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Hostels

In recent years, backpackers have begun to ask for more from their budget accommodation. These days, everyone wants to travel with their cameras and laptops, while many look for just a touch of luxury on the road! And so hostels changed to give travelers what they wanted.
Which means that the days of bare bunkhouses have long been consigned to the past! Flock wallpaper, flat screen TVs and power showers are becoming the norm rather than the exception as Europe’s been hit by a wave of seriously swanky flashpackers’ hostels.
A hostel isn’t just a bed for the night, it’s a passport to traveling without boundaries or restraints. And pretty soon, moving effortlessly from place to place and hostel to hostel – blazing a trail of unforgettable experiences as you go – becomes the only way to travel.

Planning to travel?

Here's a step by step guide to help you find everything you need to have a great and safe trip

1. Destination

There really isn't a better time to seriously consider a gap year. The employment market for graduates is increasingly challenging. Thousands of graduates applying for a fewer and fewer jobs mean you really need to make your CV stand out. If you think getting work in your first year after graduating is going to be difficult why not add a gap year to your CV?

This could add all important experience to your CV and give you the opportunity the to demonstrate your decision-makiing and priotrisation skills without having gained work experience. They're key skills employers are looking for on top of everything you've learnt in the class room.

The trick is to make your gap year trip meaningful and to show you as an asset to any graduate employer.

Gap Year destinations

When you're planning, think about what you want to achieve first:

Do you just want to travel and see somewhere new?
Do you want to use your time to work on a project or help others?
Do you want something to add to your CV and learn some new skills?

Find your perfect gap year here ...

2. Start reading ...

Having chosen your gap year destination, plan where you want to visit and stay. Research your destination. Work out how long you want to stay in each place what it will cost and how you will get there. You don't have to stick to this but it makes sense to have a plan to get you started.:

We think a good place to start is a trusted favourite by experienced travellers:

3. Work out your budget and get there cheaply

Having done your reading and researched your gap year destination(s), you will have a good idea what budget you'll need. So now is the time to find the cheapest flights, trains or buses you can:

Cheapest trains - 43% off advance tickets

4. Where to stay

Travel guides can help you find accomodation ir alternatively hostels are a great afforadable accomodation option. They are set up to meet the needs of backpackers and young travellers.

Click here to see if there is a hostel or affordable accomodation where you want to go:

4. Protect yourself

We're sourcing companies that provide specific gap year insurance for you to get quotes from. Try this one:

Find a hostel:

Our top travel tips

Buy a backpack that fits your back properly - a decent retailer will select one that isn't going to end up giving you excruciating back ache.
Buy a waterproof liner for your backpack. You'll be glad you did at some point.
If you don't like bed bugs, invest in a cotton liner for you to sleep inside in some of your more inexpensive hostels
Always take a photo copy of all your important travel documents, like your passport and tickets, and give the originals to someone you trust. Then if anything gets stolen at least you still have evidence of your travel docs.
Make sure you get all you vaccinations done at least six weeks before you travel.
Send us your top travel tips and we'll post them here.

Gap year blog

Planning a gap year?
Want to let other students know what a gap year is like?
Want to keep everyone happy with just one update?
Contact us to be part of the gap year blog:
blog
@studentswapshop.com