My son disappeared off on his 'gap year' recently. It was not actually a gap year at all, but six weeks travelling round the Far East. Was I worried, as I waved him goodbye at Heathrow airport - his brand new backpack digging into his shoulders? Yes, if I'm honest. I was filled with a combination of fear and pride. He had worked hard, post-university, and saved up for his travels. So I felt he deserved it. And I hoped, desperately, that he would have an interesting - and safe - time. But is there any point in this gap year travel… beyond having a long holiday? Just what do we imagine our young people get out of this experience?

Any long haul trip requires organisational skills - so that's one box we can tick. My son found the complexities of sorting out phone insurance, cash passports, visas, photocopies of EVERYTHING all quite a tall order before he left. Part of him just wanted to go away and not bother with all the 'just in case' stuff. But by the time he waved me goodbye at Heathrow he had understood the value of it. In fact, he texted me from Dubai airport asking me to send him another scan of some document or other. Why? Because "you’ve got me neurotic now, mum". Good, I thought… neurotic equals sensible.

A sense of self-reliance. One of his friends developed a form of typhoid not long into their trip. The boys marched him off to hospital within two days and he was better within five. The doctors told them they had been sensible to bring him in so quickly. Another boy on the same ward - also from the UK - had a similar illness; he had been 'self medicating' for six days before he finally sought help. The medics were less confident of his full recovery.

An understanding and respect for other societies, their customs and history is a valuable lesson. And fun and is obviously key - as long as they stay safe (bungee jump anyone?).

So are these the reasons why 2.5 million youngsters plan to go travelling every year? And if so, does it prepare them for the world…or for university? Interestingly, the figures demonstrate that kids who take a gap year before they go to university are more likely to graduate with a First or Upper Second Class degree.

And what of employers? Surveys show that employers generally view gap years favourably. However, they do look for achievements beyond 'twenty bars in twenty days'; some evidence of self-improvement is considered desirable.

So, on balance… are gap years a good thing? And if so, are they wasted on the young?

There's a growing trend towards the older gap year traveller. I have several friends who have decided that if their children can do it, they can do it too. One chum disappeared off to India with her sister recently, leaving husbands and kids to fend for themselves. Touring the southern district of Kerala, they had a wonderful time, finding accommodation in 'home stays' - the Indian equivalent of the British B&B - or in tiny guesthouses that provided mosquito nets and the occasional swimming pool at a very reasonable price. They ate street food and travelled by bus. They saw, heard, and experienced things you simply don't get near to when you're tucked safely up in a four star hotel.

Another couple set off to trek round South East Asia. "Why?" I asked the wife, only slightly incredulously, before she left. "Because Ben (their recently married son) will be having babies soon, which means I'll never get another chance to be away for so long." She has a point.

One of my dearest friends invited me to go to India with her last month; I am tempted. My husband says he wants to see Australia and New Zealand before he's "too old to enjoy it", and I need to go to China to do some research for my next book. Looking at the map, the destinations seem to flow rather neatly from one to the other. Perhaps my own gap year is beckoning…

Now then, where can I buy a stylish, comfortable backpack?

Debbie's new book The Secrets of the Tower is published by Bookouture and is available from Amazon.