As a 2022 high-school graduate, I spent 10 months of 2023 in Europe: roaming, exploring and taking in culture across the atlas. Life on the move was exhilarating, filled with fun and friendship. Working as an Activity Assistant in the UK, the year was transformative, and I hope to inspire others to take the leap and travel abroad for the experience of a lifetime.
The Job: active and adventurous
Here is a regular day in my life as an Activity Instructor:
- 7:00am – Breakfast
- 8:10am – Arrive at sign-in, grab equipment and head to set up
- 8:50am – First and second activity sessions (1.5 hrs each)
- 12:00pm – Lunch and break
- 1:50pm – Arrive at sign-in, grab equipment
- 2:10pm – Third and fourth activity sessions (1.5 hrs each)
- 5:20pm – Pack up
- 5:30pm – Day debriefs with friends
- 6:30pm – Head to dinner together
- 7:30pm – If no evening activities are scheduled, the rest of the evening is spent socialising in common areas, staff accommodation, or heading into the nearby towns on the weekend.
With two days off every week, there are opportunities to go on small trips in the UK. You also earn paid leave that can be used for longer trips throughout your 6 months.
The Travel: awe-inspiring & atmospheric
During my 6 months working, I went on two major trips.
In June, some of my family visited me and we hiked the Tour du Mont Blanc together, a beautiful 7-day adventure. On this trip, I also spent time in Paris, a week in Nice (my no.1 place for the whole year) and some other French villages and towns on the Southern French coastline.
The other trip that I took was to Greece with some of my Gap Year friends. This was another highlight of the trip. We went to the island of Crete with a package deal from Jet2 Holidays (they organised our flights, transfers and accommodation). We did many day trips such as Elafonisi Beach, a Greek cuisine workshop in the mountains, a day boat trip to smaller islands as well as relaxing days lounging on the beach.
Post Work Travel: ambitious & aspirational
Following my placement work in mid-September, I flew solo for a while and met up with my fellow gappies along the way. I went to as many places as possible, filling up my Schengen zone time allowance (3 months, every 6 months). This trip was challenging, I faced adversity, I learned from my experiences, and I saw and did so much. If you are trying to figure out a travel route, here are the most memorable places of mine!
Croatia Contiki Sail – 10/10 amazing
What a great start to the travel. This was an exclusive Letz Live package for Activity Assistants, we had so much in common and got along well as a group. The cruise started and finished in Split, stopping in many beautiful and interesting places. This was such an exciting cruise and a great end to my work experience.
Ljubljana and Lake Bled – Highly recommend
No matter the season I think that Lake Bled is one of the most beautiful places to visit. In summer the activities are tobogganing, white water rafting, zip wiring, hiking among others. Slovenia felt to me as a more untouched place, a nice escape from the cities.
Naples – Interesting but be careful!
Stepping out of Naples airport, this city was a bit of a culture shock. The buzz of scooters, and cars, mixes with the chatter of people amongst the vibrant colours of the characterful buildings. I would highly recommend staying in a hostel here, the one I stayed at is called Naples Experience Hostel which had a fabulous social atmosphere. Definitely avoid going out late at night, even with other people – a lesson well learned. Make your way to Pocida Island, a short ferry ride away from Naples for the most spectacular town and scenery.
Amalfi Coast (Positano, Sorrento) – Paradise
I’m lost for words on this place. Beaches, food, and colour: a must-see.
Pompeii – Interesting
If you have come this far Pompeii is a place you must see. Amazing history!
Rome – Another must-visit
Visit the Trevi fountain at dawn to beat the crowds for that magical photo. Also, if you plan to go inside the Colosseum, or Sistine Chapel, make sure you book way ahead as tickets sell out too fast and become ridiculously expensive!
Florence – Gets my seal of approval!
A city completely different again! Italy kept surprising me. The Cathedral of Santa Maria is another destination to book early, as this sells out far in advance and you won’t want to miss it!
Venice – 10/10 – but don’t watch any scary movies here
Venice was definitely in my top 10 places, even though a little spooky at night. Of course, a gondola ride is a must!
Munich – A Gem
With family friends in Munich, this provided a small pause for me. A quiet room and some home cooking was a necessary reset. I loved Munich, as it has amazing churches, markets, buildings, and history. Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof was also incredible.
Salzburg – The hills are alive with the sound of music
Objective of visit: The Sound of Music Tour – it was so special. We visited many important movie sets including the Von Trapp house, church, pagola, and some of the scenic landscapes, to name a few.
Brussels, Bruges and Ghent
The land of chocolate, and decorative, colourful facades. We were shown these places by a local who I had met in Paris which made the exploration so much better.
Scotland – 10/10
As my Schengen days ran out (something to keep track of), I had to return to the UK briefly. With 2 and a half weeks to fill I visited Scotland. Although cold, the places I visited were magnificent, particularly the highlands. I returned to Edinburgh again for New Year’s Eve as Scotland is the place to be for “Hogmanay”.
Sancerre – 100/10
If you want to brush up on your French language or start learning from scratch, I have the place for you! Coeur de France is a language school in Sancerre that offers 1-2 week programs. With 4 hours of class per day, you will spend the rest of the time on wine tours, goat farms, cheese-making introductions, and other tours while staying in your own medieval apartment on top of the hill. The landscape, people and food made this part of my trip so memorable.
Austria Contiki Skiing – Yes Yes Yes
My second Contiki tour of the trip was as good as the first. In the Contiki ski lodge, you will meet so many young people who you will ski with during the day and spend time with at night. The Contiki team provides a great service and is extremely comfortable and homely.
Amsterdam and Copenhagen – Wowza
Both places are worth a visit however I wish that I had been there in Summer! I would recommend hiring bikes in Amsterdam.
After returning to Southern England in mid-January to collect my other luggage, I set off for the warmth of Australia. While it was bittersweet to leave my travels behind, I was ready for some rest.
Advice:
- Hostelworld – your reliable travel buddy
I couldn’t recommend Hostelworld enough. At first I wasn’t using this app, but ended up at some unsettling hostels. Every hostel that I stayed at using hostelworld was safe, comfortable, and the best part is that you can contact others staying at the same hostel and arrange meet-ups before arriving.
- Rail pass and Flix buses – go here, there and everywhere
I didn’t get a rail pass for my travel, but I wish I did! If you are planning a long trip in Europe, then definitely look into this. I mostly used Flix buses to get around. They are incredibly cheap, and you can go pretty much anywhere!
- Book time off early
At your working placement make sure you plan your holidays early. It takes a long time for holiday days to be processed and you may not get your preferred days – so get onto it!
- Fewer places – immerse in each
For some of my travel, I was moving from place to play every 3-4 days. While this method was great for fitting a lot in, it meant for a lot of travel days and a lot of carrying heavy bags, and all this was tiring. I preferred to take a longer time at selected places and explore more in-depth. This way, you will truly experience the culture and will have the energy to explore.
- As a first-time traveller use Contiki and Letz Live!
If you are like I was and have never travelled alone before, Letz Live provides the organisation, support and opportunities for you to build confidence and experience an amazing gap year. If you are flying solo, it will provide you with like-minded people who you can travel with. Similarly, Contiki is another great company for new travellers. The two Contiki trips I did were highlights of my whole experience because they were well-planned and fun without the stress of organisation. I have met people on these who I regularly see in Australia now.
- Don’t be afraid to take a gap year! – you’re not missing out!
You don’t have to go to university or enter the workforce straight out of high school. Don’t be afraid to take the road less travelled – it won’t make you “behind.” A gap year is the best time to reflect on where you want to go in terms of a career, and for personal growth. Returning, I am refreshed, eager to complete my university degree and have amazing memories to share.
This was truly the most incredible experience and couldn’t recommend this working gap year enough. You’re welcome to take a look at my travel Instagram @saskia_in_the_wild to see my whole trip in detail!
Want to follow in Saski’s footsteps? Applications to work as an Activity Assistant in the UK are now open. Find out more about this rewarding programme online here.