What would be an ideal Gap Year agency?

Hi Guys, so as my profile says I’m a former traveller now landed a job as a travel agent wrestling with a pretty out of date agency. I want us to move into gap years more because taking one before Uni was one of the best decisions I made in my life and I want other people to enjoy that (Of course, making money helps too).

So since I’m starting from scratch I thought I’d throw open the doors of the internet to see what people thought was needed/done well/overdone in companies that provide gap year travel and assistance. Obviously I can do the basics, round the world tickets, local accom and cheap tours. But I want to see if there’s anything major anyone else had when using a company that they’d like repeated or never to happen again.

Yes it’s shameless market research but give me a break I’m 23 and enthusiastic!

Get a reputable name! Seriously, I’m going cross eyed trying to find a decent company that does what i want to do (lion and tiger volunteer in south africa). You want your name to come up in google searches as “awesome” xD

Try to get as many testimonials as well on your own site, this makes people far more willing to spend money with your company.

Hahaha, you probably already know this but for a first time traveller (ever!) i’m sharing with you all my fears :P

My main issue with Real Gap was that the communication between the UK office and the staff out in the actual country was TERRIBLE! They make you answer loads of questions about yourself and who you are travelling with but dont pass any of it on! I was travelling with my boyfriend and told real gap we were travelling together, but once we got to the placement they had only been told our names and had therefore put us is separate rooms! The people running the project though were absolutely lovely and had no problem putting us together once they realised!

The other project I did with them told me to go to the wrong hotel to be picked up. I even emailed a couple of days before hand to confirm but they sent me to a strange hotel in china and I then had to wait an hour for the local guides husband to come and pick me up!

Definitely wont be using them again and the only reason I did in the first place was because they were a UK based company and I thought it meant I could trust them! In future I will just book direct with the company in each country!

Hope this helps a little! Katie :)

oo and Cbywalec, Im not sure if they will do exactly what you are looking for but African Impact might be worth a look! Had a great experience with them in Zimbabwe working with Lions. Tigers you might have a prob with though seeing as they are native to Asia!

- Staff who realise you have a budget and can stick to it. i.e i got quoted £1900 for my rtw, I had already informed the staff my budegt was £1,400 and then after I said I wouldn’t be booking the £1,900 they managed to reduce them to suit my budget.

-Staff who have 1st hand and up-to-date knowledge of the trips and tours they are trying to sell- 2 weeks in OZ does not count!

- Staff who can make good suggestions of things for you to do and ways y9ou can travel round i.e methods of transport.

- An agent with offices local to the town and with call centres available to discuss travel options.

- Agents who do not pressure you in to buying but inform you of your choices.

- Good brouchures and books to take away so you can research in your own time.

Just a few things, hope this helps with your research!

Tigers you might have a prob with though seeing as they are native to Asia!

Don’t worry about that :P I knew that XD Its just I to I offered it both so i was wondering if it was like a special type of sanctuary like Lion Man :P *who sadly is my idol :oops: *

and thank yuo for your help :D

Thanks Guys, that all does help. I would love to say we do all of that allready but I’m aiming for a glowing bit of honesty at the moment.

The openness and just fair dealing that some of you pointed out is something we’re trying to instill at the moment but we’ve still got some ways to go yet.

Still, when starting from the ground up good to know what to aim for!

Thanks again.

sta travel are probably the most geared agency for gappers and are expanding the brand towards career gappers and experience holidays.
Trail finders are good but geared towards all travellers regardless of age.
Flight Centre just sells everything and will mark up poor souls -who don’t shop around - as much as they can.

Trailfinders tends to have the more experienced travelelrs of travel agents.
With commissions dwindling/non existant and the internet allowing more travellers the chance to shop around, and these 3 companies covering the whole booking experience you are really going to have to find where these companies fall short and work on that. Can you say who you work for?

Above all, one that is ethical and responsible in everything it does, and going beyond industry codes - check out http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/

And if you’re thinking about setting up partnerships with volunteering placements, please do it very carefully - the Ethical Volunteering Guide may give you some ideas.

Good luck!