donderdag 21 oktober 2010

Blog Change

From now on we have a new blog: Xtreme Gap Official Blog


also accessible through out website and just click on the B on the left. B stand for Blogging.

Almost off!!!!

Oh and if you ever bored at work, we have many nice reviews, stories, news etc. on the new blog!

zondag 17 oktober 2010

Travel along with Xtreme Gap

October 25th 2010 Oliver and Debby of Xtreme Gap will set foot on the first of many flights!

Our itinerary this far. The back end of the trip will include the Philippines, but these flights are not booked yet...maybe also Japan..

On this Blog you can follow us on our trip discovering amazing gap year destinations and cool travel options for you. Surfing, Diving, Trekking, Bungy jumping, Sky diving, Partying and more... For our existing programmes have a look on www.xtremegapyear.co.uk

Date From To departure time arrival date arrival local time
25/10/2010 Spain UK 13.15 25/10/2010 15.15
25/10/2010 UK Malaysia
21.00 26/10/2010 14.00
26/10/2010 Malaysia
Gold Coast Australia 21.25 27/10/2010 7.25
28/10/2010 Gold Coast, Australia Sydney Australia 14.30 28/10/2010 16.55
07/11/2010 Brisbane, Australia New Zealand 16.30 07/11/2010 22.55
30/11/2010 New Zealand
Brisbane, Australia
07.00 30/11/2010 7.40
30/11/2010 Brisbane, Australia Honiara Solomon 10.00 30/11/2010 14.05
14/12/2010 Honiara Solomon Brisbane, Australia 14.55 14/12/2010 17.05
15/12/2010 Brisbane, Australia Sydney, Australia 07.25 15/12/2010 10.00
15/12/2010 Sydney, Australia Phuket, Thailand 15.15 15/12/2010 20.30
22/01/2011 Bangkok, Thailand Bali, Indonesia 06.15 22/01/2011 11.25

vrijdag 2 juli 2010

Reizen is goed!

Mijn naam is Debby Neeskens, ik ben eigenaresse van Xtreme Gap. Mijn achtergrond? Ik kom uit een ondernemers gezin waarin ik al vroeg meedraaide en ben dan ook een echte ondernemer.

In 2005 ben ik aan het reizen geslagen en dat doe ik nu nog steeds. De meest spannende dingen die ik tijdens mijn reizen heb gedaan?

Opleiding tot Divemaster in Thailand, duiken met de walvishaai, skydiven in Argentinie, Leeuwen aaien in Bangkok, Skien in de USA, duiken in Indonesie, surfen in Australie en surfen in Portugal. Maar ik heb nog veel meer avonturen meegemaakt, want naast het sporten en de activiteiten grijp te cultuur je en ben je echt in een andere wereld. Er is een nadeel aan reizen, het is verslavend.


Overigens heb ik de meeste reizen alleen gemaakt. Het mooie van alleen reizen: Het opent je ogen, je leert heel veel en je ontwikkelt jezelf heel snel, en je sluit de mooiste vriendschappen, met mensen die je waarschijnlijk niet had leren kennen wanner je met je vrienden op pad was gegaan.


Ik ben de trotse oprichtster van Xtreme Gap. Het bedrijf is gebaseerd op Gap Year reizen, de Engelese term voor een jaar even voor jezelf, een jaar tussen twee studies of twee banen in. Xtreme Gap verzorgt sportieve en avontuurlijk reizen van 2 tot 12 weken overal ter wereld.

85 % van onze reizigers gaat alleen op pad. Ons doel? Iedereen de kans bieden om een mooie reis te maken waarvan je veel opsteekt maar vooral die je een bredere kijk op de wereld geeft, je horizon verbreed.

Voor de meeste reizigers die bij ons een reis boeken is het de eerste keer. Natuurlijk is een goede begeleiding dan heel belangrijk, het is al spanned genoeg om de stap te zetten een verre reis te maken, het is dan wel zo fijn om precies te weten waar je aantoe bent.

Niet alleen voor de jongeren, zij gaan meestal prima, maar meer om de ouders gerust te stellen. Wij snappen dat het een goed gevoel geeft wanneer er altijd iemand ter plaatse te bereiken is en dat je bij ons met al je vragen terecht kunt. Wij kunnen ook helpen met het verzorgen van vluchten, en wil je van te voren een persoonlijk gesprek, dan kan dat ook. De meest populaire reizen?

  • Opleiding van 12 weken tot Divemaster
  • Martial arts trainingen in Thailand
  • Kung Fu trainen in China
  • Surf opleiding in Australie
  • Beklimmen Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

Wil jij ook op reis bekijk dan eers even onze site: www.xtremegapyear.co.uk. Niet alleen voor jongeren!

maandag 8 maart 2010

Divemaster in Thailand questions and answers




You have decided…You really want to get into Diving and the Xtreme Gap Divemaster course In Thailand looks ideal! They offer flexibility , good service, almost all inclusive and best value for money…

But you have soooo many questions. Well guess what everyone does. So in order to help you out a bit we have put together an FAQ regarding the Divemaster in Koh Tao programme.

How much spending money will you need per month? : 20 pounds a day will be enough for a great holiday. However you could do it for 12 pounds a day (depends on how much you want to go out, Thai food is cheap)

What re the rooms like? You will have 2 single beds, a TV, en suite bathroom, balcony. The room is very spacious and nice. There is an option for your own room for 75 euro extra a month. (and sometimes we have special deals and you get a free single person room upgrade!)

What facilities does the resort have? reception, bar, restaurant with Thai and Western food, a big pool with sun beds pool, dive school, internet
Where is the resort compared to the beach? It is a 2 minute walk from the beach, the bars, the restaurants. And it is part of the Dive resort.
Do I need experience in Diving? The simple answer is: No! However it is a big commitment so make sure you really want to do it. 80 % of people that book their Divemaster have no prior experience.

Transportation on Koh Tao. How easy 2 get around and average price of taxi. The pick up from the pier on your day of arrival is included. The island is 21 square KM, and the resort is a 2 minute walk from the beach and all restaurants. No real necessity for taxi’s. However if you want to get to another end of the island it is usually around 1 of 2 pounds. You can also hire a Motorbike or rent a cycle.

What is the weather like all year round? GREAT!!!! Monsoon (wet season) is in October and November. The rest of the year it is hot and sunny! And even in Monsoon it is much better than back home.

Is the drinking water safe? No you drink from bottles. The water is cheap and there are shops open 24/7 if you forgot to buy. Also brushing your teeth you do with bottled water.

Food. Can I eat everything without getting sick? The island is accustomed to westerners. You can eat all dishes safely in all restaurants. The food is fresh and cheap and very tasty. If you wish a Westend dish like pizza you can. There are many nice restaurants around.
Approx. how many people travel to Koh Tao with Xtreme Gap. There is always an average of 5 to 12 travellers from Xtreme Gap.
Are all people travelling with Xtreme Gap doing diving? No we have Muay Thai, Yoga, Freediving, an island life programme, rock climbing and an underwater video course on Koh Tao. All will be staying at the same resort.
Can I fly directly in to Bangkok? Yes you can and from there we have arranged an hotel in Bangkok for 1 night and the next day overnight transport to Koh Tao. You can also fly straight from Bangkok in to Samui and than Koh Tao is only 1 hour away by boat.
From the airport in Bangkok how to get to hotel? You will get the address. The hotel is well known, you can give the address to the taxi driver. Or we can arrange a pick up for you. However there will be extra costs for this.

When do you meet the others on the same trip? Once you arrive on the island you will have an introduction night. This is a very social programme, and island. You will meet lots of people.
What support network do we get. We have a emergency number next to our office hour number and on the island we have a rep (Sarah) She will be there to pick you up and support you with everything you need. And you will be working with your dedicated diving instructor almost daily. Trust us you will never be alone if you do not want to.

Is food included? No. We think that including a food plan would limit your social life. Food is cheap and there are plenty of nice restaurants where you can hang out with your new friends.
How intense is the training? You can dive as much as you like. This programme is included unlimited diving for 12 weeks! You can take your days of to explore the island a bit! Or to go to the full moon party on the island next door once a month!

What if you become sick? There are several clinics on the island and our rep is there to support you. There is a big hospital on the nearby island.

Are there shops nearby? What do I need to bring from home? You can buy anything you like on Koh Tao. There are lots of little shops for souvenirs, sun lotion, swim shorts and everything else you might need. Shops are only a 2 min walk away from the resort.
How much/what should you pack? Not much. T- shirts, shorts and swim shorts, trainers, buy flip flops on the island. All sorts, sizes, colours and really really cheap!

Are there mosquitoes? Yes, at sunset. Buy your repellent on Koh Tao it is the right one and much cheaper than in europe.

Do you need injections ?The FCO website states that there are not many health risks associated with Thailand, please check it for more details. Although Malaria and Dengue fever are present in some areas (Koh Tao is Malaria free and dengue is reasonably rare).

What to be careful of? Just be sensible and you will be fine, the life style on the island is very relaxed. I have lived on the island for 8 months and all was fine.

Language? Thai (but everyone speaks English). Your lessons will be in English, Dutch, French and are even conduct in Spanish.
Internet/wifi? There are many internet and wifi cafa’s. So it is easy to stay in contact with home through e mail or even skype. You can also take your own laptop.
Offence to the local people - what do you need to avoid? Check this site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Thailand

What kind of insurance is needed? For People of the UK: Look online. We recommend essential travel for insurance, you can get a quote online and book this online here through our website, we have chosen these guys as preferred partners because they are good value and cover the necessary diving and sports options we cover. Make sure diving up to 30 meters is included.

Visa? Yes you need to arrange a visa if you stay longer than 30 days. For 30 days you get a visa upon arrival. With the Divemaster course we give you a letter that you need to obtain a visa for 12 weeks. The visa will cost around 80 pounds.

Wow. That where a lot of questions!!! But I hope you feel informed now.
www.xtremegapyear.co.uk

woensdag 20 januari 2010

Great Ideas for a Thailand Gap Year

The Best Thailand Gap year ideas.

Thailand gap year programmes are increasing in popularity. Here are some handy tips for you if you are hoping to go on a Thailand Gap Year. There are many different activities you can do You may want to laze about on a beach, perhaps you have more upbeat things in mind. No matter what you plan to do on a Thailand gap year there's loads of things to consider

Loads of individuals Thailand gap year by backpacking around the country, which is a brilliant method to check out all the sites and experience Thailand. Backpacking in Thailand is superb, but can offer some limitations. The most exciting way to take your Thailand gap year is to enjoy living in one place, getting involved in a project or Thailand gap year programme. This is perfect if your want to experience Thailand and integrate with the local population getting to know the country.

Myself, I like sports Not being one for volunteering projects, I like some action, so here are my top programmes I would recommend to get involved with on a Thailand Gap year.

Head to a Muay Thai fitness camp
Lots of travellers go to Thailand to train in May Thai. Muay Thai is great for getting fit and happens to be the national sport. it's also a very powerful fighting system. The greatest thing about this is you really integrate with the local society. Depending on where you study you could have lots of experiences.

Learn to dive
Diving in Thailand is really cool. There are loads of things to see under water. Learning to dive whilst on your Thailand Gap Year is the perfect way to spend lots of time there.

Learning to dive is very easy. There are structured programmes that you can study allowing you to learn to different levels. The most popular option, for spending lots of time out there is to go for your is to do your Dive master. The Koh Tao divemaster course lets you dive as much as you want and live life to the full on an island in the tropics.

Learn yoga
Yoga is a great way to get health and fit. One place on Koh Tao in Thailand offered by Xtreme Gap year. The yoga centre is located on the beach under coconut trees. Heaven.

Become a freediver
This one you don't hear about every day. Freediving is being able to dive using your breath underwater down really deep. Meaning that you will be able to spend lots of time underwater without any limits.

There is a real gap between the capabilities of a freediver and scuba diver.

Get really fit!
The first thing that comes to mind with Thailand is not lots of exercise. With a Thailand fitness boot camp and MMA training centre you will get really fit there.

the above mentioned Thailand gap year programmes are on sale at Xtreme gap year. Xtreme Gap are a Thailand gap year, career break and adrenaline travel company