Suggestions of where to go during a gap year?

Dave!

Hey folks ,

I'm takin a year out of college (or "gap year" as the Brits call it!) starting September, and the plan is most likely to be: work for about 6 months to build up money, and then travel for a few months. The amount of months for each may vary, but that's the basic plan!

I'm having a bit of a hard time deciding where to go though

I mean there's alot of places I'd like to visit! Australia, Thailand, America, Fiji, Israel (don't think I'll go there just yet:)), to name a few.

But I don't know what would be the best place to go on a Gap Year... I was thinking Thailand because it's so cheap, so I'll be able to stay there long/work for a shorter time. But that seems like a silly reason!

Just wondering if any of ye have any suggestions for me, bearing in mind that it's gonna be a solo journey.

Cheers folks

spurious

Australia or New Zealand - fabulous places. I'm a woman who has travelled alone in New Zealand and found it very safe - safest I've ever felt anywhere. You could pick up casual work in Oz and then travel cheaply in SE Asia. Whatever you do, don't miss the chance to see New Zealand, even if it's only for a week.

I wouldn't bother with the US myself, but that's a personal thing.

You needn't travel solo unless you prefer to. There are lots of people to hook up with.

Daithio

I think you should avoid the Westernised countries altogether (Australia, U.S.A) etc. I mean there are great places to go in these countries of course, but in reality they're not hugely different to us here in Ireland (the people that is, of course you'll see different scenery but it's the people that make a place IMO).

If I was you I'd plan a 6 month holiday to India (for maybe 2 months, it's a HUGE country and there is loads to see) and then fly over to Southeast Asia where you could easily spend 3-4 months travelling around Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. I wouldn't try to spread yourself too thin, there's no point in trying to see too many places just so you can say you've been there, you're much better off actually trying to get a real feel for a few places rather than just a glimpse of loads of places.

India really is an amazing country, I was only there for a month but plan on going back for maybe 3-4 months in the near future. It's dirt cheap, the food is UNBELIEVABLY good (very different to Indian food over here, but amazing all the same), their train system is really cheap and well organised, so you can get from anywhere to anywhere with relative ease, and there is an unbelievable amount of things to see. You could probably spend a couple of years travelling around there and never get bored. Seriously, a couple of months there will really change your outlook on life for the better.

We met loads of people travelling around, and the people there are great, it really wouldn't be a problem travelling alone. Likewise with Southeast Asia, there are loads of other people travelling around alone and you'll have no problem meeting people staying in hostels etc. Seriously you'll have the time of your life if you visit these places, and you could probably do a 5-6 month trip budgeting for around €6,000, and that would be alot of money.

And contrary to what alot of people who have never been further afield than Gran Canaria will tell you these places are perfectly safe. Seriously I'd feel alot more uneasy walking down Parnell st. on a Saturday night than I've felt anywhere in any Asian country I've been in. OK, you have to be a bit careful and have your wits about you, but really it's fine. Anyway that's my two cents, go to Asia!

mel123

this is a really good website: www.gapyearforgrownups.co.uk

Ruu_Old

I would go for Asia also, part of the world I have not been to but hope to go sometime next year.

adrian522

I would recomend going to SE Asia first and India/Nepal after as it gives you time to get used to Asia in a more tourist friendly area than the melting pot of India, though I would certainly go to India/Nepal as they are 2 of the most interesting countries I have ever visited.
In 2001 I spent 6 months in this part of the world and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. It is also a very cheap area of the world.

The other option would be to check out Central/South america.

Cheiftan

Are you going to have a year on the rip or a year of doing new things , meeting new people, maybe learn a language?
Its a very broad question that really only you can answer, As adrian said in the prev post you should consider Central or South America , i went from Mexico down to Panama and it was the business, i spent a good bit of time (4 weeks ) in a language school in Oaxaca , Mexico getting 1 to 1 tuition for $350us which is f**k all. It made the next 4 months so much better in terms of been able to talk at some level with the locals.
Asia is a completley different kettle of pike altogether, the language barrier just ain't there in as much as its in C America, almost everyone you will encounter in SE Asia will speak English or if they can't you can be dam sure someone in the place will.
Also whilst SE Asia is cheap , you really need to watch the cash flow , cos the whole backpacker deal has been happening in Asia for donkeys years now and believe me they are black belts at getting you to splash the cash, whilst all the time you do you'r thinking "ah its only €1.50" your still spending
Compare with say Guatemala or Nicuragua where backpacking is only a recent phenomenon and you'll find the € goes a hell of a lot further.
Christ you've got a year go to them both and see for yourself !!!

Enjoy it cos you'll have a ball

Dave!

Thanks for the suggestions, and keep them coming!

I've basically got until next September to mess around with. But I have no money, so I've got to split the next 12 months between working to fund my travels, and actually travelling. I have to decide whether to work for less time, and so have less money to travel with; or work for longer, and so have less TIME in which to travel!

I'll be working probably miniumum wage crap, so I don't know how long it will take me to save enough to do anything

BTW, I'm not really comfortable taking out a loan since I'll have to pay it back then, while I'm back in college!

Takeshi_Kovacs

Yeah i know lots of people taking a year off, end up going to OZ , New Zealand USA. While these places are great (would love to go myslef, anywhere, just to getaway!), they are not very much different culturally to ourselves.
Would have to agree with Daithio., India seems amazing, heck all of Asia.

I know a fella who recently went to Korea teaching english, traveled up north into China and across to Mongolia. He said it was amazing experience to live with the Mongol nomads out on the vast plains. Did the Trans Siberian Railway as well.

The world is a big place, try and find some like minded friends, you never know where you may go...

breadmonkey

DaveMcG wrote:

BTW, I'm not really comfortable taking out a loan since I'll have to pay it back then, while I'm back in college!

Dave, I think it would be worthwhile investing time and energy into getting a decent paying job. You are in UCD, yes? One of my mates worked there for a while before going away and he was getting €13 an hour and for the most part, was sitting on his ass in a bunker under the science building. Makes some inquiries!

Rcuomo

yea a great way to fund your travels is to teach a bit of english. especially if you'd like to stay in one area for a few months and really get to know the culture/lifestyle etc. In south east asia there's alot of short term teaching jobs available. China aswell is crying out for teachers, tho the better jobs will be longer terms, there's also so much to see and do in china that you'd be crazy to miss it. although its a little bit more expensive then s.e asia these days...