FCO launches new service for Gap Year travellers

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has teamed up with Lonely Planet to create the first ever Google map mash-up dedicated to gap year planning. From today students planning a gap year will benefit from the unique new tool, which is hosted on the FCO’s gap year website (GoGapYear.com). It allows travellers to click on destinations around the world and access text, photographs and podcasts of Lonely Planet tips and FCO country-specific travel advice.

The mash-up map provides a fantastic way of planning out-of-the-ordinary gap year activities; for example, did you know you can surf in land-locked Munich? Or that you can sandboard in Namibia?

In the next few weeks, thousands of students will be putting the finishing touches to their plans for a trip of a lifetime. With so much to remember when planning a gap year and many travelling independently for the first time, it’s not surprising that many young travellers are unprepared before they leave the UK. The Go Gap Year website provides a one-stop shop for information and advice on safer travel including working abroad, visas, health, insurance, adventure activities and what to do if things go wrong.

Alice Draper of the FCO, said: “The very nature of a gap year means that it is likely to be a prolonged trip, taking in a number of destinations. This can increase travellers’ risk of encountering difficulties on their journey, so it is vital to prepare properly before setting off. A good first step is to visit GoGapYear.com, the FCO’s dedicated website for gap year travellers, which includes all the information needed to plan an extended trip.

“The new FCO/Lonely Planet mash-up map hosted on the Go Gap Year site allows gappers to plan activities for their trip using Lonely Planet’s expert advice and check the relevant FCO travel advice at the same time.”