One Mans Odyssey

If the thought of planning a trip to another country for months and sometimes a year or more seems like a huge task then this may be the answer… There are many people who can practically plan your ultimate gap experience for you. It is very easy to find a gap year travel program and they will often include many if not all of the things you wanted anyway. As they arrange these trips for many people you can sometimes get discounted activities or will find they have some service that will help you to get a job.

All you have to do is decide which is best for you, read the brochure see if it fits in with your idea of a good time and then the rest is up to them to organise. Don't think that you will be completely restricted by choosing one of these companies. A recent brochure I ordered from Real Gap included everything from diving courses to volunteer work as a 'Jackaroo'!

If you do decide that you want to take this route then make sure you consider the value for money. Ensure that if it doesn't include everything you require that you can afford the rest on top of your package. Things to consider are visas, insurance etc.

After reading the company brochure feel free to ask all the questions you have about the program to their team. This way you can ensure that you really have all the necassary details and that it is the right fit for you. It's better to have too much information than not enough when buying into these packages. Another idea is speaking to a rep to discuss what you want out of your experience and have them fit a packagae to your needs. 

I chose not to take a packagae as I wanted to be truely independant but I can see how they could help many people and take away a lot of the probably needless time and effort I've added into researching the best way to start out etc. The most well known company I've encountered so far is linked above where you can request a free brochure. Many people I've spoken to are going with them and rate them highly. Again it's all down to personal preference. I might have to take them up on their Chinese trip after oz though

Best of Luck,

Daniel McClure

Trying to find the best backpacker insurance can be quite a task with so many brokers, agents and other assorted companies coming at you from all directions. With this article I hope to make it that much smoother because lets face it… Choosing travel insurance for a gap year or extended trip isn't the most exciting part of planning!

Although travel insurance is not a legal obligation yet there is not a doubt in my mind that you will need it. I won't go into detail but often people think they will be fine, "It's a safe city trip" or something to that effect. If you can fall ill or have an accident at home you can do the same anywhere. The main difference being that only the smallest of accidents can run bills into the thousands whilst travelling.

"Choosing the right insurance has the potential to save you thousands…"

So what do you need to get cover for? "How do I know that my insurance covers everything I want to do?"  So many questions where to find the answers. Well… The very first step when choosing a policy is getting an idea of what kind of trip you plan on taking.

Some ideas to get you started…

• How long are you Traveling for?
• Where are You going?
• Might you travel somewhere else?
• Will you be driving?
• Is there a chance you will play any sport?
• Any extreme sports? (Some things that may seem harmless like football sometimes aren't covered)
• Will you be working?
• How much money will you have on you?

All of the things listed above can have a huge impact on the type of insurance you go for. Perhaps if you havn't already got a plan of your trip work list down all of your answers so that you can compare against potential insurance deals you find.

Once you have an idea of what you might be doing on your holiday and will need cover for it's good to realise that there are still some things you probably havn't even thought of. In my honest opinion you must make sure your insurance covers every possible eventuality. It's better to be covered for something that never happens than to get robbed and find out you are stuck without money, a passport, flight tickets, practically anything to survive on and get yourself out of the situation.

Things you may not have thought of…

• What if you miss a flight?
• What if your passport were stolen?
• What if you baggage were lost/delayed?
• What if you are injured and need to be flown home?
• What if you get caught up in something and need legal cover?
• What if you injure somebody else?

If you get a good policy you absolutely will not have to worry about these things!

Okay, so now you know exactly what kind of things you wil need cover for it's time to compare your list of requirements against a few policies. I have included a general guide to what is a good amount of cover below.

This is the Minimum that I personally would take…

• Medical Expenses - £2.5 Million
• Personal Liability - £1 Million
• Cancellation - £3,000
• Baggage - £1,500
• Cash - £250
• Travel Documents £200

On top of that you will have to add anything extra that you may need cover for. In my case I have actually gone with a great insurance broker that has actually included most extreme sports that I plan to do in my cover for no extra cost. 

For those who want to be sure they have the best cover…

These are two additional features that if you can find them are a great addition to your policy. They are by no means necassary but can definitely help to make a great deal. I managed to snag both for my upcoming trip.

The first is what is called an excess waiver. For those who don't know an excess is an amount that you have to pay on any bills before your insurance will kick on. This can be as high as £60 which won't be ideal when you have just had your wallet or purse stolen. When you have an excess waiver you will pay slightly more when initially purchasing your insurance but when it comes down to making a claim you will not have to pay the excess first.

The second benefit is being able to change your mind whilst away. Some insurers actually allow you to make changes to the policy whilst you are away just by making a call or editing your policy online. This is great say if you decide to visit a neighbouring country whilst away or have a rush of inspiration to try a sport that you are not covered for. This is great because it really gives you the freedom to just let the fun times roll.

So who gives The Best Backpacker Insurance quickly and Easily?

I'm not going to lie to you, there are many good providers who will be great for different types of trips. As a UK resident going to Australia for a year I found Downunder Insurance the best match for me. It gave me everything I needed and more, including the two additional benefits I mentioned above. Personally I went for their comprehensive cover as I like to make sure that I am absolutely getting the best deal. i don't want to be caught short.

I recommend that you check out a few insurance companies for yourself and make sure they have all you need but if you're going to take a look at Downunder Insurance I'd appreciate it if you could use the link below.

After I signed up with them I found a link which enabled me to recommend them to others and get some money back on my insurance. You really should choose the best insurance for your trip but if it happes to be Downunder why not help a fellow traveller in the process?

Best of Luck,

Daniel McClure

So you've decided you want to visit Australia and you probably have an idea of the type of trip that you want. One of the first hurdles to get over will be getting your visa to enter the country. You will need a Visa for whatever type of trip you take. The main visas that I am aware of are:

• ETA (Electronic Travel Authority)
• Working Holiday Visa
• Student Visa
• Migrants Visa

Which visa you choose will obviously depend n your reason for traveling to the country. This article is mainly about the Working Holiday Visa as this is the one I went for and therefore where most of my knowledge is based. By now you should know which one you need and you need to start looking for information.

A Word of Warning: As I looked around there were many companies who would kindly fill out the forms for you and go through the process on your behalf to "save you time and hassle". DO NOT bother wih this companies unless you have a real aversion to filling out forms. Seriously the process took me no more than half an hour and the visa arrived the next day. By the the end of this guide you should be ready to complete the process in this time or even less.

So you came to find out how to get an australian visa…

The number one bit of advice I shall give you here is that you should check out the official Australian Immigration site(linked at the end of this guide and from the links page). Here you will find more than enough information on all the types of visas out there, the specific details and restrictions on each. This is where I got all the useful information I need about getting a visa. It will give you up to date prices, I paid around £80 at the time for mine in September 2007 as a reference.

The application process could be slightly more in depth if you hold any criminal records or health related issues. It is possible that you will be asked to an interview or for a check up with a doctor before leaving. They will notify you if any of this is necassery after you have sent off your application for  review. There is both a paper and electronic application. I took the electronic version though I am sure they ask similar details.

To complete the form will require:

• Your Passport
• Basic Details about your address etc.
• Know your Reasons for Travelling
• What type of job you expect to have (If a visa that allows you to work)

There was nothing too in depth and once you are finished you submit it. You will then recieve your reply via email had you selected this option, it is not instant. This arrived for me within 24 hours but can take longer so don't worry if yours has not arrived within that time. Once you have this print  you can print if you wish but the document is stored electronically and linked to your passport.

Good Luck & Happy Travelling

 
Get your Australian Visa