Take a Gap Year !

How to make the most out of a gap year !

Hi, I’m Nawel from France, I graduated in June 2022  and am now in a gap year. 

At first, I was lost on what to do after a Bachelor in foreign languages. Always asking myself questions:

-Where to go ? 

-At what period of the year ?

-How to fund my trips ? 

-How to prepare my trips ? 

-What priorities should I have ? 

I grew up in Lyon, also known as the city of light for its annual impressive light show: 

I’ve always loved living in this city, always so welcoming and full of life. 

Good restaurant at every corner, great range of activities and beautiful architecture: 

Time to start planning your gap year, but where to even begin?

For starters, there are two ways to travel a gap year. You can gap abroad with a program or you can travel independently. By joining a program, things like housing, daily schedules, sightseeing, visas, and transportation will be organized for you.

I chose to do both by jumping from organizations to independent travel.

People tend to view a gap year as a year when you can do ANYTHING without being restricted by time but be aware of a few important elements that I had to go through! 

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⚠️To make the most of your Gap year, consider the drawbacks as well as the benefits:

• Transition Back to School could be more difficult. You are already in the “school” mode of life and will have to give it up for a full year.
• Feel Behind Your Peers in term of studies.
• Lost Momentum, missing your friends and family.
• Expensive but this only applies to certain destination but be aware that you’ll need funds to rely on. 
• Requires Planning and researches.

Why do people travel in their gap year?

Taking a gap year allows you to travel the world during a time in your life where responsibilities are minimal—no mortgage, no bills, no children, no job. This allows you to spend an extended period of time immersing yourself in another culture and unearthing the nuances of a culture you may be unfamiliar with.

Planning a gap year is a lot more than just deciding where to go and then going. You have to plan a little bit more than that, especially in regard to timing. 

But don’t worry! 

With some 200 countries to choose from and infinite possibilities on the menu, it’s no wonder the typical student gets overwhelmed when just thinking about their gap year itinerary. (I was)

I spend week thinking, searching and question every potential destination that could fit into my budget and schedule. With so many possibilities you tend to get lost pretty easily. 

All of my researches made me realize that there’s no real PERFECT destination to go to during a Gap Year, you might agree or disagree but this depends and many factors: 

Your living conditions.

Your budget.

Your passport.

Your physical condition. 

So here are the main factors I always take into consideration when planning a trip during my gap year : 

What makes a good gap year destination ?

Lots of options and activities. Are there opportunities to pursue your interests, learn new skills, take classes, gain work experience, travel, and more?

Job opportunities. If you’re planning on working during your gap year, it’s important to make sure there are lots of job opportunities for foreigners to take advantage of, and visas that allow you to work

Delicious food. This is a no-brainer. You want to eat well while you’re traveling, don’t you?

Extensive public transportation. How are you going to get around your destination? Are you going to rent a car or a motorbike, or rely on public transportation?

Safety.  Safety is key!

Affordability. Most travelers taking gap years are on a budget, so it’s good to check out how much you can expect to spend in a location.