Are you on a shoestring budget but still have the travel bug? Or would you really want to experience the day-to-day life of a community, its people and the sights of a certain country that you feel you might not see with a guide. Then, you could enjoy travelling and staying at a backpacker. These are also known as hostels, and are reasonably priced and efficient accommodations that are available worldwide, allowing backpackers a chance to experience the world on a tight budget.

If so, you might enjoy traveling and staying at a backpacker. Also called a hostel, these low-cost and efficient accommodations are available all over the world, giving backpackers a way to see experience the world on a tight budget.

1) Expect To Save Money!

The greatest advantage to staying at a backpackers is the price. These little gems offer clean, safe accommodations at a fraction of the price of a hotel, allowing you to do more or stay longer in the country you wish to visit. If you are going on an extended trip around Europe, or visiting a part of Australia you’ve always wanted to visit, there is a hostel waiting for you.

For example, if you’ve always wanted to see Venice, Italy, you can stay at a hostel for as little as $21 per person for a shared room, or $46 for a private room.

Want to see Paris? You can, for as little as $26 for a shared room or $55 for a private.

Want to bask on a Brazilian beach in Rio de Janeiro? You can, for the cheap rate of $14 for a shared room!

When you consider that the cheapest hotel rate for a single person for Venice runs around $91, Paris at $126, and Rio de Janeiro at $80, you can get a sense of the savings you’ll reap by going the backpackers route.

2) Be Prepared To Be Friendly.

Besides being low cost, backpackers tend to be a great place to meet other travelers. In fact the layout of the hostel encourages getting to know other visitors more so than a hotel or motel. Unless you request a private room you’ll stay in a dormitory-style bedroom, often co-ed. Most have a common area to gather and socialize, as well as a kitchen and an area to do laundry. It’s a great way to get to know people, but if you’re shy or value your privacy, you might want to think twice about staying at a hostel.

3) Carry Proper ID.

If you’re traveling in your own country, you’ll still want to carry proper identification, such as a photo driver’s license, passport or state/country ID. Most backpackers ask for more information than a hotel or motel would when staying with them because they want to ensure the safety of their guests.

Also, because of their cheap prices, hostels want to make sure that locals aren’t taking advantage of their hospitality, thus taking space away from an international traveler who really needs the cheaper accommodations. If you don’t have a passport, you might want to invest the time to get one, even while traveling your own country, just to give yourself one more ID choice.

4) Pack Lightly!

If you’re a true backpacker, you’re going to travel from hostel to hostel with your clothes on your back. You’re probably going to use local transportation, such as the bus or subway system, or your own two feet. Even if you’re not packing your way from hostel to hostel, keep in mind you’re not going to have a ton of space to toss open countless pieces of luggage. In either case, you don’t want to carry a ton of clothing and valuables to weigh you down and keep you from enjoying your trip.

What will you need?

- A sleep sheet: two sheets sewn together to put on your mattress so you can sleep in your own, clean bed. Some hostels rent them. Most hostels don’t allow sleeping bags because they offer ample places for bedbugs, fleas and ticks to hide in. Most hostels offer clean blankets.

- Toiletries, such as soap, shampoo and toothbrush

- Your own towel

5) Lock Up Valuables.

Although backpackers offer a secure and safe environment, you don’t want to take a chance of losing your more expensive personal goods by leaving them about. Just as you would in a hotel, you want to keep your valuables safe when staying in a backpacker. Most hostels offer a locker or safe of some sort to store valuable items while you’re out. You could also invest in a lock and key before starting your trip to keep handy in case it’s needed.

6) Check for bedbugs!

Unfortunately, bedbugs happen everywhere, be it a five-star hotel or a backpacker. These little pests do suck blood but don’t transmit any diseases, and aren’t any more pesky than a flea bite in most cases.

However, they do carry the stigma of a place being ‘dirty’ if you discover them. This just isn’t so. The cleanest, most expensive accommodations can have them. It’s important to know what they look like so you can tell the backpacker host/hostess. They will take the proper steps to clean the room and get rid of the little pests, since no one wants bedbugs around.

Bedbug signs:

- Most people think they’re so tiny you can’t see them, but this isn’t so. Bedbugs are about 5mm long, oval in shape and brown in colour.

- Check for flecks of blood on the sheets, mattress seams and bed slats

- A large bedbug infestation has an almond-like smell that’s very unpleasant

Bedbugs like to sneak into clothing and gear to travel to the next location with you, so if you think you’ve been infested with bedbugs, you should:

- Wash everything you own in the hottest washer setting and then dry on hot for at least 20 minutes-this includes your backpack!

- Wash yourself in a hot shower

- If something can’t be washed, check it carefully for signs of bedbugs

- Tell the backpacker hostess/host or staff so they can clean the room thoroughly

7) Learn the Etiquette.

When traveling in a different country or even in your own it’s important to know the proper etiquette and rules for that area to enjoy your backpacker stay. For example, some countries don’t allow smoking in public areas and others may have stipulations about drinking alcohol, such as age. You don’t want to end up breaking the rules and find yourself without a place to stay, or worse, locked up in a foreign jail cell.

You’ll also want to check if your backpacker observes a curfew or lockout times. A curfew means that unless you want to find yourself sleeping outside, you’ll be in the hostel at that time. You’ll also want to learn if there’s a lockout time, meaning the backpackers is closed for cleaning or to give the hosts time to run errands, so you can plan accordingly.

Book Online.

To ensure you have someplace to stay when traveling, you’ll want to book your stay in advance. The easiest way is to book your backpacker stay online. BUG (http://www.bugeurope.com) and Hostels.com offer accommodations worldwide as well as online booking. You can also see how others rated their stay and compare between other backpacker locations in the same city.

In Conclusion:

Going round the world or even travelling through your own country can be exciting and fun when staying at backpackers hostels. Providing you don’t forget to take proper ID, stick to the rules, check for bedbugs and pack suitably, you will be able to mix with the locals and save money while you travel. You may make a few new friends along the way!

I travel quiet extensively between many countries, typically business International travel. I thought I would share some travel tips, I have encountered, as we are going through some interesting times. I hope to save the traveler some time and headaches, as each country, or airport for that matter is changing security measures in many different ways.

Now , I typically go on International Travel , so I experience changes between countries. When taking any domestic flights, I even experience different security measures implemented within the same country, but at different airports. So time travel can be challenging, and I hope these simple steps can save you from a bit of frustration, understanding, everything is focused on passenger safety right now as 1st priority.

Step 1. In the Beginning :

From many years of International Travel, I found it best to book my own ticket online. This allowed a far better price. American Express Travel offered a nice insurance coverage as well.

Now, I have switched back, and use my original travel agent in Los Angeles for all World Travel. He has access to far greater information than I could get online. The reason is simple, I can use my cell phone, direct call from Hong Kong, have him check or make any latest Airline Travel changes on his PC, confirm connecting flights, delays, etc., and even make real time changes, plus all travel services.

You may think the cost of a international cell phone call is expensive, but actually not for information , time saved, and general safety. I am on a 1st name basis, he understands clearly any questions in under a minute, and done in a few brief minutes. So, possibly a $6.00 call, compared to a bottle of Aspirin at $5.00, your choice.

Now, sounds the same, but here is the trick, he receives so much feedback on different flights, airports, extended security time in different countries, I may have missed a connecting flight in many cases if I did not know this before hand. It is not all about Discount Travel any more.

For example typically your check in for International Travel is 2 hours in advance. I check in 4 hours early, and then have leisure time after customs, check in bags, etc. Also travel light, have a carry on with one extra shirt, small things in case your bag gets delayed, this is now more sensitive, and can happen, consider some simple needs to get you by for a day.

Step 2: Know Your Connecting Flights :Make sure you understand all connecting flights prior final destination point. Here is what can happen, first stay with the same airline company, and the same plane, since probably just a flight crew change, and refueling, . That means the Jet is already there, verses pending another incoming Jet, with possible unforeseen delays. Avoid changing Airlines for any connecting flights if at all possible. Greatest chance for delays, and missed connecting flights.

Example ; I depart from LAX for International Travel, with a stop over in Narita, Japan, which is a very common route .

Today, if they tell me it is only a 1 hour stop over at Narita, I get very concerned, as when you arrive, you are in transit, but are required, and routed back through a full security line, which may not make that 1 hour stop over, and you miss the connecting flight.

Usually you will have 2 hour lay over. Now your agent should be aware of recent changes, tightening of security checks, and may help you book a longer , say 4 hour lay over, 2 for the added security check, alone, for International Travel. Now that sounds painful, but if you miss the connecting flight, you may have to spend the night, a 15 hour delay.

I hope this makes sense, its already happened to me, and you are under tight security spending the night, not allowed in the city since considered a transit passenger, and have not actually entered the country formally.

Step 2: How to Fly: Well, sounds odd, but simply what class to fly in. When on a business trip, like most, take the Business Class on International Travel if allowed. The reason for this, is not the extra food, I usually eat very light while flying , however do work while flying with my Laptop, need a connection for a battery charge, and in some cases there are internet connections in addition for a fee. This offers a larger space to spread out my work, books, papers, etc.

Flying on vacation, I am over 6 foot, so the thought of an economy class seat, no knee space is painful. However, most airlines have improved, I now have a much more comfortable seat, leg room, and typically get the isle seat, or by emergency exit when possible. One simple statistic to remember; if a jet was to go down, the back of the plane has the best chance for survival, just something to consider.

Step 3: Travel Destination Safe: First off, take an airline that is well known, good history record, and follows FAA regulations. This sounds so basic we tend to take this for granted, as if standard practice for all, but not true in many cases, there are many new startups, or foreign companies that tend to cut corners to make profit.

Why would I mention this simple advise, well I experienced a near fatal crash with my wife, who was very scared to fly, and to date will not fly. We took a very large twin turbo prop, on a simple one way 45 minute domestic flight. Perfect day, blue skies, no clouds, flight was full with business people, a variety of travelers retuning home in the big city. Note, Turbo props usually level off at 20,000 feet, Jets, 35,000 feet or more with calm air allowing a smoother ride.

The pilot in his own language, which I can understand, stated there was a brief stop over in another city, lots of mountains, and wind. This was never mentioned, nor written on the ticket ? Briefly, he took us head on into a typhoon, nearly crashed due to shear wind conditions, well, that is all I am going to state, I think you get the message.

Point made is this, fly with someone who follows FAA regulations, invests into maintenance requirements, and follows guidelines that conform to safety requirements, especially passengers. This sounds simple, but once out of the USA, not everyone follows these guidelines, so it may save your life. There are airlines out there, real low cost, but I just will not fly with them, as many of my business associates likewise, with extremley bad experiences. Last, the airline I almost crashed in, went out of business in less than 6 months from startup.

I hope these important Tips help give you some inside info on how to safely plan a trip, and avoid unexpected delays, things that may even save your life, especially on long International Travel adventures. Times are changing now for travel everywhere.

Survival China Travel Tips and Tricks

The China Travel Tips, survival techniques, to help avoid and make his trip to China easier, so you will be able to experience the real China, with a little less stress.

China is a strange beast that must be respected; major cities, Beijing, Shanghai and Xian, all have their own personality.

Some complex situations which in his view would be a disaster organization to become big and then you wonder what all the fuss and worry. So the simplest of tasks can become a great calamity.

This is when you have what we call here a “China Day”.

These days come and go and are part of the experience of all-day trip to China. One has to have an open mind when traveling in China. It is a place with thousands of years of history and culture overnight that it is trying to adapt to Western lifestyles.

You need to have a very open mind when you travel in China. I have listed below a few China Travel Tips that will make life more bearable little pee in their travel experience of China.

Travel Tips – China toilet wise

• Never expect a clean toilet 100% of the time.

• Be prepared; Bring some tissues.

• You may need to use a toilet squatting, again, if you know this is not a shock. If you do not know how to use a toilet building, try the following experiment at home.

While something to keep in support with both hands, lower your body down in a low squatting position, so that the cheeks of his bottom was almost touching the heels or the back of his calf. Now, go with your hands. See if you stay in this position for at least 1 minute. If it is upside down or could not get up after a squat toilet could be a problem for you! , Has the right to be happy you did.

• If you get a clean toilet, Go… may not come again for a while.

• Many public toilets around the cities, usually those who are to pay OK (RMB, 5), the other best to stay away from if you can. You will soon notice as you walk around the cities.

• Be warned that public spaces such as bus and train stations, which tend to be the class as “hard toilets”, but if you are going gotta gotta go.

• Outside the big cities, toilet systems are old or have very close plumbing / piping and get easily blocked. In these cases, a small basket is usually the bathroom next, it is used for toilet paper.

One of the best China Travel Tips toilet I can give is the use of the hotel lobby toilets, which are everywhere and are always clean. Yet it may not always have toilet paper. It depends on the category of hotel being used.

I do not want to frighten you. However, of all of China Travel Tips to all other sites on the Web that I have read, this is an issue that is not mentioned often, but it is very important for all of us.

So outside of the big cities conditions can be tough. But most of the time everything will be fine, especially if you book a tour, all will be checked before hand. However, even the best laid plans can go wrong, so be prepared, the toilets in smaller cities, towns and villages can be scary.

China Travel Tips – food

• The food is great and the variety is overwhelming. Most of the time you get to choose what you eat, or you can recognize what you are eating, but sometimes you do not get a choice. Wearing a chocolate bar or something, which will keep you going until some foods that can recognize laps. Drink bottled or boiled water since tap water is not drinkable, that is for the whole of China. Even boiled water, while sterilized can contain a large amount of minerals and iron deposits that you probably do not want in the system. The bet is safe to drink bottled water. Tap water in most large cities is OK to brush your teeth.

• Eating habits-Most Chinese have a great habit of being very noisy and when they eat lunch and dinner times can be a wonderful celebration noisy, the food tends to go in all directions, its just part of being in China .

• People smoke cigarettes on the table while everyone is eating, so some restaurants get very loud and smoky.

• If you get stuck which so since most of the menus are in Chinese just look at the table next to you and point to the plate and ask you how much it is, this system works really well and it seems learn to mind.

• I have a basic menu that will help to food safety, (no cats or dogs), this visit will allow greater choice of restaurants, not just tourists with high prices. You can bring with you and use it on the premises where most of the restaurants could serve as what is on it. This way you will know what they are eating.

These premises are very cheap and the food is great. Contact me if you would like me to send it to you.

China Travel Tips – Taxi

• Travel Tips – China – Taxi cabs are an experience that you can have headquarters complaints and panting, but it is too early to get used to it, after the first few rides, you are a veteran.

• The taxis in Shanghai are generally quite good. Try to get the Blue, Blue’ish Turquoise, Oro Blanco and taxis, these are the best… these are the four major taxi companies and are generally recognized by its unique color painting. The others are OK, only older and a rougher ride (others may also have defective meters). No drivers speak English.

• Carry your hotel accommodation or business card with you, written in Chinese, which helps if you get lost walking around town.

• In all taxis around the country will be able to see the name of the taxi drivers and registration number in plain sight. If you have any problems, or if you think has been most pronounced, etc., just take this number down, make a big fuss about it, then the driver should wake up and solve any problem you have. Even better is to take the receipt. This has all the details on the trip and who can call the taxi company if they want to have more things or if you have something left in the taxi.

• The government takes rip-off drivers in all cities, especially Beijing and Xian, very seriously, and if they complain they will lose their license. This is their livelihood. So far I have not had a driver in 3 years that has not been withdrawn, and then we have agreed a price for the trip or solve our problem.

• In Shanghai, which is common practice taxi increases after 11pm. However, one can haggle for a 20% discount, which will return to the previous rate-11pm fee. Be strong with the taxi drivers, never the less, keep calm, smile and negotiate.

China Travel Tips – Shopping

• China Travel Tips – Shopping – China is a paradise for customers, markets, Bargains; Top labels… nothing, and if you have all the time. With clothing, the largest (Western) sizes can be hard to find, however in the big cities, where you can find a lot of tourist traffic, can find them.

• Electrical arts, DVDs, cameras, things like this are not worth buying in China, Hong Kong is still the best place for this.

• Store hours in major cities from 10am to 10pm, 7 days a week.

• Visa card remains the best card to carry, with ATMs in good supply everyone with access PLUS etc. There is usually a charge for using VISA, MasterCard and other forms of credit card.

• Wait on the purchase if they can look around to have a vision of prices. The Chinese are very experienced in the sale and we know that we are to halve the opening price when the negotiations. In markets go for 25% of what they ask first; go so low that they let you walk. This gives you an idea of the bottom price. The end result of the price will probably be around 40% to 50% of the starting point.

Whatever the market people say, which are used to push for better prices and haggling. Do not worry about being too hard, they are used to it and you do not sell an item unless profits. Do not be concerned with the body language apparently injured when going low it is all part of the game. At the time they had wrapped their first purchase, they will try to sell something else. Remember to keep smiling and having fun while negotiating.

China Travel Tips – medical treatment and records

• Most hotels have a doctor who can see. At major hotels speaks English.

• Always take a small first aid kit, repair cold, headache tablets at least. WATSONS is a large chain pharmacies. Most of the remedies, pills, etc., which you may need to be in these workshops. These shops are all over China.

• There is a large network of pharmacies in the stores type, which is indicated by a Green Cross. There will always be a 24 hr Green Cross pharmacy in the city you are in. It is useful to keep a book stage, as it is not going to speak English, but you end up with something that will help.

• INPORTANT POINT-in most mass production package type of medication, the packaging will be written in Chinese on one side, English on the other. But in the stores that only sees the Chinese side. Take a good look, in turn most of packaging, which gives you a lot more confidence knowing that you can read the package.

• If you have a medical problem, make records, most of the doctors have written OK / English reading, even if their oral English are poor.

Travel Tips – China Phone

• Using the phone is as easy as at home. However choose the person to not speak English or have very broken English… chief 4 or 5-star hotels all will be OK.

• What is being done is worthwhile to buy a SIM card from China Telecom, which are about RMB100 and thereby obtains RMB50 in the calls, the other 50 is the price of the SIM card; this SIM card will all major brands of phones and work OK.

In this way, people can get to you inside and outside China if there is an emergency. If you have a couple of phones, it can short message (txt) yes (SMS). Also you can call your tour guide, hotel, and so if you have big problems. It is a cheap way to keep in touch.

NB.Before you buy a Chinese SIM card, make sure it will work on your Cell / Mobile. There is a lot of China Telecom shops that can help.

Travel Tips in China if China does not move.

• Spring Festival, this will be the Chinese New Year time, around late January / Early February

• In early May, Labor Day Holidays

• In early October, the National Day holiday

Of all the Travel Tips China National Day is the largest. Millions of Chinese travel at this time of year holidays. Most of the trips back home towns or to visit his family. Hotels, trains, planes, cars, buses, and all the roads are the most overcrowded. Major congestion, everywhere.

Similarly, the rates for travel are at their full price. Not offering discounts! Staying in one place and will enjoy. It is better and causes less discomfort.

China Travel Tips – TV

• If you want to watch television, most of the major hotels will have cable and if you are in the smaller places, the national channel, CCTV9 is in English. Over the past two years has been greatly improved, with some major China Travel Tips programs, news and opinions about people and places around China.

China Travel Tips – Airport Tax

• There is a “rate of construction” in almost all airports.

Domestic flights RMB 50 International flights RMB 90, to be paid in local currency.

Recently, the tickets are tissued with the construction include VAT but make sure you have money in taxes just to be sure.

I hope that some of these China Travel Tips input and will make your trip to China that bit easier.

More Information at BestCityTourGuide

One of the limitations of traveling to Africa is the slow pace with which its travel industry has in embracing the use of technology. Many would be travels today are more comfortable on making a payment by use of a credit card for the following reasons

1. At the top of the list is the fact that i can pay for it now look for the money and 30 days later refund the credit card company.

2. It is less cumbersome as traditional methods of payment require one to go the bank and transfer the money while a credit card payment can be done from my home or desk-top

3.It is thus much easier and faster to finalise the transaction.

4. I can then say it cost less in terms of time and money as opposed to traditional ways since you do not have to queue at the bank, burn fuel to get there and then make phone call follow-ups.

5. Credit card payment is today a much safer way of transacting since a third party ‘the merchant’s involved. It is for this reason that a number of African organisations are quickly taking up this idea of enabling credit card processing on their website and acquire a competitive edge against those who have not yet done the same.

A few websites in Kenya, Egypt and South Africa are already offering holiday makers an easier way of booking their accommodation and saving time spend calling hotels and agents to get bookings.

Traveling is such a great experience that we thought we could do this all the time.

Unfortunately, we get very less time to travel in this fast & furious world. Mostly of us only get a couple weeks a year (if we’re lucky) to take our vacations.

Make ensure that those trips are the extremely best which are having some kind of humor in that(unlike the many travel movies where there are nightmares around every corner), we are providing our top 10 travel tips to make your vacations unforgettable – in a superior way of course.

Top 10 Travel Tips

1. Plan early & book when a best deal fits your budget. Companies pop up everyday for more and more travel. Why? Because as the baby boomer age group gets grown-up & once they boot their kids out of the house, they are traveling more and more. Best deals are easy to get and many sound companies that offer great & economical rates and fares.

2. Be familiar about your destination and the best times to travel. Remember when Angelina Jolie takes the whole family to cross-country only to find out favorite Fun Park, which is closed? Do not let that happen to you. Know what is going on and when the best times to travel are. For example, most people know that March and April tend to be spring break times. Well, if you take your little ones to Panama City Florida during these months, chances for you to go to run into wild.

3. Take care of your belongings. Making sure the family pet is also taken care off.

4. Budget wisely. Make sure that if the worst happened you still have resources to fall back on. If you are on a budget, be smart & enjoy doing things on a trip.

5. Don’t forget your key documents. There is nothing more frustrating than forgetting something when you are hundreds or thousands of miles away from home.

6. Again, pick up your area of choice to determine how close you are to different activities and restaurants. Its nothing like landing a great deal on a hotel which near by beach, market & restaurant for a fabulous vacation. For example, a hotel that is so far away from the beach you need to catch a train or rented car just to get there. In addition, you want to make sure that everyone traveling with you will have fun! Again, in Las Vegas Vacation when the kids are too young to gamble, they have to come up with creative ways to have a good time.

7. Sign up for online magazine & newspapers keep your ear to the ground about your destination of choice.

8. Plan it properly it can really bite you in the behind on certain things like rentals and such.

9. Make a checklist and to be sure, that everything is in order before and during the trip. From booking to packing to check in relaxation, do not fail to remember anything.

10. Having a great fun and enjoy No matter what type of vacation you are going on.

These are our top 10 best travel tips and we live by them each time we take a vacation. Hope you will too as we know your trip will be much more enjoyable.

If you want your Trip in a Budget, I promise that if your try it out you will be pleased. Besides, you have absolutely nothing to lose by trying it but you will miss some great airline deals if you do not try it. I suggest you for best travel website as I found while searching on Google. These are Airtkt.com,Cheapfareguru.com, www.erostours.com,www.latinfare.com for Last minute cheap airline tickets.

Happy Traveling