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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

Money Saving Tip:

Click here to get cash for your old phones

 

 

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

Its the first thing to think about, if you get it all wrong is wishing you were somewhere else.

Studentswapshop recommends you research this well.

We'd recommend taking a look at these two books for some ideas if you're specifically planning a gap year.

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 ...

or,

read what others thought of their gap years first:

 

 

2. Getting there cheaply

The next thing to source cheaply is your travel, be it by train, plane or boat. Search here to get some great deals

Guaranteed cheapest flights for students and under 26s'!

 

3. Where to stay


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 where you want to go:

Hostelbookers

 

4. Protect yourself

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

 

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