs up!

What is it you want to see?
Where is it you want to be?
Take me around the world Mr. PC,
…it all seems too easy,
booking your trip with the click of a mouse
saliva dribbling from your mouth
this suspense can’t be matched
and your itchy feet they can’t be scratched
finger nails and teeth have become a bit too attached
spinning globes on your finger like a globetrotter
dreaming of places 20degrees hotter
your atlas is much more interesting now than geography GCSE
so sick of people telling you the places you should see
the advice is nice but this has gotta be done yourself
whilst blood pressure hits heights dangerous for your health
been looking forward to this since you were little
burrowing away pennies like a squirrel
Spent months not spending
Calendar countdown seems never-ending,
baked bean butties been eating
bank balance ready to take a beating, worse than Mike Tyson
not even had your lights on
take off looms as you hectically hunt your room
for all that you gotta pack
chuck the essentials into the backpack
surfer shorts and sun-cream bought,
better dust off your passport cos tomorrow you hit the airport
arrive at the terminal with a yawn,
it’s before dawn and freezing and your dad’s teasing
cos you’re already dressed in flip flops, socks and vest skin tight
shades on to shield you from the harsh rays of the moonlight
and he’s right to tease, you look more like a tourist than the Japanese
but this trip isn’t about being inconspicuous and you’re cool looking ridiculous
say farewell to mum and dad promise you won’t cause too much mischief
although getting gash and gargling goon are high on your to-do list
a final kiss on the cheek as you head to the check-in
can’t chicken out now it’s too late
hurriedly head towards the gate
your walk turns into a jog
as you follow in the footsteps of Phileas Fogg
Onboard and bored,
Recycled Hollywood garbage showing so you avoid the TV
Alas the perfect time to stretch your legs to avoid DVT
Wandering and pondering a mad notion
like if your plane were now to plummet into the ocean
would you be able to create your own version of Lost?
And how much does a lap dance with the stewardess cost,
a long haul flight, day through night
but you’re too pumped to burn out like a fag
and you swiftly sidestep jet lag
no recollection of initial hesitation
as you burst outta the plane in your first destination
those who dare to, travel by heart
guide books are useful but they’re only a start
so get off the beaten track and don’t look back
this isn’t a holiday, it’s an adventure
so venture off into the wilderness
there’s no rules to this
just get jabbed in case of illnesses
Blink so much goon consumed you’re lucky to still have a kidney
Spend new years eve dazzled in Sydney
You’re awestruck or stuck
Lost track of time you coulda sworn
you should be on a bus to Melbourne
But you don’t really care
So many beauts you can only stop and stare
Aussie spirit fills the air
You get the feeling they breathe different oxygen down there
No worries man you’re cool like a fridge,
Blink and you’re peering over a bridge
up to now you’ve been willing to land anywhere
unplanned but not here not Queensland
cos there ain’t no coming back if your bungee cord snaps,
mouth can’t make a sound, don’t look down,
crown jewels tucked between your legs,
so tight they could crack like eggs
Oh such dizzying heights, one leap and your body’s airbourne like kites,
Blink and you’re whispering sweet nothings into the ear
of your dear holiday romance as you dance
and swoon the night away at the full moon beach partay
Blink blink blink, what did you think?
That it wouldn’t fly by in the flash of an eye?
Days end with a sigh because the clock doesn’t lie
embrace each place at your own pace
no need for haste
take time to savour – the cultural flavour
and you should know that
it can’t all be done with a Kodak
you can’t capture with a lens a truly special moment with friends
it takes your whole being
and seeing even a billion Facebook photo like signs
won’t make up for the shiver down your spine
when you look back and reminisce
over the times you shall oh so miss
As you dig your feet into the sand,
trying to grasp onto these moments
but the sand slips through your toes like an egg timer,
acts as a reminder that your time so fast goes
so whether you’re chilling on white sands palm trees and calm breeze
swimming with vicious fishes in Mauritius
or dining on delicious dishes with your missus
wondering why life can’t always be like this
the only times you’ll feel homesick
is when you get home and you’re sick to realise
that you’re in your house, not Laos
visiting your nan, not chilling in Vietnam
just try not to spend the whole journey hungover
because all too soon it’s over
travel brings with it a brighter perspective on daily strife
the knowledge that there’s more to life than an office desk stress
never settle for anything less
than moments which take away your breath
The last day and the hole in your heart is gaping
and the hole in the wall is hating
but you couldn’t care less about the debt
not one ounce of regret
eyelashes wet thinking of friends met
so as your plane jets and the sun sets
you take one last look over your shoulder
and hope you’ll be back when you’re older
but if you’ve experienced this you already know my punchline
Plain and simple – this trip was once in a lifetime

Certainly, a trip to the airport can be quite an experience. While flying is certainly an amazing luxury – and one that allows us to be whisked away all over the globe, and something that is seemingly improving every day with more available flights, better trained staff, extremely talented pilots and well managed airlines that have doubled their customer appreciation efforts – there are some lines that we all as passengers would prefer to never hear uttered over the intercom while on board a transatlantic flight.

With this comedic reasoning in mind, here are some classic lines that have been heard, or that you never want to hear your flight captain say, when you are sitting in those narrow, funky-smelling seats ten rows back, crammed in the middle of your nonstop flight to Denver with a crying baby on one side of you, and an uncontrollable and hyperactive two year old on the other. On a high note, before delving in, flying is the safest form of transportation known to man, and well worth any minor inconveniences that may be experienced while in transit to your destination.

21 Things You Never Want to Hear Your Flight Captain Say

1. “It’s just an engine malfunction; we’ll be taking off shortly.”

2. “Houston … we have a problem.”

3. “Please remain seated while the Air Marshall removes the suspected terrorist from the aircraft.”

4. “We have some rough weather ahead, just one of the many miracles we see every day … we’ll see if we can manage to land this plane safely.”

5. “We are cleared for takeoff! Only 25 planes in line ahead of us!”

6. “Please de-board the plane; this aircraft has failed its preflight checks.”

7. “Does anybody know how many metric tons of fuel we need in order to safely make it all the way to Sydney?”

8. “The flotation devices are equipped underneath your seats, but chances are that when we hit the ocean at 2,000 miles per hour, they may become too damaged to use.”

9. “Rest assured, as your captain I come highly experienced … 200 hours in the flight simulator and FINALLY, I get some live flying experience!”

10. “Today’s flight is just over 15 hours to Sydney, please enjoy your in-flight movies today which are the ‘Final Destination’ series.”

11. “I never knew that the iPhone had a 747 auto pilot application … NIFTY!”

12. “Welcome to France, we hope you enjoyed your flight. Now if there is anyone who is fluent in French on the aircraft, please ask a flight attendant to escort you to the cabin; we are having a really hard time communicating with flight control in English.”

13. “We are GOING down … brace for impact!”

14. We are now last in line in the rotation for landing at LAX … once they have cleared the 30 planes ahead of us we will make our final approach.”

15. “We regret to inform you that our flight has been diverted to the closest major city.”

16. “Our arrival time has been DELAYED!”

17. “Please prepare for an emergency landing, I bet we will beat the paramedics by at least a half hour!”

18. “It’s going to be rough landing, but with some kind of luck we will get this beast on the ground safely.”

19. “Both engines are out, but our wings should allow us to safely glide into a nearby meadow that is adjacent to the airport.”

20. “Please remain seated until after we land and the bomb squad finishes clearing the aircraft.”

21. “Jenny Stokes in Seat 57 Row C … I put the aircraft on auto-pilot so we can come back and sing Happy Birthday to you.”

My name is Erica Gustafson and I am a freelance writer / consultant for Expedia. My job is to travel the world and write about my experiences.

This is a featured post.

The Grimsvotn volcano is Iceland’s most active and in May this year an eruption sent plumes of black ash into the stratosphere, causing chaos at European airports as flights were grounded and travellers left stranded for days as they waited until the ash cleared.

While the worst of the May eruption seems to be over, volcanologists have not ruled out the possibility of an extended period of activity from Grimsvotn over the next few weeks and months.

This danger prompted travel insurance expert Bob Atkinson, of moneysupermarket.com, to advise anyone travelling in Europe to take the necessary precautions such as worldwide travel insurance.

He said: “As news of the Icelandic volcano eruption hits, with it brings the same travel uncertainty as we experienced in April 2010. At this stage, it is business as usual except for flights to and from Iceland. For those who have booked a trip to Iceland, check with your tour operator or airline for the latest travel information.

“If you are travelling as part of an ATOL covered package, your tour operator will be able to advise on your total travel plans.  It is the responsibility of the tour operator to cover all costs should air space be disrupted.  Those travellers still in the UK are entitled to refunds or transfers, and for those stranded overseas will be kept in accommodation at the expense of the tour operator.”

At moneysupermarket, travel insurance compare and contrast tools and facilities help travellers to find the best deals on cover against problems caused by natural disasters.

Mr Atkinson added: “If you have independent arrangements then you need to speak to your airline as well as hotel companies and any others you have bookings with to check your options for cancellation, refunds and changes. Check your travel insurance policy, look for natural disaster and weather related clauses and understand what is covered in the policy. This will cover for things such as loss of travel arrangements, cost of new travel arrangements and travel delay.

“Should airspace actually close, travellers are urged not to do anything without speaking to their airline or tour operator first, checking their website for further information.”

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From Europe, across Asia and into the Americas there are many hotels out there that offer cheap spa breaks. In Europe many hotels offer very reasonable mid week breaks for those on a cheap budget. These breaks will include a treatment, full use of the hotels leisure and fitness facilities and 1 to 2 nights’ accommodation. Many hotels also offer spa days where the weary traveller can take some time out, relax with a treatment, light lunch and recharge their batteries before heading off on their adventure again.

Throughout Asia many spas offer cheap spa days and cheap spa breaks, with traditional treatments and local cuisine to be sampled. In Thailand there are several hostels that offer traditional Thai massage in tranquil settings with all the feel of a luxury break without the price tag. Bali is famous for its luxurious retreats and spas but lately several low cost budget spas and retreats have been built, near to the famous white sand beaches offering relaxing spa treatments for those who are travelling and on a small budget. Many of these hostels charge only slightly more for a spa experience than they would for just overnight accommodation. Most of the hostels offering spa treatments also allow travellers use of the Jacuzzi, swimming pool and leisure facilities, whilst most have private cottages with open air showers. Some cottages are aimed at groups of young travellers accommodating up to 4 people at once, ideal for single sex groups travelling together.

In America many of the traditional spa resorts offer cheap spa days for walk in clients, incorporating a light lunch, drinks and 1 or 2 treatments, this gives the young traveller a relaxing break before heading back out on adventure. Day spas in Las Vegas and Reno are exceptionally popular with the younger travellers on restricted budgets due to the readily available cheap accommodation and night life. For those heading down into South America there are many hostels in Ecuador that offer tranquil rainforest settings and traditional local treatments along with fine Ecuadorian cuisine. Ecuador is popular with gap year students who are taking time out to work for environmental and eco-friendly projects and after a hard day’s work in the rainforest why not treat yourself to a relaxing spa treatment.

So whether you take your gap year working in a rain forest or backpacking around the world there are many hostels and hotels out there that can offer you relaxation, traditional spa treatments and allow you to recharge your batteries without being overly expensive.

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Image: Spa Breaks

I take all this with a pinch of salt as there is no point getting worked up about it. I just joke about it all now. Here are my personal highlights:

Czech Republic

On a culture experience in Prague (read: lads holiday) I was taking my return flight home via a classy EasyJet flight. There were six of us; five white guys and me the token Asian. We all had hand luggage and I was the last one through security. Everyone was fine going through until suddenly, “Sorry Sir you’ve been randomly selected for a bag search”. Random selection huh? In front of the queue all my personal belongings were taken out and any liquids (all of which met the regulations) were individually tested for explosives. The cherry on top was of course my friends standing there laughing at me making ‘bomb jokes’. I love my friends.

Singapore

Upon arrival I was treated to a ‘pop quiz’. They were convinced that my passport didn’t belong to me. I mean sure I’ve got a lot prettier since my passport photo was taken but it still looks like me. I was then tested on all the different aspects of my passport, the visas and the like. Thankfully I happen to know my own name and date of birth off by heart. It was touch and go for a while but I finally passed the test. Strangely I had to do this twice in two weeks!

Alabama, USA

Flying to Texas I was taking a Continental flight via Birmingham. I arrived really early so the airport was practically deserted. There were two guys at passport control, one white and one black. I was the only one walking down the winding queuing system and as I approached the black guy ‘whispers’ to the white guy “watch out for this one”. Being empty his whisper turned into an echo, so yeah, I heard. Sure enough as I approached, the white guy said to me “Sir, we’re going to need to check your hand luggage for any explosive devices hidden in electronics”. I was actually cheeky and asked why to which he replied “random selection”. Oh that old chestnut. Being the only one there I suppose with random selection the odds were pretty good that it was going to be me…

Los Angeles, USA

The was my first time entering the U S of A. I’d just got off an overnight flight from Fiji when sure enough passport control decided to pull me aside where a Hispanic woman gave me the grilling of a life time. It took about three hours in total until I was freed. They asked me everything and I mean everything. Where had I been (I’d been travelling for a year, that was a long list), what my parents do, what my grandparents did etc. The list of questions were ridiculous! Again, not the smartest move, I asked “why me?” to which she just held up my passport and tapped where it said “Hussain”. I’m sure Barrack Hussein Obama doesn’t get this much trouble at the airport…

Now to be honest I get this pretty much at every airport. It makes air travel certainly a pain in the ass. Like I said I take all of this with a pinch of salt. You have to see the amusing side and I know to expect it after doing something like 40,000 miles last year. I get it, I really do. If you had to “randomly select” a suspect from a line up, unless there was another guy next to me burning an American flag, you’re going to pick someone that looks like me. It’s interesting that ‘the fear’ really hasn’t subsided and it’s still the same as 5 or 10 years ago.

Now I’m not getting all uppity about prejudices, discrimination, generalisations or stereotypes. I’m actually just trying to make light of one of my own personal travel experiences. If I have made any "boo boo’s" with regards to political correctness in this article, please forgive me. I can never keep up with political correctness these days anyway. Last I heard you’re not allowed to sing bah bah blacksheep in schools anymore?!

What was the purpose of writing this? Well it’s just another point of view you may have never considered about travel or life in general.

I’ll be going back to the states later this year, I wonder how that will go…

Image: pmocek