![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
You need a trusted person at home (especially useful if you can remember their phone number!), a photocopy and scanner(optional), your passports, the emergency numbers for your ATM/Credit Cards, your travel Insurance Document and emergency numbers.
Photocopy your passport - if you're travelling with someone, get a copy with both passports on the same piece of paper. Leave a copy with your trusted friend/family at home - next, have one each in an accessible place - you will be asked to for passport details on checking into many hostels and hotels - you don't want to be rummaging around under your clothes every time - the only people that need to see your identification are border guards and police (and if you get asked by police, go to the police station with them, do not hand over passports on the street - common street scam). Finally, for extra security you can scan a copy of your passport and email it to your self, in the event of losing everything.
Copy down all the emergency telephone numbers for your credit/ATM cards onto two pieces of paper, one for your underclothes wallet, one for a trusted person at home. Also email a copy to your on-line web mail account. In the event of a robbery, it is crucial that you contact these numbers as quickly as possible to avoid being liable for any losses to your accounts.
Get two copies of your travel insurance document, one for your underclothes wallet, and one for your trusted home person.
http://www.hotelharjaspalace.com
There are lots of things to do before you travel - by being prepared your journey will go more smoothly, and in the event of an emergency you will have a fall-back.
Visit (links to government sites): US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland all have travel advice sites. (TBA)
Passports and Visas
For every country you want to visit - find out if you need a visa. For a list of embassy and consulate websites, visaproject.com is a site that can help you. Check it out.
Examples: European Union - citizens of member countries can travel around freely, no visas required. Americans can travel to the European Union without visas - be aware that not all of Europe is part of the European Union - Ukraine is not a member and many nationalities need a visa. Europeans need a visa for visiting Australia!
Before applying for a visa, check out your passport, how long is it valid for ? If it is not valid for more than 6 months after the expected end of your travels - get it renewed - many countries require you to have a period of validity on your passport of 6 months beyond your entry, for example Australia.
TravelTIP: Look after your passport - on the road it is one of your two most important possessions, the other being your money/atm/credit card. Do not let these get damaged or stolen. Get an under-clothes wallet, and a watertight plastic bag that is slightly larger than your passport - a zip locking freezer bag is suitable, with a piece of rigid (but thin plastic) that is the same size - place your atm card, credit card, rigid plastic and passport inside the water tight bag, and place all this in your under-clothes wallet. Keep some of your money, a photocopy of your passport in a more accessible place, as you'll be asked for your passport details quite often for administrative purposes, such as checking in to hostels and hotels - so use the photocopy instead.
http://www.dashotels.net
Where is your money going to come from on the road? Experienced travellers usually have a variety of sources. Hard currency - US Dollars, Euros, GBP ( Pounds Sterling) in that order are the most readily exchangeable (nearer Europe swap the Euro and dollars position) - it's recommended that you have about enough cash for a week of survival (lodgings, food) in your destination. Avoid using this money - you'll lose out on exchange rates trying to get it back later.
Next - your credit card and your ATM card - make sure that they don't expire mid trip! Get replacements if this is the case. Some people recommend splitting the locations of cards between your pack and your person - the logic being - if you are robbed and your stash is discovered, then at least you'll have some money/ATM card elsewhere. I keep my cards on my person and hide some of my cash in my pack My logic is "if I'm robbed - my pack is the most likely thing that would be taken, from the top of a bus or when sleeping on a train, so why lose something as important as an ATM card ?"
http://www.dashotels.net
Always carry a small medical kit, which should include: bandages, pain killers, antiseptic wipes, antiseptic cream, plasters, scissors, throat soothing tablets, iodine, diarrhea tablets, etc. Put this in your backpack, not your daypack (carry on luggage), when flying - to avoid problems with airport security.
http://www.dashotels.net
Right, so you have all this stuff and you have to get it into this now much smaller backpack. Packing will become second nature to you after months on the road, but for now it's all new. How do you do it ?
Simple tips: keep the heavy things towards the bottom of your pack, put the lighter stuff and things you'll need soonest nearer the top, not forgetting to make guide books easily accessible.
http://www.dashotels.net
Hire a car or buy a car ? Buying a car in New Zealand is really popular. For some the road trip is the ultimate form of travel. Independence, complete and total, and you can go places that no bus or train could get you to. Two major options - buy a car, only applicable in some countries, and you have to consider insurance requirements, and other legal requirements. Also if you own a car and it goes wrong you bear the cost of putting it right. Renting a car is a simpler option - but can be more costly. However, it has the ultimate flexibility of not having to be responsible for any repairs, or selling the vehicle at the end of your travels. Do be aware accidents and claims against the insurance of the vehicle might apply to your insurance when back home.
http://www.dashotels.net
Hire a car or buy a car ? Buying a car in New Zealand is really popular. For some the road trip is the ultimate form of travel. Independence, complete and total, and you can go places that no bus or train could get you to. Two major options - buy a car, only applicable in some countries, and you have to consider insurance requirements, and other legal requirements. Also if you own a car and it goes wrong you bear the cost of putting it right. Renting a car is a simpler option - but can be more costly. However, it has the ultimate flexibility of not having to be responsible for any repairs, or selling the vehicle at the end of your travels. Do be aware accidents and claims against the insurance of the vehicle might apply to your insurance when back home.
http://www.dashotels.net
The single most popular form of travel for the independent traveler. Fast, economically the cheapest, with a high safety record, the jet plane has revolutionized the travel industry. Had Jules Verne been alive today we would have been reading "Around the world in 80 hours", which gives some idea of the revolution that the jet has brought about. Unfortunately, despite its many advantages, there is one large negative to jet travel, which has been largely ignored until today. This is the huge amount of CO2 released during each flight. It is possible that as the world grows in knowledge and concern about the damage that this release causes, the cost of jet travel will rise. Combined with jet travel's dependency on oil, the age of cheap flights that we currently see might be limited.
Now back to the good news. Flights are at the moment cheap, plentiful, and go to just about everywhere; it seems in this day and age that there is nowhere in the world that is more than 48 hours from anywhere else.
Single tickets
Buying single tickets from place to place in the course of your travels is the most flexible way to travel. It is also more expensive than a return flight, or a Round the World Ticket. However - it is possible to pick up cheaper local options from local travel agents than you may find on the Internet, or from travel agents back home.
http://www.dashotels.net
Ok so you are planning to travel, and considering taking a suitcase:
Advantages of a suitcase are: easy access to the contents, less likely to get caught in baggage conveyors, easier to store, great in airports and hotels when the little wheels touch down and smoothly roll on the concourse floors.
Disadvantages You can't carry most suitcases for more than a few minutes. This is the main and most important disadvantage. From the point you decide to take a suitcase instead of a backpack you are tied to taking taxis, cars, booking your hotels and hostels in advance. You lose freedom. This is the advantage of a backpack and for the independent traveller freedom is one of the most important features of the journey.
http://www.dashotels.net
Backpackers Travel Insurance
The Travelblog Travel Guide tries to be as unbiased as possible, offering only the best advice and does not normally recommend particular products and companies. One exception is made here: for backpacker insurance, no company has yet offered a product that competes with World Nomads in terms of features and price. They offer travel insurance to all countries - (with sensible exceptions - you aren't covered for travel to war zones) - and do not leave out the most interesting places, like other insurance companies do. You can also purchase your insurance when you have already left! - Since most backpackers leave travel insurance to the last minute - and beyond - this is a fantastic feature. In addition, should you decide to stay on beyond your original travel dates, you can get a new policy on the Internet without having to be in your country of residence. For these reasons Travelblog Travel Guide unreservedly recommends World Nomads, but you should nevertheless still shop around.
http://www.dashotels.net
Travel Insurance is probably one of the most overlooked aspects of preparing for a trip. Getting the right insurance cover is very important. Choose the wrong policy and if the worst happens you could find that you are not covered - do be aware of what you are covered for and what you need to arrange separate insurance for. By the same rule, visiting a foreign country on a short city break is very low risk and you might well be covered for medical expenses by national reciprocal agreements. In this case, travel insurance recommended by many travel agents is extremely expensive, mainly due to commission plus administrative costs, and you will pay disproportionately to the risk by a huge factor.
http://www.dashotels.net
Historical/ Educational.
The world is full of interesting history, and kind souls globally have put the information on display for visitors to share. It is possible to go to books, encyclopedias and surf the web and learn vast amounts, but it's far more interesting to visit the scene of the events and assimilate the history where it all happened. The down- sides of this are that sometimes museums or sites have either only details in the local language, or perhaps a token amount in English. Some notable locations where history really comes to life, in not necessarily pleasant detail are:
Eastern Europe: learn about 2 world wars, oppression during Soviet occupation, crushed rebellions, and visit some of the most notorious locations in the world.
Vietnam: crawl through tunnels built by the Viet Cong.
Latin America: Pyramids and ancient cities from lost civilizations.
Another aspect of educational trips is learning a language. You'll find language schools in many countries, some providing home-stays with local families, allowing you to totally immerse yourself in the language.
Photographer's Paradise.
A camera, a lot of time, with fantastic, unusual scenery, people, and architecture to record - you've made it to photographer's paradise. This style of trip is more popular than you might think. Since trekking with tripods and lenses can be hard work, the intrepid photographer often sacrifices comfort for art. Although relatively few people make a full-time living from travel photography, (a few of the luckier and talented ones become famous and lead very interesting lives as a result their efforts), most travellers use photographs as a way to record their travels and preserve the memories forever.
"I have discovered photography. Now I can kill myself. I have nothing else to learn." -- Pablo Picasso
Picasso takes it a little to extremes, but photography is an art form, which is very useful to all types of traveller.
Party Tour!
Party Tours such as round the party Islands of Phonon Keng, booze trips down the eastern coast of Australia or on one of the infamous party buses, such as the Kiwi Experience are in abundance. If lots of drink, good company and hangovers on luxury 57 seater coaches with a party in a different town each day is your idea of fun, this is an ideal option.
Growing and Knowing Together.
Taking some real time to get to know your partner is common, and what better way to do it than to see the world together. Though be warned: there is a risk that sometimes when the chips are down and the stress levels are up, the strain can tell. Can the relationship survive the stresses, strains and temptations of an extended period of travel ? If it can, one of the most colorful and exciting experiences of your life will be enhanced by becoming a shared experience with a chosen partner.
http://www.dashotels.net
The biggest mistake the new independent traveller ever makes is taking too much. Trying to be prepared for everything you will encounter in an extended period away, will mean that you have too much in your pack and are not prepared for the everyday reality of travel, when you have to carry that pack. Even if you are strong, a heavy pack will dig into your shoulders causing pain and backache a lot faster than you might imagine.
TravelTip! - 15Kg (33lbs) should be your maximum. To weigh your pack, stand on some scales, note the weight, put on your pack, and stand on the scales again. Subtract the first number from the second and you have your pack weight. Or you could simply put your backpack on the scales and get its weight without having to do the maths.
Now that said, some people will of necessity carry more. The photographer, musician, or diving instructor will often take extra heavy but essential equipment. That's a decision for them and no doubt there will be days when the extra weight is quietly cursed.
Essentials:
Backpack or suitcase
Clothing;(Hot/Normal Destination)
Wind and waterproof jacket - try to get one that is breatheable.
Fleece, designed for under the jacket when cold and wet, or used on its own when just cold.
2x Lightweight shirts/blouses - long sleeves - for warm nights with mosquitos about, and which can double up as slightly smarter wear.
2x Light weight travel trousers, long legs, suitable for trekking. Consider zip off trousers/pants that turn into shorts.
3x Tshirts
2x shorts/skirts.
Socks and underwear - matter of some debate, between 5 and 10 pairs.
Shoes - designed for hiking/walking, but also not so shabby as to look out of place in a restaurant.
Sandals - for when you're not wearing the shoes.
Plastic slippers - known as thongs, flip flops as well, for use in showers or just lounging around.
Second bag - light weight, collapses down to a small size, designed to be packed away 90% of the time
Duct Tape - essential, massively strong tape good for fixing just about anything. Black electrical tape, slightly different uses.
Guidebook - maximum two - one for your destination and the next area, you'll have to pick up the rest as you go, carrying too many is crazy.
First Aid Kit - bandages, disinfectant wipes, antiseptic cream, pain killers.
Sun glasses - get a good quality pair that protects against UV in your home country, those on the streets often come from dubious origin and may not protect your eyes again harmful UV rays.
Swimsuit
Sleeping bag - for the occasions where you don't have bedding provided, or you don't trust it.
Silk or cotton sleeping bag insert.
Earplugs - if you can wear these, they are an essential. You will be in dormitories where someone snores, where the doors bang, where the sound of the motorway next door is too loud for sleep. Earplugs will allow you to sleep when otherwise you can't.
Nice to Haves:
Fiction books - take two paperbacks, when you've read one, trade it for another - hostels often have a trade bookshelf.
Music Player - CD Player, Ipod, Cassettes, Minidisk - what you take is up to you. (See the techie part of this guide).
Camera - SLR or digital - as long as you have something to record your adventures. More in the toys section.
Torch - small one - a LED head torch is perfect, as it allows your hands to be free when in use.
http://www.dashotels.net
Historical/ Educational.
The world is full of interesting history, and kind souls globally have put the information on display for visitors to share. It is possible to go to books, encyclopedias and surf the web and learn vast amounts, but it's far more interesting to visit the scene of the events and assimilate the history where it all happened. The down- sides of this are that sometimes museums or sites have either only details in the local language, or perhaps a token amount in English. Some notable locations where history really comes to life, in not necessarily pleasant detail are:
Eastern Europe: learn about 2 world wars, oppression during Soviet occupation, crushed rebellions, and visit some of the most notorious locations in the world.
Vietnam: crawl through tunnels built by the Viet Cong.
Latin America: Pyramids and ancient cities from lost civilizations.
Another aspect of educational trips is learning a language. You'll find language schools in many countries, some providing home-stays with local families, allowing you to totally immerse yourself in the language.
Photographer's Paradise.
A camera, a lot of time, with fantastic, unusual scenery, people, and architecture to record - you've made it to photographer's paradise. This style of trip is more popular than you might think. Since trekking with tripods and lenses can be hard work, the intrepid photographer often sacrifices comfort for art. Although relatively few people make a full-time living from travel photography, (a few of the luckier and talented ones become famous and lead very interesting lives as a result their efforts), most travellers use photographs as a way to record their travels and preserve the memories forever.
"I have discovered photography. Now I can kill myself. I have nothing else to learn." -- Pablo Picasso
Picasso takes it a little to extremes, but photography is an art form, which is very useful to all types of traveller.
Party Tour!
Party Tours such as round the party Islands of Phonon Keng, booze trips down the eastern coast of Australia or on one of the infamous party buses, such as the Kiwi Experience are in abundance. If lots of drink, good company and hangovers on luxury 57 seater coaches with a party in a different town each day is your idea of fun, this is an ideal option.
Growing and Knowing Together.
Taking some real time to get to know your partner is common, and what better way to do it than to see the world together. Though be warned: there is a risk that sometimes when the chips are down and the stress levels are up, the strain can tell. Can the relationship survive the stresses, strains and temptations of an extended period of travel ? If it can, one of the most colorful and exciting experiences of your life will be enhanced by becoming a shared experience with a chosen partner.
http://www.dashotels.net
Things to look for
Look for good country cover, particularly at the current time (early 2005), where policies sometimes do not include Thailand or other countries affected by the South East Asia Tsunami. Make sure that the activities that are covered include things like hitchhiking, hiking and if you foresee it - scuba diving, bungee jumping, normal team sports.
Don't always look at the headline figures - what are the chances of you need $1 million legal expenses? Much lower than you claiming on baggage lost in the airport.
If you are taking specific expensive items such as laptops and cameras, finding a general purpose travel insurance package that covers these items will be difficult. Make a decision here: get some quotes for specific insurance for these items, work out the cost of replacing the item - and choose whether or not to buy the often high premium or cover the cost of a potential replacement yourself.
http://www.dashotels.net
Many major airlines have clubbed together to form groups that offer Round the World Tickets. For the independent budget traveller this is the most economical way to see the world. Typically tickets cost around US$2000 and will see you completely circumnavigating the globe. Many are actually really flexible - you can call a number and have the date and time of your flight changed at very little or no cost - when you're choosing a ticket keep this as a consideration, chances are you will phone up and stay that bit longer somewhere.
What do you need to think about when purchasing a round the world ticket ? Locations, follow the rules of the ticket, some say you can only go in one direction - eg. East. However, for jet lag, it's easier going west! But for some reason going east is more popular.
Don't forget your visa! Some countries require visas even just for passing through - the big one to consider is the USA - make sure that you know what visa you require for the USA and if you need a transit visa.
How do round the world tickets work? Groups of airlines form alliances to offer near-global coverage. They then offer flights on the airline that covers each leg of the journey, which allows a round the world ticket to offer many more destinations.
Group One - StarAlliance
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore Airlines, Spanair, Thai Airways International, United, US Airways and VARIG
Features of a Star Alliance Round-the-World Ticket
You can travel with any member airline (there are some flight exceptions)
Start and end of your journey have to be located in the same country
Only one Atlantic and one Pacific crossing should be included in your itinerary.
Available for travel in First, Business or Economy Class! (where your budget traveler will find oneself)
There are usually fare levels. StarAlliance has levels allowing you to travel up to 29,000, 34,000 or 39,000 miles.
Fares will depend on the origin and the class of service of your journey.
There is no high season surcharge, so it does not matter when you depart. You simply need to determine the class of service and the total mileage you need. A major positive for the independent traveler.
If your journey originates in Canada, USA or Mexico, you can buy your ticket up to seven days before departure. In all other cases, you can buy your ticket at any time before you depart.
Your journey may last any time between 10 days and a year. You can change the dates of most of your flights at any time, except for those flights up to and including your first international or intercontinental journey. For a small fee, you will be permitted to change destinations.
You can take as few as three, or as many as 15 stopovers in different cities (within the permitted mileage). The maximum number of stopovers within certain regions may be limited.
These tickets are available from a travel agent representing one of the airlines in the group.
http://www.dashotels.net
Career Break
Job just getting too much at the moment ? Ask your employer for a career break. If you do and if it's a choice between a resignation or a sabbatical, many employers will opt for the sabbatical. One of the advantages of this approach is that of security, you know you have a job to go back to, though there is a disadvantage - you know you've got a job to go back to.
The other option, resignation, is sometimes preferable - perhaps if the job market is bad, or if a change in direction is wanted. Employers often respect time out to go travelling rather than being unemployed.
Satisfying a case of wanderlust.
Itchy feet? - you've got either athletes' foot or a strong case of wanderlust. There is only one thing to do. Get out there and see some things. You probably know where you want to go, maybe it's a specific thing - do you have a Japan fetish ? Well go - it's cheaper than you think. Take the time you need and do it.
If you still have itchy feet - there are a huge number of athletes' foot cures available at your local pharmacy. Still got a problem ? - uh oh - you've caught the travel bug - there is only one cure for this particular disease.
Something I have to do before I die.
This slightly morbid heading goes to the category of wish fulfillment, for some it's seeing the Taj Mahal, for others scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, or climbing the Himalayas - you know what it is, go do it.
http://www.dashotels.net
Whatever your circumstances you can go somewhere - the biggest limiting factors will be how far and for how long. To really experience life in another culture you need time, as much time as you can get. All we can suggest at this point is get as long as you can. A round the world trip in 9 months will feel rushed, 9 months in a city and you'll feel like you know it well. 9 months studying a foreign language and you'll be pretty good and in some cases fluent. Conversely - some will get itchy feet after a week in one place.
Budget
Your budget and commitments will limit how far you can go and for how long. Find out the typical daily expenses for where you want to go, including flight costs. Also don't forget to factor in overland transport costs to your calculations. A region will always have expensive hot spots, so you can save money by avoiding these areas and concentrate on other less expensive areas. By stretching your cash you will see more and worry less about things when you get back.
Commitments
Sorry everyone I can't pay off your mortgage, or lead you to the fountain of perpetual money. It's human nature to get into situations where we have commitments.
Some ideas to help you travel and keep up the commitments: re-mortgage the house, you only live once. Rent out the house for a year. Take the kids along, or send them to live with their grandparents for a year - both generations will love it.
Take at least a month
It is our considered opinion that a month is the minimum amount of time for a worthwhile travel break. It sometimes takes up to a week to recover from jet lag, so you need this length of time to recoup and enjoy the remaining weeks. So take a month and enjoy it.
http://www.dashotels.net
Whatever your circumstances you can go somewhere - the biggest limiting factors will be how far and for how long. To really experience life in another culture you need time, as much time as you can get. All we can suggest at this point is get as long as you can. A round the world trip in 9 months will feel rushed, 9 months in a city and you'll feel like you know it well. 9 months studying a foreign language and you'll be pretty good and in some cases fluent. Conversely - some will get itchy feet after a week in one place.
Budget
Your budget and commitments will limit how far you can go and for how long. Find out the typical daily expenses for where you want to go, including flight costs. Also don't forget to factor in overland transport costs to your calculations. A region will always have expensive hot spots, so you can save money by avoiding these areas and concentrate on other less expensive areas. By stretching your cash you will see more and worry less about things when you get back.
Commitments
Sorry everyone I can't pay off your mortgage, or lead you to the fountain of perpetual money. It's human nature to get into situations where we have commitments.
Some ideas to help you travel and keep up the commitments: re-mortgage the house, you only live once. Rent out the house for a year. Take the kids along, or send them to live with their grandparents for a year - both generations will love it.
Take at least a month
It is our considered opinion that a month is the minimum amount of time for a worthwhile travel break. It sometimes takes up to a week to recover from jet lag, so you need this length of time to recoup and enjoy the remaining weeks. So take a month and enjoy it.
http://www.dashotels.net
Just having a vague notion to travel and see the world won't get you far. You need to firm up those ideas and form a plan - if you don't you'll never leave! Many people will say that they always wanted to travel but never had the opportunity. In reality many of these people never created that opportunity; there is a subtle difference. Looking into the details, getting a firm plan and then telling people what you are going to do are a good way to begin.
Inspiration.
Where do you want to go? The world is huge, really huge. One life-time would never be enough to see it all, so get an idea of what you want to see and experience. You only have a limited amount of life - and probably a more limited amount of time and finance to travel. So what are you going to do with it? The first step is to decide what kind of journey you want to go on. To do this you need inspiration.
Where to find inspiration? Read, research your ideas, think about where you want to go. You can take inspiration from :
Travel Magazines - usually, glossy high impact brochures on destinations world wide, ranging from The National Geographic to the pullouts from the weekend papers; there is a lot of material around. The problem is that it's unlikely that your experiences will match those shown in the magazines. Why? In the case of the National Geographic their reporters are often researching one particular aspect of a subject, or a society, spend months getting to know the subject, take thousands of photos, and produce an article just a few thousand of words in length. They know the topic inside out, but have they experienced all the region has to offer ? On the other hand, glossy magazines often provide content supporting the lifestyles and types of holiday for which the magazine can push advertising. Hence the glossy magazines' emphasis on luxury. An article on backpacking is not going to support the cruise liner advertising on its opposite page.
TV Travel Shows - in my time I have seen some amazing TV shows - BBC TV's the Rough Guide Series (not to be confused with the travel guides of the same name) - was inspirational; a mix of footage, sensationalism, culture, music and facts blasted at high speed in the now defunct def2 format (I'm showing my age now). Michael Palin has inspired a generation of Round the World Travellers, though most don't try to do it in 80 days. The holiday shows, "wish you were here" and "holiday 2000's" are aimed at the short breaks mass market - and the mass market buyers only give themselves two weeks a year to enjoy themselves.
Books - such as travelling around Ireland with a fridge (who would have thought that this book would be a best seller. People do equally crazy things all the time, they just don't have the flare for humor that Tony Hawks is blessed with, nor do they skateboard as well), or Bill Bryson and his observations on tiny cultural habits and behavior, set in the grand scheme of road trips.
http://www.dashotels.net
