What Is A Gap Year?

A Gap Year is a year that you take away from regular school or work to explore the world.

The idea of taking a gap year is becoming an increasingly popular notion in today's society. More and more young people are realizing the benefits a gap year can offer and opting to step out of the education system for a while.

Why take a gap year?

The real beauty of gap years, is that universities and employers alike genuinely appreciate candidates who have stepped out of their comfort zone and worked and traveled abroad. Indeed, universities positively encourage taking a gap year these days, offering deferrals to gap year candidates. Returning gap year students are generally more enthusiastic about returning to study and feel re-invigorated by all their new experiences.

In short - a gap year gives you the opportunity to have the time of your life, see some amazing places and enhance your career prospects in the process!

What type of person takes a gap year?
The average stereotypical person taking gap year travel is either someone who has just finished high school and wants some time-out before starting university or, similarly, someone who has just finished university and wants to do the same before starting their full-time working career. Alternatively, a gap between jobs is a great time to take the opportunity to study or travel abroad.

Some people on a gap year travel on their own, some as a couple and some with a group. Traveling solo on your gap year can seem a daunting prospect but, in reality, it's actually usually easier to relate to people if you're on your own. It's also a lot more flexible when it comes to your gap year decision-making, both before you go and when you're away - you've no one else to answer to but yourself!

Does a gap year have to be that long?
Despite the name, gap ‘years' can be as long or short as you wish them to be. If you're not comfortable going away for a whole twelve months on your gap year then it's fine to go away for as little as one or two months if that's what you prefer. You can still do or achieve quite a bit on a gap year even in a relatively short space of time. The main thing is that you're still taking a gap ‘year', taking some time out and experiencing a different way of life. You're almost certain to return from your gap year refreshed, with a new perspective on things and most probably with some newly acquired skills to add to your CV as well.

Where can I go and what can I do on a gap year?
Where you go and what you do on a gap year depends where in the world you're interested in visiting and what you want out of your gap year. The only limit with a gap year is your imagination. You may want to backpack round the world, visit one particular country or do something really rewarding like helping out on a volunteer project in the Third World. It really is up to you.

Help Save A Wonderful Travel and World Heritage Destination!

La Amistad International Park is a World Heritage site shared by Panama and Costa Rica. It harbors the largest intact virgin rainforest in Central America and is home to more than 115 species of fish, 250 species of reptiles and amphibians, 215 species of mammals, and 600 species of birds, including the endangered harpy eagle and tapir. La Amistad's rivers contain unique diadromous aquatic fish and shrimp that must migrate between fresh- and saltwater to complete their life cycles. Indigenous Naso and Ngobe peoples depend upon the biodiversity of the area, including fish species living in the Changuinola and Teribe Rivers.

But urgent action by conservationists is needed. This incredible World Heritage site is facing serious threats to its survival. Four pending hydroelectric dams will forever alter the free-flowing rivers so important to the park's ecosystem and extirpate many diadromous species by acting as impassable barriers. The resulting flooding will displace human populations too, and armed conflict has occurred between government agents and indigenous peoples; the potential for future conflict is high. The park is further threatened by increasing human encroachment activities such as cattle ranching, and it faces a lack of effective law enforcement and inadequate management.

Ed: If you would like to help GO HERE

How To Finance Your Travels

Hey - I Just Found This Great Way To Earn Traveling Cash....Check This Out -- A 19 year old kid is making $100,000 per year this way.

Wedding A GO GO

Wonder if this will ever catch on in the US? Las Vegas has drive through weddings, why not offer fly through weddings...you fly to Hawaii with a stopover in the Las Vegas airport for the wedding.. then on to hula hula....

Sam


New at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol: weddings to go. Whether a couple met on a flight to Bangkok or just wants to be able to go straight from ceremony to runway for their honeymoon, Schiphol offers travellers the opportunity to get married at the airport.

Brides and grooms to be can pick from several packages, from the all-out 'Ticket to Paradise': get hitched and leave for a tropical destination together with your wedding guests; to 'Say Yes & Go', the budget alternative for couples who want a quick and simple ceremony before flying off together. Schiphol Weddings works with a dedicated wedding planner, who can also help couples plan and arrange their honeymoons.

Airport Security Checkpoints

Airport security rules have changed drastically in recent years. With air travel increasing greatly around the holidays anyone considering going this route is well advised to familiarize themselves with new rules put in place where they may cause the most delays. Namely airport security checkpoints.

Most passengers may think there is only one security checkpoint, when in reality there are usually three. This may vary from airport to airport but this seems to be the rule for most.

The first checkpoint will be when you register for your seat on the plane. You will need to show at least one proper form of identification. Usually a drivers license or a government issued identification card will suffice. You will then be given your boarding pass.

This is also the time when you will need to hand over the luggage that you will be checking for storage below the plane. These are commonly referred to as checked bags or luggage. To avoid delays you should check with the airline for specific items that may be banned or prohibited. In the past, only a small number of bags were hand checked, but now almost all are.

Many of these checks are quick look-overs, but you may be subject to a random, extensive search. This search often includes the checking of all baggage compartments, as well as the wiping of a cloth, which is looking for powdery substances.

Once through this stage you will encounter the main airport security checkpoint. This is where you will be asked to have your carry on luggage x-rayed and you will have to go through a metal detector. Also currently all travelers are being asked to remove their shoes to have them xrayed too. In the past people where picked randomly for this exercise but now the only exception is of those with a disability or hindering medical condition.

Again, by familiarizing yourself with the items that are banned aboard an airplane, including items that are only prohibited from being stored in your carry on luggage, an unnecessary incident can be prevented.

In the event that you are found carrying a prohibited item, certain steps will be taken. Depending on the item in question, you may be required to return the item to you car, discard it, mail it to your home, or turn it over to airport security. Ensuring that you leave all prohibited items at home is the best way to prevent this unnecessary delay, which may cause you to miss your flight or even worse scenarios.

There is one final checkpoint to pass before boarding your flight. When entering the airport terminal, after your airline has granted permission for passengers to board, you will need to present airline officials with the appropriate boarding pass. At this time you may need to show your identification again. However, it is not always necessary.

It is best that you stay calm during all airport checkpoints, including the final boarding stage. Most travelers are easily able to board their airplane, but in the event that you are acting suspicious or drawing unwanted attention to yourself you may be pulled aside. So leave the anxieties at the door.

By being prepared and knowledgeable about what is and is not acceptable before ever entering the airport you will avoid unwanted delays and experience a much more pleasant flight.

Get travel tips and reviews of your favorite destinations at http://onlinetravelguide.blogspot.com/

Learn A Language 5 Minutes A Day

I found this really great site - why is it that the bbc is so far ahead of our tv networks? Anyway, you can learn several languages - it's great for adults and kids and even has a section for cultural boo boos...go check it out.

Sam

Kid Sells Stuff To Buy Mom Christmas Present

Hey - this doesn't really have anything to do with travel, but I found the cutest thing on ebay. It's this little kid who is selling stuff to buy his mom a Christmas present! It is really funny.

I just gave him a copy of my ebook to help get the little guy started.

He said he wanted to sell his smelly little brother, but his grandma wouldn't let him....I remember what it was like to have a smelly little brother - do you?

Sam

Scrapbooking, Art, Travel Book, Roses, 4 MacBook Pro
Selling My Stuff So I Can Buy Mom's Christmas Present! Item number: 300054335513

Enter Your Travel Video In the Challenge!

I've just added travel videos to my site. It's so helpful to actually see some of the places that people have been telling me about - plus some of them are soda out your nose funny!

You can enter the World Travel Challenge, by clicking on the "magnify" button and uploading your travel video. If it's somewhere I might want to go, I'll post it.

Have Fun and Good Luck!

Sam

PS You can check the links on the right or go to my video website HERE