Take A Mid Life GAP Year

Do you ever get jealous when you hear about all those lucky 18-year-old students who get to travel the world for a year before they start university? Well, fear not, because more people than ever are taking a GAP year - a year out to travel abroad - in later life.

If you've been working for years and feel like you need a breather from your career, or have children that have now flown the coop, and would like to see more of the world perhaps a GAP year, or even a few GAP months, is just what the doctor ordered.

The first thing to consider before embarking on a year out is, naturally, the cost. While students may work for six months to afford to travel for the next six, the benefit of being a little older is that you may have savings you can pillage to fund your trip.

   Egypt is an increasingly popular
   destination for travellers

Once you get there, there are a multitude of options about how to best spend your time. If your motivation is to experience different cultures and lifestyles, a bit of backpacking through a few countries or a region such as South-East Asia would be perfect. Plan some sightseeing and do the rest of your planning on the hoof when you get there. But don't forget to build some relaxation into your itinerary. If you want to be more productive, why not research working for a charity abroad?

If you need to recoup some of the money you've spent on flights, a working holiday could be a great idea - forget student style banana-picking jobs and use your experience to get a better-paid job that you can be proud to add to your CV. Teaching while abroad is another viable option, with many Brits teaching English to children in countries like Japan, Kenya or Brazil.

When it comes to accommodation, you can take the cheap and cheerful route and book a room in a hostel (although perhaps not in a shared dorm) or book hotel rooms in advance to get a good rate and a guarantee of some clean towels!

   Embrace South East Asia's rich
   religious and cultural heritage