Taking a gap year to travel around the world can be one of the most memorable and life-changing experiences you’ll ever have. With some planning and preparation, your global adventures will go smoothly while you create unforgettable memories. Follow this guide to get ready for the trip of a lifetime.
Research and Set Your Itinerary
First of all, you need to decide where you want to go on your gap year. Talk to other world travelers, pore over guidebooks, browse travel blogs, and search Instagram hashtags about various destinations to start getting ideas. As you research, factor in things like weather/seasons, your budget, languages spoken, health/safety, activities available, and more to narrow down locations.
Once you’ve chosen the places you’d like to visit, map out a tentative itinerary. Outline routes between destinations, modes of transportation like trains or budget airlines, and how long you might stay in each spot. Build in some flexibility too in case you fall in love with a place and want to stay longer. Having an itinerary to refer to makes booking flights simpler too.
Get Official Documents in Order
One of the most important gap year preparation steps for Americans is getting your passport renewal in Massachusetts or your home state nice and early. It can take up to 6 weeks to get your passport after applying, so don’t leave this until the last minute. Make sure you have several spare passport photos on hand too in case any need replacing while abroad.
You may also need to get special travel vaccines, tourist visas for certain countries, and international driving permits. Figure out which documents are necessary for your chosen destinations and take care of them early on.
Bundle Up Your Travel Funds
Perhaps one of the biggest concerns when planning a gap year is how to pay for it. Creating a gap year budget is essential — factor in things like flights, accommodation, food, activities, local transportation, gear/supplies, visas, insurance, and emergency funds. Be brutally honest with costs and overestimate expenses if you are unsure.
Once you have a budget, then you can work on saving up and funding your yearlong adventure. Get a job, sell stuff you won’t need abroad, crowdsource money as a birthday/holiday gift idea, pick up random side gigs and apply for any grants/scholarships for extended travel.
Invest in the Right Gear
To travel safely and comfortably around the world for a year, having versatile, durable gear suited for backpacking is a must. Quality luggage like backpacks and duffel bags, quick-drying travel clothing, supportive shoes, small tech like a global phone and e-reader, a sturdy water bottle, versatile travel adapter, spare contacts/glasses if needed, a sleep sheet for overnight buses, and a basic first aid kit can make all the difference on the road.
Focus especially on gear that fits your particular destinations and climate. Research item specs that frequent world travelers recommend too. Investing in the right gear before your gap year leads to less stress while traveling.
Stay open-minded, go with the flow and get excited for the awe-inspiring yet unpredictable experience of backpacking the globe.
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
