Hi all,
I'm 19 and want to travel one-man style. I haven't done a lot of travelling before so I was just wondering if any of you guys could give me some tips (getting good flights, surviving, etc.). Anything would be much appreciated! Cheers! (:
Tips for a first-time traveller?
phihung on 09/10/2014 - 13:30
Comments
Don't sleep with your ancestors.
Tips from Reddit
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1iqvhc/whats_your…As a seasoned traveller myself my only advice is
Pack light and reduce unneeded weight, you can buy a lot of the stuff you need at your destination.
Customize your luggage bag a bit using sticker or tape, this makes it easier to tell if it's yours at the luggage carousel.Invest in some decent 2 wheel luggage, always, always bring a ziplock bag for your travel documents to protect against water damage.
Spare money in a hidden compartment, have a calling card in case you lose your phone.
Have a prepaid VISA card ready, use in case of emergency (e.g lost your wallet)
Use Dropbox or other encrypted cloud storage to store photos of your travel docs and passport. That's if you trust the cloud storage and it's security.
Read up on common scams on the Travel Wiki!. Are hot girls trying to get into your pants? They're probably trying to rob you blind.
Never drink the tap water in Asia, and if you get soft drinks don't drink it with ice. Stick with mineral water bottles. or beer. Bring some Imodium in case you get a bout of diarrhea.
When travelling through the busy cities or suburbs keep your valuables in a zipped up pocket and try to avoid playing with your phone as you walk, you will be an easy target for pick pockets.
When walking through busy streets, take note of landmarks and signs to navigate. Don't just look ahead of you. Look behind you as you walk, the scene can look very different when walking in the opposite direction.
Get your vaccines done a month before you fly out, not at the last minute.
Register your name with the DFAT
https://www.orao.dfat.gov.au/orao/weborao.nsf/Homeform?Openf…When in rome do as the romans do — eat where the locals eat, follow the rules and laws as the locals do. Don't get drunk in Dubai and don't chew gum in Singapore.
On the ice in Asia, look for ice that has been mass produced in commercial facilities - because it will have been produced with safe, drinking water. In Thailand, for example, this ice is large and cylindrical with a hole in the middle. I can't find any images to show you right now.
Same rules seem to apply in Philippines and Cambodia.
Source: I'm an expat currently living in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Drink the water in Singapore it tastes different from the water here! lol
Don't sit on the floor, and don't eat/drink ANYTHING in the train in Singapore. fine alert
Finish packing your suitcase, then take half.
Budget for your trip/s, then double it.
Wear sunscreen
HEAPS of tips online - example
My tips are pack light, be smart with your money/wallet/valuables - and have redundancies.
Eat where the locals eat, the more crowded the better as thats a sure sign of quality.
Do not be afraid of street food, same as above.Avoid eating where backpackers/tourists eat as they are mostly overpriced shite
And the one place I always get sick at is upmarket restaurants, especially hotel ones as they generally have a low turnover of food.Buy a cheap unlocked $40 phone here, leave the expensive stuff at home.
Carry a small cheap camera - I love my $50 IXUS 500 - leave the big one at home
Have at least 2 cards (28 degrees for purchase and citibank for withdrawals are my choice)
I mostly wear cargo shorts with large button up pockets that I had modified with velcro on the inside - never had a successful pickpocket in over 10 years but attempts have been made.
modified with velcro on the inside
awesome idea
And the one place I always get sick at is upmarket restaurants,
This is true. Did a bus tour in south america, everyone who ate at an upmarket patisserie became sick with food poisoning.
Also, eat the local food. If you're in a fishing down, eat the fish, not the beef.
After you book, jump online and select a seat, for the standard seat this is around $7-$10. ie my last flight I was on, the plane was 2-4-2. I chose a window seat with a wall behind me. That meant I had just 1 person beside me and 2 in front.
Worse scenario here is a middle seat in the 4seats. You're surrounded with no elbow room and getting kicked in the back.
Despite being below average size, I've found paying that extra $45 legroom on long haul flights worth it. Its not just the room for your legs, but the ability to get up and move around with freedom, no waiting for someone else to move and no one making you move so they can get up.
BYO Tardis.
Am in a lecture right now, but did quickly read what you guys suggested. Some really awesome tips! Thanks so much!
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Clean your teeth and rinse out your clothes every night with a bit of soap or shampoo or bath foam - it's all soap. Saves on carry stuff and ensures you smell OK.
Where are you going/how long? Tips for third world countries are different to those of first.
Carry a good supply of condoms (especially if going to Ibiza)
Don't carry a body board for anyone with the surname of Corby.
Check for an adams apple or a scar around that area
Bupa have great value travel insurance (for up to 2 people) or the PostOffice sells prepaid travel insurance and you can get preexisitng coverage if you ask.
I LOVED the velcro idea, ill now going to mod my clothes with this idea in mind!
Travel light is right, but bring a suitcase of things you can sell back here and just leave your well worn, cheap clothes behind. You can also defray the cost by doing this between countries if you listen or know what is sells cheap in one place and sells well in another. Dont take expensive mobiles and cameras! Gadgets are the no1 target and a hassel to 'put down'. The cheap prepaid phone is all you need and can double as a cemera. Get pics taken by others emailed (and then print to keep as well as post to FB)
Enjoy, if you get the knack its cheap and fun. Also The McAfee central America Travel Guide is for the ones that need to survive in some of the doggier parts of the world, its good 9/11
http://www.whoismcafee.com/the-travel-guide/?fb_action_ids=1…
to travel light, pack your favourite clothes that you wear in Australia. don't buy travel clothes or travel shoes. you will be wearing the same jeans, lightweight jacket, sneaker, street/dress shoe and sweater everyday. don't take anything thick or fleecy, layers of thin clothes is best.
have the address of your accommodation at destinations handy when clearing customs at the airport. i usually have all the phone numbers of my banks (if i lose one or cant withdraw) , passport (so i don't have to keep pulling it out everythime the number is asked for) on a sheet of paper handy, and any other details i might need.
mastercard is useless in south America, need visa card. atms there are empty on sunday. USD cash is king there.
take USD cashAre you travelling or are you just going to one location and staying at a resort?
If you're actually travelling between cities then bring a backpack and ditch the suitcase.Buy a large travel backpack around 60-70L capacity with a day bag attachment.
Pack light and wash reguarly. I'm talking 2 pairs of pants, 2 jackets 3-4 shirts etc)
Sign up for Citibank card for overseas withdrawals to reduce Atm fees and access MasterCard rates.
Stay in hostels so you can meet other like minded travellers.
Lock all your stuff and never carry significant amounts of cash.
Spread out all your funds into multiple cards incase you lose one.
if you're paranoid then have a fake/decoy wallet - some small bills. some expired or valueless
debit cards etc.
only take stuff you won't be sad losing -i.e. nothing sentimental or valuable. - you never know if you will have to run away very quickly.
It really depends on where you go. A lot of these tips are good, but lots of them, like the hidden velcro compartment, or not using your phone in public, are unnecessary in cosmopolitan cities.
I walked around Santiago feeling just as safe as I feel in Adelaide. Hell, you go to dero neighborhoods in Australia (cough Western Sydney), you're more likely to get robbed than you would in ChangMai.
Citibank card, withdraw money at your destination country ATMs for better exchange rates.
Register at Smart Traveller
Get travel insurance
Buy a sim card or a pre-pay phone when you get there.In the unlikely event you do get mugged, always report it to the police ASAP. They usually take your side because it's better for the tourism industry, unless you're in SEAsia, where you might have to bribe them to have something done.
tl;dr common sense goes a long way. And citibank - The official Ozbargain overseas debit card.
try your best to speak the language. they might laugh at your but they'll also respect you for it and be more helpful.
and always drop early in the conversation that you are Australian and not American.
Better yet, you're NZ not Australian…
Fund your trip by taking packages for other people from one country to another.
Keep photocopies of your passport and bring one around, just in case your stuff gets stolen.
Memorise important numbers and the addresses of the embassy in 'dodgy' countries.
Get good comfortable sneakers/boots so they can last and not fall apart after a few weeks of constant walking.
I find 4-wheel luggages really good cos you can even push them in any direction when you are tired unlike the 2-wheel ones where you still have to pull them.
I had a look at this article and found it interesting. A few good tips in here to save money
http://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/how-to-quit-your-job-…