Top 10 tips

Tip 1:

“Take time to talk to locals. I have had some of the best experiences just sitting idly chatting to people. I sat with a family in Vietnam for about four hours drinking their whiskey and basically conversing in gestures and smiles.”

David - 25, London

Tip 2:

“Take local transport only when you have time on your hands. I boarded a bus in Jodphur (India) to Pushkar and sat on it for an hour before we even moved. Once we did get moving, we stopped every few minutes to pick up another member of the drivers family, the journey took forever.”

Rob - 19, Newport

Tip 3:

"While you're on the road, it's really important to keep in touch with those you leave behind. They all love to hear all about your experiences & let's face it ... you love to rub it in. MSN has made it easier than ever to keep in touch, as you can now use Hotmail, instant Messenger & even create your own website absolutely FREE."

Tip 4:

“You have to test the street food. In Bangkok for instance, you’ll be served everything from crickets to snake and once you get over the initial ‘crunch’ you're fine, plus it’s a story you’ll get good mileage from once you arrive home.”

Debs - 18, Bristol

Tip 5:

“You must visit the local markets to find the ultimate bargain. Plus it's loads of fun haggling with the vendors for the best price. Fruit, jewellery, clothes, chickens - you name it, you can find it...somewhere”

Peter - 23, Durham

Tip 6:

“Do things you would never get the opportunity to do at home. Don’t let anything stop you from climbing the harbour bridge in Sydney, bungy jumping in NZ or checking out a bit of Thai boxing ... you will regret it afterwards if you don’t take the plunge. Never say never!”

James - 24, Lincs

Tip 7:

“Whatever you do, stay up all night (or get up early) to watch the sunrise. I can’t decide on the best place, maybe the Taj Mahal in India, Kings Canyon in Oz, the backstreets of dusky Bombay or maybe on a boat spotting dolphins in Bali...”

Becca - 24, Leeds

Tip 8:

“Take photos of your friends and family with you on your trip. This way you’ll be able to say hello to them every day, plus people you meet along the way will be able to picture your life at home a little better.”

Sarah - 19, Stirling

Tip 9:

 “Take toilet roll on a long journey. Grab the cardboard out of the centre and flat pack your tissue, you’ll be a much happier (and more comfortable) traveller.”

Andrew - 19, Liverpool

Tip 10:

 “Make sure you make the most of your time away. Don’t cut it short unless you really have to. You’ll miss friends and family loads, but you do go through phases and as long as you call or email them frequently they'll be okay ... and so will you."

Sarah - 20, Glasgow