TravelAid

22/03/2024

Are you ready to call the world your home? If you're about to set off on your travels but looking for a little reassurance about what to do if things go wrong, check out our website: www.travel-aid.com

18/03/2024

"As soon as our son landed in S America, he was so overwhelmed that he had a bit of a breakdown. It was totally heartbreaking to be thousands of miles away. The TravelAid team arranged a driver to pick him up from the horrible hostel he had checked into and took him to a place of safety and comfort while his friends continued their planned itinerary. TravelAid’s counsellor was able to talk with him like a peer, not a parent, and gave him the confidence to continue his journey and catch up with his friends. All I wanted to do was bring him home – I now realise that would have been the worst thing for him. He had an amazing gap year, thanks to TravelAid."



www.travel-aid.com
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12/03/2024

Have you wondered how to choose a gap year destination? There are so many fantastic places to travel to, each with their own attractions and challenges, that we recommend starting by working out what it is that you want to get out of your gap year. If you want to learn a new language then South America could be a better option than the US or Australia. If you’re interested in conservation projects then Ecuador, Thailand, South Africa or Greece might be good options. For those looking for adventure travel and extreme sports it takes a lot to better New Zealand. There really is a destination for everyone.

You can see our thoughts on a number of possible destinations in previous posts and we'll be adding more soon. Keep an eye on us!

05/03/2024

Why take a gap year?

Widen your horizons. It’s so easy to get stuck in our own bubbles: surrounded by people who look like you, sound like you, think like you. You stop noticing what’s happening around you, even the most beautiful landscapes or buzzing cityscape become familiar after years of being there. Travelling to somewhere (or many places) where things aren’t familiar can reinvigorate you and help you to experience things with renewed enthusiasm and vigour: the food, the people, the scenery, the smells. This new perspective can help us to appreciate our normal lives and also help us to question our established views. Maybe it’s time to shake things up

And if you want to know you've got someone to call on in case of emergency, don't forget to check out our backpacker subscription plan: https://www.travel-aid.com/

27/02/2024

TravelAid offers confidential, professional advice from trusted gap year travel experts. No judgement, just solutions when you need them.

Designed for independent gap year travellers.

25/02/2024

24/7 telephone support for independent gap year travellers.

Round the clock support accessible from any phone, wherever you are in the world, there for you whatever happens.

23/02/2024

Gap year safety and security advice from a team of UK-based professionals who have been there and done it themselves!

21/02/2024

First time traveller? Nervous parents?

Our travel support service can give you the confidence you need to set off on your gap year. You'll have the peace of mind of knowing that there is an expert waiting to help you if anything goes wrong.

www.travel-aid.com

19/02/2024

Wondering what to pack for a gap year? You can check our essential packing guide on our website for advice on what to take. Spoiler alert: a guitar didn't make the short list.

https://travel-aid.com/Tips-Advice/what-essential-items-should-i-pack-for-my-gap-year/

16/02/2024

What would you do? What would your parents do? Having a support system in place is peace of mind for both parties.

Travel safety is important so don't forget to include it in your planning.

www.travel-aid.com

15/02/2024

“Who invented the ‘gap year’? I left school when the summer holidays started, got a job on a laundry delivery van. At the end of the holiday period I started my apprenticeship: 46 hours a week. When I married, my honeymoon was just Friday off work. It must be very hard for kids nowadays…”

This seems to demonstrate perfectly the sort of mindset of someone who can’t see the benefit of a gap year; they didn’t do one, so why should anyone else? If life was hard for them, why should it be better for anyone else?

You can read our reasons for taking a gap year on our website https://travel-aid.com/Tips-Advice/why-take-a-gap-year/

06/02/2024

Destination spotlight: New Zealand

A perennial favourite with travellers looking for adventure sports, New Zealand is well known for it’s dramatic scenery (think Lord of the Rings) and coastline. If you’re nervous of spending time in countries where you struggle to communicate, NZ is an excellent English-speaking option with plenty of opportunities for working to earn some money whilst you’re travelling and a wide selection of gap year volunteer opportunities.

31/01/2024

If you need to call, our incident managers will calmly talk you through the immediate safety or security priorities, answering questions and explaining how to act.

They will then carry out any supporting actions such as telling you where the nearest hospital or police station is, alerting consular support from the embassy, informing your parents (if you want us to) and opening a case with your travel insurance. We can provide you with telephone based access to an interpreter and even making emergency payments for a hotel, taxi or coach, helping get you to a safe place after an emergency.

Subscribe for 1 month, 3 months or 12 months support.

Find out more and subscribe on our website

26/01/2024

Independent travel top tips:

1. Embrace spontaneity
2. There's no perfect number of travel companions: you might travel best solo or with a few friends
3. Take time out from doing stuff to just "be"
4. Get the right travel insurance for your trip
5. Talk to people: other travellers, people who live in the places you are visiting, everyone has a story
6. Don't expect perfection: things will go wrong. You might find these things going wrong creates some of the best and most memorable moments of your travels
7. Try to pack light
8. Waking up early to see an amazing sunset is worth it. Fact.
9. Keep copies of all your important documents - both on paper and digitally
10. Give a new language a try!

24/01/2024

TravelAid offers confidential, professional advice from gap year travel experts. We offer independent travellers judgement-free solutions when situations get a bit too much.

Wondering what sort of situations we've helped people with in the past? They range from administrative to health related to emergencies including lost passports, motorbike accidents, mental health breakdowns, picking up an STD, knife point muggings and losing all possessions to name just a few. None of these things need to be the end of your gap year fun but having someone to call when you don't know what to do can certainly hope get you back on the road again.

23/01/2024

"All I wanted to do was bring him home - I now realise that would have the been the worst thing for him. He had an amazing gap year, thanks to TravelAid."



www.travel-aid.com

20/01/2024

What does TravelAid offer for someone heading off on independent travel? 24/7 phone support wherever you are in the world.

www.travel-aid.com

19/01/2024

If you've been wondering what the benefit of a TravelAid Backpacker subscription is, this testimonial helps give some perspective.

“When we heard that my daughter had been arrested for ‘not having the correct papers for travel’ we were desperately worried and not sure what to do. TravelAid were great to talk through the process and helped us liaise with the Consular team in the Embassy to get the situation resolved and my daughter released from jail. A situation I never for one second foresaw.”

If you're getting ready to go travelling and would appreciate knowing who to call in an emergency, have a look at the available subscriptions on www.travel-aid.com.

18/01/2024

Are you looking for support and someone you can call on to help you when you're backpacking?
We offer a safety net for gap year travellers offering 24/7 telephone support, personal security advice and professional incident managers.

HOW IT WORKS

01
You find yourself in a situation where you’d benefit from non-judgemental, experienced advice and support about anything that has already or might soon affect your personal safety.

02
Simply call our UK-based incident managers via your emergency number (provided on subscription) from any phone (landline or data call).

03
Incident managers will explain the next steps to reduce risk and get help, remaining just a call away until the situation is resolved.

www.travel-aid.com

12/01/2024

Thinking of hopping on a moped on your gap year? They're a pretty common form of travel in many popular destinations ( in this photo). They're also not the safest form of travel so it's a good idea to be prepared. Read our top tips on our website to keep yourself safe.



Photo credit .ed

05/01/2024

Destination spotlight: Tanzania

Tanzania is an amazing country to spend time in: from the awe inspiring Mount Kilimanjaro (“the roof of Africa”) to the beautiful coast of Zanzibar via the Serengeti national park. It makes an ideal option for a backpacking with such a variety of terrain as well as phenomenal wildlife and fascinating cultural differences from our norms. Large parts of the country are Swahili (particularly Zanzibar and the coastline) where Islam is the predominant religion so it’s important to do your research into what’s appropriate to wear and how to act without causing offence.

It's also a great destination for combining backpacking with volunteering as there are a wide range of options available such as football coaching, teaching, childcare and medical placements. These volunteering opportunities last from just a week to almost 6 months long so there’s likely to be something to suit most people.

31/12/2023

Are you ready to go?

28/12/2023

Gap year safety and security advice from a team of UK-based professionals who have been there and done it themselves!

27/12/2023

As Tom says, there's likely to be a safer option but if you are going to ride a moped whilst travelling, here are some things to look out for...

22/12/2023

A Travel-Aid backpacker subscription is the perfect last minute gift for any teen about to head off on a gap year. It's not too late! https://travel-aid.com/products-backpacker/

21/12/2023

Advice from TravelAid's Tom.

20/12/2023

07/12/2023

Looking for a gift for someone heading off on a gap year?
Check out the TravelAid backpacker subscription. https://travel-aid.com/products-backpacker/