Travel

Travelling around the world is one of the most popular options for career breakers. Lots of people combine it with a bit of voluntary work, or they might learn new things in the countries they're in.

What will you get out of it?

Round-the-world tickets

Travelling overland and local flights

Where to stay

Guidebooks and websites

Other information sources

What will you get out of it?

Travelling is not just an extended holiday – at least, not if you do it properly. Career breakers say extended foreign travel:

• Helps them learn to organise
• Builds their confidence
• Teaches them to be less selfish
• Teaches them to be more patient
• Learn interesting things

They also say they have an amazing time, meet amazing people and come back with fabulous stories and fantastic memories.

Round-the-world tickets

You can't just go anywhere on a round-the-world ticket, but they are very flexible. Usually, there is a general route to take, and you have a certain number of stops and a certain number of miles you can use. Your travel agent should be able to help, or search online for round-the-world ticket suppliers. Tickets start from as little as £700.

 

You can change your dates on your ticket, but it will cost at least £50 to change your route – for example, if you decide to fly to Melbourne instead of Sydney . Date changes can be free, or they can cost a few quid. You can do it over the phone, or in person but you have to go to the airline, not a branch of your travel agent. If you think a change is quite likely, make sure you know how to get in touch with your travel agent in the various countries you'll be visiting – it will save you faffing about when you're there.

Travelling overland and local flights

If you're on a commonly-travelled backpacker trail, it should be easy to arrange various legs of your journey. Often, your hotel or hostel will book things for you. Asking other travellers what they've done and what they recommend is a useful way of deciding what to do, especially if they're travelling in the opposite direction from you.

Where to stay

Sometimes you can turn up and find a place to stay, but if it's peak season, or there's a special event on, it's best to book in advance. It's a good idea to book your first night or two in a new country in advance.

Book online using the form below:
(Please make sure you choose a country and a city.)

Guidebooks and websites

The Lonely Planet and the Rough Guide are the market leaders in travel guides, and for a good reason. No, they're not perfect, but they are easy to use and are the best source of information in book form. Get the one with the most recent publishing date, and bear in mind that many bits will have been written a while ago.

Travellers Connected is a site where you can see where other travellers have been, ask questions, and even set up your own online journal.

www.fco.gov.uk, our country's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, is a great source of up-to-date information. You can sign up for free email updates, which are very useful in helping you avoid trouble.

Other information sources

As soon as you announce you're going somewhere, you'll be inundated with advice. Some of it is really useful, especially if it's from people who've been to the same places, or who've done similar things. You will get a lot of unsolicited advice, from people who insist you ‘can't miss' something or ‘must go' somewhere. If you feel overwhelmed, remember that the only pieces of advice you to pay attention to are the ones that end in:

• '…chucked in a 3rd world prison.'
• '…because you'll invalidate your insurance.'
• '…explosive diarrhoea.'

 

Anything else – you can take it or leave it.

Where next?

Onto Where to go
Back to What to do
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