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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
 Some of the following links are on other pages of this website. I have brought them all together on this page, plus a few others that I found useful when researching long-term worldwide travel.
The links are not listed in any particular order, although I try to keep them arranged in the same order as they appear on this site.
General:
How to travel overland comfortably and affordably
General Travel Hints and Tips
The Traveller’s Toolkit – Independent travel resources
Round-The-World Travel Guide – The Travel Library
Lots of very useful travel advice links
Using a cell phone overseas
Maps of the night sky
Money:
Visa worldwide [...]
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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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 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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 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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 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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 If you are a diver and have a card or log book, take it with you. I forgot mine once when I was visiting Key West for less than a day. The diving equipment rental company wouldn’t believe I had one and instead insisted that I take a diving test in the local swimming pool before taking me out on the boat, and I just didn’t have enough time.
Note that there are many different bodies around the world which award diving qualifications (e.g. PADI, BSAC etc.) so you may need to know the equivalent qualifications for [...]
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 Useful discount card for students and people under 26, the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is a money-saver in Europe. You get discounts on admissions and other fees.
The ISIC is available from STA Travel UK, Council Travel, Travel Cuts, and other travel agencies specializing in budget and student travel. You must have proof of student status and £9 (about $18).
If you are no longer a student bring along whatever old student ID you may have (or a friend’s), you might be able to use it somewhere.
Read all about ISIC here: ISIC/IYTC, or buy it here, or [...]
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 A vaccination certificate may be required if you have previously visited areas where specific diseases are widespread or when visiting countries where there are increased health risks for travellers. This is usually a yellow card which is like an international certificate of vaccination or medical passport.
The Yellow Fever section of the certificate is probably the most important part. If you aren’t going to or coming from countries where Yellow Fever is endemic (areas of Africa and South America), then you may not need one. Check with your doctor (or other websites such as the WHO or [...]
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