How easy (and expensive) would it be to do a backpacking trip through Mexico/Central America?
November 5, 2009 by
Filed under Backpacking
I want to do some traveling this summer and I’m on a budget so I’m looking into backpacking trips. I’ve always wanted to travel through Mexico. Is it possible and advisable to backpack through Mexico? I found this website called Bamba Experience that has Hop On/Off travel passes on a bus network for travelers.
is there a way for a californian to visit asia and europe traveling (on land) through the bering strait?
July 14, 2009 by
Filed under Visit Asia
I’m tempted to visit asia and europe by bus or whoever will give me a ride. I simply can’t afford the plane ticket there so I’m wondering if, from california, I can somehow take a massive roadtrip through the bering strait. Can it be done? do boats regularly ferry travelers through there?
The Most Happening Places You Shouldn’t Miss When you Travel Australia
February 16, 2009 by
Filed under Visit Australia
To travel Australia is to be an explorer, brave, daring, uncompromising, and wide-eyed at every new thing that’ll come your way. To travel Australia is to loosen your belt and jump into the unknown. Here’s your itinerary, mate!:
Bungle Bungles
Simply beholding the Bungle Bungle in Purnululu National Park is both stupefying and ticklish to the senses. The Bungle Bungle is an unabashed waltz of orange and black stripes of silica and algae, flanked by beehive-like mounds posing with their chins up. A crazy but wondrous trick of geography. Bungle Bungle breathes new meaning to the word “marvelous.”
Daintree Rainforest
One of the oldest rainforest in the planet, the Daintree Rainforest is home to an inexhaustible number of plants and wildlife; 65% of Australia’s bat and butterfly population roam freely here. The Daintree Forest lies north of Cairn and spans some 1,200 square kilometres.
Tasmanian Wilderness
The Tasmanian Wilderness is as grand as its official name goes: Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Spanning 1.38 million hectares, it is one of the largest conservation reserves in Australia. Simultaneously, a true refuge, a playful temple, and solemn carnival of rare and endangered wildlife.
Fraser Island
When the camping bug strikes you, then head for Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world accessible by a ferry and a four-wheel drive. With its immaculately white pure silica beaches, incredibly pristine lakes, and stunning rainforests, Fraser Island is the perfect campsite. Don’ t forget to ask the locals about the legend of the island according to the aborigines!
So there! Eight miraculous and breathtaking places to dive into when you travel Australia. Don’t just get settled in Australia; go for the unsettling.
Backpacks That Won’t Break Your Back or Your Bank
February 8, 2009 by
Filed under Backpacking
One of the most popular new styles of backpacks is one which can either be carried on your back or wheeled behind you. Backpack manufacturers, recognizing that the loads backpacks sometimes bear can be extremely heavy, began making wheeled backpacks in an effort to help consumers save themselves from hurting their backs.
Wheeled backpacks come in a number of different sizes. If you will be using your wheeled backpack to carry around every day loads that are not extremely heavy, there are smaller models available for you to use. If you will be using your wheeled backpack to carry around heavy items such as laptops, books and other school supplies, there are larger and heavier duty wheeled backpacks that you can use to avoid having to break your back or your bank. You can also find much larger wheeled backpacks to use for purposes such as traveling. These bags, which are extremely sturdy and yet often made from lightweight materials, come with many different compartments inside so that you have plenty of places to store all of your necessities when you are on the road.
If you will be traveling, wheeled backpacks can truly be your best friend. Ensure, however, that you can easily take your wheeled backpack everywhere you want to go. In most case, wheeled backpacks will be small enough to use as carry-ons for airplanes. Check the restrictions of your airline, however, to ensure that you do not purchase a bag you will be unable to use. In addition to wheeled backpacks, you can also find miniature backpacks to be very useful when you are traveling. These mini backpacks, which you can carry by hand or sling over your back, are the perfect sizes to hold all of your necessities without having to carry a bulky bag on all of your travels.
Another popular backpack style that will save both your back and your bank is sling bags. These bags, which you can either wear on one shoulder or diagonally across your body, are made so that weight is distributed more evenly to avoid hurting yourself when you are carrying your bag. Sling style backpacks are most commonly made out of lightweight material, so that the only weight you will bear when carrying will be the items that you include inside. Do not mistake lightweight material for not being sturdy, however! Even lightweight mesh materials can bear heavy contents quite easily so that anything you need to bring along can be carried in your bag.
Some of the most expensive backpacks that you can find are those that are of the newest style that has been released. If your first priority is using the latest in backpack fashions, you need to be prepared to pay top dollar. Unless you can find newly released styles on sale, the latest backpacks can often cost two or three times as much as older styles. In order to save money, always check out bags that have been available for quite some time. Do not worry about being unfashionable; many backpacks are made so that their style is considered timeless instead of timed out.
Another factor that you will need to consider is the manufacturer of your backpack. As with any other type of item, brand name or higher end bags will always be more expensive than every day or mid range bags. To save your money, be prepared to walk away from designers and instead choose from a wide range of more affordable backpacks. Sometimes, however, a name brand really does equal better quality and the bag will last longer without ripping and tearing. Choose from experience or try reading online reviews and buyer comments. You do not want to spend more just for the sake of a logo, but you may be willing to spend a little bit more for something that lasts longer than a few months. Some lesser known brands are constructed with high quality as well. If you can, feel the material and inspect the stitching to gauge the quality for yourself.
There are many backpack styles available today that are affordable, practical and fashionable all the same time. Consider your primary use for the bag: school, work, travel or sports. If you frequently carry heavy loads, help to prevent neck and back strains by choosing a rolling backpack with collapsible handle. And remember that you do not have to sacrifice style for function – backpacks come in all shapes, sizes and styles for children through mature executives. There is sure to be something to suit every need.
Tips for Traveling Through Australia
January 27, 2009 by
Filed under Visit Australia
Australia is a huge country, almost as large as the contiguous United States, and one of the most important tips for any traveler would be to give themselves enough time to really see the country. Most international visitors fly into Sydney, the country’s largest city, but the rest of this vast country, which also happens to be a continent, is well worth visiting too.
One of the biggest challenges is negotiating the huge distances; the distance from Perth on the west coast to Brisbane on the east coast is almost 2500 miles. The easiest way to travel is to fly. QANTAS serves the major cities as well as smaller places with intriguing names, Wollongong, Lord Howe Island and Doomadgee.
If you plan to see as much of the country as possible, consider buying one of the many air passes available which allow you to save money by taking a certain number of flights within a specific time period. The cost depends on the itinerary. A ticket from Perth to Cairns to Alice Springs and Melbourne might cost around $1200. You generally need to purchase these tickets outside Australia, and often in conjunction with your plane ticket to and from Australia.
If you have the time, driving is an excellent way to see the country, and to appreciate the sheer size. Car rental is easy and convenient, you will need a valid driver’s license to rent a car and you need to have it with you while driving. Many travelers even find it more economical to purchase a car and then sell it before returning home. Australian drivers are polite, and won’t tolerate drunk-driving, driving without a seat belt or talking on a cell phone while driving.
Roads are generally good in Australia, although some roads in the Outback are unpaved (or unsealed, as they are known) and can only be driven safely in a four wheel drive vehicle. If you are driving in the more remote parts of Australia, be alert for animals and “road trains”, huge tractor-trailers up to fifty yards long. Never venture into the Outback without extra water and fuel, spare tires, a rope and perhaps a satellite phone. And don’t forget, they drive on the left.
There is also a surprisingly good rail and bus network in Australia, there are several long distance bus companies, although Greyhound Pioneer Australia covers the entire country. Also, if you have the time, the train journey from Perth to Sydney is considered one of the world’s most spectacular; it also boasts one of the world’s longest straight stretches of railroad track.
If you don’t want to fly or drive, consider an escorted tour. These can vary greatly in the quality of accommodation, the length of the trip and exactly what you will see. Most tours take in the popular destinations, Sydney and the surrounding Blue Mountains, the Gold Coast, Uluru, (Ayers Rock) and the Great Barrier Reef. Darwin makes a good base for exploring the tropical north of the country and Alice Springs is convenient for exploring the Outback.
Many people visit Australia to experience native Aborigine culture. If you plan to travel on Aboriginal land, other than on a designated road, you will first need to obtain a permit from the Land Council in that state. There are plenty of places throughout the country to see Aborigines and purchase their art and crafts, but you are also expected to show respect for their sacred sights.
The unit of currency in Australia is the dollar; divided into 100 cents. At the time of this writing, Australia is affordable to American and European visitors, due to the rather favorable exchange rate. ATMs can be found in all the larger towns and the major tourist areas, although they are often hard to find in the Outback.
Credit cards, particularly Visa and MasterCard, are widely accepted. Tipping is not as common as in the US, although it’s appreciated. An inexpensive hotel room might cost somewhere between $50 and $80; a more luxurious hotel room may cost in the range of $260 to $300. Hostels and campgrounds are also widely available, reasonably priced and popular with families and backpackers.
The internet has meant that trip planning and keeping in touch has become easier. Australia is no exception. Internet access is widely available, even in the remotest Outback settlements. Australians use 240 volts AC, so you will need to take an adaptor for electrical appliances.
One of the easiest aspects about traveling through Australia is that the language is familiar. Although, you may come across such strange things as thongies, billabongs, sheilas and, as Australians are well known for their hospitality, possibly an invitation to a shrimp on the barbie.











