With no nine-to-five job or dependent children, young people can simply pack their bags on a whim and head off to see the world.

And with cheap air fares and budget hotels all over the world, they have more choices, and more reasons than ever, to travel.

Oh, and of course, willing parents who foot the bill, or least part of it.

We spoke to some young people to find out where they hung out for their holidays recently.

REDANG, MALAYSIA

This is one of the cheapest of budget destinations.

A three-day trip to Redang last month offered Lee On Yee, 19, and two of her junior college friends the time of their lives.

After two months of research online, they settled on the lowest price for the trip, at only $400 per person.

This included a coach and ferry ride to the island, and their hotel stay.

There were spectacular beaches with sand that On Yee likened ?to fine sugar running through one?s fingers?.

The rental of snorkelling gear set them back $50 each for a three-hour session, but it brought them closer to marine life, such as corals, urchins and exotic fishes.

She said: "We saw jellyfish which looked like tiny plastic bags floating about, and even garoupa and pomfret.

"It was really weird seeing your dinner swimming in the sea."

On Yee gave two thumbs-up for this budget destination.

"Honestly, where else can you get a trip where you can see your friends - dishevelled hair and all - floating in the sea and sputtering about, at such low cost?"

Perfect getaway for those who want the sun, the sea and yes, even baby sharks.

SHANGHAI, CHINA

The gardens in Shanghai were in full bloom last summer.

Miss Tania Chin, 23, a law undergraduate, spent two weeks in China last June.

She also visited Hangzhou and Suzhou.

She planned the entire trip herself. Budget hotels and flights were booked online.

The total bill: $1,000.

Miss Chin enjoyed soaking in the cultural sights and meeting the people.

She said: "A friend and I used the school break to discover (China) for ourselves."

It was easy to go sight-seeing on a budget in Shanghai. Accommodation and transport were affordable, and most museums and galleries were located within easy reach.

Also, contrary to popular belief, the streets of Shanghai were relatively easy to move around in, as long as one had an adequate grasp of Chinese.

However, Miss Chin recommended travelling around by taxi.

"The roads are pretty congested and, coupled with the summer heat, travelling by public transport got quite unbearable at times. A taxi is a cooler alternative."

She said the taxi fare is about two-thirds of what it is in Singapore.

By the way, tailoring costs in Shanghai are low: Miss Chin had a shirt tailored for just $15 there.

HONG KONG

After her A-level exams, Genevieve Wong and her friends took a well-deserved break in Hong Kong last month.

Their five-day trip involved a lot of shopping and eating.

"The dim sum was more reasonably priced there, with many varieties and better quality," said Genevieve.

Shopping was affordable, with many designs and brands not found in Singapore, such as popular clothing brand H&M.

"Hong Kong offers something different from the usual Singapore street styles.

"Some of the upmarket brands were also cheaper because shops don't charge tax. The (seasonal collections) featured at most internationalbrand outlets were also newer," she said.

One good way of saving money is to book your air tickets very early.

"We paid $500 on the air tickets, but if we had booked even earlier than two months ahead, it would have been cheaper."

Here's what also helped:

They paid only a small sum on their first night at a five-star hotel because one of their parents had a privilege membership.

They also took advantage of their parents' corporate discounts on hotels during the rest of their stay.

Her total expenditure: $1,000

BINTAN

Think sunny, sandy haven, and Bintan may be the closest place that comes to mind.

Student Arhshath Kaleni, 19, and four of his friends booked a three-bedroom villa at Bintan Lagoon Resort for a two-night stay for $250 earlier this year.

They split the bill, which made the stay affordable and fun.

There are even cheaper hotel alternatives on the island.

For an exhilarating adventure, quad-bikes can be rented for $60 an hour.

This can be arranged by the resort.

If that seems tame, go-karting is an alternative for speed-demons. An hour of fun goes for $80.

And a day sunbathing on the beach costs absolutely nothing.

The beach seems like an endless expanse that stretches into the horizon, and there is no better or cheaper place to get sand in your toes, and enjoy life.

This article was first published in The New Paper, April 18 2008.