Closing the gap?

The number of young people planning on taking a gap year to travel before beginning a degree course is falling, it has been claimed.

An article in the Guardian yesterday (November 5th) noted that such trips had become a rite of passage for many, but rising living costs are now putting many students off having such an overseas experience.

Cambridge and Oxford universities have both reported a 12 per cent increase in admissions this year, which is believed to be because young people are now beginning their course straight after leaving school.

Andy Woods-Ballard, director of operations for the gap year firm Global Vision International, said: "With the current economic climate people are more worried about taking time [out] and the costs associated with travelling."

However, students who are worried about travel costs but do not want to miss out on a gap year experience may be interested to know that budget airline Jet2.com provides cheap flights from Newcastle, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast, Blackpool, Leeds and Bradford to a multitude of destinations.

Meanwhile, Travelmole reports that 90 per cent of adults now research their holidays online.

Book cheap flights from Newcastle online from Jet2.com, the low cost airline.