According to FCO research, ‘35% of all trips abroad are taken by over 50's, and 70% of over 50's say they are more adventurous with their trips now than they were ten years ago.'

However the FCO has also warned of an upsurge in cases of over 50's needing consular assistance abroad, and they believe the majority of the problems are due to over 50's not making proper preparations before they travel. 

Specialist travel company Gap Year for Grown Ups (www.gapyearforgrownups.co.uk) ensures that all its travellers are fully prepared for their trip. Offering travel and volunteer work in over 35 countries for adults aged 30 plus, the company is well aware of how important this preparation is. Last year 83% of their bookings were from women, most of them travelling solo, and more than half of those bookings from women aged 40 plus.

Gap Year for Grown Ups send out comprehensive pre-departure packs packed with information, tips and advice.  “We aim to give our volunteers as much information as possible so that they are better able to prepare for their trip” says Rachael Wood, Marketing Manager.  “We also provide in-country orientation on arrival, full in-country support and an emergency 24 hour UK helpline for all our volunteers.  Their security is our highest priority and all our projects are fully researched by the product quality team to ensure that they meet our strict safety criteria”.

All this does not mean a tame trip, however. Amongst other things grown up gappers can tag sharks and learn to handle snakes in South Africa, swim with turtles and track Orang Utans in Malaysia, rescue pumas in Bolivia and patrol the Amazon to help conserve the wildlife. 

Gap Year for Grown Ups spotted the growth in the mature gap year market more than two years ago.   With bookings doubling year on year, the trend is obviously growing.

“There is no ‘average' grown up traveller,” says Marketing Manager Rachael Wood, “it's attitude not years that count. We offer a wide range of programmes from two weeks upwards. Our clients come to us for all sorts of reasons; if they want some time out, want to rethink their life, missed out on the ‘gap year' thing first time around, or just want to do something worthwhile on their holiday.” 

Gap Year for Grown Ups is fully ATOL protected and provides a personal financial insurance certificate to all participants providing peace of mind for the grown up gapper. The company is part of Real Gap (www.realgap.co.uk) the UK's largest independent gap year provider.

For More details contact Gap year for Grown ups 01892 701881
Or www.gapyearforgrownups.co.uk 

Media enquiries to Jennette Baxter 01342 316337 / 0794 0174 303 pr@baxter1.clara.net