The new year always brings with it new travel plans and Mr A and I have christened 2016 ‘The Year of Adventure’. We already have…
![Yosemite National Park](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/20140611_170534-470x140.jpg)
I don’t think I’ve ever told the story of how Mr A and I met on this blog. That’s mainly because he likes to remain…
One of the hardest things I’ve found about planning a wedding is the number of decisions you have to make. I’m not the most decisive…
![It Could Only Happen To Me - Seasickness during a surf lesson in Peru](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/surf2-470x140.jpg)
One of the things I’ve always thought was quite unfair, considering how much I love travelling, is that I get incredibly bad motion sickness on…
![I smile because I am different](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/dscf0759-470x140.jpg)
I got thinking about this post after reading something a fellow traveller had written on Facebook about being laughed at by locals. Although this is…
![Volunteering – To pay or not to pay?](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/2-240x140.jpg)
Over the years I’ve done a number of voluntary placements in different countries around the world. Some have been organised in advance, such as working…
![Save so you can splurge](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/078-470x140.jpg)
As I mentioned in a previous post one of the big differences I noticed about travelling on my 30b430 trip, compared to the ‘traditional’ gap…
![How should I set a budget for my trip?](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ems-photos-074-470x140.jpg)
Setting a budget for my trip It’s all very well getting super-organised about your saving but how should you go about setting a budget for…
![What If?](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/ems-photos-059-470x140.jpg)
There are few times over the last year when I’ve questioned what I’m doing. Travelling has always been the big love in my life so,…
![30 reasons why 2012 was such an amazing year](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/30-470x140.jpg)
There are countless reasons why 2012 was such a great year for me. Here’s 30 of them: You can find out more about my 30b430…