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What's New:
- Avoiding Insect Bites
Many tropical diseases, such as malaria, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis, West Nile virus, L
- Websites
Some of the following links are on other pages of this website. I have brought them all together on
- Books
Below is a list of just some of the books that I have bought and found useful on my travels. I usua
- Suppliers
Links to the suppliers of the travel gear I use and recommend can be found through out this site. He
- Miscellaneous
Waterproof bags Used to separate and keep various items dry in your bag. Good for keeping valuables
 It is actually possible to travel extensively without money, or at least, with very little.
Every year there are a few people that start out on long trips with no money at all, whilst others do so with seemingly unlimited budgets. Most people fall somewhere between these two extremes.
How ever much you have, it has been said that is it better to travel with very little money than to not travel at all.
Plenty of travel websites and blogs exist on the Internet, many of them document the experiences of budget travellers. For example, this one, which makes [...]
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Whichever way you choose to finance your trip, how far your money goes will depend on which countries you intend to visit, how (well) you intend to live, and the activities which you undertake whilst there.
If you are on a modest budget then don’t spend all your money on expensive gear. You will be constantly worrying about having it lost or stolen, and you probably won’t have enough left for food and accommodation. In many cases you can just take what your already have. See the ‘Packing’ section for hints on what to take [...]
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 If you need to buy gear, get it from the classifieds, craigslist, ebay, buy it used, or borrow it from friends.
Stay in hostels, rather than hotels. Stay in a tent, rather than a hostel.
Take a train instead of a plane. Walk or get the bus instead of taking a taxi. Hitchhike instead of taking a train or bus.
Don’t buy water, use a plastic bottle filled and topped up with tap water.
Don’t eat out in restaurants every day, especially in Europe. Supermarkets and bakeries are so much cheaper and the food is often better (than McDonalds, for [...]
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 There are a number of ways of carrying money, or at least getting access to it, as you travel.
However, there can sometimes be problems converting that money into the local currency in terms of excessive fees, terrible exchange rates, or even not knowing how much to change (for example, when converting too much in an attempt to save money).
The four main choices are listed below with their respective advantages and disadvantages. The fees and rates change all the time so don’t rely on any figures given, rather check the Internet for updates.
Keeping your money physically secure [...]
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 Credit cards (and debit cards) are usually the preferred option for making purchases overseas because the currency conversion (the actual exchange rate you see in the papers or on the news) is usually at the wholesale rate (or 1% over the commercial bank rate) and not at the retail rate you would pay for changing cash at the airport, hotel, or bank.
Not only this, using cards is just as secure abroad as when you are at home (for example, if used fraudulently). You also don’t have to carry cash around, taking it out and putting it [...]
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 Not everywhere takes credit or debit cards so another option is to withdraw cash from a local ATM. This has the same advantage as using a credit card, that of getting the wholesale exchange rate, plus the fact that you can get local currency from the machines.
Again, find out any daily /weekly/ monthly limits your bank imposes on transactions.
Disadvantages are, again, the fees charged. There is the usual currency exchange fee, plus a handling fee (a flat fee of a few dollars/pounds, or a percentage 2-4%, again, per transaction).
In addition, bear in mind that if you [...]
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 Once upon a time, everyone who travelled carried traveller’s cheques, but not anymore. Nowadays, credit cards are the norm.
Traveller’s cheques are similar to cash and can be used as such (especially in North America, not so much elsewhere), but they also have added security features that cash doesn’t. If you lose them or they get stolen then the money is refundable.
With American Express cheques you get 24/7 customer support, plus passport and credit card replacement assistance (the things that usually get stolen alongside your money). Find out more here.
They also come in a few selected (popular) [...]
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 Taking large amounts of your own currency for changing when you arrive is probably one of the worst options for carrying money.
Your exchange rate will be retail, which is always going to be more expensive that wholesale.
Also, in most places, the person doing the exchanging will always want their little “cut” from the transaction.
Banks and hotels are the best places to change money but you can still get ripped off by the unscrupulous. Keep an eye on the daily rates to avoid this.
Remember, there may also be a fee for currency conversion so always ask about [...]
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 Look after your money when you are away. The notes and coins will be unfamiliar, so be vigilant.
There are lots of people who may use your ignorance to their advantage, so get itemised bills when possible and ask to have all charges explained to you if you don’t understand them.
Use a calculator if necessary to work out percentages, tips, etc., do your own arithmetic (i.e. don’t rely on theirs) and never let anyone rush you.
If you are using cash and you are given change, count it immediately in front of the storekeeper (except in Japan where [...]
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