Asia/Europe Travels 2008: Kuala Lumpur Thailand Laos Vietnam Germany Austria Prague (Czech Republic)
Poland Vilnius (Lithuania) Riga (Latvia) Berlin London (UK) Amsterdam (Holland) Dublin (Ireland) Hamburg

Travel Tips

Here are some general travel tips which I have picked up over the last couple of months. I thought I had things pretty worked out before I left, but there are a few things I wish I had thought of which would have made life a little easier. Still, ironically it is occasionally the mishaps that can sometimes lead to the best travel encounters, meetings and stories, so I put it here merely for those interested. I am sure everyone will find at least one thing useful in here regardless of where you are travelling to =). You might want to try this awesome product, Clickbank Code!.

General Travel Tips What to bring? Travel light! Depending on where you are going, the most common advice is to travel light. It will make you more flexible with regard to transport options, and carting your gear around will be less of a nightmare. I bought a case in Australia which is medium size, can be used as both a rucksack and has wheels for pulling along behind you. It cost $160 AU and has stood up fine for the entire trip, plus can be locked using the zips. It really depends on where you are going, but getting the right pack for your holiday is definitely worth while. Whilst you will hopefully find some interesting tips on this page, you can't go past the Europe On A Shoestring guide pictured on the right. This book helped us find the cheaper ways to travel in Europe, and it has plenty of fantastic background reading and general travel information. If you are going to Europe and need to save some cash, then get this book now!

Prepare yourself in case your stuff gets nicked

Get a photocopy of your passport and leave it in your case and do the same with drivers license and other documents that you can use to prove you are you if you lose your most valuable passport (and trust me, it does happen).

If you have a digital camera, back up the photos on a couple of thumb drives and keep them separate from your camera. Maybe even burn them to a cd and post it home. You really don't want to lose your pics as they will be worth a lot more to you in the future. Again, this seems to happen to a lot of people, i.e. you hear "i lost all my photos... etc".

Always have cash at hand

If you are travelling alone, it would be good to have another source of cash. Maybe get out some Euros and stash them away in your pack in case your wallet gets stolen, or bring two cards and keep them separate etc. It is also good to have access to a large amount of cash in case of a medical emergency, as your travel insurance won't cover expenses up front. I have heard many a story related to this, and of course everyone thinks it won't happen to them, but it doesn't hurt to have something planned just in case. Also it is good to have insurance documents on you in person incase your bag goes missing with the insurance details inside.

Bring an mp3 player as most trips involve a lot of travelling... but heaps get nicked so maybe buy a cheap one for about $30AU or something. Perhaps bringing your expensive iPod is not the best idea (plus it makes you a target for thieves) but if there is ever a time to use one, then I guess this is it! Trains, planes, buses, boats, nights in backpackers when you can't sleep but everyone else is... etc etc.

Bring a laptop... maybe

you may want to bring a laptop as it is incredibly useful. If you do however, perhaps bring one which is both cheap and light. I sold my own laptop and bought one of the cheap MSI Wind Notebooks which was lacking a CD drive and had lower specs than larger ones, but it was very light and I ended up spending hundreds of hours typing up my online journal, editing photos, and checking out attractions, accommodation and other travellers journals. I think if I had to pay for all the otherwise free internet access I had it would have cost me a few hundred dollars. You also have a familiar keyboard, i.e. in some places, symbols and letters are swapped around for ease of use in the native languages of the region.

Viruses and Communal Computers

I actually picked up a virus when using a thumb drive on a hostel computer and I have heard of other similar stories. Most of the hostel computers you come across are riddled with Spyware, password keystroke loggers and other nasties, so checking things like bank details and accounts can be a little risky. Having a laptop in this day and age was a big help. I also heard from a guy who had bought the same model laptop as me and he had it stolen out of his hostel room, so it is also a burden and a liability if you aren't going to use it much. Plus I would always recommend backing up important info on USB sticks stored away from the laptop, and using a password to protect your valuable information/pictures/documents/etc.

Booking Accommodation

Word of mouth is a great way to hear about those little gems in your travels, and this includes accommodation. A good hostel can make a world of difference to your holiday, so here are my thoughts on the subject. If you are going in high season, book ahead - this way you can get the good hostels/hotels. If you don't know anything about the place then check out hostel bookers, or hostel world. They have a list of the various accommodation options for the area of interest and a bunch of write ups about the place which give you a feel for the place. Some focus on being clean, some on creating a good vibe and pride themselves on being the catalyst to good times. Others are just plain cheap. Some boast a number of facilities but will try and rip you off in other ways and this is why it is good to read the feedback from other people who have stayed there. Especially places like Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos etc there are a lot of scams and people trying to rip you off, so this information is very valuable.

If you are going to a poorer country, it is best to book your accommodation at least a day before. If you wait until you rock up somewhere you may be harassed by people working for the various hotels as soon as you get off the bus/train/plane/boat etc. They will ask you "have you got accommodation booked?" if you say no, they will stick to you like glue asking you to have a look at their room and if you don't like, no problem etc. If you say yes, then they will ask you where, and then probably try and sell you a taxi ride or something. Occasionally it can be really hard to get away, and unfortunately the hotels which need to send out people scouting for customers often don't have very good reputations. So getting accommodation in these areas/countries at least a day before is often a good idea.

Have a look through the areas we have travelled and I can offer my thoughts on which places are good value/friendly etc. It is hard for me to compare however, so do check out hostel world and hostel bookers for more info. We booked most of our accommodation through these places and were rarely disappointed. You can also do some couch surfing, especially if you are on your own. I have never tried this, but heaps of travellers we met swear by it. I think it is obvious that some caution must be taken however if doing this.

Washing

Most places see their washing service as a great way to make some good income, so be aware that washing your clothes is sometimes going to cost quite a bit. There were a few places which offered free washing services but they were rare. We ended up washing a lot of our clothes by hand in sinks and bath tubs, however drying them afterwards can be difficult especially in humid regions. Often we had to move on, and I was either forced to wear wet clothes or put them in my bag (not a good idea). I think if there was one thing I would highly recommend bringing, it would be a small hairdryer. It is funny in a way because this is kind of the stereotyped object of what not to bring on a holiday, but it would have been so useful in Asia. I ended up drying a few socks and things in Europe when I borrowed one, and it indeed saved me in these situations.

Tea and Coffee

Another great thing to bring is one of those camping kettles which is basically a heated coil you dip in a cup full of water to make a cup of tea. Only a few places will have facilities in your room, so if you are one of those people who wants to get up and have a cuppa, then it doesn't hurt to throw one of these things in, or you will be forever hunting down the nearest cafe.

Plastic bags

Great for rubbish, wet clothes, stuff that might spill, protecting cameras and other sensitive gear from water.

Power board and socket adapter

Bring one (4 way) power board and a universal adapter. This way you can use one adapter to charge up your phone/laptop/camera batteries/ipod etc. You won't be able to buy a power board with the sockets from your home country, but universal power adapters can be purchased at most airports for around $30 AU.

Tips for travelling through Asia

Clothing

Remember that the climate here is very hot and humid. You will never need a warm jacket or jumper. I brought them along and sent them home because they were annoying and I realised I would never use them. Clothes here are also very cheap and pretty much everywhere. You almost can't even hop off the bus without seeing a shop selling shirts and other trinkets. So my advice is to bring minimal clothing and just buy stuff made for the climate when you are over there.

Mosquitos and Malaria

This is an interesting one. We bought a mozzie net, but only used it once or twice as most of the time one was provided. I would recommend bringing a small light one in case you really do need it however. In some parts of Asia there are still dangerous strains of Malaria. You can also catch Dengue Fever and other nasties, so generally you don't want to get bitten. If you are doing hikes however or sleeping in exposed areas, often getting bitten is unavoidable and in this case Malaria tablets are recommended. I went on a dose and had some nasty side effects, and I have heard of similar stories, so talk to your doctor about the various options. One thing to note is that you should never sleep directly after taking one, as the tablet may burn your stomach and can cause ulcers etc. There are also all sorts of other side effects so it is worth reading the blurb on the packet or they can really mess up your holiday.

Mozzie repellent is also a good step towards repelling mozzies, however it is also pretty bad for your skin. If you get the really strong stuff it can also dissolve plastics and things, so don't wear watches/jewellery/etc or it may destroy them, and if you have just put it on yourself, don't go changing the song on your ipod or you will have a permanent finger print ingrained on the surface. I had the medium strength stuff and it seemed to work ok without burning my skin or dissolving the things I touched, but some people are more susceptible to mozzies and require the stronger stuff.

Even after all this you still aren't protected from Dengue Fever and other diseases so the best advice is don't get bitten if you can avoid it. It is difficult with the climate however, so be prepared with a variety of remedies.

Other tips

There is not too much else I can say about the places we visited. We never really had any major troubles although have heard some stories of people getting mugged or pick pocketed. Just be careful and if you are on your own, be selective about where you go at night. Otherwise it is great. I felt a lot safer throughout the parts of Asia that we visited than in capital cities back home, and most people are really nice. Just be careful of scams - i.e. know the exchange rates, settle your price before you take taxis etc and know where you are going too, otherwise you might end up at their mates place with the reasoning that it is "same same".

Tips for travelling through Europe

How to get around

There are a number of ways to get from place to place. Trains, buses, planes, and car pooling.

Trains

The trains in Europe are very good, and are usually the best way to get around. You can take your suitcase on board as well as hand luggage without paying any extra for your ticket. Sometimes you can get cheaper tickets with a larger group - for example we managed to get a 5 day rail pass for significantly cheaper than the individual train tickets and these days can be spread out - i.e. not 5 days straight. At one point it would have turned out much cheaper if we had a sixth person in the group when commuting from Prague to Krakow. Therefore if you know in advance what your plans are, you might be able to form a group of travellers at your hostel to make things cheaper.

Buses and Coaches

Buses and Coaches can sometimes be a cheaper option than trains. We travelled by bus from London to Amsterdam, and also from Berlin to Hamburg and were quite comfortable. If you are lucky you might even get a double decker one, and score a seat up at the top front window which can give great views of the surrounding countryside. There can sometimes also be some really cheap seats available if you book in advance which will save you those last few euros for something else.

Air Travel

Flights are also a great way to get somewhere quickly, and if you keep your eyes open, you can sometimes spot really cheap flights. I managed to get a $0 flight from Dublin to Hamburg - I guess because they would rather fill the seats and promote the airline than leave them empty. It is not free however, as you have to pay for your luggage, and also tax on the flight. Still it can sometimes work out cheaper than catching a train, plus you save time. One thing to watch with low cost carriers is the weight limit, which is usually 15kg on your pack, and about 10kg for hand luggage with strict dimensions. For every kilo your hold luggage is overweight you must pay quite a bit ($30 per kilo sometimes). You also have to pay extra for laptop bags, or instruments, so it isn't always as cheap as it initially sounds. You are also locked into a specific date usually well in advance, and the low cost carrier flights rarely allow cancellation or re scheduling of flights.

I would recommend skyscanner.net for finding available cheap flights. Lastly you have to work out where the destination terminal is, and how much it will cost to get to the city centre. Often the low cost carrier flights will arrive at a terminal an hour or so out of the city centre, and not in the main airport, so you will need to give yourself ample time to get to your connecting flight if it leaves from the main airport. Sometimes it is worth paying a little more to arrive in the city air terminal when you work out the cost of commuting into the city centre and the cost of the lost time if otherwise arriving at the more remote terminals.

Car Pooling

Car pooling in Germany especially is an effective way of getting somewhere cheaply, however travelling as a large group with packs can make it tricky to find someone with enough room in their car to take you. Of course there are also the pick up drop off logistics, as well as the language barrier in some cases which make this a less attractive option. We had a car pool organised for three of us from Frankfurt to Berlin and saved about 30 Euros each, however it was organised by our Germany speaking friend Siobhan without whom we would have surely struggled. Still, if you are on a strict budget and travelling on your own or in a small group this is definitely worth looking into.

Car Hire

Car hire is another option, however you will need to acquire an international drivers license. I bought one in Australia through RAC for about $40 and it is valid for one year after registering. If you are in a large group, hiring a van will probably work out cheaper, although I think you will need someone over 26 to keep the insurance cost down, and if you are from somewhere like Australia, driving on the other side of the road can be a little daunting. It is however an option worth considering. Also hiring a car allows you to travel to little towns on route between major destinations which you may otherwise find it difficult to get to.

Bicycle

If you are a keen cyclist, then why not do a cycle tour? We met a couple in Salzburg who were travelling through Austria by bike with a large tour group and they said it was a great way to see the country. Not only do you stay fit and save $$, but you can see some incredible views when winding up through the mountains. The only downside they said was that there were a couple of days riding through the rain, and sleeping in tents between towns which is not always much fun. Still it is certainly something I would love to do someday and I guess you would see the country from an entirely different perspective.

Tour groups

If time is limited, and you are happy to pay a company to do all the organising for you, then perhaps a tour is the way to go. Usually tour companies are set up especially to cater for the needs of the common tourist, and as a result will pick out the popular locations, deliver the best information and co-ordinate cost effective travel packages through group bookings. These are great if you work full time, and don't have the time or energy to do the research and put together your own tour. There are a few draw backs however. Firstly you might end up with a group of people who you don't get along with or who have different interests. Secondly you may want to change your travel plans for a number of different reasons. You may meet people with whom you would like to travel with, decide mid journey you would like to stay longer at a place, or you may get sick and want to stay put for a few days to recover.

If you are a bit different to the common tourist, then you may have different things you want to see, and thus wish to organise your own route. I certainly fit into this category with specific interests in music and engineering, the things I want to see can be uncommon. I also enjoy taking video and photos along the way, which is difficult sometimes with a group, as you need to keep up etc. Sometimes it might be a good idea to combine the two options and do a tour initially to meet some people and get a feel for the country, and then break away for a few weeks on your own or small travel group to explore the more intimate or unusual locations. Some places it is worth noting you will need to go in groups as the area can be dangerous to explore alone, for example parts of Vietnam, Cambodia etc. Have a read of Trip Advisor for some of the recommended options and you will soon be able to decide which options are for you.