Karachi, Pakistan: Edge of Space (flickr)

If you travel through developing regions of the globe, it’s likely you will gain a lot of experience in long distance bus and train travel. Sometimes these trips are fine–aboard comfortable buses and trains and across short distances. However, more often than not these trips can feel more like 15+ hour nightmares than an interesting journey through a strange new land.

Personally, I’ve been aboard enough cramped, sweaty, bone jarring, noisy, 15+ hour, buses and trains to know that special measures should be taken when traveling in this manner. However, it’s definitely a different kind of experience, and one that brings you closer to life as a local–a good thing.

Bus and train travel are also great ways to minimize expenses as a traveler, especially across international borders. For example, I recently took a buses from Quito, Ecuador to Lima, Peru. The trip was VERY long (around 36 hours), but cost me only $50–flying would have cost around $350-$400. Additionally I got to see tons of interesting things that I would have missed completely from the air.

Below are some common tips I use when traveling long distance by bus or train:

1. Pop a pill:

Obviously you don’t want to abuse this one, but taking a sleeping pill can transform a 15 hour nightmare into little more than a dream. I usually take one ibuprofen (which acts as a muscle relaxant) and one mild sedative (to sleep). I’m not the type of person that can sleep anywhere or under any conditions, so a pill really does wonders for me being able to sleep through the ride.

2. Choose your seat wisely:

If you buy your ticket in advance from the ticket office, it’s usually possible to choose your seat–DO THIS! Ask the person at the ticket counter to show you the seating arrangement (usually they have this if you ask), and pick a seat in a spacious area of the bus or train. If you are traveling by bus, the front seats are usually the best picks as they have more leg room and are less susceptible to poor shock absorption in the back of the bus. If traveling by train, it will depend on the train, but usually you can find an area that offers a little more room for passengers.

3. Cover your ears:

It seems there are always crying babies and loud snorers on buses and trains when I travel. In these situations, earplugs or headphones are a lifesaver. 15 hours of screaming babies will really wear on your nerves, so be prepared, and have some way of blocking out unwanted noise.

4. Travel at night:

Some people will disagree with me on this one, but I prefer traveling at night. Daytime bus and train travel does have it’s perks–pretty views and light for reading or other activities. However, in my experience, daytime is when more families tend to travel. This means lots of whining children, potty breaks, and other nuisances. Nighttime travel, on the other hand is mainly populated by single travelers, who keep quiet, go to sleep, and want to get there just as quickly as you do. Night buses also tend to make FAR fewer stops than day buses.

5. Choose your bus company wisely:

This tip is more pertinent to bus travel, as usually there is only one option for train travel. If traveling by bus, be careful when choosing the company you travel with. More than likely there are a number of different bus companies that travel to your final destination, so don’t just buy a ticket with the first one you see (or the first one that finds you). Ask other travelers or locals for recommendations, and find a reputable company, with comfortable buses, and the most direct services possible. If you don’t you could very well find yourself on a 40 year old bus, with hard metal seats, that stops every 15 minutes (often for no good reason at all). I have even found myself on buses where the driver pounded beers the whole way–so be careful and find a reputable company.

What are your opinions and tips on long distance bus and train travel?

10 comments

Cajun Jambalaya: Benjamin Harrison (flickr)

A great way to save money on the road is by cooking for yourself in hostel kitchens. However, cooking for yourself as a world traveler can often be a challenge in itself. Not every town in the world has an American-style super market where you can pick up all your favorite foods and ingredients from back home. Instead you’ll likely have to make due with what is locally available, which sometimes isn’t much. For example, a food staple throughout much of Africa is goat. But how the hell do you prepare goat? Good question!

If you really like cooking, or are an aspiring iron chef, this can be a unique and fun challenge. However, if you are more like me, and just want to put some food on the table as quickly and painlessly as possible, I recommend learning a few “one recipe fits all” food preparation strategies.

A “one recipe fits all” is basically a simple recipe that you can alter to fit any food availability situation. My personal favorite “one recipe fits all” is Cajun Jambalaya.

Cajun Jambalaya is a great recipe to carry with you on the road, because it is extremely flexible. It can be made with virtually any type of meat, as the Cajuns have traditionally prepared it with everything from crawfish to alligator meat. The only real requirements are that you include onions, celery, and green peppers (though even these are flexible), a cajun spice mix (which I recommend you just bring from home - can be used on all sorts of undesirable food to mask the flavor), and rice (available pretty much anywhere).

Some other advantages to Cajun Jambalaya is that it’s cooked in just one pot, and that you can easily make as much or as little as you like. Ingredients are extremely flexible, and in most cases you just throw in whatever you have. The cajun spice mix does a great job homogenizing the flavor of the overall dish, so even if you’re cooking with goat meat it still tastes like normal jambalaya.

Below is a simple and flexible recipe for Cajun Jambalaya that can be used pretty much anywhere in the world:

Ingredients:

• Meat(s) (whatever you’ve got! can be excluded if vegetarian)
• Onions, celery, green peppers (these are called the trinity. use them if you can, if not just do your best)
• Other Vegetables (whatever’s available, toss it in!)
• Cajun spice mix (see below for details)
• Cooking Oil
• Chicken stock or vegetable stock (water can be used if stock is unavailable, though some flavor is lost)

Cajun Spice Mix: (I recommend mixing this up and bringing it from home or from a big city, as spices can sometimes be difficult to find in rural areas. Can be used on virtually anything, and is legal to take through customs)

• 2 parts salt
• 2 parts garlic powder
• 1 part black pepper
• 1 part cayenne pepper
• 1 part curry powder
• 1 part onion powder

Heat cooking oil in a large pot and add meat(s). Cook until brown. Add onions, celery, and green peppers, and sautee until brown. Add any other vegetables as well as cajun spice mix and continue to sautee until everything is cooked and brown. Add rice and chicken/vegetable stock (or water if stock is unavailable). Cook without stirring until rice has been cooked. Most of the stock/water should be absorbed into the rice so that the final dish is wet, but not soupy.

What’s your favorite “one recipe fits all”?

Cajun Jambalaya Links:

• Wikipedia - Jambalaya: Description and history on this unique dish
• Food Network - Jambalaya: Emeril Laggasse’s jambalaya recipe
• Real Cajun Recipes: How to cook Jambalaya for 120

2 comments

The LA Times Online Travel Chat session yesterday was very successful. I apologize for putting the link up just a few hours before the session actually started, but I hope that some of you were able to attend.

For anyone that may have missed it, you can check out the transcript here: http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-travel-chat-100807-transcript?page=1

There were a lot of budget travel topics covered, including two interesting topics I would like to highlight here. The following questions and responses come from yesterday’s Online Travel Chat session with the LA Times Travel Deal Detectives. I have include my own comments at the end:

I’ll be heading to Belize on Thursday, what is the best way to search for inexpensive local tours?

Sara Benson, Travel Deal Detective: I haven’t been to Belize, but in many other Latin American countries (Andrew, you can chime in on this, I know) the best way to find local tours is to ask after arrival at local guesthouses, restaurants, even shops where you find a friendly atmosphere and sincere locals. Always shop around for the best price. Also, ask yourself: do I really need to take a tour, or can I do it myself just as easily?

Andrew Nystrom, Web Travel Editor: Great advice, Sara. Chris, depending on how much time you have for vacation, I’d avise holding off on booking any tours until you can talk to some locals and ask for advice.

My Comments:

I thought this was great advice. With a country like Belize, or really any other developing or small country around the world, it is certainly optimal to hold off on booking tours until you actually arrive in-country. You will find dozens more options and lower prices than if you simply try to book through a travel agent or internet site from abroad. Get recommendations from other travelers, and always try to book locally for the best prices and a more genuine experience.

• International Tour Agencies vs. Local Tour Agencies
• The 5 Fundamentals of Budget Travel in the Developing World

I was wondering if there is a time of the year to go to Europe for the best value? I would love to go but have a budget.

Andrew Nystrom, Web Travel Editor: Sounds like there’s a consensus here in our physical chat room at winter is, in many ways, the best time to visit Europe. I’ll let Jane expand…

Jane Engle, Staff Writer: Hi, cbtrav: Good call. You’ve picked the cheapest season to go to Europe. And since so much fun stuff is indoors–food, concerts, museums and more–weather isn’t big factor. As for when to buy: I’d buy now, if I saw a good fare. From L.A., that’s anything less than about $800 off-season.

Jen Leo, Travel Deal Blogger: I spent part of the winter in Europe about 3.5 years ago and loved the difference. I spent two weeks in Belgium (Waterloo) and traveled around. I particularly enjoyed the holiday fairs

Jen Leo, Travel Deal Blogger: Mediapile and Chris, I read the EuroCheapoBlog to stay on top of all Europe deals and to gather resources: http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/

My Comments

I think a lot of people write-off travel in Europe during the winter months, assuming that it’s just too cold to do anything. That’s why I really liked Jane Engle’s point that when you think about it, a large portion of the attractions in Europe are indoors. Museums, concerts, historical sites, and soaking up the culture in a local cafe, bar, or pub. There are far less tourists, airfares drop, and many hotels and hostels lower their prices. All of these factors make Europe a very appealing destination for wintertime travelers.

My one recommendation would be to try to travel in the “snowy” months as opposed to the “cold rainy” months. European sites look amazing under a fresh coat of snow, but they can be miserable during a cold dreary rain.

• Winter International Airfare Deals: How much does the price actually drop?

Again, to read the full transcript, please check out the following link:
http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-travel-chat-100807-transcript?page=1

1 comment

San Francisco: David Paul Ohmer (flickr)

I have long been a runner. I find running a great way to stay in shape while also giving me an opportunity to clear my mind and reduce stress. However, maintaining a running schedule while traveling can be very difficult. Especially if the majority of your travel is through cities. Some cities are quite runner friendly (Europe, the US, and Canada), but many others make it extremely difficult to find refuge as a runner. There isn’t a green area within 50 miles, many roads don’t have sidewalks, traffic doesn’t respect the pedestrian, sidewalks are overrun with people, air pollution is suffocating, etc. These are just a few of the problems facing runners in many global cities, and the problems are compounded by the fact that you are new in the city and don’t know how to get around.

Many times I have found myself running down crowded city streets, dodging traffic, sucking car exhaust, and getting myself lost as I was totally unfamiliar with the area as a runner. Luckily, however, like so many others the internet has found a way to resolve this problem.

There are a few new sites on the web where users can map and post their favorite international running routes. This way visitors to a new city looking for a place to run can just consult the website and pick out a run that matches their interests and skill level.

Obviously some routes are better than others, and some cities have better coverage than others, but if your looking for a place to run, these sites are a great place to start!

• Map My Run: Seems to be the largest database, though not by much. Lots of good run descriptions from destinations around the world.
• Run the Planet: Also features an interesting e-zine on the homepage regarding running and training abroad.
• Run.com: Sister site of Run the Planet, is still in beta, but has an attractive interface and seems to be growing quickly.

1 comment

Machu Picchu, Peru: Lee Otis (flickr)
Every year millions of people across the world book tours to famous travel destinations such as The Great Wall of China, The Pyramids of Egypt, and the Galapagos Islands. If you are a budget conscious traveler, you will likely make these tour arrangements on your own (as opposed to using a travel agent). So, you have a choice to make. Do you book with a well-known international operator or do you book with a local tour provider?

Always book locally:

In my opinion, you should always try to book your tour with a local operator. First of all, it is much more responsible to invest your money directly into local businesses and operators who can use it to further develop their travel infrastructure and quality of life. Second, it is significantly less expensive to book a tour with local operator than an international one, as the international operator is almost guaranteed to charge you for numerous unneeded services that usually double, triple, or even quadruple the total cost of the tour.

Let me provide an example by analyzing the cost of booking a tour across the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru. I’ll compare the tour cost between a well-known and “reasonably” priced international operator - Adventure Life, and local operator in Peru - Peru Treks and Adventure.

International vs. Local Operator Price Analysis:

The following links will take you to the two itineraries offered by Adventure Life Inca Trail Hike and Peru Treks and Adventure Inca Trail Hike.

At first glance you will see the the Adventure Life tour costs $1775, while the Peru Treks and Adventure tour costs $390. Obviously this is a large price disparity, however, you will probably also notice that the Adventure Life tour is a 10 day tour, while the Peru Treks and Adventure tour is only 4 days. The Inca Trail hike itself only runs for 4 days on both tours, the difference is that the Adventure Life tour includes a few days spent in Lima and Cusco, Peru in addition to the time spent on the Inca Trail. So, the big question is, are those 6 extra days really worth the additional $1385 that Adventure Life charges for the tour? Let’s see:

I will now analyze the entire Adventure Life itinerary and break down costs per day so that we can see if it’s a good deal or not:

• Day 1: Arrive in Lima - All you do on this day is arrive in Lima, Peru, and head to your hotel for the night. You stay in Hotel Carmel in Lima, which costs $60 for a double room or $30/person. No meals are included.
• Day 2: Fly to Cusco - Wake up and hop on a plane to Cusco, Peru. Spend the day looking around Cusco, things you could do on your own. Night in Hotel El Balcon, $60 for a double room, or $30/person. No meals are included.
• Day 3: Free day in Cusco - Another day on your own in Cusco. You can take advantage of a day excursion, however the cost is extra. Night in Hotel El Balcon, $60 for a double room, or $30/person. No meals are included.
• Day 4: Sacred Valley of the Incas - This day you do something different. Head to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, visiting ancient villages and ruins. Night in El Sauce, $79 for a double room, or $39.50/person. No meals are included
• Day 5-8: Hike the Inca Trail - Hike the Inca Trail. I will value this at $390/person the price charged by Peru Treks and Adventure with all amenities included.
• Day 8: Night in Machu Picchu - Night spent in the Machu Picchu Inn, a nice hotel running $125 for a double, or $62.50/person.
• Day 9: Head back to Cusco - No activities other than transport back to Cusco. Night in Hotel El Balcon, $60 for a double, or $30/person No meals included.
• Day 10: Fly to Lima, return home - This day simply involves flying back to Lima, then flying home. No activities, hotels, or meals included.
• Total Cost: $612.00 USD

Conclusion:

Basically, you could independently follow the exact same Adventure Life itinerary, stay in the same hotels, and visit the same places for roughly $612.

So, does this mean that Adventure Life simply pockets the other $1183 they charge for this tour? No it doesn’t.

A sizable percentage goes to what I like to call the “hold your hand” fee. The one thing that you get with an operator like Adventure Life that you won’t get with a local operator like Peru Treks and Adventure is someone to hold your hand from start to finish. Adventure Life will have people waiting for you at the airport in Lima, and that will accompany you throughout your tour until you arrive at the Lima Airport again 10 days later to go home.

The big question is how much is the “hold your hand” fee worth to you? Some travelers are more than willing to pay $1000+ for someone to make sure they get everywhere they need to go, that everything in properly organized, etc. However, many others, including most budget travelers, consider this a waste of money, and would honestly prefer the adventure of doing all the “in-between” work on our own. That’s why for the budget traveler, I recommend avoiding international “hold your hand” operators as much as possible. The majority of the services they provide are completely unnecessary, and they will charge you an arm and a leg for them.

3 comments

Long term travel is often considered a roller coaster ride of emotion. There are tons of high points where you literally feel as if you are on top of the world. However, there are also low points along the where where many travelers begin to feel homesick or depressed.

Over the past 3 years I can say I have definitely hit my share of emotional low points. Days where I have just wanted to end the whole experience and head home. I remember my first solo trip abroad, I was considering going back home after just a couple of days. However, over time I have developed a number of strategies that work quite well for me in terms of maintaining a level head, and staying on the higher end of the emotional scale.

The following are all strategies that I incorporate into my budget travel life to avoid homesickness or traveler’s depression, and maintain a healthy emotional equilibrium.

1. Exercise: We’ve all heard about the benefits of exercise, both physical and mental. When I’ve had a tough or stressul day, nothing clears my head or relieves the stress faster than a good run. However, for many people, exercise seems to be the first thing they cut out of their day while on the road. While you may not find world-class gyms, there are still dozens of options you can take advantage of from your hostel room or around town to get your heart rate up and the blood flowing. Believe me, if runners can find haven in the polluted, concrete metropolis of Shanghai, you can find options anywhere in the world for exercise.

2. Family Time: Many travelers enjoy living with families during their travels. I am not one of these travelers (I much prefer the independence and freedom of living on my own), but I have found that spending time with a local family is a great way to cope with the homesickness you may feel for your own family or friends. In my experience it is remarkably easy to meet local families, both wealthy and poor, that are delighted to host you as a guest in their home. Lunch, dinner, or even just an afternoon coffee is usually enough to put a smile on my face and give me a little food for the soul.

3. Volunteer: No matter where you are in the world, I guarantee you can find both short and long term volunteer work projects to take part in. I think most people will agree that giving back and volunteering is a very satisfying experience. You may not have time to do it at home, but when traveling for an extended period of time, it should be easy to take part in a couple short-term volunteer opportunities. The experience is sure to put a smile on your face, and for many people the feeling of work and accomplishment is important to maintaining a healthy emotional balance. See my section on Volunteering Abroad For Less as well as Idealist.org for individual volunteer opportunities.

4. Make a short-term home: Hostel hopping and living out of a backpack is an amazing experience. However, it can also be extremely tiring and tough on the emotions. My recommendation is always to take some time off every month or two, and make a short-term home in an interesting town or city. Rent an apartment, even find some short-term work. Meet some locals, make some friends, hang out with a family, do some volunteer work, and just enjoy where you are. This give your mind and emotions as well as your body a chance to relax a bit, drop the stress of constant travel, and grow accustomed to one single environment again. Check out my video post on renting property abroad

5. Friends: At first glance, this is an obvious one. We all know that friends are important, and how nice it is to have people with whom you can confide or just have a coherent conversation. The problem that many long-term travelers face, however, is that you see SO many people come and go throughout your travels, that you sometimes tend to avoid meeting new people. I have found myself doing this a significant amount lately. And it can be a tough balance sometimes. My best recommendation would just be to try to find a balance that works well for you. If you prefer to be on your own most of the time, great, but be careful not to shut yourself off completely from other travelers. We all need a little human interaction occasionally, and few people are able to relate with you as well as a fellow traveler. Read more about building a traveler’s network.

4 comments

Woodstock Hostel (Paris, France) - Patrick T Power (flickr)

In some travel destinations, hostel choice isn’t a big deal. All you really need is a bed in a safe and convenient location, as you’ll be spending 99% of your time elsewhere.

However, in other destinations where the allure is the small local area itself, hostel choice can become very important. Consider the quaint fishing village that has grown into a travelers haven of cheap eats, beachside bars, and epic surfing. In this type of location you are much more likely to spend a large part of your time in or near the hostel, and consequentially should take the time to pick out a place that best meets your needs.

1. Beware the Salesman: Not always a concern, but most of us have seen it before. You take one step into town and all of the sudden you’ve got 1 or more hostel owners/workers swarming you with offers to take you to their hostel. In my experience, these folks often have very nice hostels, and despite their pushy sales tactics you may be very interested in their product (the hostel). However, DO NOT commit to their establishment simply because they were the first to “catch” you. There are surely many other nice hostels around town, which is why these are willing to spend their time trying to sell you on their local, before you have a chance to see the competition.

2. Use a recommendation or guidebook: Some people don’t like using guidebooks or recommendations from other travelers while on the road. They feel it takes the adventure out of travel. However, if you are like me, and don’t share this particular sentiment, there really is no better way to choose a hostel than to ask other travelers for recommendations, and see what the guidebooks have to say. These resources understand what the traveler wants, and can give you immediate access to all the information you may need in choosing a hostel.

3. View the Room: Westeners are often accustomed to choosing hotel accommodations by brand. You basically know what to expect when you rent a room at the Hilton or Marriott, and rarely feel inclined to see the room before purchase. Not the case in an individually owned hostel. Always ask to see the room before you commit to anything. Foreign language vocabulary for this type of task is very easy, so don’t be afraid to ask.

4. Split up: If you are traveling with a friend or group of friends, a great strategy for checking out a few different hostels in a short period of time is to split up. Decide on what aspects of hostel accommodation are most important to you, split up for 15-20 minutes, then meet back at a local cafe to discuss the options.

5. Don’t feel obligated: Travelers often feel bad about passing on a hostel. It’s a difficult situation, as you have to ask to see the room ahead of time, forcing hostel workers to take you around the place, then often feel too awkward to say “no” if it’s not what you’re looking for. For some people it’s not an issue, however others feel bad about turning down friendly hostel workers, as if it insinuates they are “too good” for the establishment. My recommendation is just don’t worry about it. Everyday travelers view these hostels, some say yes, others say no. There is no reason to feel bad about looking for something that better meets your needs. Saying “no, thank you” to locals is also a necessary skill for a traveler, and one that gets much easier over time.

6. Look for other people: The traveler grapevine is a powerful force that should not be underestimated. If you see a hostel buzzing with people, odds are that it’s a great place to stay. Obviously, you may want to be weary if there are too many people around, but in general hostels are just like restaurants. The best one’s fill up first.

7. Never settle on the first spot: You’ve just gotten off a 16 hour train ride, and arrived at that perfect little beach town where the bodies are tan, the waves are always perfect, and the rum flows like water. It’s a common but understandable error to just throw your things into the first hostel you find. IHowever, if you get right down to business, hostel searching should not take more than 20-30 minutes, so don’t ignore this step. Walk around town, check out the options, and make an informed decision. You’ll surely be thankful for the time you spent when you find that little gem with perfect sunset views and hammocks strewn across the sand.

8. Don’t forget the common areas: A tip that I often forget about myself. For many travelers, a big part of the travel experience is meeting and hanging out with other travelers. Don’t forget to view the common areas of the hostel where you will likely spend a decent portion of time sipping on beers and/or coffee with fellow travelers. Rooms are often basic, and offer little more than a bed, so the common areas can really make or break a place.

9. One night at a time: If at all possible, I try to only commit to one night at a time. This is a judgment call that you will need to make on the spot, and should always be weary of a place selling out. However, if it does not look like your hostel is likely to sell out it’s rooms for the following night, only commit to one night. If you like the hostel, you can extend your stay the next day, however if something unexpected happens and your hostel isn’t as great as your first impression, or you want to try something new, you can just move on to something else the next day.

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When I visit a new travel destination on a short-term trip, I like to be prepared. If I’m traveling for an extended period of time I don’t mind, and actually enjoy, the adventure of figuring things out on my own. However, for short-term travels it is much more practical to have some kind of a plan ahead of time so you don’t end up wasting precious time.

To accomplish this task of preparing for a travel destination before arrival, many travelers use guidebooks. However, the problem with guidebooks is that they are always out of date, they are the opinion of just one or two writers, and are read by millions of travelers (meaning everyone visits that quiet, pristine beach, and it’s no longer quiet nor pristine).

I’m not saying I’m too good for the guidebook, because I’m not. In fact I use guidebooks pretty consistently during my travels for advice on transportation, hostels, and restaurants. However, for the big planning decisions, like where to spend most of my time, what’s overrated, what’s truly off the beaten track, etc. I find it much more valuable to talk to actual human-beings that have a lot of recent experience traveling through the areas I’m interested in. While guidebooks have to be written with one travel audience in mind, a human can respond to questions and tailor their advice to your personal travel style and preferences.

It’s usually quite easy to find an experienced traveler willing to share her expertise when you arrive in country. But that means you lose precious days wandering around trying to get advice. So, how do you find reliable tips and advice before you even get on the plane, train, or bus?

Finding Travel Experts:

When looking for destination-specific travel advice before I arrive in-country, there are basically 3 places I look:

1. Online forums: I’ve talked about them before, and I’ll mention them again here. Online forums are my favorite places to start looking for destination-specific advice. Post a couple questions in the morning (general, specific, or somewhere in between) and usually you’ll have at least a couple of responses by dinner time.

The big problem with online forums is it’s hard to tell who actually knows what they’re talking about, and who just wants to hear themselves speak. That’s why I use online forums as a starting point. The information is often VERY helpful in beginning your planning, but don’t take it as undisputed fact.

Popular Forums:

• Lonely Planet’s “Thorntree” forum
• BootsnAll online forums
• Tripadvisor

2. Tour operators, hotels, restaurants: Basically any destination-specific business or company that targets travelers as their clients. This is one of my favorite resources because they pretty much have to talk to you! Usually what I’ll do is call up a tour operator or hotel in the destination I am interested in visiting, start with a question about their services, prices, whatever, then try to go off on a tangent about the things I’m really interested in.

For example, last year I organized a trip to Machu Picchu, so I called up a well-known hotel in Cusco, Peru and asked a simple question about their room prices. After the receptionist finished quoting prices, I got her off the topic of hotels and was able to pick her brain on a variety of other activities available in the area. She told me what was popular, what was overrated, what was less well-known, and even emailed me a number of online brochures which proved very valuable in planning my trip.

The downsides to this option are first of all that you have to be weary of salesmen and women talking things up in an attempt to sell you on their services. Usually it’s very obvious when this is happening, but not always. The second downside is that most people you talk to are locals not travelers. As locals their personal preferences and recommendations are not always inline with the desires of an international traveler.

3. Hospitality exchanges: My last tip is one that I’ve just recently begun to take advantage of. When people think of a hospitality exchange they usually only consider the in-country benefits. Having a friend and place to stay when you arrive in-country. However, hospitality exchange networks also offer an incredible collection of travel minds that are available to pick even before you arrive in-country. There are members all across the globe from developed countries like France or Germany to lesser-known and often forgotten countries like Uzbekistan and Myanmar.

Every user in a hospitality network is a member because they are interested in meeting fellow travelers, so all you have to do is sign-in, and contact someone already living or traveling in the destination you are interested in. They are usually more than willing to help you out with loads of tips and advice (afterall that’s why they joined the network), and their advice is usually very reliable. They know the area well, as they live there, but they’re also international travelers themselves, who understand the lifestyle and can work with you to develop the best itinerary to meet your travel interests.

1 comment

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.

Country	Currency/USD - Aug. 2002	Currency/USD - Aug. 2007	% Change
Costa Rica (re)	376.5	528.3	+40.3%
Nicaragua (re)	14.31	18.92	+32.2%
Laos	7905	9748	+23.3%
Egypt	4.65	5.70	+22.6%
Honduras	17.18	19.33	+12.5%
Mexico	9.85	11.05	+12.2%
Bolivia	7.52	7.9	+5.1%
Indonesia	8965	9356	+4.4%
Vietnam	15971	16439	+2.9%
Cambodia	4008	4079	+1.8%
Ecuador (f)	1	1	0.0%
Jordan (f)	0.71	0.71	0.0%
Oman (f)	0.39	0.39	0.0%
United Arab Emirates (f)	3.67	3.67	0.0%
Belize (f)	2	2	0.0%
Panama (f)	1	1	0.0%
El Salvador (f)	1	1	0.0%
Japan	119.1	116.9	-1.8%
Pakistan	62.08	60.57	-2.4%
Guatemala	8.04	7.83	-2.6%
Taiwan	33.90	32.97	-2.7%
Serbia	61.77	59.66	-3.4%
Nigeria	134.2	128.39	-4.3%
Ukraine	5.50	5.11	-7.1%
Uruguay	26.05	24.03	-7.8%
Malaysia	3.80	3.49	-8.2%
China	8.28	7.56	-8.7%
Israel	4.68	4.24	-9.4%
Zambia	4550	4081	-10.3%
Philippines	51.90	46.25	-10.9%
Argentina	3.63	3.15	-13.2%
Peru	3.71	3.21	-13.5%
Kenya	79	67.5	-14.6%
Latvia	0.60	0.51	-15.0%
Kazakhstan	151.4	127.2	-16.0%
India	48.70	40.79	-16.2%
Paraguay	6291	5195	-17.4%
Russia	31.59	25.63	-18.9%
Turkey	1.67	1.32	-21.0%
S. Korea	1196	936.9	-21.7%
Morocco	10.76	8.28	-23.0%
Britain	0.65	0.50	-23.1%
Norway	7.61	5.85	-23.1%
Colombia	2717	2085	-23.3%
Iceland	86.1	65.1	-24.4%
Thailand	42.23	31.85	-24.6%
Hungary	251.1	187.5	-25.3%
Chile	709.9	522.8	-26.4%
Bulgaria	1.99	1.44	-27.6%
Sweden	9.47	6.84	-27.8%
Estonia	16.00	11.48	-28.3%
Lithuania	3.53	2.53	-28.3%
Austria	1.02	0.73	-28.4%
Belguim	1.02	0.73	-28.4%
Finland	1.02	0.73	-28.4%
France	1.02	0.73	-28.4%
Germany	1.02	0.73	-28.4%
Greece	1.02	0.73	-28.4%
Ireland	1.02	0.73	-28.4%
Italy	1.02	0.73	-28.4%
Luxembourg	1.02	0.73	-28.4%
Netherlands	1.02	0.73	-28.4%
Portugal	1.02	0.73	-28.4%
Slovenia	1.02	0.73	-28.4%
Spain	1.02	0.73	-28.4%
Croatia	7.62	5.37	-29.5%
Romania	3.41	2.37	-30.5%
S. Africa	10.57	7.23	-31.6%
Canada	1.57	1.06	-32.5%
Poland	4.18	2.80	-33.0%
Australia	1.85	1.20	-35.1%
New Zealand	2.16	1.37	-36.6%
Brazil	3.13	1.96	-37.4%

• 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.

2 comments

Just a couple of days ago I was talking to a friend of mine who had been traveling through South America for the past 4 months. This friend is a little old fashioned in the way she manages her money, and instead of checking her bank statements online she simply writes all purchases and ATM withdrawals down in her checkbook. By the end of her trip she was pretty low on money, but thought she still had about $300 to get home on. She checked her online statement, just to see that this was the same amount her bank had, and was horrified to find that she was actually down to just $26 in her bank account. Had someone gotten a hold of her bank account information, and made fraudulent charges to her account? No. On closer inspection my friend found that the only person taking money out of her account was herself, and her bank. It turns out, because she was abroad, her bank had been charging her an additional $8 on every transaction made in a foreign country! $8 per transaction, which over 4 months had added up to near $300. Not what I would consider a negligible fee!

As we continue into the 21st century, most travelers would agree that international ATM’s are the best way to manage your money while abroad (in most regions of the world). They are convenient, safe, and provide travelers with the best exchange rate for their foreign currency. The only downside is the often overlooked fact that most domestic banks charge 1-3% or $1-$8 for every transaction made in a foreign country! These fees are charged to both direct purchases made to the account as well as ATM withdrawals, and can add up to a pretty hefty sum after a few months of travel.

Know your bank’s policies:

Most people have no idea what their banks charge for account transactions made on foreign soil, so the first step is to contact your bank and find out. The following chart should help you in deciding whether the fees charged by your bank are acceptable or excessive:

1-2% of transaction	Most common fee, should be acceptable for trips of a couple months or less
3% of transaction	A high percentage charge
$1-$3 per transaction	These charges will add up over time. Should think about other options
$4+ per transaction	Excessive. Do not pay these high fees, continue reading for other bank account options to manage your money while abroad.

Consider Opening a Secondary Bank Account to use During your Travels:

If you are not happy with the fees charged by your bank for international transactions, then I would suggest opening up a secondary checking account to use while you are on the road. A basic checking account is normally very easy to open, and you can simply close the account upon return when you’re finished with it.

The following are two great options for US and UK residents. These accounts do not charge any fees for international transactions, and the Bank of Internet account even reimburses its customers for ATM owner fees (the occasional $0.25-$1.00 charge some ATM’s charge just to use their service). Both accounts also offer respectable interest rates considering they are just basic checking accounts.

Bank	Customers	ATM Network	Intl. Fees	Min. Deposit	Monthly Fees	Interest Rate
Nationwide - Flex Acct.	UK Residents	Plus	none	none. however, a monthly deposit of some amount is expected.	$0	0.25-4.25% APY, depending on amount of monthly deposit.
Bank of Internet - Freedom Checking Acct	US Residents	Plus	none, and ATM owner fees are reimbursed up to $7/month	$100	none, unless balance falls under $1000, then a $4/month service fee is charged	3.40% APY

The Nationwide option was found via Travel Independent.info

As I said above, both these accounts are really good deals, and will never charge you a cent for transactions made to your account while abroad. Please let me know if you know of any other banking options that do not charge for international transactions, especially accounts that are open to Canadian, Australian, or even better World Residents!

Other Resources

• Travel Independent.info’s “Before you go” tips

4 comments