After finishing A levels at school or college some young adults decide to take a gap year before continuing their education at university with the idea that they want to experience different cultures and meet new people but is this a safe way to travel and see the world?

Gap years that involve working abroad can be incredibly important as they enable the young person to see how other country’s economies work and give them the opportunity to learn another language, a skill that is much easier if you are working and living in the country whose language you are wanting to learn. Being well prepared before you travel is important and so learning about the country you are visiting and being familiar with some of their laws could prevent problems with locals.

There are now gap year travel courses available to help people wanting to embark on such an adventure and so it is useful to attend one of these courses as they cover all the main situations that travellers experience. They cover issues such as personal safety, financial concerns and how to cope in unfamiliar situations abroad. One of the most important considerations, and something that some countries insist on is that you have sufficient money to be able to pay your air fare home so that if for any reason you want or need to return home you have the means to do this.

Holidays can be tricky at the moment and the usual family trip to Spain or Portugal might not be a possibility. Holidays in the UK, though, might be a good option to get away from it all and have a break, while spending time together as a family in a lovely location. UK holiday locations tend to involve holiday cottages, apartments or other self catering spaces, giving families more freedom to let their holidays play out in the way that they want.

UK holidays will be popular and it is wise to get them booked in sooner rather than later to get quality accommodation. Families will be able to enjoy time away in the UK countryside or the seaside, as well as embarking on city breaks all over the UK. There are plenty of activities for children and adults alike and it can be a very relaxing experience to go on holiday in this way.

Holidays with children – you are going to spend most of your time keeping them entertained! Finding the right activities is the perfect way to enjoy your family time together, you just need to put some thought into what you are going to do.

If you are an active family, some things you might enjoy include hiking, cycling, white water rafting and climbing. These are all high adrenaline activities that will keep your kids busy. You will really appreciate the quality time you spend together when you look back on your trip, and you will all have had the chance to learn so many new things.

If you prefer a slightly more sedate pace, why not try a boat trip or a guided walk? This is a good way to see some of the scenery and enjoy the culture as well. It keeps your children busy, but you have time to relax as a family as well.

The family holiday: a cause of much planning and discussion, many months before it happens. A holiday should be relaxing but all too often, it becomes something that causes families to fall out. Here are some tips for making your next family holiday a complete success:

• Stop worrying about it. Focus on what will make your holiday fun, instead of worrying about every last detail. This will help to give you a better outlook.
• Plan ahead of time. Know the activities that are available and work out what you would like to do. A guidebook could be useful.
• Make sure you travel arrangements are planned. Have a good idea of how you are getting between places and if required, book transfers.
• Don’t go too far afield. With children, you are limited by the activities you can do anyway. Hotels that are family friendly are essential. Choose one in Spain rather than Australia – the children will be much happier during the journey.