Time Out! Making the most of summer travel
Published on 7 May 15
Whether you're thinking of travelling the world, volunteering at home or abroad or looking to earn some money, the summer break is a great opportunity to do something different.
But it's no longer just about you, your backpack and a Lonely Planet guide. It's important to use your time wisely to gain skills and experiences that will help with your future ambitions. There are loads of options for summer travelling experiences to suit all aspirations (and budgets). You could try:
- Getting involved in local volunteering in the community either at home or with a project abroad
- Combine working abroad with travelling round a region or country
- Learn a new skill (teaching, IT, a foreign language, first aid or sign language for example)
- Set up some work shadowing
- Extend your part-time job to increase your earning power
The key to making the most of your time is planning and research, but you're not alone in thinking about travel, which means there are plenty of companies and websites that have lots of ideas and can help with everything from finding volunteering opportunities at home or abroad, organising or helping to find work opportunities and visas to arranging travel. Good places to start include Prospects, bunac, Real Gap, and STA Travel.
It's also important that when it's time to apply for jobs or further study that you sell your experiences – really think about what you have done, what skills you have developed and lessons you have learned.
All that said, it is also a time to enjoy yourself and there's no reason you can't gain great experience and have a brilliant time – just think carefully, plan ahead and keep an eye on your future plans – remember you will have to come back to reality!