Gap Year backpacker Insurance

Gap year survival tips

If you are going on an organised gap year the company will normally help you sort this – check! You can obviously arrange this yourself by going to the consulates or embassies of the respective countries but there are agencies that will do it for you. Try the visa and work permit section here.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) Travel Advice Notices aim to ensure that British travellers are well prepared before departure. Their website also contains background information on how they decide what advice to give and answers frequently asked questions on Travel Advice. You can also sign up to a country specific newswire that notifies you as things change.

The Irish Department for Foreign affairs has a very good 'Know before you go' section. For legal stuff this is obviously just for Irish nationals but the general advice stands for anyone.

• Directory of British consulates abroad
• Directory of Irish Embassies and consulates abroad

Gap Year Travel Insurance

ALWAYS TAKE GAP YEAR OR BACKPACKER TRAVEL INSURANCE OUT. You need to make sure you never ever skimp on travel insurance, especially if you are going off to ski or volunteer on another continent. The cost when things go wrong can be huge, accidents involving evacuation and hospitalisation starting at about the £5000 mark. Policies will normally be offered to you as part of your course, gap year or employment. You are not obliged to stick with any of them and are quite entitled to shop around for either a better deal or a more comprehensive policy. That's not to say that the insurance that they provide is not up to scratch but it is advisable to shop around anyway.

Normal travel insurance won’t be enough as it often only covers a short period. Gap year or Backpacker insurance is designed for a longer duration and takes into account the fact that you will probably be going to multiple destinations. A good policy will cover gadgets and dangerous activities like mountain sports and scuba diving.

Being covered is one thing, getting things sorted if something happens can be quite another. If you are going as part of a course, employment or organised gap year programme the company you are with will normally help you out. In any case, make sure you check that the policy provides a 24-hour international helpline number.