IT’S SAID that every journey begins with a single step — a gap-year trip is no different. Take that first step by visiting The Times Gap Year Show.

After last year’s success, this year the show has gone national over two weekends in different parts of the country. At Manchester G-MEX on Friday and Saturday November 10-11, from 10am-5pm, and in London at ExCel on Friday and Saturday November 17-18, from 10am-5pm, scores of travel companies and other gap-year specialists will be on hand to help you take time out, whatever your age. And whatever your interest — career gaps, gap-year travel, jobs, projects, lifestyle or student travel — our exhibitors will be able to give you new ideas.

Remember those travelling dreams will need to be paid for with hard cash. At the show you will be able to find out who is offering seasonal work, internships, grants, work experience and industry placements. For one-to-one advice visit the independent gap experts at our Gap Advice Centre, sponsored by The Year Out Group and www.Gapadvice.org. Teachers and careers officers will find a dedicated space to talk about their school gap requirements in the Beta network lounge while their students explore the show.

Central stages at both venues will be buzzing with celebrity interviews, giant video screens and live performances of world music.

Gain some 'soft' skills while having some soft adventures
Carol Lewis, Career Editor, agues that going abroad for extended periods is a good idea because it allows you to go to places too remote to reach in the average two-week break.

Useful contacts

Eden by way of Kenya
Five months into their round-the-world trip, Nick Tims reports from Africa on the family's need for some beach time after months spent on safari in Tanzania.

A guide to the long stretch
A well-planned gap year can make you much more attractive to employers. Carly Chynoweth offers ten suggestions for getting the greatest capital from it.

They've got a ticket to ride
Linley Lewis 24, and Will Hayler, 23, were inspired by their gap trip between school and university to set up Ticket to Ride, a company that specialises in gap-year surfing adventures.

How a gap year helped me to shun college and join the police
A gap year volunteering on a development project in rural Tanzania, convinced Charlotte McClean to spend the rest of her career working in the community.

Lose a year, find yourself
If your only reason for travelling in your gap year is to build up your CV, you’d do better to spend the time and money on a therapist, says Oliver James

Time to take the plunge
You used to be labelled a hippy if you left work to travel. Now smart companies are encouraging staff to take time off and keep their job open for them

Travel broadens the CV
Having left the UK with no idea how long she would be gone for, Emma Guidon, has based her career on skills learnt teaching English abroad, where she also met her Turkish husband

Have bus pass, will travel
It takes courage to survive and enjoy a year travelling the world. To do it for three years is all the more impressive and Gillian Woodward did it at the age of 60.

A trip to paradise with the companion from hell
Gemma Fielding loved Mexico, but hated the person she was there with. Read her story and find out how you can avoid rowing with your travel-buddy.

Please can I go home now?
Have you ever heard of someone going travelling and not having the time of their life? Gavin Murphy looks back on his disastrous time in Latin America

NEED TO KNOW

To book: Visit the website www.gapyearshow.com. Tickets cost £7 each. Times readers can buy two tickets for the price of one. See offer below.

Getting there: Manchester G-MEX, Windmill Street, Manchester M2 3GX (0161-834 2700). Easily accessible by road, rail and Metrolink, with extensive parking. London ExCel, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL (020-7069 5000). Accessible by road and Docklands Light Railway (alight at Custom House station), with ample parking.

TWO FOR ONE TICKET OFFER

Save £7! Times readers can get two tickets for the price of one for The Times Gap Year Show in London and Manchester. Just go to www.gapyearshow.com and type in offer code: TGYS06TIM1 on the booking form (and get a chance to win a trip to Australia, with STA Travel and Qantas). Or print off this page fill out your details below and bring it with you to the show:

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