For all those looking for something a bit different there is a new craze sweeping the nation- volunteer tourism, also known as volunteerism.

Whether the children have now finally flown the nest, or you are becoming bored of lying in the sun for two weeks, it may be time to give something back on your next trip abroad.

From the salt flats in Bolivia to Everest base camp and the rainforest of Borneo, there are plenty of thrilling destinations where you can take advantage of new found freedom - the world is your oyster.

And you won't be alone either as it appears the over 50s are now keener than ever to follow their gap year-travelling children and explore the world.

The result? 26% of women are expressing a desire to experience the road less travelled, with a similar number saying they want to do something worthwhile whilst abroad - and 14% of children are now jealous of their mum’s holiday plans.

So if you worried that getting older meant holidays pottering around local gardens or bus trips to the coast then now is the time to breathe a huge sigh of relief and join the legion of fabulous women who are quite simply taking the world by storm.

In our following podcast travel writer Lucy Daltroff and Susan Hopper, CEO of Saga Holidays and a woman who is most definitely embracing her age, explain how you can be 50 and fabulous and how a spot of volunteerism may just do the trick...

For more information visit www.sagaholidays.co.uk