But to the purpose of this post: Mauritius. Mauritius is an island nation off the Eastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. The country has a lot to offer tourists, including a rich [french] culture, beautiful water and beaches, and quaint safe cities. The country is very under underrated and a great tourist destination. And most importantly, it's affordable as far as exotic island travel goes.

So to start your traveling plans, you'll have to find some Mauritius hotels, and Ocean-Villas has a good listing of hotels and self service villas in throughout Mauritius.

As far as other specialized trip ideas go, Mauritius honeymoons are a great idea and can offer alopers a sweet, warm escape during the winter months if they so choose since the weather in Mauritius is much more preferable than the Northern hemisphere's winter months.

So if you're looking for an original, exotic, and African retreat, Mauritius offers travelers an affordable option that is more than ideal.

Taking a gap year is something I think many people wish they would've done for several reasons: One, it would've been really fun. Two, it would've let them refocus for their career and figure out their goals in life. Three, as you grow older, you run out of time to "waste" by traveling abroad (social norms again), and Four - You would learn A LOT about yourself and others, making this nation a more peaceful and loving one in all aspects of society.

But anyways, one great option for this type of break is to be a gap year volunteer. Many people choose to volunteer during their gap year so they can go abroad and develop new ideas and respect for other people and the world in general. It's a very very good thing to consider.

Another idea for a gap year is to take an language immersion course abroad. It's not exactly college cause it's more of a go at your own pace type thing, but it's a very practical and worthy decision if this is your thing. For example, check out Spanish Immersion Argentina. If doing something "more practical" is peeking your interest more, or better sounding to your close minded parents, check out the learn Spanish video at youtube.

While these are great options, there are many others out there as well for a potential gap year. So look around, evaluate your options, and make an informed decision.

Manchester is the state's largest city, coming in a bit over 100,000 people, and it has a rich history. It has decent shopping, pretty good restaurants, and a few historical buildings to look at.

So if you are in the New England area and looking for a more "urban" setting to stay in, check out Manchester NH Hotels, which includes the always solid hospitality franchise Holiday Inn Salem.

As for where to go in Nepal, Kathmandu is basically the place to go. Kathmandu is the cultural center of Nepal and is home to an interesting and unique culture. As for traveling in the region, Kathmandu Hotels are affordable to say the least. Within Kathmandu, what is there to do? A favorite of many travelers is Durbar Square, which is World Heritage worth temple and courtyard complex within the old part of town.

There are a host of other Nepal attractions available to travelers who are exploring this Buddhist culture, so maybe consider Nepal when planning your next "off the beaten path" trip.

Once you've got the horrendous flight out of the way, it's time to hit up the Krabi beaches. Beaches are the top attractions in Thailand because of their pristine conditions and natural beauty. In addition to being able to lay around on the beaches, scuba diving, wandering around, and rock climbing are a few more active activities available to Thai Travelers.

So if you're looking for a budget friendly beach getaway, Thailand is a good option.