How to Spend a Gap Year
By Karen Brown, Founder of GapBeetle - Advice from a Pro
Travel broadens the mind like nothing else. I’m not talking about a two-week package tour – although I’ve certainly enjoyed them – but independent travel: being prepared to leave your comfort zone behind and not just ticking off the tourist hotspots. The truth is the longer you spend in a country the more wisdom you absorb and the more thrilling, memorable and potentially life changing your travel experience is.
The problem is… spending long periods of time abroad isn’t cheap. So, you need to be travel savvy - find a temporary job there or explore cheaply.
I created GapBeetle to help other travelers do this.
The title comes from the concept of a Gap Year – taking a year out before or after University or College. Which is common in Europe.
On mine, I worked in a kibbutz in Israel, sold ice-creams and sarongs in St. Tropez and interrail-ed round Europe for a month. As a result, I caught the travel bug big time!
During University, I continued to travel. I spent a Summer holiday working for an adventure company in the south of France followed by 3 months as a Camp Counsellor in Connecticut.
The latter was one of the best experiences of my life, culminating in 6 of us buying a station wagon and spending a month driving from New York to San Francisco (via New Orleans and the Grand Canyon).
It created so many lifetime memories: nearly being attacked by a bear in Yosemite, camping at the bottom of the Grand Canyon and learning how to square dance– to name a few!
By the time my son was planning his gap year, even more adventure travel options were available, but most of the websites out there were ultimately were selling their own or affiliate packages.
Karen Brown, Founder of Gap Beetle, at Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park
So, I decided to found GapBeetle as a source of independent advice and set about finding experienced travellers with local knowledge as contributors.
I wanted the best in field (like the amazing Jen Curnutt (formerly Jen Rogers) – one of my first guest bloggers) to pass on information that would enrich and enhance other’s adventures.
I have been lucky enough to travel to 61 countries which means I can add personal insight to the destinations featured on the site.
Also, having now been to the USA 26 times (and visited 28 states) GapBeetle is unashamedly USA heavy. It’s such a vast and varied country with so much to see, especially in terms of landscape and nature.
So, apart from checking out GapBeetle and the blogs and feeds of our contributors, what’s my travel advice?
My Top Five Tips:
Always check the political situation and local customs everywhere you go. I am constantly horrified by the ignorance and disrespect of tourists.
Last month I was in the desert in Wadi Rum in Jordan and was horrified to see two female Instagrammers wearing bikinis on camels in a Muslim country!
Show intelligence and respect.
Always try and spend time with locals to get a glimpse into their world. I don’t mean just taking a half day organized trip to a local village in a tour group.
Take public transport, eat in non-tourist restaurants – the food will be better and often cheaper- and most importantly speak to people.
Travel solo occasionally. It can often be more immersive and rewarding – you meet other travelers and more locals.
Some of my most memorable trips have been solo ones: from chatting with strangers hiking through the desert to Petra, Jordan to wild swimming with other travellers in Lake Bled, Slovenia.
Walk. Walking round a new city is the best way to absorb the buzz and the culture. Plus, it’s cheaper.
Try and avoid tourist hotspots at peak times. We explored Bayon Temple, near Angkor Wat in Cambodia in a thunderstorm and had the privilege of being the only ones there.
My Top 5 Travel Destinations:
Specifically, New York City, Chicago, Utah and Arizona. (I’ve not been to Montana yet!)
2. Italy
The country with everything. Mountains, beaches, history, culture and phenomenal food.
Specifically, Rome, Florence, Matera, Puglia, Venice, Sardinia and Sicily (which is like a country in its own right).
3. Jordan
Culture, history, hospitality, deserts, food and diving. Specifically, Petra and Wadi Rum
4. India
The most colorful country out there. So varied - history, palaces, temples, food, deserts, mountains and wildlife.
Specifically, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodphur and Kerala
5. Sri Lanka
Second most colorful after India with history, archeological sites, temples, wildlife, food and BEACHES. Specifically, Galle, Dambulla and Yala.
If I didn’t live in the UK, it would also be on the list (we have a huge amount to see in GB, national parks, castles, palaces, cool cosmopolitan cites, ancient villages and Stonehenge (although nearby Avebury is more impressive). Plus, we have some of the best museums and the best theatre in the world.
Happy travelling and get out there if you can!
About GapBeetle:
GapBeetle was founded by Karen Brown as a place for people who are on a budget to explore destinations by being able to find work abroad to offset the cost. In doing so, travelers become immersed in the culture and experience their destinations from a unique perspective.
