Just finished college or university and want to get away for a bit before you start your chosen career. Backpacking and gap years are becoming more and more common with the younger generation. With many countries opening their borders the World is becoming a ‘smaller’ place for the traveller.

Before you set off, there are a few things to plan such as, where are you going to go? How are you going to afford it? Where to stay? There are a number of companies to chose from when arranging backpacking or gap holidays, look through them all, talk to people who have been before. A well planned gap year will enable you to see many different cultures at close hand.

One way to finance your trip is to seek work in the countries that you visit. Teaching English to local children is a good way to earn extra cash (TEFL) this is a recognised course (you may have to attend some training courses before you go) but if that is not for you farm work or holiday camps are always looking for people to work in them.

Where to stay? With their tent and sleeping bag many people opt for the local camp sites, sleeping on the
hard ground this is not the best nights sleep you will ever get. Modern day airbeds will roll up as tight as any sleeping bag and will give you a comfortable nights sleep, into the bargain. No more rolling and dodging the hard ground.

It is worth remembering that many hostels will only offer you a mattress that many people have slept on before and are properly not in the best of conditions, again your airbed will be something you can rely on to be clean, safe and most of all comfortable.