.:: MISCELLANEOUS ::.
Why travel?
- To get away.
From boring everyday routine, bad relationship, crap job, etc. Travelling is one of the most effective cures for depression/broken heart. Beware though: if you travel to run away from something, it's bound to catch up with you once you return home. Solution? Keep travelling! - To remind us how small we are and that there's so much more to life than what we currently have and the place we live in.
- To see the world.
- To meet people.
Backpack or suitcase?
Depends. If you're travelling on a luxury 5-star holiday package where you'll always have people around to carry your luggage for you, then suitcase is good. It's easier to pack and organise your stuff into a suitcase. For any other occasion, backpack is the way to go.
It's much easier to carry a backpack up and down the stairs and on and off a train, for example. Plus, backpack is generally lighter than suitcase, and you can fit a lot of crap into it. I was surprised at how much I could actually fit into my 50lt pack.
What's a Contiki tour like?
A busload of 18-35 year olds travelling together, and for some people, mostly under the influence of alcohol. If you want to get a good idea of what it's like, read "Rule No.5: No Sex on the Bus (Confession of a tour leader)" by Brian Thacker. It's a hilarious account of his time working as a tour leader around Europe for one of those 18-35 tour companies. I think he was working for Topdeck, but a lot of the stories are strikingly similar to my experience on Contiki.
Having said that, you can still enjoy the trip and have a ball even if you're not a party animal. I'm not much of one and everyone who knows me will tell you I can't hold my drink, but I still look back on my 37 days on Contiki as one of the best six weeks of my life.
As with any other organised tours, sometimes you are rushed from one place to another. However, if you only have limited time and want to see as much as possible (or you've never travelled on your own and are terrified of the idea of travelling solo), this could actually be a good way to start. You'll get a taste of every place and you can decide where you want to go back to and spend more time in the future.
What about an Intrepid tour?
Intrepid is a small-group tour operator (12-16 people in a group max), which is very good because you don't get stuck with a busload of people the entire time. I've done two Intrepid tours (one in Southern Thailand and one around Vietnam & Cambodia) and had a ball. We only had six people in our Thailand group (all girls!) which was really cool and everyone can get to know everyone else a lot better and soon you feel like you travel with friends rather than on a tour.
Also, Intrepid tend to use local/public transport and they give you plenty of free time. I'd recommend it if you don't want the hassle of travelling independently but not stuck with a typical tour group.
Backpacking around Europe?
Very easy. Just need to do a bit of research and off you go. Train networks are very good in Europe. Don't worry if you're travelling alone, you WILL meet a lot of people if you're staying at hostels. For some resources, check out my links page.
PS: Eurail pass is only worth it if you're planning on doing a lot of long distance journeys.
Info on Eurail passes and European train timetables: Rail Plus (Australian site)
Are guide books to be trusted?
Only for general information. They're generally very good at transport information and destinations, etc. Prices are usually off (how up-to-date can guide books be?), and some places they recommend can turn out to be absolute crap/closed down/packed with tourists going to the same place. Having said that, I'd still recommend bringing a guide book with you when you're travelling. Lonely Planet is my personal favourite.
Travellers cheques or ATM?
Unless you're travelling to remote places where ATM's are scarce, I'd recommend ATM any day. Speaking from experience, travellers cheques are too much hassle. For a start, you have to find a place that would exchange your TC's, line up with other tourists, bring proper documents, etc. And in most cases, you still get charged commissions. If you have some left by the time you get home, you'll get charged again for exchanging it back to cash!
Whereas with ATM, you could just rock up to any ATM at any time of the day (or night) and get some cash out with no drama. Sure you also get charged for it, but if you don't take money out too often, it shouldn't be a problem. Just be careful with exchange rates - it can mess up your estimation of how much money you've got left in your account.
Excellent site to do your travel research: Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Travel Forum
Packing tips:
- Packing cubes are great for organising your stuff if you use a backpack.
- Jeans are bulky and take forever to dry. Zip-off pants of quick-drying materials are brilliant.
- Don't bring your favourite t-shirt with you. Chances are it WILL get ruined in the wash.
- Day pack is essential. So is money belt.
- Bring plug adapters for the countries you're visiting.
Reviews of some hostels/campsites in Europe:
- Bureau Voyage Jeunesse, Paris
I had a BAD experience with this hostel. You can't make an online booking so I had to ring them up beforehand. As I arrived after a 20-hour flight from Australia, I rang them again to confirm and they told me everything was cool and I could come in anytime. When I got there I found out that my bed was double-booked and there was no place for me tonight. The staff was rude and unhelpful. They told me I had to go to their other hostel, in Latin Quarter. Once I got there they told me they only had a bed for me for one night. I'd have to move back to the other hostel on the other side of town the next day. I've always tried to stick to places where I can actually make an online booking these days. Even then I heard it's not a guarantee you won't be doublebooked, but at least the chances are minimised. - Camp Fusina, Venice
I stayed here with Contiki, and while it has a fun environment with a lively bar, it's quite far from central Venice (about 20 mins ferry ride) and is riddled with mozzies. But then again, so are most other places in Venice. - Generator Hostel, Berlin
One of the nicer, more modern hostels I've stayed at in Europe. Not very central but is conveniently located close to a subway station. Recommended. - Arpacay Hostel, Prague
Plusses: Clean rooms, lockers and free internet. Location is not the best - I would stay somewhere more central next time I'm in Prague. Also, my room was facing a busy road and was very noisy throughout the night. We couldn't close the windows because of the stifling summer heat. - Hostel Merlin, Cesky Krumlov
Highly recommended! One of my favourite hostels. A cute, tiny place with a very homely atmosphere right at the river bank. Excellent location. If you like to party you might want to check out Travellers Hostel, where they have a bustling bar. But then again, it's only a few minutes walk from Merlin (as with everywhere else in Cesky Krumlov). My suggestion would be to hang out at the bar at Travellers Hostel and head back to Merlin for peace and quiet when you're ready for bed. - Wombat's City Hostel, Vienna
Very big, modern hostel with excellent facilities. The female dorms even have hair-dryer installed! About 20 minutes walk from Westbahnhoff station, and they have their own bar. - Red Bus Hostel, Budapest
Another one of my personal favourites; I've stayed there 3 times. Very clean and quiet rooms and friendly staff. Great location, and very close to a metro station. Not very social though. They even have a sign up saying that if you want to party, you should go somewhere else! - Rolling Stone Hostel, Brasov
Very friendly staff, great atmosphere. I met a lot of people at this hostel. The only problem is they only have 2 bathrooms for like 40 people; not the cleanest, I must say. Still, if you're heading to Brasov, I'd recommend staying at this hostel. - EllenVilla, Sighisoara
When I stayed there it was pretty much empty. There were only 3 people in our 5-bed dorm and I think only one person in the 12-bed dorm next door. LOVED the ensuite bathroom (it's always a plus), and I knew everyone in the room, which made it feel almost like a private room. There was a bit of a language barrier though, as only one of the staff speaks English, and she wasn't there all the time! Still, it's very close to a train station. It's actually right next door to another hostel called Nathan's Villa. My roommate had originally booked a bed there, but changed his mind and moved to this hostel instead. He reckoned ElenVilla was much better! - YoHo, Salzburg
Excellent hostel. Another big establishment with great atmosphere. They serve excellent meals at reasonable prices as well. Most of the guests there didn't bother going outside for dinner. I also met a lot of people there. The staff can also organise various day trips for you. I stayed there for four nights and never got bored. Just remember that the showers on the top floor is MUCH better than the ones below; they have plenty of space to hang your stuff there!
PS: Don't confuse YoHo with another International Youth Hostel (apparently there are two there). I've heard a lot of bad reviews on the other. - Residence Santa Croce, Venice
Highly recommended. Only three minutes walk from the train station, which is VERY handy when you're in Venice. The staff are very helpful and friendly and the rooms are clean (with ensuite bathrooms). They even provide free internet if you ask; it's only dialup so a bit slow but better than nothing! About twice the price of staying at campsites, but you get to actually stay in the city!