Change currency online, use a pre-paid card as an alternative for cash and check the terms and conditions in order to get the right kind of worldwide travel insurance policy are among the guidelines being issued by a travel expert to anybody poised to head off on a gap year in 2011.

Jetting off around the world for an extended period of time is something many people experience at some point in their lives and is particularly popular with anyone that has just finished studying at college or university.

While the old adage that travel broadens the mind is certainly true, there can be no doubting that it costs a considerable amount of money to go from one city, country or continent to the next.

Financial planning, therefore, is essential and with that in mind Bob Atkinson, from worldwide travel insurance website moneysupermarket.com, has devised a series of money-saving tips, as well as some more general advice.

Atkinson said: “With more adults taking time out to travel and explore the wider world on a well-earned career break, or opting for a longer, more intrepid getaway, it’s vital that all those intending to make the trip consider all aspects of the gap year before they go.

“Planning really is the key when it comes to gap year finances and having the right products in your wallets can really save a packet, allowing you to make the most of the adventures while keeping covered. After all, no one wants to have to cut their trip short, or worse get stranded with no money, just because they didn’t plan properly.”

He continued: “Buy cash online before you go and if you need to exchange currency while away, shop around to find the best deal. Alternatively pre-paid cards, like the Caxton FX currency cards, are a great alternative to cash. Many offer competitive exchange rates on foreign currency and some come without the sting of withdrawal and purchase fees. The lack of credit facility on these products means you can’t spend more money than you have, helping you budget when overseas.

“If you are intending to travel in Europe without a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) you could end up facing a hefty bill if you need medical care while abroad. Medical treatment in the EU and EEAs varies from country to country as well as being very different to NHS provided care in the UK. An EHIC is your ‘pass’ to get free or reduced cost medical treatment in any EU or EEA country. Don’t view it as a replacement for travel insurance, and be aware that any non-essential care or emergency treatments can cost extra.

“Decide on a total budget you are looking to spend. Bear in mind that this will need to cover your travel and taxes as well as transfers, accommodation costs and food. If you are planning to use your overdraft as a back-up, make sure you’re aware of any charges and make sure you stay within your authorised limit. Keep track of your spending by registering for online banking, or use a banking app.

“If you’re using your phone, tablet or PC while you’re abroad, ensure you know what charges are being applied for calls, messages and data downloads, as costs increase significantly when you leave UK and European shores. Ensuring you are on a provider’s specialised overseas tariff is one way to reduce phone and data costs. Also use free internet Wi-Fi hotspots wherever possible to minimise costs.”

Atkinson also made a point of stressing to ‘gappers’ the need to make a note of emergency numbers, check and double check passport and visa deadlines, have the correct documentation if driving abroad is applicable and ensure sufficient measures have been taken to pay the bills back home during the duration of the gap year.

Research has revealed that an estimated 208 million bicycle journeys were made last year and the total number of cyclists in the UK is now as high as 13 million.

The report from the London School of Economics and Political Science also shows an increase of 1.3 million in the amount of cyclists currently out and about on the roads as more people use it as an eco-friendly and cost-effective form of transport, as well to take advantage of the obvious health benefits. It has been suggested that a further 20-per-cent rise by 2015 would in turn save the government £207 million and £71 million in pollution and congestion.

While these statistics will be well received by environmentalists keen to dramatically lower carbon emissions, it’s offset by the fact that an additional study by the Department for Transport has found a 26-per-cent rise in the number of accidents involving cyclists in the UK. The financial impact of all road accidents in 2009 alone also cost the British economy £15.82billion in things like accident claims, Medical negligence claims and personal injury claims.

Just over 3,700 cyclists were either injured or killed on Britain’s roads in the first quarter of 2011 and that was up from 2,961 during the same timeframe from the previous year, according to the findings published by Department for Transport.

Four of the five most common contributory factors were said to be as a result of an error from the driver or rider and additional accident causes include poor road surfaces, obstacles in the path or road, a collision with an animal or pedestrian or a manufacturing fault. The most common injuries sustained by cyclists are arm and leg injuries, while the severity of head injuries can range from concussion to fatal brain damage.

The surge in accidents involving cyclists may deter some people from commuting to work on bike or roaming around the countryside on two wheels instead of four whenever possible, but others hope it’ll serve to reinforce the need for both drivers and riders to pay attention at all times and act responsibly.

Any concerned cyclists would be well advised to read up on the Highway Code and familiarise themselves again with the rules of the road to reduce the risk of being involved in a road accident and wear a high-visibility clothing, invest in a high-quality helmet, maintain the bike properly and avoid the temptation to take any unnecessary risks if it compromises personal safety.

Fed up of visiting congested cities and resorts and fancy going on a holiday with a difference? Well, the opportunities are endless and there are plenty of websites like wish.co.uk that specialize in making dreams become a reality. The following are a few out-of-the-ordinary suggestions to help get your creative juices flowing.

Go storm chasing in Tornado Alley

What can be more exhilarating than joining a team of experts and roaming around the American countryside searching for some truly remarkable acts of nature in all their glory? Storm chasing may not appeal to everyone, but those people that fancy seeing severe storms and tornadoes will probably never experience anything like it ever again. An average ‘chase’ day involves reviewing a range of different weather data and then heading off across a variety of states including Kansas and Texas to catch a glimpse of a tornado in action and capture some unique footage in the process.

Live like an Eskimo

In the Slovenian ski resort of Krvavec is a hotel complex with a difference. Igloo Village, as the name would suggest, is a series of small snow mounds connected by a tunnel system that are crafted to form a very unorthodox form of accommodation. The temperature inside these snug little hidey holes ranges between zero and four degrees Celsius, but fear not as you’ll be oblivious to the cold while you sleep in your special expedition sleeping bag that can withstand temperatures close to minus 30. There’s a bar and restaurant on site and even a sauna, but don’t ask us how that one works!

Fly through the tree tops in Costa Rica

Okay, so you don’t actually ‘fly’ through the tree tops of Costa Rica, but the 727 Fuselage Home is a hotel suite formed in and around an old Boeing 727 that offers stunning ocean and jungle views. The aeroplane itself gives the illusion that it has just landed on top of the jungle canopy and has been kitted out with two bedrooms, a luxurious bathroom, a kitchen, a dining room and a terrace balcony that overlooks the surrounding Manuel Antonio National Park. Staying here will come at a price, but if money is no issue then this could be precisely what you’re looking for.

Return to the cave-dwelling days

Like something straight out of a James Bond film from yesteryear, Beckham Creek Cave Lodge in Arkansas gives you the opportunity to spend a few nights in a natural cave. If you’re immediately picturing it being dark, damp and extremely small, then think again because it’s spacious and modern, while at the same time blended brilliantly with the natural surroundings and cave walls. Here you’ll find “true inner peace” if the publicity material is to be believed.

Stay in a tree house in the Swedish wilderness

Just when you think you’ve seen every different type of accommodation available, along comes the Treehotel in Sweden. This is a series of eco-friendly capsule-like dwellings built in the trees that showcase only the very best in modern architecture and design. The pick of the bunch is undoubtedly the Mirrorcube, which is a lightweight aluminium structure covered in mirrored glass that appears, as part of a clever optical illusion, to be invisible.