Not a care in the world ... But what's around the corner? New travellers need good advice. Photo: Corbis
"Life is a series of gaps" is the new travellers' mantra. Backpackers now set off around the world between any significant life-stage: the end of school, the end of university, a career change, pre-baby, post-retirement. Any excuse will do. All you have to decide is where to go and what to do.
An article in The Observer travel section Escape on Sunday outlines the new trends in destinations, volunteer projects and schemes, with lots of advice from veteran travellers on everything from bribing Venezuelan policemen and finding work in Australia to avoiding being kidnapped by ranchers.
If you've had a year out - you've made all the mistakes, discovered all the wonders - what advice would you give someone who was just setting out?
