Backpacking can be a very rewarding and affordable way to travel around a variety of diverse countries, and offers a wonderful sense of freedom to go where you please and stop whenever you want to admire the scenery and local culture.

It is a good idea to make some basic plans before you leave on your trip, to ensure you have a good idea of how to get around and what places there are to dine and stay at during your trip that will meet your budget demands.

One of the first things you will need to decide is your destination.  You could choose to start in one area and then make you way across to another destination, and this could be a leisurely coast to coast trip in one country, or an epic trek across a continent, and this will give you some structure to your trip.

When choosing your destination you should consider some important factors such as safety and climate, so if you are going to an area with any kind of political instability check it is safe to travel before you leave, and also look out for monsoon seasons which can make travel very hot, humid and uncomfortable and can also cause delays with transport networks.:)

In the hectic pace of modern life it can sometimes be difficult to make enough time to spend just enjoying your loved ones company, and so a romantic getaway is the perfect opportunity to devote time to focusing on your relationship, and reaffirming your love for one another.

Duration

Romantic getaways can be any duration, but if you do have a busy schedule or other family commitments a couple of days away can be perfect, and there are many destinations that cater specifically to romantic weekend breaks such the Pergolese Hotel in Paris which is located just a few steps from the stunning Champs Elysees area, full of chic shops, cafes and restaurants.

Activities

You may want to just stay in your hotel and enjoy leisurely meals and gentle walks around the local area, or you may want to arrange some fun activities on your romantic break such as hot air balloon trips, sleigh rides or boat tours around nearby lakes, rivers or harbours.  Discuss with your partner first and make sure you both agree on how you would like to spend your precious times away together.

Although it is not a legal requirement to have travel insurance when you go aboard on holiday, accidents can happen and insurance can protect you and your family against cancellations, injuries, illness or lost luggage and money.  Therefore you should try and include travel insurance as a standard part of your budget when booking any holiday, and there are some affordable policies around which can provide good cover for those with limited funds available.

If you travel abroad more than once a year it is often cheaper to get annual travel insurance policies rather than taking out separate policies on each individual trip.  This will also normally cover you for trips in your home country as well.

Remember that if you are going on an adventure holiday you need to make sure you get adequate insurance to cover those more active entertainments such as skiing, white water rafting etc.  Also some carriers will charge premiums for covering extreme sports such as skydiving or bungee jumping, or indeed may refuse to cover you for these high risk activities at all.

If you are going on a backpacking holiday then there are a number of ways you can make travelling around and finding affordable food and accommodation much easier, and here are a few tips to help you whilst you are away:

• Ask an Expert – there are hundreds of forums online where backpackers share tips and essential bits of advice regarding a whole host of destinations around the world, so do a bit of research before you leave and arm yourself with the wisdom and insight of those that have gone before you.
• Train/Bus Timetables – backpackers normally spend a lot of time travelling on buses and trains during their trips, and you can check many timetables online now, and also print them off to take them with you.  This will help you to plan a basic outline of your travel arrangements, and could also help you avoid having to spend any uncomfortable nights on platforms waiting for missed train connections.
• Phrase Book – take a good travel guide and phrase book for the regions you will be visiting, and learn a few basic phrases before you go to help you get around a bit more easily once you arrive

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If you are going to Europe on your holidays this year then remember that all holders of British passports are entitled to free health care in other European countries using the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) provided by the Department of Health (www.dh.gov.uk).

This will cover you for any state provided medical treatment you need during your trip in Europe , through either accident or illness, and once you have received your card it is normally valid for 3-5 years, so can be used again and again.

Please bear in mind that this type of insurance will not cover you completely for every single kind of treatment you may require, and you may need to make a contribution to the costs of your care in some cases, so it can be a good idea to supplement this cover with some private travel insurance.  Also the EHIC will not cover you for free treatment abroad if this is the main reason for your trip.