Posted 30 Jul 2009

It seems that volunteering abroad and taking a gap year are becoming just as important to older generations as they are to youngsters.

According to a new survey conducted by Travelex, 78 per cent of 4,000 people who had recently been made redundant said that they are planning to strap on their rucksacks and take a gap year.

Respondents between the ages of 30 and 55 were over twice as likely to head off into the sunset than 18 to 24-year-olds, the poll also found.

Some of the most popular considerations among the older respondents were taking a gap year in Indonesia or the Philippines.

Peter Davis, the director of Travelex, explained: "Our recent research highlights that the ‘grown up gap year’ is a rapidly growing market, with many people opting for an extended break to destinations they may not have visited in their youth."

Last week, freelance travel writer Helen Ochyra wrote in the Guardian that gap years are great options for all ages as there are so many different places and timescales available.

Category: General Travel