Gap Year Advice

Accommodation

On your own

If you’re setting off on your own, hostels, hotels and guesthouses will most likely make up your accommodation. Buy a good guide book, and get tips from fellow travellers about the best places to stay – you can even do this before you go: check out web forums and ask travel agents for a good, safe, clean first place to stay, so you know exactly where you’re going when you get off the plane. For more information on choosing a hostel wisely, check out the Safety page.

On a placement

If you decide to do a placement as part of your gap year, the company you’re with will almost certainly provide you with accommodation. Here’s the low down on what that might be:

Living with a host family

Living with a family is probably the very best way to learn as much as you can about the customs of the country you’re in, and make a real connection with the people. You’ll be able to experience every day routine, home cooked meals and local culture! Host families are chosen very carefully by gap companies and they usually provide you with your own room, which you might share with another gapper of the same sex.

Volunteer houses

These are large houses, usually owned by the gap company, for volunteers to live in while on placement. You might have your own room, share with another volunteer, or be housed in a dormitory. Almost all volunteer houses have communal rooms where gappers can relax and enjoy each others’ company and they might also have security guards, cleaners and cooks depending on the company and country, but don’t bet on getting your socks washed for you.

Lodges, cabins, wooden stilt houses and tents

These are usually for conservation volunteers or volunteers working in rural areas. They usually have dormitories or shared bedrooms, as well as communal rooms. Sanitation varies depending on the place – flushing or chemical toilets might be present, so bear in mind facilities might not be quite as advanced as in an urban setting. Of course, if you’re determined to be right in the jungle, you might end up living in a tent! These are often fairly fixed structures, with covered spaces outside for eating etc. They will, in all likelihood, have the most basic facilities of all accommodation.

Living in placement

Finally, you might end up living where your project is based. This is most common with orphanages and schools, where they may have a spare room. While this might mean less privacy, or less ability to ‘switch off’ at the end of the day, it also means you’ll be totally immersed in the placement, and get plenty of time and space to help as much as you can.

Finding out more

If you’re unsure about accommodation, speak to your gap company. They will almost certainly be able to give you plenty of information about what to expect, and might even be able to make special arrangements for you. Still got a question not answered here? Why not ask the Gap Agony Aunt!