Georgia Pearson planned to take a gap year to travel between 2019 and 2020, after finishing her A-Levels and before starting university. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic struck in early 2020 and that changed the trajectory of the rest of her year out.
Whilst it wasn’t the gap year she expected to have, she managed it in the best way possible. In this article Georgia shares her experience of being on a gap year when Covid-19 struck and how she stayed safe and still managed to make the most of the year despite everything.
Getting Prepared
In preparation for my travels, I ensured I had worldwide travel insurance that would last me for the entire year. I thoroughly read up on the countries I wished to visit, so I knew what to expect, with a particular emphasis on Coronavirus rules and LGBTQ+ laws and attitudes. Government advice and guidance was key here.
I travelled before the pandemic struck and after some restrictions were lifted. The government’s guidelines were very helpful in keeping me safe and guaranteed I was following isolation laws and general health advice, such as wearing masks.
Initial Gap Year Itinerary
In dreaming of my gap year, I aspired to interrail through Europe and to visit a couple of countries outside of this route. These countries were Turkey and the USA. Before the pandemic happened, I’d managed to travel to Turkey and New York.
Turkey was a great place to begin my gap year. I explored the wonderful scenery of Turkey and travelled to resort hot spots such as Bodrum and Marmaris. Turkey has some of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen. The country is famous for its history, architecture, landmarks and ruins. As well as these, the sea, hills and blue skies come together for that epic travel candid that we all dream of capturing on our camera rolls!
I travelled to New York just after Christmas. As much as I wanted to visit during the festive period, I went in January so the trip was more affordable. This was my first time visiting the USA and it was sensational! New York sits on a pedestal as one of the best places, if not the best place, I’ve ever travelled to.
New York has a uniqueness that other places simply can’t achieve. From its skyscrapers, to its iconic Broadways shows and its utterly famous views, New York truly is one of a kind. I would love to go back to all of the places I’ve travelled but if I had to prioritise them, New York sits firmly at the top of this list.
Travelling Again When Restrictions Were Lifted
In August 2020, during the heights of ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ and restrictions being lifted, I decided to take a leap of bravery and continue my gap year travels. I organised myself meticulously and read up on the latest government advice and guidelines to ensure I was being as safe and lawful as possible.
Each country had rules about social distancing and wearing masks which I of course, abided. I purchased a new travel insurance which covered Covid-19 restrictions and their ever changing nature.
Paris
First stop, I hopped on a train to London and travelled to Paris via the Eurostar.
Paris was incredibly beautiful. Paris’ culture centres in art, museums and architecture and it was an economically and ecologically sensible place to begin my interrailing route. I also had the opportunity to meet up with my French friend that I made during a French/English exchange that occurred at my school. This made the journey all the more enriching and exciting.
Amsterdam
My next stop was Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Travelling to Amsterdam was a fantastic experience, with its adventurous nature, it is the perfect student travel location. Amsterdam’s culture is incredibly rich and is most famous for its historic canals and museums and ubiquitous drinking culture.
I had a great time simply exploring the city and its uniqueness. It’s also worth mentioning that Amsterdam’s culture is very relaxed so if you fancy interrailing through Europe, it’s a great opportunity for a respite during your trip. No matter the season, it really is a great place to visit.
Cologne
Following Amsterdam, I travelled to Cologne in Germany. Whilst I wanted to discover more of Germany, my finances were running low and I had to prioritise my budget over my travel dreams. Cologne was a beautiful place to visit and I’m incredibly thankful that I got to witness its excellent gothic architecture and authentic German food.
My personal highlight was seeing the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Cologne Cathedral. The sheer scale of the landmark will leave you in suspended awe. It’s been three years since I saw it and I’ve still not processed its shocking beauty.
Final Stop – Barcelona
I concluded my travels in Barcelona, Spain. I didn’t stay for long as I was in Barcelona for a layover before landing back in the UK. However, I managed to get a bit of exploring done before I had to get back to reality.
Barcelona is the largest city on the Mediterranean Sea and is known for its art, cathedral and its ‘beach-city’ status. Barcelona’s famous cathedral was mesmerising as well. When I landed back in England, I was subjected to many checks from border control where they reiterated that I needed to self-isolate for fourteen days.
Staying Safe
Luckily, I had done my research and planned ahead so I knew I’d have to isolate. If it wasn’t for the government’s advice and guidelines and the correct travel insurance at this time, my travels would’ve been much more precarious and dangerous.
Whilst we are living in a post-pandemic era, it goes without saying that travel advice, guidelines and insurance are your lifeline in preparation for and whilst travelling.
Always make sure you’re prepared for your trip and complete these simple checks to ensure you’re being as safe as possible as a student traveling the globe. Taking a gap year to travel was one of the most enriching and positively life-changing things I have ever done.
Go See the World
If you’re considering taking a gap year to travel, my advice is, do it! I thoroughly recommend it to everyone. The world is our oyster and there are experiences to be had and knowledge to be attained.