MIND THE GAP... YEAR
TAKING a year out to travel is a popular choice for young people not yet ready to embark on several years of university study. But rather than bum around beaches, increasing numbers are eager to use their time wisely.
A survey by gapyear.com and StudentUniverse reports 91% of travellers are considering taking part in a volunteer project during a trip overseas.
The idea of supporting impoverished communities and threatened wildlife certainly sounds admirable, but on occasion, do-gooders can actually end up inadvertently doing more harm than good.
To help travellers pick the right programmes, gapyear.com has produced a series of guidelines.
Will Jones, editor at gapyear.com, says: “There are so many different types of programmes out there and it’s really important to do your research and ensure you volunteer for a project that shares your principles, and has strong moral ethics.”
The cost of a volunteering project is also an important factor that shouldn’t be overlooked; contrary to popular belief, these projects can be expensive. Fees for food, accommodation and training will need to be paid, along with flights.
FOR more information, visit www. gapyear.com
TRAVELLERS HAPPY TO FLY SOLO
FINDING a holiday to suit everyone’s tastes can be tricky. The solution, it seems, is to travel solo. Adventure travel company Exodus has reported a significant increase in the number of solo bookings for its escorted tours; in the last two months, 66% of customers were single bookings.
“People are looking for new experiences, and ways to broaden their worlds,” says Jae Hopkins, marketing director, Exodus Travels. “We see the increase in solo bookings as a continuation of this trend: people doing something that makes them happy – whether they have a partner or friend who fancies doing it with them or not.”