Gap Year Travel Advice for Concerned Parents

Concerned Parents

The thought of a teenager preparing for a year out travelling or gap year, whether backpacking with friends or on their own, Interrailing through Europe, South East Asia, South America or Australia, it will inevitably cause mixed emotions for many parents. The acclaimed Gap Year Travel and Safety Course will equip the young traveller with all the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence needed for a safe, fun time away. It also reassures worried, anxious parents that their child has had help to negotiate the challenges that may lie ahead.

During the one-day course, we cover some important issues such as:

• Understanding local laws and customs
• Environment issues; are they going to an earthquake zone? do they know how to spot a tsunami? the symptoms of sepsis
• Dangers from drugs abroad
• Emergency medical training 
• Theft and muggings
• What to take/pack

And so much more.

The three main risks to travellers are:

• Crime
• Sickness and Diseases
• Road Traffic Accidents (RTA's)

These are all covered in detail in order to minimise the risks. In addition, whilst very unlikely to occur, we cover the extremes such as acts of terrorism and kidnapping. It is worth noting that after 15 years of running the Gap Year Travel and Safety course, we have found that boys generally get into more trouble, particularly from crime, than girls.

"My daughter really enjoyed the course. She had been slightly resistant to attending to say the least… On the way home she texted me “sorry to have doubted you, it was actually really really good!" When home we had an action replay of the best parts of the day which was very entertaining. I will certainly be recommending you. Thank you for putting so much effort into the delivery".  Suzanne Kershaw, Mother