As a traveler, you have to get used to traveling without all the amenities of home. It’s very important to be creative and inventive when it comes to solving problems on the road.

That’s why I recommend carrying one of the most versatile products ever created. A product that has even been called a runner up to Forbes’ list of the 20 Most Important Tools Ever, listed just behind notables such as the lathe and the scythe. A product that if mastered, will complete the first step in a rewarding and highly revered journey to the title of “MacGyver Traveler”.

This important product is none other than: Duct Tape.

Check out the following 14 tips for using duct tape in your travels:

1. Use it to stay warm:

Duct tape can be used as an insulator, water proofer, or wind proofer. Wrap your clothes in it for added insulation, to stay dry, or protect against strong winds. Skiers and dog sledders often put duct tape on their faces to block stinging winds and prevent frostbite.

2. Bandage wounds:

Place a piece of toilet paper on your wounds then cover them in duct tape as a makeshift bandage. Can be used on small cuts, or wrapped applying pressure to stop the bleeding and protect large wounds.

3. Suture:

Deep cut but no hospital around for stitches? Clean the cut the cut well, then use duct tape to close it tightly. Obviously you have to be very careful that the cut is kept clean, and should monitor it carefully to avoid infection. But when better treatment is unavailable, duct tape can be quite effective.

4. Prevent blisters:

We travelers tend to do A LOT of walking. If you feel a blister coming on, simply cover the area with duct tape and continue on your journey. Or if you are prone to blisters on a certain area of your feet, just cover those areas from the beginning and avoid developing blisters at all.

5. Remove warts:

This tip has become popular after a few recent studies have proved its effectiveness (though some still question the studies). Traveling through developing countries, in unsanitary conditions, it is not uncommon to pick up a wart or two along the way. Simply cover the wart the wart with duct tape for 6 days at a time. Remove the tape every 6 days, clean the area, and rub the wart down with something rough. Let the are breath over night, without tape, then recover the next day for another 6 day period. Continue this process until the wart is gone (Duct Tape Guys).

6. Create a Splint:

Jam your finger, or need to immobilize an arm or leg. Simply tape the injured limb to a stick, pole, or other body part.

7. Use as a brace:

Twisted ankles and knees are not uncommon amongst travelers and backpackers. If you don’t have an ace bandage or a proper brace, you can wrap the injured joint in duct tape. It’s a good idea to wrap over clothing, so you don’t rip out all your body hair when the tape is removed. Also, make sure you remove the brace occasionally to keep the area clean, and that it isn’t too tight so as to prevent proper blood flow.

8. Waterproof footwear:

Unexpected hike through muddy or wet conditions. Wrap your shoes in duct tape to keep your feet dry and your shoes relatively clean.

9. Protect your ankles:

What about an unexpected hike through the wilderness, and all you have are low top shoes. Wrap your ankles starting from the tops of your shoes (make sure you tie them well first), for protection against thorns, ticks, poison ivy, chiggers, other insects/parasites, or even little rocks and pebbles from getting in your shoes.

10. Hide things:

Use duct tape to hide your passport and money under the bed, desk, table, or anywhere else in a less than secure hostel. Or if you are traveling with large sums of money or your passport, try taping them to your body to avoid pickpockets or robberies.

11. Wrap bags as a theft deterrent:

If you do a lot of traveling in planes, trains, and buses, you might consider wrapping your bags in duct tape (in a way that tape must be removed to unzip the bag), as a way of deterring curious baggage handlers or transportation officials from going through your things.

12. Waterproof or windproof:

Fix a tear in your tent, raincoat, or wind breaker with a simple strip of duct tape. Tape can also be used to cover clothing or items that do not offer any protection against the elements.

13. Flypaper:

If you’re spending a lot of time in tropical areas, flys and other bugs are sure to be a problem. Leave strips of duct tape around your hostel room to catch unwanted insects.

14. Make string or rope:

By simply folding duct tape vertically (connecting the sticky side), you can effectively create a string substitute. Use this string on its own, or reinforce it with other duct tape strings to create a stronger rope substitute. This one application extends the uses of duct tape immensely.

Photos: Duct Tape Guys

St. Basil’s Cathedral: G!Z (flickr)

I recently wrote a post on international airfare savings during winter, and found that one destination that offers very good airfare savings during the winter months is Russia. Unfortunately the savings only seem to apply to North American airports, as airfares originating in Europe and Australia are roughly the same in the winter and summer, but for US and Canadian travelers the savings are significant. A recent search of Kayak.com revealed February roundtrip airfare to Moscow, Russia at around $555 (New York), $720 (Miami), and $815 (Los Angeles). These prices are quite low when compare to July airfares which run around $1045 (New York), $1080 (Miami), and $1335 (Los Angeles). The average savings is $455 or 40% off if willing to travel in the winter months.

So it seems the price is right, but what is there to do in Russia during the winter months? In an attempt to answer this question, I recently had the privilege of interviewing a very experienced Russia traveler, Ruth Imershein, who also maintains an informative website on Travel in Russia. Read on to hear what Ruth had to say about wintertime travel in Russia!

Hi Ruth! First let’s get formally acquainted. Tell us a little about yourself, what you do, and what kind of experience you have traveling throughout Russia

I am a physician employed by the US Department of State and currently residing in Bangkok, Thailand. I have been married almost 27 years and have three children in their 20s. I started traveling in Russia in 1993 and have returned perhaps 20+ times since then. I think I have been there in every month except March which I have avoided on recommendation of friends. I have traveled as far north as the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea and as far east as the Chinese Russian border at Zabaikalsk. I’ve spent time in many of the Golden Ring Cities, Kaliningrad, Siberia and Altai.

Nice, a real world traveler! Why have you been told to avoid Russia in March?

March and to some degree April and November are iffy months. The chance of freezing rain or snow and the melting snow and refreezing at night reportedly make it a miserable time to be in European Russia. Probably Karelia, the Urals, Siberia and the Far East are ok then and more miserable in April and May.

Which would you consider to be the best winter months for travel in Russia? The worst?

The best winter month is probably February. You can be sure that it will be cold and that the likelihood of rain is slim but there is also more daylight then in December and January. November and March are probably the worst months. November for the possibility of rain and increasing darkness, March for the reasons mentioned earlier.

What do you consider the highlights of a trip to Russia during the winter months? How is travel to the region during this season different from travel during the high summer season?

Suzdal, Russia: Doc Kozzak (flickr)

Anyplace in Russia looks 100 times better after a recent snowfall, but perhaps one of the most magical places with a fresh dusting is the city of Suzdal.

A visit to a banya and a roll in the snow is a unique winter experience.

I haven’t done it yet but a Russian girl friend and I hope to one day spend some time up north going reindeer sledding.

For some it might be seeing the Aurora Borealis. My daughter used to live in Northern Michigan and occasionally saw it there but the likelihood of seeing it is greater the farther north you go so if this is an interest, then a trip to Murmansk, the largest city within the Arctic Circle, might be in order.

Other winter activities are cross country skiing, snow mobile riding, ice fishing, dog or reindeer sledding, troika rides. A troika is a sled drawn usually by three horses. I am not much of a sports participant so except for a rare cross country ski outing, i personally haven’t done these things but know that they can be arranged.

The other issue that one needs to take into consideration is the amount of daylight. In summer it stays light quite late and many northern jurisdictions turn off the street lights from May to mid August but in winter the street lights may be on all day. This means that some photo opportunities may be limited to a few hours during the middle of the day and thus even outdoor monuments and statues that don’t require entrance and fees aren’t worth visiting early or late.

OTOH there are other opportunities in winter. The ballet, theater, concert schedule is much fuller. The museums often have more special exhibitions in winter. BTW one nice convenience, almost every venue has a cloakroom where your coats and bags can be checked for free or at minimal cost. Lots of women wear warm comfortable shoes or boots and carry a tote with nicer footwear for evenings indoor.

Interesting. So it seems winter is the high season for cultural events. What could a traveler based out of Moscow hope to do in terms of cultural activities: theater, ballet, live music, museum exhibitions, etc?

Mariinsky Theatre: Wikipedia

There are quite a few venues for ballet, opera and concerts. The most famous are probably the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow, the Mariinsky Theater in Petersburg but there were others. For museums, for Russian art the Tretyakov Galleries, both the old and the new are excellent in Moscow. For international art in Moscow the best place in the Pushkin Museum. For Russian art in Petersburg the Russian Museum is the place to go and for international collections, nothing beats the Hermitage. Of course, these are all the most famous venues for these things, but Moscow has a huge contemporary art scene with various media and both Moscow and Petersburg have lots of galleries, smaller theaters, clubs, casinos, etc. These days a little bit of everything can be found there.

The Symphony Orchestra of Russia, which might be considered the Moscow Philharmonic, has a website, www.symor.ru, which lists their performances at the three venues where they perform, the Great Hall at the Moscow Conservatory, the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, and the State Central Concert Hall (inside the Kremlin.)

Russians interested in the visual and performing arts often buy a weekly or monthly magazine called “Afisha” which means the poster. It lists the gallery exhibitions, museum shows, movies, club and theater performances, etc. Unfortunately, it isn’t in English so foreigners have to look other places for this information. The Moscow Times English language paper is a good resource for this information, especially the weekly edition of Context.

What should a traveler expect regarding winter-time travel in Russia?

Shorter lines, fewer fellow travelers. OTOH There are also some winter holidays that mid summer visitors don’t experience and these can wreck havoc with making plans to see things during the shorter hours of daylight. Operation schedules are never strictly kept in Russia but during winter factors like holidays, weather and illness will cause unexpected closings. During Soviet times Jan 1 through 14 were usually considered holidays. (7 Jan is Orthodox Christmas and 14 Jan is Old New Year) Now with increased Western influences, the winter holiday seems to run from 25 Dec to 14 Jan.

Getting laundry done in Russia is always difficult but getting it dried is next to impossible. There are few laundromats. Most laundries don’t have dryers. Locals dry their clothing on the hot water pipes in the bathroom or during winter, let it freeze dry outside, then bring it in and beat it a bit until it softens enough to wear. This means one needs to think carefully about the clothing that you bring, and its ability to be washed and dried quickly as cold wet clothing can be dangerous. People die from hypothermia.

Travel in winter requires more clothing and careful thinking to be comfortable. Dressing in layers is essential as the temperature and wind are unpredictable. One year I took my middle son in April when there was still lots of ice and snow. Petersburg in particular, was quite windy and miserable but we managed. Another year I traveled with some coworkers at the same time; it was pleasant, green and sunny so all one needed was a medium weight jacket.

Don’t expect to stay clean. Grit and ash is used to make the ice less slippery, but this combined with car exhaust and air pollution makes the snow and slush black within a short time and it’s guaranteed to get on your clothing.

Summer travelers don’t generally pack gloves, hats, long underwear, heavy socks, waterproof boots, etc., but these are essential for winter travelers. In fact, I often suggest carrying two of certain things unless you want to spend part of your vacation replacing a misplaced or lost, but necessary, item such as gloves or hats.

Don’t expect the streets to be cleared of snow and ice. People need to walk very carefully. Locals cover the same territory regularly and know the ground surface while visitors don’t. Travelers need to look out above and below. Apocryphal or not, I don’t know, but there are stories of people being killed by falling icicles. And then there is the issue of slipping and sliding, stepping into something that appears solid only to discover slush or ice or a deeper hole than expected.

Expect to be cold, even indoors. Many Russian homes and buildings are poorly insulated and drafty. Don’t expect to go barefoot. Even in summer one is expected to wear slippers indoors but in winter, I wear slippers with socks. To be comfortable on trains, I sometimes have to sleep with a knit cap or scarf on my head.

It always seems to me that there aren’t that many Russians wearing eyeglasses but perhaps that is because going in and out the cold the glasses fog over and you can’t see anyway so why wear them. I mention this because when entering the metro, this can be a problem.
Generally I try to remember to remove my glasses so that I don’t get caught sightless and moved along by the masses racing to the turnstile entrances.

Expect outdoor activities to cost more than you anticipate. Expect organizing things to take longer. It takes longer to leave where you are staying, longer to get places. Expect that things won’t go entirely according to plan but then they rarely do.

Great tips Ruth, thank you! One last question, if you had about 2 weeks and roughly $1000 USD to visit Russia in the winter time (assuming airfare is already covered), what would you do?

My first impulse would be to call a girlfriend in Moscow and see if she were free and then, it would depend. As I said, I have always wanted to head north in midwinter for the experience, so I might take the train to Murmansk where my friend’s parents live. My plan would be to spend a few days a couple of days in Murmansk and also try to get to the Lovozero settlement, the capital of Russian Lapland for a few days. I know the train takes about 36 hours and costs about 90 USD each way. I have no idea about accommodation costs in Murmansk or the Lovozero settlement or the cost of transport to the settlement. I know that there are some tours there in winter but these are expensive - perhaps 525 USD per person for a group of 6-8 people for 4 nights. OTOH this probably wouldn’t fit in your budget.

Hermitage Theatre: Wikipedia

My next option might be Moscow for a few days and Petersburg for a few days, see what special exhibits are at the Pushkin and the Hermitage, get tickets for some Russian theater and perhaps a ballet. There is a private banya in Moscow to which I have access through a friend and I would arrange an afternoon there with some friends. I haven’t been to Veliky Rostov and Yaroslavl in winter so a train ride to Yaroslavl and then back to V. Rostov for a night or two each might be a nice option.

A long train ride is often fun if I have someone with whom to travel so I might head south to Saratov, a Russian town on the Volga with an old German settlement that I read a Moscow Times article about perhaps 5 years ago and is still on my list of places to go.

Sorry but it is hard for me to figure within this budget since I rarely pay for accommodations or some meals and often this is an expensive part of staying in Russia.

Map template: Wikipedia.org

Everyone seems to be talking about how expensive it is to travel overseas on the newly weak dollar. It is true that the majority of international travel destinations are significantly more expensive for Americans than they were just 5 years ago, due largely to the weakening of the American Dollar. For example, if you are planning a big trip to Europe in the coming months, you’ll be disappointed to find that your dollars are now worth 28.4% less than they were 5 years ago when compared to the Euro.

However, not all international currencies have strengthened relative to the dollar. The dollar is still the most influential currency in the world today, and when it weakens many other currencies weaken as well, keeping the relative buying power of the dollar roughly the same.

Just look at Southeast Asia for example, aside from Thailand, most currencies in the region have weakened right alongside the dollar, and sometimes even more. This means that the dollars buying power has stayed roughly the same, or even increased in countries like Laos, where your dollars will actually buy 23.3% more foreign currency (Lao Kips) than they did 5 years ago.

Mexico and Central America are another good example of a region that has largely followed along with the weakening of the dollar. Many currencies in this region are already pegged to the dollar, and those that are not still rely heavily on the US market for trade, and consequentially have experienced a weakening in their currencies as well.

The Middle East, a region Americans often overlook when contemplating world travel, is largely pegged to the US dollar (for now). When the US dollar weakens, their currencies are automatically adjusted to keep relative buying power unchanged.

Obviously, there are many other factors that effect prices and buying power abroad. However, aside from extreme growth economies like China, India, Russia (energy boom), and perhaps Brazil, most countries have not experienced extreme increases in cost of living. So, if you can find a foreign destination where your dollars are still relatively strong, international travel doesn’t have to be any more expensive than it was 5 years ago.

The map above, and the chart below show how much your US Dollars will buy in foreign currencies today (Aug. 2007) compared to 5 years ago (Aug. 2002). A negative percentage means that your US dollars will buy that percent LESS than they did 5 years ago. A positive percentage means your US dollars will buy that percent MORE than they did 5 years ago.

For example, the USD has a % Change value of -23.1% for Britain. This means that your US dollars today will buy 23.1% LESS foreign currency (British Pounds) than they did 5 years ago.

• f - Local currency is fixed or pegged to the US Dollar
• re - Readjustment of exchange rate has accounted for weakening of currency relative to the dollar. Does not mean dollars the relative buying power of the dollar has significantly increased.

Today I have a guest blog submission from Giles Smith of Travel Independent.info. Giles is a British national who has been through close to 100 countries in the last 5 years alone. He is now based in Zurich, where he manages Travel Independent.info, a site that is literally packed with practical travel information, including everything from visas and immunizations, to handy tips on getting around, where to go, and how to do it all responsibly.

I have asked Giles to share his insight on some of the lesser known travel destinations around the world, namely Iran, Pakistan, Colombia, and Israel.

Travel and independent travel in particular is a scary thought to many, even to those who have made a few trips already. It’s obvious why. Turn on your TV, surf the web, listen to the radio – it’s a scary world out there, apparently the world hates Americans and isn’t too fond of many other nationalities either. It appears that extremists are taking over and any Islamic country is comparable to the Sunni Triangle. I know most intelligent individuals won’t believe the hype, but it’s difficult not to buy into it to some degree and give many destinations a wide berth – several of which in my view are some of most impressive (hidden) travel destination gems on earth. I’d list these as Iran, Colombia, Pakistan and Israel all of which I have had the good fortunate to visit over the last few years and can testify, if tackled correctly sticking to main tourist sites are safe, civilized, welcoming and stunning, not to mention culturally fantasizing and traveller gold!

Iran

Photo: WikiTravel.org - Iran

It’s amazing that such a traveler’s gem can induce so much fear in so many people. Give it a try: mention you are even thinking of going to Iran to friends and relatives and watch the reaction. Listen to them speak… ‘but there are terrorists’ (no that’s a global problem), ‘but women are second class citizens’ (no that’s Saudi Arabia - there are actually more women than men in University education), ‘didn’t they blow up those Buddhist statutes’ (no, that was the Taliban in Afghanistan)… it goes on. The ignorance Iran inspires can almost be painful. Even well traveled individuals get slightly nervous at even the name. There is absolutely no reason to be. The problem stems from many sources. First up is that most of us know nothing about Iran other than what we heard about the revolution and what a strict Islamic government chooses to present to us. The other error we all make is filling in the gaps ourselves. Iraq to the left, Pakistan and Afghanistan to the right (humm, not exactly the most instantly appealing destinations), it’s natural to assume Iran is somewhere in the middle. The reality is that even the most widely travelled and open-minded visitor is likely to have preconceived views shattered and find a country that truly is a marvel.

Expect some of the most welcoming and truly hospitable people in the world (although that term is used far too often, here it is appropriate). Expect open-minded individuals who are about a millions miles away from religious fanatics who will be delighted to further your surprise in finding out the true nature of the place and go out of their way to help you. Expect some of the best value travel in the world. Expect virtually no hassle. Expect to feel extremely safe and welcomed and finally, expect to find a country where you can walk beside beautiful mountains streams below towering snow caps (even go skiing) one day, forests and rice paddies the next, harsh deserts the next and historic oases the next… the list goes on. Safe, civilized, cheap and reasonably efficient Iran is one of the last hidden gems of this nature. There is too much to share in a small intro like this so if you are even thinking about going it’s best to pick up the excellent LP for some more reading.

Not to be missed: Esfahan, Masule, Yazd, forgotten and well preserved history and atmospheric bazaars & tea shops where you will be the center of attention with seemly everyone wanting to be your friend.

To be missed: Getting a visa can be a real hassle and it’s best to use a service from a company like www.key2persia.com – if you travel on an American passport this is going to be very tough without a tour, but not impossible. Girls you will need to cover up, but this is really no big deal. You will find more details on getting a visa and acceptable dress on Travel Independent’s Iran page. While not essential it is best to avoid a visit to Chogo Zambil (a huge pyramid) which is in the area along side Iraq and the country’s religion capital Qom.

Colombia

Colombia has to be one of the most beautiful countries on earth. Think mountains meeting the sea, deserted beaches from two oceans, rolling hill and vast plains of coffee plantations – it’s also fairly vacant of tourists. Most travellers debate long and hard about visiting Colombia, finding only negative comments on the net, posted by those who have not visited. Those that have visited normally feel Colombia should not be missed, but will advise: just don’t get carried away exploring off the beaten track - Colombia is not like other Latin American countries with large sections controlled by very nasty, unpredictable rebel groups. Certainly violent crime and bus hold ups are more common than elsewhere in the Americas. Nevertheless by sailing/flying into Cartagena and traveling to Ecuador or vice-versa, with commonsense, it is unlikely you will have any problems other than the all present threat of theft – so travel light and in the day, talk to locals and watch your belongings! Both Lonely Planet and Footprint have excellent guidebooks and can steer you in the right direction. Safety has improved dramatically over the last few years and 2006 was one of the best years for internal and external tourism. Colombia is civilized and in places simply spectacular.

Not to be missed: Cartagena old town, San Agustin, Zona Cafetera north of Cali, Sierra Nevada and limited tourists.

To be missed: Continued kidnappings make many rural areas unsafe, and travellers are advised to avoid excursions that include Choco, Putumayo, Meta and Caqueta and the rural areas of Antioquia, Cauca, Narino, and Norte de Santander.

Pakistan

How to describe Pakistan? If you want a one-worder then you need no more than three letters: WOW. India without the hassle, Nepal without the crowds. Then again it’s a little more complicated than that and probably more than any other country on the planet your opinion will depend on what part(s) you see. Whereas the three letters of ‘wow’ is undoubtedly the impression most will have visiting Northern areas, others might be forgiven for thinking of a few four letter words after making trips through the south of the country where travel is quite different. Pakistan’s main attractions are the mind boggling market town of Peshawar and the amazing, stunning and accessible jagged mountain scenery in the far north. Few travellers venture to Pakistan – it even seems to have become a bad word on traveller circuits. A poor media image, tension with India, terrorism, earthquakes, poverty… it’s quite clear why so many neglect it, particularly with the likes of India and Nepal on its doorstep. Shame.

Not to be missed: The main feature and highlight of Pakistan is the Karakoram Highway (KKH) which neither crosses the Karakoram Pass nor is anything close to a smooth highway. This incredibly useful road is the only dependable overland route between China and the Subcontinent. Originating in Islamabad and terminating in Kashgar, China, the KKH is something that every traveller should aspire to see. The area often referred to as Pakistani Kashmir (incl. the Gilgit province in the far north) is a great place to hang-out, walk, cycle or simply look dumbstruck out of a bus/jeep window. It’s brilliantly accessible from the KKH with 7000+ meter peaks and glaciers practically by the road side. Away from the KKH, to name a few highlights - Islamabad is about the gentlest introduction to the continent you could get. Women travellers will notice considerably less hassle in the north.

Not to be missed (but then again maybe – the following places are in tribal controlled areas and while typically safe some may wish to avoid): Peshawar is a photogenic, hectic meddle of cultures and people – it’s also the jumping point for the a trip up the Khyber Pass and a view of Afghanistan. Spots like the Kalash valley in the Hindu Kush are stunning and culturally fascinating. The north is a patchwork of languages and culture (40% are tolerant Muslim) that change from one town to the next with few locals thinking of themselves as Pakistani. Steep mountains and deep valleys make travel awe inspiring.

To be missed: The rest of Pakistan is not quite such a dream. Lahore and the area directly below Islamabad can be loosely compared to India and are not of great interest. Further south the tone of the country changes. Ancient wonders can be hard to appreciate and the heat is oppressive as the country and the people begin to change. Islamic tones are stronger and cities like Karachi are inherently violent and not a place for backpackers. Pakistan has several areas of instability and possible danger which you should avoid. Here’s a quick summary: Off the beaten track near the Line of control aka Kashmir, Balochistan - this region encompasses most of the south-west of the country, Karachi and the Sindh - a small square region surrounding Karachi, bordering India. Not a place for travellers, to be avoided, intense communal violence. Karachi airport is safe enough, but it’s best to jump straight on a cheap internal flight to Islamabad or Lahore. The North West Frontier Province- commonly known as the NWFP, the area bordering Afghanistan from around Peshawar north to China. For more details see the Pakistani summary information page on Travel Independent.

Israel

While it would be easy to wax lyrical about the fascinating and currently very out of vogue countries that border Israel: Lebanon, Syria, Jordon and Egypt, all of which I would recommended highly – the focus of this article shouldn’t be predominately on Islamic countries. Israel, as a multi-religious and at times downright secular country has been off the mainstream travelers map for some time now as tensions simmer and often boil over with it’s neighbors and occupied territories. Visitors to Israel virtually stopped during the last nadir, but things have started to stabilize a little and tourist numbers have climbed. The Palestinian elections, Hamas’ victory, a subsequent suicide bomb in Tel Aviv - Israeli retaliation, missiles from Lebanon and it’s business as usual again? Who knows, but it’s easy to understand why many are a little nervous about visiting. Coupled with this Israel can be a little raw and unwelcoming, but does nevertheless contain one of the world’s most incredible places: Jerusalem. Jerusalem and it’s surroundings is quite simply amazing and worth braving terrorist attacks for any day. Don’ t let terrorism scare you, the risks of injury is far below most bus travel in Asia. Many of Israel’s sights will blow your mind, when reflected on. Tel Aviv has a laid-back beach culture to rival Sydney or Rio and like many cities is mainly secular: great parties, bars, hot guys/girls, great set of hostels… - all things you might not of expected. This new country is fascinating to get an understanding of and has a history like no other.

What not to miss: Jerusalem. Few places in the world inspire quite as much passion as Jerusalem (Yerushalayim in Hebrew, Al-Quds in Arabic), the 3000-year-old capital of Israel. Tel Aviv has a lot to offer if you have time to kick back and there a many other notable sites in the north and along the Dead Sea.

What to miss: That passport stamp which makes visiting many other Islamic countries impossible on the same passport. Gaza is now firmly off limits and while many report very positive experiences in the West Bank most more feel comfortable avoiding it or minimizing their travel through it.

Summary/Conclusion:

Remember, where ever you go in the world: developed or developing; Jewish, secular, Islamic or whatever you should always do your own research, travel with commonsense and stay aware of current events. It’s easy even in the most popular travels destinations to find yourself in the wrong place if you travel total unaware and off a well beaten track. Remember there is nothing big, brave or exciting about risking your well-being heading into regions of any country where really it’s best to avoid.

And lastly, a word to the wise… don’t judge something from second/third hand reports. Notions of whole populations out to get you when you step of the plane are ridiculous, American or not (say you are Canadian if it really makes you feel better – no one will care. For the record I’m British, then again it’s where you are at not where you are from). Free your mind, it works like a parachute – much better when open!

For more information on all the above destination (plus about 70 others) you are referred to Travel Independent . Info. You will also find a lot of information for more ‘normal’ destinations and advice to get you started on any trip. What to pack, where to go, before you go and just about everything you might need to know if you are setting off, particularly if for the first time.

The New 7 Wonders of the World have recently been released, and they are: The Great Wall (China), Petra (Jordan), Christ Redeemer (Brazil), Machu Picchu (Peru), Chichén Itzá (Mexico), The Roman Colosseum (Italy), and The Taj Mahal (India).

Now it is my impression that whenever lists like these are released, people look them over, marvel at pictures on the internet, but usually that’s about as far as it goes. Most of us just assume that while these sites are truly amazing, they are all in far-off lands, that us “average Joe’s” don’t have the time or money to visit.

So, as a feature here on Go Budget Travel, I have decided to look a little further and figure out how much it actually costs to visit each of these sites, to shed a little light on exactly how accessible or inaccessible they really are.

Below I have made a list of the 7 New Wonders of the World, and the costs of visiting for one day. It’s important to note here that some of these sites should not be rushed through in one day (Machu Picchu, Petra, perhaps Chichén Itzá), but for comparison purposes only, that is how I have listed their costs. I have also excluded extra costs such as accommodation, food, gifts, etc. as those costs will depend on each individual’s preferred style of travel. Check out my Budget Travel Costs or 94 Cities around the World article for more information on budget accommodation and meals in each of these areas.

I think the facts will show, that these sites, in general, are extremely affordable. Most cost less than a day’s entry to Six Flags or Busch Gardens, however so many people will die having never even seen one. In my opinion, that’s a real shame.

Great Wall, China

Description: Obviously the Great Wall is very long, and can be seen in a number of places throughout China. The prices quoted below are for two standard Wall viewing spots out side of Beijing. The first price is for Badaling, the closest wall site to Beijing (is also VERY crowded, and not usually recommended to foreign tourists), and the second is Mutianyu (which is further from Beijing and significantly less crowded).

Admission: $5.93-$4.62

Transport to/from Beijing: $2.64-$9.24 (bus - roundtrip)

Total from Beijing (not including airfare): $8.57-$13.86

Standard Airfare (roundtrip): $1160 (New York), $890 (London), $920 (Paris), $1045 (Los Angeles)

Petra, Jordan

Description: Prices quoted below are for a 1 day trip to Petra. Most Petra experts recommend 2-3 days to do the area justice, but for comparison purposes I only looked at one day. If staying for 2 days admission is $36.67, 3 days is $42.31.

Admission: $29.61 (1 day)

Transport to/from Amman: $11 (bus - roundtrip)

Total from Amman (not including airfare): $40.61

Standard Airfare (roundtrip) to Amman, Jordan: $1160 (New York), $795 (London), $725 (Paris), $1490 (Los Angeles)

Christ Redeemer, Brazil

Admission: $18.91 (includes roundtrip transportation up and down the mountain to see the statue)

Transport to/from Rio de Janeiro: the statue is located in Rio, so there is no additional transporation cost

Total from Rio de Janeiro (not including airfare): $18.91

Standard Airfare (roundtrip) to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: $840 (New York), $1190 (London), $915 (Paris), $910 (Los Angeles)

Machu Picchu, Peru

Description: Prices quoted below are for a 1 day trip to Machu Picchu. You should definitely schedule more time to visit these amazing ruins, but for comparison purposes, I only considered a one day trip.

Admission: $36.00

Transport to/from Cusco: $73.00 (roundtrip train)

Total from Cusco (not including airfare): $109.00

Standard Airfare (roundtrip) to Cusco, Peru: $900 (New York), $1660 (London), $1570 (Paris), $920 (Los Angeles)

Chichén Itzá, Mexico

Admission: $7.42

Transport to/from Cancun: $17.44 (roundtrip bus)

Total from Cancun (not including airfare): $24.86

Standard Airfare (roundtrip) to Cancun, Mexico: $400 (New York), $1095 (London), $1020 (Paris), $420 (Los Angeles)

Roman Colosseum, Italy

Admission: $15.00

Transport to/from Rome: the Colosseum is located in Rome, so there is no additional transportation cost

Total from Rome (not including airfare): $15.00

Standard Airfare (roundtrip) to Rome, Italy: $725 (New York), $198 (London), $170 (Paris), $1150 (Los Angeles)

Taj Mahal, India

Admission: $18.58

Transport to/from Agra: 19.32 (train - roundtrip)

Total from Rome (not including airfare): $37.90

Standard Airfare (roundtrip) to New Delhi, India: $1010 (New York), $760 (London), $810 (Paris), $1300 (Los Angeles)

Photos: www.new7wonders.com

Inspired by the recent Mercer HR study on the living costs of popular cities around the world, World’s Most Expensive Cities: June 2007, I decided to put together a similar study for budget travelers. The Mercer study looks at the cost of living for expats around the world, in order to determine which are the most expensive cities. I, on the other hand, was more interested in finding out how expensive various cities around the world are for budget travel. So, I made up a simple formula that I could then use to compare the cost of budget accommodation and inexpensive local meals of 94 different cities around the world. The formula is only based on these two variables, and provides a value that I call the “Budget Cost/Day” of a city. Below is a more detailed description of the two variables:

1. The cheapest private, double occupancy room that I could find in each city. (I used private rooms, as they were the most commonly available accommodation options I found across the board. This does not mean that these are the cheapest of all accommodation options, as a dorm style accommodation is certainly less expensive when available. However, for comparison purposes it made more sense to just look at private rooms.)

2. The price of a cheap local meal in each city, multiplied by 2. Meant to represent the cost of two meals per day.

Obviously, there are many other travel expenses that I didn’t consider, such as transportation costs, site-seeing fees, bars/clubs, etc. Unfortunately, with my limited resources, I am simply unable to take on a more comprehensive survey. However, I still think this study provides an interesting look at the wide range of travel costs throughout different parts of the globe.

All expenses displayed below have come from either my personal experiences, information provided by traveling friends of mine, HostelBookers.com (accommodation prices), HostelWorld.com (accommodation prices), and the Lonely Planet World Guide (cheap meal prices).

Important - Please Note:

The main goal of this survey is to provide an idea of how each travel destination ranks internationally in terms of costs to the budget traveler. The following costs for accommodation and food reflect that absolute cheapest available option in each destination. The survey does not account for transportation, site-seeing, or even the most basic of luxuries (an occasional beer, souvenirs, or even a cup of coffee). The budget cost/day is simply a variable that I used for comparison purposes.

Please DO NOT assume that a trip to any of these destinations will be as inexpensive as the budget cost/day variable my imply. In general, the most budget minded travelers will likely spend between 150%-200% of the budget cost/day for each destination listed below. Less budget minded travelers will probably spend even more.

For an inexpensive vacation, check out a caribbean travel getaway. Or find another cheap vacation with discounted airline tickets and cheap flights. Complement your travels with great hotels and a great deal on a car rental.