Travel

Prepare

Think seriously about your reasons for taking time out and what you hope to achieve from it. Then plan how you intend to pay for it. Work will almost always be a feature of a year (or more) away.

Research the countries you plan to visit. Lonely Planet guides and Rough Guide handbooks are thorough and up to date. Ask friends and relatives who have been away for any advice on the little details you may have overlooked.

There are thousands of opportunities to work abroad and a number of publications to help you choose, such as the Directory of Summer Jobs Abroad (call 01865 241978 for details). Voluntary work can take you to some of the most remote places on earth. For instance, the youth development charity Raleigh (www.raleigh.org.uk) runs projects in six countries, including Belize, Namibia and Chile.

English teachers are in great demand and most schools are happy to take English speakers with a degree and some form of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) training. At the more serious end, courses run by Trinity College or RSA are aimed at those who want to start a career in TEFL, or teach in a top institution. Shorter week-long and weekend courses, such as those offered by i-to-i International Projects, are ideal for people whose main aim is to travel and teach along the way. Try www.i-to-i.com or www.britcoun.org for information on validated courses.