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    Simple Tips For A Hassle-free Asian Gap Year

    Gap Year Travel

    Simple Tips For A Hassle-free Asian Gap Year

    In 2016, Malia Obama, daughter of then-president Barack Obama, decided that she would take a gap year before attending Harvard University in the fall of the following year as a member of the Class of 2021. Over recent years, taking a gap year after graduating from high school has become increasingly popular among Americans, with approximately 40,000 teens engaging in the practice every year. While destinations such as Australia, New Zealand and Peru remain hot favorites among adventurous youngsters looking to explore the world before settling down in college, there is one destination that possesses a mystical appeal like none other: Asia. Traveling to such a far-off destination may initially seem harrowing for a teen girl, especially as far as funding the expedition is concerned, but a few simple guidelines will make it easy to plan a memorable gap year in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Plus there are tons of career options, especially interior design jobs in Mumbai.

    Decide on your destination and draw up a budget

    The first thing you need to do after deciding on taking a gap year in Asia is to pick a destination. Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore are all exquisite, and can offer a girl an exceptional gap year experience. Whether you remain in one place or travel the entire continent is entirely up to you. Just make sure you plan your route and draw up your budget accordingly. Take into consideration everything from your plane tickets and accommodation to your food and other basic living expenses, and ensure you will have some extra money at your disposal should an emergency arise.

    Find cheap flights

    Your flights will more than likely be the biggest expense you incur when traveling to Asia for your gap year. Whether you’re looking to book a simple two-way ticket or plan to travel extensively and make use of multiple flights, make the effort to search for the most affordable flights available. Be flexible when booking your flights, and make use of a reliable fare finder tool to find the best deals available. If you travel frequently, you can also benefit from making use of a credit card that will reward you with airline miles, which will take the pressure off significantly.

    Making money in Asia

    Unless you’re extremely wealthy, chances are you will have to find a way to fund your gap year while abroad. Thankfully, living and traveling in Asia is typically very affordable, which means you can make your money last for longer. If, however, you want to extend your stay or have more spending money at your disposal, there are a number of ways you can earn extra money while exploring the continent. If you have a way with words, you may want to consider becoming a digital nomad and start your own blog that documents your travels. You can also offer other online services, such as web page and logo design, copywriting, and online editing that will enable you to earn money while traveling. If you consider yourself to be eloquent, why not take up a job teaching English as a foreign language? You can offer this service either online or wherever you’re staying, depending on how frequently you’re planning to change your location. 

    Ever thought about interior design? There are lots of interior design jobs in Mumbai, one of India’s largest cities. Why not see if you can get an apprenticeship or paid internship?

    There is something distinctly magical about Asia that makes it the perfect gap year destination for adventurous girls. As long as you plan your trip properly, there’s no reason why your year abroad couldn’t become the most memorable time in your life.