Top Five Tips for a Worry Free Gap Year

Gong on a gap year? Stay safe with these easy to follow tips.

By TTM on 24 August 2010 in Travel Articles

A gap year can be an exciting adventure, but unfamiliar countries and a long stay abroad can present problems. However, a few simple measures can go a long way towards ensuring a problem free trip. Specialist Travel Insurance Provider, P J Hayman gives five top tips for a safe gap year.

1. Get Vaccinated: Travelling to exotic climates and coming into contact with unfamiliar illnesses can result in delay, curtailment or unplanned medical expenses. Indeed, illness and medical costs were responsible for  52% of the cost of claims on  P J Hayman’s specialist gap year policy 24/7 travel insurance ‘Backpacker’. Ensuring you have the correct vaccinations and take appropriate medication such as anti-malaria pills is vital to minimising this risk.

2. Take care of your belongings:  53% of the  number  of Backpacker claims are for personal effects and money, highlighting the importance of looking after your possessions. Just over half (52%) of these claims were for theft and over a third (36%) were for lost luggage.

3. Do your research: Getting all the important information on the countries you intend to visit will not only make sure you go to the best places and have the best experiences, it will also help you choose the right level of insurance cover. For example, if you are heading to New Zealand, you may want to do something adventurous, but activities such as bungee jumping and white water rafting are not covered by all policies.

It is also important to keep up to date with the current situation in any countries you are travelling to, in case this affects your trip. The  Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) website www.fco.gov.uk/travel is a good source of information for the latest developments.

4. Don’t overdo the partying or take unnecessary risks: While no-one is expected to live like a monk on their gap year, it is important to bear in mind the implications of overindulgence. Policies will exclude claims resulting from alcohol and drug related incidents. Claim costs over £10,000 are not uncommon and P J Hayman have handled claims in excess of £100,000.

5.  Get a specific policy: It is vital to get a travel insurance policy that is specific to the needs of your trip. Tailored gap year cover includes cover for activities such as extreme sports and manual work and covers a longer period than standard travel insurance, reflecting the unique requirements of this type of trip.

Comments

WhichBudget Cheap Flights, www.whichbudget.com

Few Gap Year suggestions:

South America is rapidly emerging as a gap year hotspot so get off the standard tourist track and have the experience of a lifetime. Marvel at the awesome power of Pachamama as the sun rises over a deserted Machu Picchu; the lost city of the Incas and one of the most mesmerising sights in the world. The three to four-day Inca Trail is more than worth the hard work and definitely deserving of a post-Peruvian-mountain-climbing Cusquena at Aguas Calientes - don't forget your passport as you can have it stamped at the Sun Gate! Find cheap flights to Lima

One country over, in Bolivia, the Solar de Uyuni is a truly breathtaking sight. In dry months the salt flat is a picture-perfect expanse of white salt, stretching as far as you can see, but come February it transforms into a never-ending mirror, reflecting the most beautiful scenery nature has to offer. Visit the cactus-covered Fisherman's Island and then stay the night at The Salt Hotel - a small hotel where the walls, roof, chairs and even the beds are all made out of salt. Find cheap flights to La Paz

On the other side of the world, head to gap year central, New Zealand. The North and South Islands offer some of the most dramatically diverse scenery in the world. Travel from the sun-filled beaches of Paihia, where you can go swimming with dolphins, to the beautiful Milford Sound at the base of the South Island, and get involved with everything in between. Throw yourself out of a plane in Taopo, jump off the Kawaru Bridge in Queenstown, climb Fox Glacier near Franz Josef or get a break from the sheep and see some rabbit shearing in Waitomo. Find cheap flights to Auckland

27 August, 2010


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