When choosing your gap year program the usual suspects of Australia, New Zealand and the US always pop up. However these can prove costly from two points of view. Firstly they may lie a long and expensive flight away. Secondly you will find that your living expenses are far from cheap. For instance when I was backpacking on a budget and I arrived in Los Angeles, I found that the only thing I could afford to eat unless I wanted to cut my trip short was McDonalds…far from ideal in my opinion though you may beg to differ.

If you are planning on finding a gap year job then you are less likely to have financial problems, though finding work abroad can be hard. Therefore in this article I will propose cheaper, alternative countries to travel, which may even offer you more in terms of experience. For instance in every country there will be the ´must do` gap year activities. In New Zealand it is common to take part in extreme sports such as skydiving, bungee jumping or white water rafting. I can’t deny that these are fantastic activities that many will believe should be experienced during ones life, however too many the $300 spent skydiving may be put to better use spending an extra 3 weeks somewhere in Asia.

Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and even the slightly more westernised Thailand are great destinations. The flight won’t be cheap; though once you’re out there you can easily live on a budget of $5 a day. However in Australia, New Zealand or the US it’s going to cost you at least $20 just to find a bed. Therefore if you are on a student gap year and aren’t looking at gap year jobs to do whilst you travel, this may be worth bearing in mind. In Siem Reap, Cambodia you have the chance to visit Angkor Wat. One of the most stunning and well preserved temples the world has to offer. Meanwhile in Vietnam there are all sorts of things to see in regards to the Vietnam war. A boat trip through the eerie Halong Bay is also a must see. These activities are cheap in contrast with those you will find in western countries and are highly recommended.

If you are living in Europe and planning a trip it’s easy to think of exotic locations in Asia and South America. However a Europe gap year may prove more exciting and financially viable than one may have thought originally. With Europe being so compact yet containing so many different countries it makes for interesting travelling. Eastern Europe has beautiful scenery and many things to see while at the same time being cheaper to travel than northern Europe. With a good train system around Europe and several long distance tickets available from country to country this is a great and cheap way to see travel.

Another way people are able to travel cheaply is by spending your gap year teaching. Many companies offer you the chance to teach languages in most of the world. It is likely you would have to pay for your flight but once your there many companies will offer you free accommodation as well as perhaps helping you with other expenses.. Similarly spending your gap year volunteering can prove a cheaper and very rewarding experience.

So my advice would be to travel somewhere near to where you are based or go to countries where your money will be worth more. Then save your dreams of New York or Sydney for a time when you have enough money saved to not have to be counting your pennies every time you crave a beer!

For more information on gap years check out www.gapyearprograms.net

If choosing one location for your gap year is confusion then visit all with ‘round the world gap year.’ Round the world option for a gap year has tickets for round the world travel. The traveler can choose their itineraries which comprises with choices over several continents and countries.

Money is always an essential aspect in a travelers planning. Considerations on food, accommodations and transportation aspect of travel determine the approximation of your daily budget on your travel. Money is also essential for it will determine what package you can take in your travel. In what continents and countries you will go.

The number of destinations is affected by your budget. But then if money is not in question better get good deals on several travel packages that you can get some discounts on.

Besides the budget, weather is also another factor to consider. We don’t have to choose places where the sun shines most for the sun does not establish the success of ones gap year trip. Though weather condition in traveling is significant because gap year travelers tend to head off to places (which is then crowded) with more sun; so it is either we follow the path or head off the opposite way and get a more significant and meaningful gap year.

Visas are very important. There are countries which won’t allow you to enter their country without one. So planning and preparation for visa are very important. Know where you are heading and prepare for it.

Tickets are also important. In round the world travel tickets are much cheaper and easy to use. Tickets are flexible in round the world travel.

In packing for your round the world travel it is best to keep in mind that security and safety is very important. The quality of the bag and the kind of the bag needed is very important. Pak heavier things at the middle of your bag for this will ensure that less stress is being applied on your pack back rucksack. A bag for your valuables is also a wise idea wherein you can put your money, visas, camera and keep the bags close to your always.