On the Right Track

Taking time out to go travelling has never been more popular with everyone from bored office workers to recent graduates off looking for adventure. As a result, holiday companies are tapping into this increasingly fertile market offering made-to-measure trips to fit all kinds of tastes.

For young people looking to expand their minds before heading to university or into the world of work, South East Asia, Australia, America or sometimes all three tend to be the most popular choices. But a somewhat less adventurous trip could still leave all your boxes ticked.

One of the big advantages that Britons have over people in many other parts of the world is the relative proximity to a wealth of different cultures and experiences. A trip abroad is less than 20 miles away for some and thanks to the Channel Tunnel and budget airlines getting there has never been easier.

With this in mind it is little wonder that taking a trip round Europe by train remains a big hit with the travelling fraternity. For many it offers an affordable opportunity to experience up to 28 different countries over a relatively short period ? usually between two weeks and a month.

The good people at Inter Rail have carved up the European continent into eight lettered zones, which makes planning your trip pretty straightforward. A ticket for a single zone ? D for example, which covers the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina ? will set you back just over £200 for 16 days, two zones for 22 days is just short of £300.

Once up and running it's just a case of filling out your ticket before boarding the train. Apart from the odd high-speed premium and an additional charge if you want a couchette for an overnight trip, that should be about it. This means that for the price of a flight to the States you can get round close to a dozen different countries.

The recent economic boom in central and Eastern Europe and the admission of the first tranche of new accession states means that part of the world has some genuinely attractive destinations. A quick tour of the likes of Budapest in Hungary, Prague in the Czech Republic and Ljubljana in Slovenia can be a very rewarding experience.

Thanks to the Eurostar getting started is also a lot less hassle than it might have been in the past. A return on the international rail link will get you to Brussels or Paris from where you can explore France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg on just a Zone E pass.

With so many global destinations to choose from it would be easy to spend a year travelling and only make a start on what you want to see. But when planning your trip it's well worth taking a look a bit closer to home. Australia and the US both have a lot to offer, but exploring Europe will offer you some insight if you're planning city breaks in the future and also has the advantage of being on your doorstep.