If you're tired of the same old holidays with the same old faces now could be the perfect time to make a break from tradition and take a holiday off the beaten track.  Instead of sticking to the well-worn track that hundreds of thousands and even millions of tourists have walked before you, why not strike out on a new route and discover something new and different?  You'd be surprised how easy this is to do even on a tiny budget, in fact it may even be easier!  If you allow yourself to be flexible with your destination and your transport options you'll be amazed at where you can end up.

First things first, keep an eye on all of the cheap flights sales and websites.  Even the smallest outside factor can spark a flight sale, such as the airline getting less bookings than expected, or perhaps the opening up of a new route or the presence of a competing airline.  If you have a vague notion of the region you'd like to visit (South America, Africa, Asia, and so forth), it shouldn't be too long before a suitable flight becomes available.  The key with flights deals is to remember that they may send you on a different route, they may have some stop-overs in other locations, and they may terminate in a regional airport (rather than a central airport).  If you're looking for a holiday that sends you 'off the beaten track' then this style of flight is perfect: you get to visit unusual destinations (even if it's only on a stop-over) and if you're landing in a regional centre you will find yourself in a non-tourist area the second you get off the plane.  In fact even if you don't mind paying a bit extra for the standard airfares with the more expensive airlines it can be worth investigating the possibility of landing in a regional rather than national centre, simply because you can instantly experience what life is like for the locals.  'Tourist reality' is best avoided if you are trying to have a vacation that strays from the norm.

If you're keen to get into the 'real' areas of the country or countries you are visiting but you are concerned about language barriers or even cultural differences, you might want to look around for a travel guide or even a small tour.  There are a number of companies that offer such services into the regional areas of South America, north and south Africa, the Middle East, north and south-east Asia, and even the Pacific islands.  Whilst you won't be discovering the area you visit on your own, you will still be 'roughing it' to a certain extent, and you will have the additional ability to communicate through your guide with all the locals you meet during your travels.  This can be one of the most enjoyable ways to visit a region that is virtually untouched by the tourist trade without putting yourself in danger or finding yourself terribly lost.