A selection of websites for planning gap travel
As well as offering discount plane tickets for students and travellers in their twenties, STA Travel has a handy online trip planner to help you work out the best itinerary for your round-the-world ticket.
Excellent portal for TEFL and TESOL teachers, with loads of listings for English-teaching jobs overseas, and tips and advice for aspiring teachers.
The first website every volunteer should visit, with advice on choosing an ethical volunteer organisation to make sure you do the most good with the time you have to volunteer.
Loads of listings for working overseas, from volunteering to TEFL teaching. Use the search form to find jobs and volunteer placements that match your skills and ambitions.
Perhaps the most respected volunteering programme, VSO has been placing skilled volunteers on development projects around the world for 50 years. The Youth for Development scheme (open to volunteers aged 18 to 25) includes free flights, accommodation and visas, but you need at least one year of work experience and £900 in sponsorship.
Searchable database of volunteer placements worldwide, with tips on fundraising, finding projects and staying safe overseas, plus stories from past volunteers.
www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree
Lonely Planet’s online forum was inspired by a real thorn tree in Nairobi (backpackers used to pin messages to the thorns). Visit the Gap Year & Round the World Travel page for tips and advice from other gappers.
A handy overview of all the working holiday visas open to gap year travellers, from Australia and New Zealand to Japan.
The Japan Exchange & Teaching Programme has placed 50,000 Brits in teaching and local government jobs in Japan, with a full salary and free flights. The initial programme lasts one year, but you can extend to five years at the discretion of your Japanese employer.
Extensive resources for a working year out overseas, covering everything from ski jobs to farm work. There’s a huge database of links and you can download ebooks covering top ways to work abroad.
