Thinking of travelling? Travelling wisely tips from MTGY

Mind The Gap Year provide invaluable advice and tips on how to stay safe on your travels

Planning your gap year is hugely exciting, but can also be quite daunting, with so much to organise. You may not have fully planned and considered the “what if” scenarios.

Launched last year, Mind The Gap Year is a web based company, providing a complete safety package and specialist Gap Year Travel Insurance, to help keep young travellers secure. There is an on-line travel planner that will help take the strain out of the lead up to your trip and ensure that you have not forgotten anything. The planner encompasses a generic “to do list” which can also be adapted to your personal requirements.

It is a harsh reality that many young travellers suffer some sort of crime during their time overseas; but there are measures that can be taken to safeguard yourself and your belongings.

Firstly, consider taking a travel safety course such as the one-day program offered by Objective Gap Safety. The course teaches young people how to prepare for their gap year and how to deal with problems they may encounter. It covers a wide range of topics such as medical issues, travelling safely on public transport, how to survive the extremes such as earthquakes and hurricanes as well as how to avoid being mugged and kidnapped. More information can be found on the MTGY website, and a voucher towards the course is included when taking out some of the Mind The Gap Year insurance.

A valuable part of the package is a secure Electronic Document Safe. Scan your passport, visa etc. before you leave and place in your Safe. Then if you should you lose any of your documents you can access them quickly via the internet, proving your identity and enabling you to continue your travels without undue stress or cost.

Also, an interpretation service will also provide practical assistance in helping you overcome language barriers in crisis situation or simply in understanding directions.

Red 24, through Mind The Gap Year provide real time information about every country in the world and when purchasing Mind the Gap Year standard travel insurance, their service is automatically upgraded to the world renowned advice line.

And finally, although not the most exciting of subjects, making sure you are properly insured is vital to ensuring your security, and safeguarding your, (or your parent’s) assets.

Many travellers spend thousands of pounds on the trip of a lifetime and then neglect to protect themselves; jeopardising their plans and all too often running up huge bills to get themselves home or in receiving immediate medical attention.

Earlier this year, a gaper was badly injured when he hit an electricity pylon while riding a scooter in a remote area of Vietnam. He suffered two broken legs, a fractured vertebrae and internal bleeding. The total cost of the care and flights was £25,000. He had purchased a ‘comprehensive’ policy from a high street chain however, when he claimed he found he was not covered because he did not hold a full, valid UK motorcycle licence. This case highlights the need to read and understand the small print and buy from a Specialist Gap Year Insurance provider.

Here are some common pitfalls to be aware of when choosing your Gap Year travel insurance policy;

• Purchasing the wrong policy

Do not rely on your parent’s annual family travel insurance; this may not cover you at all, which may also be the case with a normal tourist policy as many do not cover working. So make sure that you buy a good quality, specialist Gap Year Travel Insurance

• Beware of exemptions

All policies have them, and there are huge variations. So you really do need to read and understand the small print to ensure that the cover is sufficient for your circumstances. Check it covers the sports and activities you may want to do, and remember that many of the more risky activities travellers undertake are spontaneous decisions. Mind The Gap Year cover most unplanned activities. Check that you are covered to work; whether paid or voluntary.

• You need to cancel your trip

You should purchase your insurance as soon as you book your trip to ensure that you are covered to cancel should you or a close relative become ill or have an accident.

• What if your airline goes bust of there is a FCO travel warning

Remember that it may not be you cancelling the trip; check that you are covered if an airline goes bust or there is a travel warning for a country that you are due to visit.

• Bereavement at home

Some travellers suffer bereavement during their time away, and at Mind The Gap Year we provide cover for the cost of travelling home and back in the event of an unexpected loss of a family member.

• And Remember…

‘It’s not the cost that matters but the cover that counts’

So long as you plan your trip well, and take measures to ensure your safety, you are certain to enjoy the wonderful adventure that is Gap Year travel.

Find out more at; www.mindthegapyear.com