Have you decided to take a year out of normalcy? If you are going to university, having a break from your career or keeping busy during retirement, gap years let you meet new people and experience new cultures. There are two types of break people normally choose from; a relaxing holiday-style experience or a productive skill-enhancing one. If you have always dreamed about going to a particular country, this is the perfect time to do it.

A European tour is ideal for those jet setters wanting to mix sun, sea and sand with culture, class and civilisation. A lot of Europe is still relatively undiscovered my most Britains. Italy presents visitors with a world of glamour and celebrity as well as beautiful art, architecture and nature. Further east you could take the train through Russia for a culture shock and a half. Whilst a lot of the continent is still plagued by poverty, there are pockets of wealth and splendour that have lasted since the time of the tsars. St Petersburg and Moscow are must visit cities where architecture, history and vodka combine. Exploring new places is what you should use you gap year for.

Some people are looking to enhance their CV during a year abroad or want to learn new skills. Volunteering in developing countries has gained popularity over the years and more people are now choosing teaching jobs abroad to occupy their time. A skill that employees are coming to value is teaching English as a foreign language, something you can do in a gap year. People with experience in different industries are good at teaching English as a foreign language as they have experience in communication, but Teflworld say that young and old alike make great Tefl teachers.

So if you are planning a gap year, do what you like, but remember to do something different! Don’t just think that a couple of weeks away amidst twelve months of sitting on your sofa counts as a gap year. Explore, have adventures and bring back some stories.