Avid traveler Kate Cooper backpacked for 4 years before settling in New Zealand to edit online magazine, Mad Travel Mag. The world might have been hit by a recession, but Kate share’s her reasons why now is actually the best time to travel…

There were a few reasons that I postponed my ‘year out’ or ‘gap year’; my first excuse was that I was afraid to go traveling by myself and couldn’t work out if I should travel alone or with friends. But to be honest, if you stay on the main backpacking routes and don’t go to places known to be unsafe then you’re going to be okay if you do choose to travel alone. You just have to be sensible and don’t put yourself in unnecessary danger. Don’t accept that lift from the dodgy looking fella you’ve just met, and it’s probably wise not to hitch-hike! The biggest thing that put me off traveling, though, was money.

So here are a few reasons why now is the best time to stop thinking about and just start traveling!

Number 1 – Selflessness
With the current global financial crisis, people around the world are either having trouble finding a job, keeping a job or justifying to their boss that they are entitled to a pay rise. So, why not take a year out? You probably won’t make that much money if you work this year anyway so what better excuse to give up the miserable 9 to 5 life, plus you can cheer yourself up by thinking that you’re doing a good deed to the company you work for and your colleagues! They may let you have extended unpaid leave because they’ll be happy that there’s one less person to pay, and your colleagues will be happy because there’s less likelihood of redundancy! Give yourself a pat on the back for being so selfless by being a globe-trotter!

Number 2 – Spread Happiness
Everyone at home is miserable because they can’t afford to go out  or they’re struggling to pay for all those things they bought on credit, and all they do is whine! Rather than be brought down too, you should surround yourself with happy people. Happy people tend to be those that are on holiday at the beach or doing things they never dreamed of doing. Be one of those happy people and spread the happiness further by lying on a beach as well… and knowing at the same time that you wouldn’t have been this happy at home…

Number 3 – Save $$$$
Flights are getting cheaper, accommodation is getting cheaper, tours and activities are getting cheaper! Why? That financial crisis again… Even better deals can be found in destinations that are currently in their low season. Find out which countries – and fly there asap! Tourism operators need an income, so in off-peak seasons they’ll do everything they can to attract as many people as possible to them. This includes heavy discounts and including lots of free stuff to entice you to their product. You can be safe in the knowledge that by traveling to a country in it’s ‘off season’, in addition to there being a financial crisis, you are in fact saving yourself loads of money!

Number 4 – More Cash
Depending on where you’re from, you may find that your currency is still strong against others. In addition to all the savings you’re making by getting loads of discounts and free stuff, your money could actually stretch further. Check with your local bank or exchange bureau for up to the minute news on which country is going to be the cheapest for you to have an adventure in..

Now really is the best time to travel. You can have fun, save money and be smug that you’re sunning yourself while your friends at home are miserably concerned with the credit crunch!

Mad Travel Mag has articles written by Kate (including How to Save Money When Traveling) and other backpackers, for backpackers. The website also has a social network where travelers can meet and ask each other questions in the forum.