Lonely Planet the Big Trip: Your Ultimate Guide to Gap Years and Overseas Adventures

Shortly after a trip I took to Iceland (Sept. 2009), I decided I wanted to take a gap year and travel around the world for a year (or two!). I picked this one up and instantly realized it had all the information I wanted and needed. I love the story excerpts from other RTW travellers--whether it's tips on how to convince your parents this will be a good idea, or a story about being afraid of the locals in Sicily. It also provides a TON of online resources for learning about working and volunteering abroad, organized by region. This book convinced me I could do this and that it would be easier than I thought. Only time will tell, but I'm definitely optimistic.

I bought this book last week and haven't been able to put it down since. Everything that they mention and suggest comes with another idea I haven't thought of, and I am a very seasoned traveler. It is also amazing because I have felt like every gap year book I have picked up has been geared towards the UK. This book is finally geard towards everyone and it is the first time that as an American I haven't had to just dismiss many of the things in the book because well, I don't have a UK passport and I can't go find the consulate in London. Etc. Amazing book, definitely worth a read if you are planning on taking a grand adventure!

The big trip is the modern equivalent of the old European tradition of "The Grand Tour", where young men of means (mostly English, but other Northern Europeans would also participate) would go visiting other countries, to see the sights, art, meet others in their social strata and of course, spend plenty of money. Now, traveling to another country is less a coming out event, and more of a rite of passage. The Big Trip is to help young adults, from recent high-school graduates to twenty-somethings out of college, or taking a break between jobs. There are plenty of tips from pre-trip planning, to staying in touch while you are away, and breakdowns of places to go. There are also plenty of suggestions for how to work or volunteer abroad and extensive reference information that will be handy to anyone not an experienced traveler. A perfect gift for someone in that age range, looking at making their first "big trip".