Whether you're yearning for the isolated tranquility of Lake Titicaca in central Peru or the hedonistic rush of the full moon beach party on Ko Pha Ngan in Thailand, or a bit of both, independent world travel is more affordable than ever and it's there for the taking.
For the past six or seven years, the standard route for Irish independent travellers or backpackers has been focused around an extended stay in Australia. Last year alone, the Australian embassy issued 11,000 one-year work and travel visas to Irish citizens aged between 18 and 30.
Many of those making their way to Australia will spend some time in South-East Asia en route. The major Asian air travel hubs of Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong can be used as starting points to aim for less-frequented countries such as Laos and Vietnam.
Going around the globe is quite streamlined now and tickets for the most popular six-stop route cost around £1,200 (€1,525) including taxes. These tickets are valid for one year and for a distance of 29,000 miles.
Mr Colman Lydon of Usit Now is a long-haul specialist and credits the airline alliances with opening up world travel at affordable rates.
"There is a limitless network of flights to draw on but most of the worldwide travellers rely mainly on British Airways and Qantas."
Once you start travelling on the one-year, around-the-world ticket, you can make unlimited date changes free of charge in most countries for the various legs of the journey.
The basic ground rules for this type of ticket are that you fly from the Republic through Asia or Africa and on to Australia. The return route can either be back through Asia or Africa or the other way, completing the circle through North or South America.
Travellers need to determine their destinations in advance but they are changeable for a charge of £75 as long as the original conditions of the ticket are adhered to.
A more extensive world ticket, taking in Africa and Asia, as well as North and South America, costs in the region of £1,700.
Trailfinders and Usit Now are the main travel agents at this end of the market. They offer similar contracts and almost identical pricing.
So is it possible to get around the world in less than 80 days? It's obvious that the more time you have the better for this kind of expedition but Trailfinders and Usit Now both say that the whistle-stop circle can be done in one month.
If you are going for a short period, the more prepared you are the more you will get out of it.
You could spend a year preparing for a year's travelling or you could arrange everything in a few weeks.
The two main things that require advance planning are immunisations and visas.
Depending on which countries you plan to visit and how much you expect to be roughing it, you may need to get a range of shots and these should be done six weeks before leaving.
Your GP should be able to arrange the shots. The Tropical Medical Bureau also provides the service. You may need to do some of your own research through guide books or the Internet to establish which shots you will need. The health section of www.lonelyplanet.com provides a good run down of the main immunisations. Travel agents can also advise.
Sorting out visa requirements should be straightforward and, again, travel agents can advise which countries require visas. It is sometimes necessary to pay an application fee for visas and, for countries that do not have embassies in this State, it's important to leave time for applications to be processed through London.
Some visas require that the traveller's passport be valid for six months after leaving the country. Many countries don't require a visa for Irish citizens if you have an onward ticket out of their territory.
No trip is possible without adequate funding so anyone planning a major trip needs to start with some realistic budgeting. Accommodation is the biggest cost and one rule of thumb is that your bed for the night will cost the equivalent of three meals.
The overall cost of an "around-the-world" or long-term long-haul trip depends on what level of comfort you want, the countries you spend most time in, and how much surface travelling you plan to do.
It is possible to go very low budget. Ms Alyson Duggan from Dublin managed on £2,500 for nine months during her year's travel. Most of that time was spent in Thailand and Indonesia and she stayed to work in Cape Town after arriving there with her last $100 bill. Probably the most efficient way to carry money is on plastic. You can load up a credit card before you go to avoid getting into debt or incurring high cash advance charges. Laser cards are also widely accepted in ATMs worldwide.
Travellers cheques are also convenient and safe but you can be forced to pay high commission if you can't get to a bank. The main travelling currency is still US dollars.
Mr Lydon advises travellers always to carry a stash of hard cash as a fallback. "Fifty dollars will get you out of most immediate difficulties, whether it's a ferry back to the mainland or the means to make phone calls home."
It's sensible not to carry more than five or six days worth of local currency at any one time in case it's lost or stolen.
Personal safety is an important consideration when travelling in an unfamiliar environment. Mr Roger Barrett, senior travel consultant with Trailfinders, says the best defence against being robbed is to be aware of your surroundings.
"Try to wear neutral colours when you are moving through crowds and keep your valuables out of sight, preferably on your person. Don't be a walking beacon and keep your belongings compact and close."
The most vulnerable times for travellers are when you first arrive in a new place, at the bus or train station or airport.
It makes sense to have read up a little on your new destination, and try to have an immediate goal for your arrival so you don't appear completely lost.
A strong factor in many travellers' plans is how to avoid winter weather, summer heat and monsoons. Compounding the problem is the lack of reliable weather information, especially during unpredictable times. Reported temperatures may be just the average for the day.
With so many routes to choose from in the northern and southern hemispheres and great local variations in weather, it is possible to embark on an around-the-world trip at any time of year.
If you plan to concentrate on one region or country for an extended period, you will need to take the seasons and weather into consideration.
Travel insurance is another thing that should not be overlooked. You can get a single trip policy covering a continent if you are spending several weeks or months in one region.
Worldwide travel insurance can be purchased for any period up to 12 months and can cost up to £325 through Usit Now.
Make sure your policy will cover your lifestyle, including likely hazardous activities, and all your destinations for the duration of the trip.
As always in the case of travel insurance, shop around for the best deal and remember you don't have to buy your insurance from the travel agent.
It's a good idea to bring extra passport photos with you for a long trip as you never know when you might need them.
In Nepal, each trekking permit requires two photos, each visa extension requires one and rafting permits also require photos.
You may need to tie up your tax affairs if you intend to be away for a year and, for peace of mind, you should have a health and dental check-up before you go. The last thing to organise is a bon voyage party.
