So you’re finished with school / university / life, and have been thinking about taking a gap year / month / forever.

Who knows, you might have already taken one and are looking to go on another.

Whatever your reason may be, many would agree that choosing your destination is the most difficult part of the whole thing.

To help with that, Traveller24 did a little research and put together all the need-to-knows on a few of the most popular ‘gap yah‘ destinations.

With flight options courtesy of Flight Centre, you know you’re getting the best value for money out there:

Thailand

Number one on the list, with cheap flights and low living costs (that exchange rate ain’t too bad either), Thailand’s biggest attraction is teaching English at schools. Their visa process is also super easy and you don’t necessarily need a degree to teach.

Exchange rate: ZAR 1,00 = THB 2,46
Visa: If you’re going to teach, you need a non-immigrant visa single entry,which costs R950 and lasts for three months. You can extend it after you’ve arrived in the country and settled in at your job.
Daily Food Expense: R200
Flights:

Australia

Down Under is one of the most expensive places for South Africans to visit, but it also means you’re earning in a stronger currency, giving you a chance to save big bucks for when you go home. Australia also has a special visa for gap years that makes it easier to get into the country. Just try and keep your lovely South African accent intact.

Exchange rate: AUD 10,62 = ZAR 1 ,00
Visa: You can get a working holiday visa for $440 (about R4 670) if you do your application online, and it lasts a year. Be sure to check their various work visas if you have an employer already lined up that can help get you a better work visa for cheaper.
Daily Food Expense: R440
Flights:

Vietnam

Another country popular for teaching English and a nice exchange rate, Vietnam offers more benefits like free accommodation and health insurance for paid work, though you are required to have a degree already. You also need to have a job already lined up that can help you with your work permit and visa, but other than that it’s smooth sailing to the Land of the Dragon.

Exchange rate: ZAR 1,00 = VND1 677,76
Visa: You need to get a work permit and a business visa, but these are normally organised through the company or school that will employ you. The price for the business visa varies depending on length of stay and you have to contact the Vietnamese embassy to get a quote.
Daily Food Expense: R130
Flights:

 

Peru

South America is never the cheapest place to get to when it comes to flights from SA, but once you’re there living expenses are quite low. Luckily for us, Peru loves South Africans and has a visa-free policy for up to six months! That’s ample time to explore the country and maybe learn a few extra words in Spanish as well, amigo.

Exchange rate: PEN 4,15 = ZAR 1,00
Visa: You do not need a visa for Peru for stays of up to 180 days, which you can do if you are going over to volunteer. However, if you are going over to work, you need to contact the embassy for details on a work visa (it’s in Spanish but Google translate will help you out.)
Daily Food Expense: R160
Flights:

United States of America

Don’t let Trump stop you from living out your American Dream fantasies. Though the exchange rate may give your wallet a stroke, there are many work holiday placement programmes that help South Africans get a job to help make up for the initial expenses. The important thing is to read through their visa requirements with a keen eye and book a return flight, and prepare snarky comebacks for those ‘Where is South Africa?’ questions.

Exchange rate: USD13,49 = ZAR1,00
Visa: For the USA, you can obtain a J-1 Visa that works as an exchange programme, but you have to go through a sanctioned placement organisation. If you want go on your own mission you can also apply for a temporary workers visa. Fees are between $160 – $180 (about R2 160 – R2 430), but check their website to see what works for you.
Daily Food Expense: R550
Flights:

I’d definitely go to each of those.

If you’re not the one actually going on the gap year, why don’t you be a good mate and give whoever it is a gift card from Flight Centre. Load it up with anything from R2 000 – R20 000 and, valid for three months, the recipient can make their own choices on where to go.

Could make for a decent stocking stuffer as well, given that Christmas is edging closer.

Flight Centre is always updating their deals, so it’s good to check in every so often in case any of the above don’t fly.

Go find yourself and inner peace, ‘gap yah’ friends.

[source:telegraph]