backpackers corner

working (holiday)

2010-01-03T22:29:00.000-08:00

with a working holiday visa you can work in the country you're visiting, but with the main focus being travel. not every country has ties with other countries, so to see in which countries you're able to get this type of visa go here.
there are plenty of websites where you can look for international job opportunities, such as seek.com or the endless temp agencies around the world. in my experience it's really hard to get a job as a backpacker, unless you have certain skills the country where you're going needs. you can basically pack your stuff and leave whenever you feel like it, so some companies are reluctant to hire travellers, don't take it personally ;) also don't expect to make a lot of money, your work is supposed to get you through travelling not finance a new house or car. there are many exceptions of course, but you just have to be lucky i guess.
what i do when i get to a new place is print out my cv and just go around town asking for work, this way you get to show your face and people or more likely to give you advice on where to find jobs and who might be looking for help. some hostels offer help in finding work, but in my experience it's better to just do it yourself.

budgeting

2010-01-03T22:28:00.000-08:00

this is a tricky one! it's really hard to force yourself to watch your cash, especially when you know that every trip you go on is a once in a lifetime thing. when you're not able to work in the country you're visiting, you have to make sure you bring enough money to cover the basic stuff, transport, tours/siteseeing and a bit extra for emergencies. i'll explain how to save on all of these:

the basic stuff
by this i mean food, accommodation and health insurance.
where to find the cheapest food depends on which country you're going to. the poorer the country, the cheaper the food on the street is, but be very careful! my motto is if it looks and smells good, eat it. if you have a very weak stomach though or certain allergies, than be prepared for the worst and bring meds and pills with you, there is nothing worse than getting really sick in an unfamiliar country. also make sure the water is drinkable (otherwise use bottled water and check the top hasn't been opened yet) and follow whatever your travel guide says, the writers have been there before and will have good advice.
if you're staying in hostels than it's usually cheaper to cook your own food. when grocery shopping, look for special deals and home brands, use coupons and vouchers and buy in bulk if you have a place to store or freeze your food. also cook for more people and share the costs, it's a good way to make friends and save on groceries. make sure you don't buy too much food if you stay in hostels for only one or two nights, just plan ahead.

accommodation is pretty easy to save money on. there are some hostels who have cheaper deals if you stay for three or more nights and if you're on a working holiday you can clean for free accommodation, just ask reception if they need anyone and hope they have a spot for you! also think about getting a hostel card if you're traveling for a while, you not only get discounts on accommodation but also on travel deals. there are so many different cards available, so try to find one which will match your trip and give you the most benefits.
Hostelling International (HI) is a very global one and covers more than 4000 hostel worldwide.
the perfect way to get to know a country and save on accommodation is to couchsurf everywhere you go and stay with locals who can show you around. make sure you read all the rules and stuff first.

i find health insurance incredibly overrated, but then again i'm one of those people who never gets sick (knock on wood). calculate how much your health insurance will be, what it covers and if that matches your trip. if for example you plan on a lot of adventurous outdoorsy stuff than it's probably a good thing to get something that covers a lot. if you take expensive meds or are otherwise dependent on your health insurance at home than check the costs of everything you need and make sure you can get refunds with the type of travel insurence you have. *sigh* it's always such a hassle!! world nomads is known to be a very good one or you can check out sta travel. whatever you choose to do, make sure it's something that makes you feel safe and happy, so your trip will be stress free :)

the fun stuff
parties, alcohol, tours, souvenirs, restaurants...you get the idea.
if you're staying at a hostel ask about special discount evenings (usually during the week) happy hours, deals the hostel might have with certain bars/clubs/pubs and get used to drinking cheap beer and spirits haha. drink 'at home' instead of paying dubble or more in a bar and play drinking games!! also try to get other people to buy you drinks by doing dares and stuff like that gheghe.
you can get discounts on tours if you arrange them during certain periods, so keep an eye on that. also members of hostels get discounts and sometimes people who bought a tour change their minds and sell their ticket. check noticeboards in hostels and online for that.
souvenirs ah how i hate them haha. my photos are my souvenirs. well basically all i can say is take whatever your luggage and country allows you too and pay reasonable prices, but don't be too cheap. some people need your money harder than you do.
like i've mentioned before it's obviously cheaper to just cook your own food, but if you want to eat out every once in a while than hit the streets or foodcourts for the cheapest grub. again look for discounts/vouchers/coupons/deals etc.

packing

2009-11-24T22:44:00.000-08:00

what you have to pack depends on where you're going, when (as in what seasons) and how long for. because i have no idea what kind of trip you'll be doing i'll try to keep this as general as possible.

how much do i pack:
if you're going on a trip longer than say a week or two, you're gonna have to do some laundry. if you stay at one place for a while than you can just do it by hand and dry it by hanging it up somewhere, but if you need to do it quickly, you'll have to use a machine and most likely a dryer. in this case, make sure you don't over pack so everything will fit in one machine and don't bring any stuff you're emotionally attached to or want to keep safe, because you'll put colors and whites, delicates and all fabrics together and since you'll be using different machines you're used to back home, prepare for some damage and maybe shrinkage (but it all doesn't have to be this bad, i've never had any bad experiences, but you never know what might happen right). so make sure you use low temperatures with both washing and drying. if you put all your stuff in one machine you'll save some money too (even though it's only a few dollars, it's still worth it, would you rather spend it on laundry or on a beer, think about it!). make sure the type of clothes you bring should last you for as long as your trip lasts. i mean, if you don't mind buying new clothes all the time than bring whatever you like, but if you're on a real budget, keep in mind that you're gonna have to wear the same stuff over and over again. also don't get too attached to your socks, for some reason some always disappear...
make sure you don't exceed 20kg, just for travel reasons. first of all most airlines (i actually believe all of them) don't allow more than 20kg per person to be checked in and secondly, remember that you're gonna have to carry all your crap as well. oh and also, you'll be buying souvenirs so have some space left for extra stuff.

suitcase or backpack?
personally i'd say backpack. it's easier to carry and you'll have two hands left for other stuff (to hold a map, pay for your room, give someone a hand, have a drink, smoke a ciggie, you get the point). most backpacks are built for travelers anyway, so they always have handy gadgets and thingies to make your life a bit easier (for example some backpacks have wheels now). here you can find some good brands, compare prices and find a backpack that matches your needs. my backpack was 55L which is absolutely perfect and i've been traveling for about a year and a half now. before investing in a backpack, think what you're using it for and decide how big it should be (keeping in mind that you won't exceed 20kg). backpacks are really strong and will last for a long time, so you will be able to use it for more than just one trip and i guess if you change your mind later on, you can always sell it to someone. and if you don't want to invest in a new backpack just yet, check for second hand ones online. you can always buy a new one later in life.
a daypack is very handy as well. i use my camera bag as daypack, but if you're not bringing a camera than just bring a daypack with enough space for luggage transfer in case you're flying with one of those domestic middle of nowhere airlines who don't allow more than 15kg. if not than just take one with you with enough pockets to put passport and important stuff in and isn't too annoying to carry around all day.

stuff you should always pack:
* first aid kit (plus extras depending on your destination, for example snake venom) * pocketknife (always comes in handy)
* flashlight (preferably one without batteries)
* photocopies of your passport and other important documents, put them in different places in your bag(s)
* plenty of any medication you're using
* deck of cards (for social situations)
* travel guide/ language book (if necessary)
* traveling sewing kit
* stuff you need that you'll run out of and is not sold in the country you're going to

handy tips no one ever tells you:
* roll roll roll. that's the best way to pack a backpack. roll your clothes and that way you can stuff them everywhere in between and your backpack won't be "full" as easily
* put some books or other hard stuff at the bottom of your backpack so it won't keep falling over when you put it down somewhere.
* make sure you put stuff you don't want to get wet in a waterproof plastic bag (most backpacks already have these)
* attach some sort of scarf or other piece of fabric on the outside of your bag, so you'll be able to recognize it anywhere (for example when claiming your luggage)
* when flying, wear your "heavy" clothes to make sure you won't exceed 20kg*

links

2009-11-24T22:42:00.001-08:00

here's an overview of all the links i've used in this section, so you don't have to browse through everything again:

travel outdoors
backpacks
visa requirements
lonely planet travel guides
money converter
list of low cost airlines
couchsurfing
hostelling international
insurance: world nomads, sta travel
working holiday visa opportunities

preparing

2009-11-24T21:38:00.000-08:00

preparing A LOT:
i myself don't have much experience with this, but if you want to know exactly when you are going where and doing what for how much then i'll try to put myself in your position and see what would be logical to do...

step one
first of all, decide to which country you want to go to and for how long. do research about visa requirements and the stuff you want to see/do when you're there, using a travel guide (or just go online). i'm a big fan of the lonely planet because it's one of the few travel guides that talks about gay stuff and it is focused on budget travelers. anyway, you can always just choose another guide if you prefer something else. just check how old the guide is, since tourism always changes. you don't want to find out that some tour or museum isn't there anymore when you're already in the country, it's a waist of time and money! reading about other countries is already half the fun and teaches you so much. make sure you always respect the way people are and the way different cultures do things so you won't piss anyone off or make a total ass of yourself (although that does create good anecdotes).

money
so once you've acquired some sort of itinerary it's time to think about money. write down (using your guide and other information you've gathered) on your itinerary how much you'll spend on food, accommodation, transport and the stuff you want to see/do (that includes partying), add it all up and you're done. make sure though, you have some extra cash on the side (or a credit/debit card), just for emergencies and things that will happen outside of you itinerary because trust me, they will. you're gonna need a converter if you're going to a country that uses a different currency. some people don't have any trouble saving money but if you do, it's the best thing to give yourself an amount and a deadline when you want to have saved that amount. then you simply calculate how much you have to save a week/fortnight/month, but make sure it's a reasonable amount compared to your income. if you really want to force yourself, book a flight ahead and you'll have no choice! speaking of flights, if you ask me, trying to find a cheap one is the worst part of traveling. there are some budget airline websites with an overview of different airlines going to different countries, but i still haven't found one that is actually finished, so your best bet it to just check out this list where you will find the links to the airlines themselves. it's a total bitch comparing and searching loads of flights but if it means saving a lot of money than it's totally worth it. make sure you always read the terms and conditions before booking, so you'll won't find any unwanted surprises along the way.

now what?
ok, your flight is booked, itinerary is done and you're saving up. now you have to make sure you book everything that needs to be booked in advance (accommodation, tours, transport, tickets to theater/art/music stuff, special parties etc).
and then all you have to do is just get very excited as your trip approaches!!

preparing SOME:
this is more my style. some things have to be prepared though, otherwise you're screwed. things like having the right visa, a flight in and out and enough money are definitely a must, so make sure that's all done. you might ask yourself how can i figure out how much money i need if i don't know what i'm gonna be doing in the first place? good question. if you want a carefree trip, bring a lot of money. obviously. but if you're not able to save a lot than i think it would be best to figure out how much the basic stuff is and just double that. if you find out your lifestyle doesn't suit your savings than you know that for your next trip. that's why it's so important to have a credit card with you, just in case and once you're back home you can always just pay it off. the thing about traveling is that you always think that it's a once in a lifetime thing, which will make you not really care about not spending all of your money, because you have to take everything out of it you can, do it all, see it all, live it all. so to budget yourself in a situation like that is very, very difficult. but like so many things about traveling, it depends on who you are and what you want to get out of your trip and how you normally handle money in comparable situations. so think about all of this and make sure you decide something that is right for you, so you won't be disappointed in the end.
basically you have to prepare everything as mentioned in 'preparing A LOT', except for an itinerary.

i like to book the first two nights or so ahead and go from there. talk to people, take a bus to wherever, sleep on people's couches, put yourself completely outside of your comfort zone and experience things you'd never thought would ever happen. and don't forget to eat weird food, you have to eat weird food.
depending on the country, you could for example book a flight to one city and book a flight out of the country from another city and just travel from flight in to flight out. the thing about not having an itinerary though is that you might miss out on certain things that are worth seeing or doing in a certain country, but on the other hand you get to do unprepared stuff. it depends completely on what kind of person you are and what kind of trip you want to do.

intro

1970-11-24T18:03:00.000-08:00

so you're thinking about packing your stuff and traveling around? well done!! in this section i will give you some useful tips that i haven't found on any other sites when i was doing research for my trip. it's more about everyday stuff you usually find out for yourself through trial and error so i just thought i'd make it easier for you. if you're planning on doing a very outdoorsy, hiking and camping, cooking your own food type of trip, than i can unfortunately not help you very much. i don't have much experience with camping (except for the occasional music festival) so you won't find any information about that on my site, but go here to find all you need to know for your adventurous do it yourself trip :)
click on the subjects to the right to read and absorb my ever expanding wisdom and enjoy!