This story is about a friend of mine called Christopher Dingley. After graduating High School, Chris and a couple of his friends wanted to do a Gap Year Travel and so they went to some great places around the world for 5 months and did great gap year activities. On their trip, they saw amazing things and met people they will never forget…

The friends started off by visiting and travel Thailand; this is one of the most beautiful cheap places in the world. You can see a lot without spending too much money. The nightlife is also very good in Thailand. But in order to do more cultural stuff, Chris and his friends went to travel Cambodia and visit Vietnam where they saw great statues and buildings and relived the war in Vietnam by wandering through the tunnels, seeing the horrible traps from the Vietnamese people and even shooting with guns.

Afterwards, the gap year trip continued towards Singapore, Australia and especially New Zealand where they did amazing stuff. Chris told me that New Zealand was one of his best experiences and everyone has to go there if you have the opportunity. The only negative part, he said, is that it’s very expensive because you want to do as much as possible: walking in glaciers, visiting crocodile farms, going on boat trips, skydiving over the best place in the world to do so, and this is just a little summary of all the great opportunities of the South Pacific island.

At the Fiji Island, Chris and his friends experienced the slow, relaxing way of life at one of the most magical beaches in the world. They travelled extremely beautiful islands for three weeks and prepared themselves for more mainstream stuff. Because afterwards, they visited Hollywood and other attractions in Los Angeles, went to travel Mexico and they finished their perfect trip in a perfect way by going to Las Vegas and live the Las Vegas life for one night.

Talking about a good way to experience a gap year program, I think Chris and his friends topped it all

When you were having a gap year travel, one of the basic things that you need is to have enough money aside from the luggage that you should bring. Budgeting for your travel is very much important, because the currency of your money abroad is different in your country. And if you do not know how to budget your money well you will surely experience crisis abroad. Though it’s shameful to ask your mother way back home for money, there is nothing you can do but beg to them or else you cannot buy the things you wanted while you were in a gap year programs.

When going abroad there are sayings that plastic is fantastic; meaning bringing debit cards with you is nicer than bringing cash on hands. The best about bringing debit cards with you since it is very useful especially if there are emergencies like early return home or an unexpected flight. Unlike bringing cash on hands it is risky and not safe. Cards are handy, if in case it lost you can easily cancel it and it is easy to check your money online. If you want to make it safer and easy, investing a CardGuard is best recommended. It is easy to have it because if there are emergencies like you lost your one card or it was robbed you can easily cancel all the cards you have. Bringing credit cards with you in gap year is manageable.

The second thing that you should take into account when indulging into a voluntary work abroad is to plan a budget. Money really matters when going abroad therefore, you should have to budget wisely your money. Think of how much you need for your foods, accommodation, transportation and more. Don’t just buy things or spend money in the things that are not really necessary or you don’t need much. If you plan well your money for the said program you would have a great and wonderful experience abroad, both for pleasure and volunteering.

Mostly in the western countries, taking a gap year program is necessary. This program would help enhance the students to learn beyond the life they were expecting. The program would nurture them how to live in a different and beneficial way. It would help them open and widen their perspective in life. The gap year program was established to help both the parents and kids mainly about the life that their kids would have with while they were too far from their reach. Though gap year is a great program, the perils from it could never be thwarted. Depends on the gap year agency you wanted to indulge your kids, as a parent you should have to make sure your kid’s responsibility and security.

If you want to make sure your kids are in good hands the best thing that you could do is to get gap year travel insurance. Though you were not one hundred percent sure that your kids are in good hands at least your doubts would a bit ease after knowing that he/she has that gap year insurance. On the other hand, there are some tips that you can follow for your kids who were going to a gap year program.

• As a parent make sure that your kids are well prepared for their travel. Some of the destinations are helping the participants to organize their plans properly. Looking at the gap aid is a great idea too. This was established by parents who lost their daughter who were participating the gap year program. They established this to help parents prepare their kids when traveling for the said program.

• It is the responsibility of the parents in making sure that their kids are complete of all the necessary things they needed. Sometimes, there are instances that your kids will be destined in a place where they really need a tight budget. Most of them feel nervous that maybe they would run out of money, let them know that you were always at their back.

• In a gap year program your kids will be destined in another country and immersed in another culture and ways of life. Of course the laws and regulations there would be far different from your country. Explain to them or remind them of the dos and don’ts in that country so that they have a safe, memorable and worthy gap year experience.

The most common thing that people do during their gap year is to volunteer and travel abroad, yet you can do other things aside from that and it can make your gap year as memorable as the ones who have traveled and have volunteered from different parts of the world.

Some of the people do during their gap year is they stay at their hometown and volunteer, they volunteer to jobs such as walking the dog or even volunteer to the nearest orphanage and so on.

This volunteer work during your gap year is also as essential as the other work that involves traveling and going to another country. This also can add to the experiences that you will put in your CV and an advantage in applying for a university.

Here are some of the people who have tried gap year at their hometown and need not have to leave. Rob Byles, helped out in a school which has a breakfast club, where children read and play games altogether. He has volunteered in participating with the children. It also has improved his communication skills and the dedication to his work. On the other hand, Kate Chedgey, worked at a homeless where she served food. She also organized a project for them and she has also learned different skills through this. She has learned to deal with issues regarding alcohol, substance abuse and other issues such as homelessness and so on.

There are also some who have volunteered in the nearest zoo, to take care of some animals and some volunteered to make a website for a charity organization, some volunteered for nursing homes and so on. There are so many things you can do in your gap year and you need not have to leave in order to make your gap year productive.

The experience that you gain in your gap year will come in handy when you will apply for jobs. Particularly the skills that you acquire in your gap year jobs will give you the skills that your future employer may be looking for and these are also skills that you will take with you all your life. Some of the skills that you may not know that you have acquired or even developed when you were having your gap year jobs are:

• Confidence. Your experience in your gap year jobs have actually boosts up your confidence, from the challenges that you have went through from your gap year and to relating with others. It has gained you more confidence and in facing challenges in the future.

• Adaptability and flexibility. In your gap year experience these two may have been more developed or you may have learned. These abilities attract future employers since you can adapt to different kinds of situations or even different kinds of jobs. It just means that you are a team player and can adapt to any situations and so on.

• Soft Skills. Your soft skills communication have been developed through the activities perhaps that you had in your gap year job and if you had your gap year in another country, and you have learned another language, this is also a plus points to future employees and also and advantage to you.

• Problem Solving Skills. This is important to you and to your future employer, often in jobs you are under pressure. And gap year jobs may have given you the chance to prove yourself to be initiative and also developed the skills to find solutions to any job related problems without any supervision.

There are top three reasons why you should get into the gap year programs. The number one of the list is for academic, second would be for career and third would be for personal growth.

First would be, for one’s academic. Gap year is beneficial especially if you have had your gap year abroad because there are universities and colleges that consider this as a good experience. If you are an international studies student or modern language student, the gap year programs will be an advantage, there are universities and colleges may allow you directly to enter their higher level classes and it wouldn’t be that hard for you to learn another language because of your experience in your gap year programs.

Second, the gap year is also beneficial for your career; this is because employers who will get to read your CV, it will be an advantage for you from other applicants who have not had experience. You will likely find a job faster and perhaps get paid at a higher salary. This is like a future investment for you.

Third, it would be beneficial to your personal growth. The gap year gives you the opportunity to learn another language, culture and you get to travel. This gives you multitudes of chances to develop your personality and helps in forming you in your career choices.

I never thought of going in a third World Country. I fear on stepping on its very land. But on my Gap year I traveled far toward this land to discover the bounty it has offered to many.

Third world countries are a less traveled destination. Besides on the poor economic growth on these countries there are various issues to be really afraid of. The war in these countries reaches out far to bring fear to people worldwide. I for one never thought of going in these countries.

Yet a reliable very close relative of our recommended one country that caters to gapers. These paths are less treaded for only a few of the outside world would dare invade such private and out far yet wonderful locations.

The place is full of green lush scenery and simplicity. I never ever thought that I could the freshest water coming out straight from mountain side. Or take a bath together with the carabaos. Yeah, carabaos! The same with water buffaloes!

I never thought that a disco rendezvous means a singer with a guitar and a bonfire. The natives’ jubilant singing and rocking dancing would really entice you to join in the fun. To my surprise they are singing the songs of famous artist like Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Rihanna. I never knew that the music of the Black Eyed Peas would be great songs in a guitar rhythm.

I never regretted such decision to go for the less traveled track.

Most students postpone their enrollment to university and backpack for a gap year. As they were given destinations so do insurance. Insurance seems an extreme thought yet a very practical one. More than 40,000 students every year go for a gap year. They would visit places that are quite exotic and do their own little contribution on that place.

As parents send off their child with a kiss and a prayer, they should also wrap their child with insurance. Though every travel agency indeed includes travel insurance we should also be meticulous in choosing our travel insurance for our kids.

In many instances the insurance, we thought we can depend failed us for some “little” missed out information. Getting insurance is not wishing something bad for our love one but a precaution that can help us very much when we are in dire need of help financially.

Even as a superficial injury can be given good medical care with the help of insurance; as we travel we take risk as we take risk we take precautions. Choosing the best insurance can make the difference in our travel. We can go easy and relax we the thought that we are covered and a firm can help our children take their gap year with a restful mind.

For me everybody needs a time out and a gap year. Even busy bee CEOs and executives in big companies need a time out to recharge energies and enthusiasm. With more budget in hand they would definitely flocked to Europe’s exotic cities and five star hotels. Gap year for executives means a tour of a continent or country.

Costa del Sol in Spain would definitely cater to the superb tastes of this important company people. This coast is the favorite hang out of the British tourist for its gallant welcome of the visitors. Facilities of this place are in accordance to everybody’s taste.

Madrid is another tourist destination of the who’s who in every society. As Madrid nightlife and gastronomic delights is being applauded with a standing ovation. Try sticking out your dancing skills in Madrid’s disco bars.

San Sebastian has also an enticing array of tourist offerings. Enticing enough to go back for more! This place is just simply perfect for families with children and also with teenagers. Lots of fun to do in this place from nightlife to extreme sports!

Canary Island is another great destination. It is composed of seven entirely magnificent islands with entirely different trappings of attraction.