A gap year in property in France could be the ideal way for older travellers to have an adventure in their own backyard.
Tom Griffiths, founder of backpackers' resource gapyear.com, explains that there are a number of different trends shaping the market at present.
Long-haul destinations such as Australia and South America, along with off-the-beaten-track options like Vietnam and Cambodia, are popular.
But property in France could also prove desirable for many as rail links to Europe offer "a bit of an adventure, but on your back doorstep".
Regardless of the destination that people choose, Mr Griffiths suggests making the most of the opportunity presented by a gap year.
"The general consensus is to get away and stay away for as long as you can on the money," he observes.
He says that this is particularly the case for people who have taken a break from their career in order to make the journey.
