What is it really like to let go when you travel?

As a digital nomad in 2018, I am constantly connected to technology. I'm always taking photos and videos to share on Instagram and spend at least 40 hours a week on my laptop to sustain my travel addiction.

It's very rare when I'm able to completely switch off and let go - let go of all the stress, pressure to always perform, my routines, self-imposed rules - but I do know that when I'm completely forced to, I have an amazing time and some genuine experiences that are somehow less forgettable.

The funny thing is when you can't share what you're doing with the world, you completely own that experience. There's no other feeling like it and it's sad that my lifestyle doesn't allow me to let go more.

Five very connected travellers got invited to take part in the trip of a lifetime recently but there was one big catch. They needed to completely let go, not just give up their phones but let themselves go for the whole trip in order to completely connect with the destination.

The destination?

Québec.

The victims?

• Jean Imbert - chef and restaurant owner

• Kiersten Rich - travel expert

• Benjamin Prescott - nature portraitist

• Jess Dales - global wanderer

• Alan Estrada - travel blogger

How did they do?

I’m really excited to share this with you as the whole concept of the experience really spoke to me and I’m sure you’ll feel the same way no matter what you’re trying to let go of.

Check out the video below to see how they fared and what they experienced on their trip.

The promotion was run by the tourism brand QuébecOriginal who has the enviable job of promoting the province of Québec as a destination around the world.

The music was composed by Québecois artist Geoffroy and it's really got my heart pumping for my upcoming trip to Québec this summer.

Here are some of the experiences that really captured my attention:

Wildlife watching

You know I'm a huge animal lover and seeing the travellers get to dive and kayak with seals and interact with wolves has given me some new life goals. Québec has nearly 650 animal species and I would just love to go whale watching and spot as a moose in the wild.

Festivals

The people of Québec love any excuse to celebrate and it's known for having year-round eclectic festivals to suit all tastes. Experiences like these are not something you can take away and share and I really want to just get in the middle of one and take it all in.

Ancient traditions

Being able to truly learn about an indigenous culture from the people who have lived it is a very rare thing around the world. Québec has 11 distinct Indigenous nations with age-old traditions and I can't wait to dive into the history of the region.

Outdoor fun

I honestly had no idea there was so much to do in Québec. I saw it as mostly a city of diverse culture and great food but the video really opened up my eyes to all of the activities waiting for me. Zip lining is a big love of mine and guaranteed to get the blood pumping and paddling out into a lake to seek out the marine life will have me occupied for days.

A lot of travel often comes hand in hand with being in control. There was once a time when you eagerly sought out an internet cafe to send proof-of-life emails home to your mum or you needed to carry around a giant brick of a guidebook so you could plan your next destination. To take pictures we carried tedious film cameras or guarded the more expensive digital cameras with our lives.

Now, most parts of our journey are just so convenient that it’s impossible to let go and just let ourselves wander with no schedules, no plans and without the preconceived idea of exactly how our trip is going to go.

It seems, though, that when you're in the right destination, you can really just be in the moment and let go.

I honestly can't wait to start packing my bags and seeing how I end up. Québec, here I come!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Quebec Original . The opinions and text are all mine.

Booking Family Holidays With FinalPrice

Travel can be expensive enough when you factor in booking your plane tickets but once you add in the hotels, rental car, and activities you could be in for more than you’ve budgeted for. I know this can make some people hesitant about planning their own trip and even put a stop to overseas holiday plans altogether.

I’ve written a lot recently about how to save money when planning your vacation and some of my favourite travel websites and apps to help you plan.

Recently, though, I learnt about something I hadn’t tried before, an app called FinalPrice .

I’m currently planning a family holiday for August next year and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to test out FinalPrice. I have my sister and brother coming for the first four weeks and then my brother-in-law meeting us in the last three weeks. We also have my sister’s new baby along for the trip for the very first time. All of these more different room configurations can prove to be quite difficult when booking so this is going to be a real challenge!

How does FinalPrice work?

FinalPrice is a new and unique app to book your hotels, flights and rental cars. The app is very similar to other popular apps like Expedia, Trip Advisor and Booking.com. Spoiler Alert - their pricing can be considerably less than the others. 

They have two options during your checkout. You can checkout for free and take 50% of the public price discount or if your savings are more than $99 or you plan on traveling a lot in the next year, you can upgrade to the unlimited savings plan for $99 a year and take 100% of the discount.

Features:

• Book for ten travellers on one account
• Can share subscription with friends and family
• Full flexibility is included in the booking process (including pay now, pay later, breakfast, no breakfast, and all room types)
• All transactions are handled on the app so you don’t get any annoying redirects or popups to different sites
• Curated Recommendation engine
• Filter out the brand you want to book at (ie Westin, Intercontinental, Hyatt, etc)
• You get your frequent flyer or rewards program points
• Money back guarantee - if you don't earn your subscription fee back in savings in your first year, you will be refunded the difference

Comparing FinalPrice with Trip Advisor

Generally, I like to use Trip Advisor as a comparison since I can see reviews alongside while getting a ballpark amount and then will always check prices with HotelsCombined.com. HotelsCombined is a great aggregator and nine times out of ten finds me the best price.

For this review, I used the free version of the FinalPrice app. While using the free version, any savings that FinalPrice finds are halved so they keep 50%. You also don’t have access to the Flight and Car Rental modules of the app. It’s up to you whether the savings are worth paying the $99 subscription fee but hopefully, this review will help you make your mind up.

So, how did FinalPrice stack up against my favourites?

I chose five hotels amongst the different cities we plan to visit and did a direct comparison of the lowest prices that I could find through each option.

Out of all five options, FinalPrice was always the cheapest. Sometimes it was by a few dollars and for one option, I saved $211! If I tallied up my total spend and compared it to what I would have paid had I only used TripAdvisor, I would have saved $562.

All prices are in USD 

What I like about FinalPrice

• Separate sections including Top Rated, Big Savings, and Best 4 & 5 Star to help you quickly find what best suits you
• Hotel ratings are front and centre to help with your comparison
• You can see hotels on a map view
• Great range of hotels in big cities and smaller towns
• Friends and family sharing - no more sneaky sharing of logins!
• Interface is very straightforward and intuitive. I even got my mum to try it out and she had no issues navigating the different options.

I’m very impressed with the savings available through the app and would definitely recommend you check it out. It seems like the savings are larger when you’re spending more on a hotel so if you’re looking to spend less than $100 then you might not see as big a discount. The best part is though, that you are will be refunded the difference in your subscription fee if you don’t save more than $99 so it’s really win-win.

Head over to FinalPrice for more information and to check it out for yourself. Use the promo code INLANTON to get a $20 credit so you can save even more.

Let me know in the comments if you would give something like this a try and what you think about the service.

This is a sponsored post brought to you by FinalPrice. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.

Error Fares - What Are They And How To Book One

If you've ever wondered how people manage to score insanely cheap flights when you're still getting the same old fares from your travel agent then hopefully this article will enlighten you to the world of error fares or mistake fares, and how easy they are to find and purchase. This is the story of my latest error fare flight that is coming up in November and how to book one for yourself.

My Latest Error Fare

At the start of September I was exploring Baltimore for the first time and visiting the Museum of Art. After a couple hours of art appreciation I decided to take advantage of their wifi to post some of my day so far on my Instagram Stories when an error fare alert popped up that there was a new error fare from Toronto, where I am currently based, to Paris for only $169 CAD round trip ($135 USD). A flight like that is usually closer to $700 at its cheapest.

I knew I would have very little time to decide so I quickly checked my calendar, made sure I was going to be in Toronto when the deal was on, chose some dates that looked okay and booked. This took less than 10 minutes. This error fare flight lasted just over an hour and I got in about half way through. If I had taken any longer I would have missed out.

I’m often asked how I can afford to travel as much as I do and error fares are one of the main reasons why. These insanely cheap flights make travel affordable since airfare and accommodation are usually the biggest expenses when you travel.It helps that I’m flexible but I believe that if you’re prepared anyone can take advantage of a fare like this one. Here’s some information on how to book your very own error fare and you might also get to experience world famous landmarks, like the Eiffel Tower sooner than you think!

This will be my view in November :D

What is an error fare?

An error fare or mistake fare is a pricing mistake by the airline or travel agency. It could be a technical issue or come down to something as simple as someone forgetting a zero. It’s basically a fare that was never meant to be but someone stumbles upon it and thanks to the glory of the internet, we all get to find out about it before it gets fixed.

There are error fares for one way flights, return flights and even business and first class flights. Sometimes there are even error fares for hotels. I’ve gone into more details before about how to find great deals for your next vacation, including which sites usually post error fares.

I often get asked if I can find an error fare to a particular destination but that’s not how this works. Error fares pop up for random destinations and most of the time it’s not something that you can use. Namibia to The Seychelles was a recent one, if only I lived near Namibia…

When the stars align, though, and it’s a place that you actually want to go to AND the flight leaves from your home city AND the dates fit in with your schedule, it’s your duty to book that ish.

How to Book An Error Fare

Step 1

The alert that pops up from Secret Flying

Firstly set up an error fare alert so that when an error fare flight is discovered, you find out ASAP. Error fares can last 20 minutes or on rare occasions a whole day but you never know before hand how much time you’ll have. 

Travel Pirates offers a Facebook Message option that can alert you when there are really good deals. Secret Flying, Scott’s Cheap Fares and Fly 4 Free all have Facebook and Twitter pages that will be updated as soon as they discover a deal. You can turn on notifications but this will give you ALL of their deals, not just error fares.

My personal preference is to set up an IFTTT error fare alert. IFTTT (If This Then That) is a website that connects all the websites and apps that you use with a trigger system to perform certain actions on your behalf. In this instance, if Secret Flying sends a tweet that uses the phrase “error fare” then I get a notification on my phone. I also have one set up just for my home city.

This is the exact alert that I use on IFTTT: https://ifttt.com/applets/37951669d-error-fare-from-secretflying

Just follow the instructions on the IFTTT website and you’ll be all set up ready to get an error fare alert when the next error fare flight is found.

Step 2

Now you want to make sure you’re as clear as possible about when you’re available to take a vacation. Error fares are all about flexibility. Are you willing to go on your own or do you need to have a friend or family with you? If the latter is the case then make a rough plan so if an error fare does come up and they’re not contactable, you’re confident enough to book on their behalf.

Secret Flying gives you some sample dates that they were able to find with the error fare price but you can allow a little bit of time to experiment for dates that work better for you. Not too much time though!

Example dates for booking an error fare flight

Step 3

Don’t hesitate! There was an error fare recently to Lima, Peru and it lasted half an hour. I missed out by minutes! The reason why it took me so long was I just wasn’t sure I wanted to go to Peru. I’d already been twice before but I knew there were a lot of places that I had missed out on. I messaged friends and asked their opinion and by the time I made up my mind it was too late.

Once you’ve booked

Don’t book anything else. Don't pay for any hotels or tours for at least a couple of days. An error fare flight is never guaranteed and some airlines are notorious for not honouring the fares. Once you’ve received an e-ticket, then you’re in and shouldn’t need to worry.

Wait for 48 hours and there will either be an announcement by the airline or the booking agent or you will get contacted to be advised that you got a refund. The best thing about booking an error fare is that if it doesn’t happen then you get a full refund so there’s no harm.

The other important thing is to not contact the airline or the travel agency. Sometimes people freak out about whether the fare is real or if they’re going to get their money back and will get in touch with the airline to ask questions. This is just ruining it for everyone else and also reducing the chances that you will get an e-ticket in time. If the deal gets shut down in between you booking the ticket and them sending you an e-ticket then you’re also out of luck.

So that’s it! Sounds easy and it is once you’ve got everything prepared for your chance to book your very own error fare. Good luck and come back and let me know what insanely cheap flights you manage to score!

Want more great travel tips? Check out these posts!

The Infamous Travel Pouch - Is It Ever Worth It?

Ever got robbed of all your belongings while travelling in a sketchy country that your mum warned you over and over about while crying into her morning cereal? Not yet? Well if it's something that you're nervous about, you are not alone. Even when I warn people not to spend money on any old travel pouch, I still see the vast majority of new travellers heading out with one of these in their possession.

After I told him this repeatedly during our prep sessions over Skype, my own brother turned up to our brother-sister vacation this year in India with, you guessed it, a travel pouch. How many times did he use it? Just once and then he realised why big sisters are always right, especially ones who have been travelling for over 12 years.

Keep reading if you would like to know when it's still okay to use a travel pouch, travel wallet, money belt or whatever the kids are calling them these days. I also go into my personal favourites and give you some alternatives to consider below.

You can jump straight to my recommended travel pouch options or read more on what's wrong with most travel pouches and when and where you should use one.

What NOT to buy

What's wrong with a Travel Pouch?

The idea of a travel pouch is a good one. You get to hide all of your most valuable possessions on your person so if the worst happens, you won't be left with nothing. The problem with a traditional travel pouch that you pick up from your friendly neighbourhood travel and adventure store is that they're usually poorly designed. 

These are my top five gripes about the traditional travel pouch.

1. The thieves who specialise in lightening your load as a rich and burdened traveller already know about them. The awful travel pouches that you wear around your neck? Yeah, I can see that "neutral" coloured string poking out of your collar and so can little Oliver Twist over there.
2. Unless you're travelling in the depths of winter, there's no hiding that 4 inches of passport, cash and travel pouch material protruding from your chest and through your t-shirt. Not only is it not discreet but you look like you're wearing some old timey pace maker from the 1700's.
3. Some pouches will leave you sweaty in one lovely little patch. If you're an extra sweaty person (like one of my exes) then your sweat patch can be like a giant bullseye on your body showing the thieves where to target.
4. Got boobs? Then just no. Imagine where that heavy dangly pouch is supposed to sit on your body. Ugh.
5. Need to access money from your secret friend inside of your shirt? Then you can either lift your shirt up (see point 4) or drag your overweighted pal awkwardly through the opening of your shirt revealing your hidden travel pouch for all to see. So very attractive and practical.

Where to keep al my dollar bills yall?

When to use your travel pouch?

Some travellers love using their travel pouch all day, e'ry day. Don't be that person. Even if you were travelling in Afghanistan there's no need for that level of neurosis. Also, if you're travelling in Afghanistan you probably have bigger problems to worry about. If you can get by in your own city without clinging to a travel pouch then you should be fine in most cities in the world.

Saying that, there are some specific instances when I DO recommend wearing a travel pouch.

1. Travel days

 If you're going from one city to another and travelling on a bus, plane, train or whatever has been invented by the time you read this. I love to have some emergency money and a spare credit card stashed away everywhere, including on my person. If my airline loses my check-in, no biggie. If some one nabs my day pack, it's cool, I have a back up. If I'm in a desperate situation and someone happens to steal everything or maybe I had to jump from a sinking ship, then I'll always have $100 US on me and a spare credit card.

2. Withdrawing a large sum of money

Some parts of the world are still very reliant on cash and you'll be hard pressed to get by without having some money on you. When you sign up for a big tour or need to pay off your accommodation all in one go you'll likely have a wad of cash to deal with. I suggest having some sort of travel pouch/wallet so that you can keep that money on you when you make your way from the ATM and back to your hotel.

3. While sleeping in a dodgy place

This might never apply for some of you lucky folk but I know that sometimes I have slept in a hostel where my instincts were telling me that something wasn't quite right. At these times I like to sleep with my emergency cash and important docs on me. Even if there's a safe or locker available, sometimes you just have to trust your gut and cuddle your passport.

Travel Pouches to Buy

So now you know what not to wear and when you you should consider using a travel pouch, here are some of my favourite options available.

Spibelt

This is a great travel pouch option if you like keeping fit while travelling. Heck, even if you only exercise once a month like me and live in a world of denial about your fitness regime, this little belt is a comfortable alternative to a traditional travel pouch and is what I actually use.

They come in a bunch of different colours and the size is adjustable. You can choose to wear one right underneath your chest (which is what I do on travel days) or on your waist. The pocket stretches as well so it can expand to fit your passport and emergency money and cards or just your hotel key and phone.

Shacke Hidden Travel Belt Wallet w/ RFID Blocker

This Shacke money and passport wallet leans more towards the traditional travel wallet design but I love the idea of looping it through your belt without all the extra band that you would usually get with a complete travel belt. Basically you loop your belt through it, stick it in between your pants and your undies and you're good to go.

It's one of the few travel belts where you cant tell you're wearing one. It's out of sight and impossible to pick pocket. It also offers three separate compartments for the organisers amongst us and provides RFID protection.

Pacsafe Secret Bra Pouch

This is one for the ladies out there. A great alternative to the neck pouch options that can store some credit cards and cash. The only downside is you won't be able to fit your passport in here so you'll still need to stash that somewhere you feel comfortable. I usually keep mine in a secret pocket in my day pack if I need to take it with me or leave it in a safe place in my hotel.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.

Want more travel tips? Check out some more great posts here!

5 Quick Tips For More Affordable Holidays

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine how some people can afford to travel every year not just once, but two or three times. Where do they find the money and how do they find the time to research all of the options? Answering questions like "Is it safe?" and “Will I be able to find vegan food options?” Travel seems dauntingly expensive and time consuming to plan.

Fortunately, making travel more affordable and much less complicated is absolutely achievable with just a little time and by being smart about where, when and how you travel.

Check out these five  strategies for planning an affordable holiday. You might find that you’re a lot closer to your dream holiday than you thought!

1. Pick cheap countries

Some regions are known for their budget appeal. The first spots that come to mind are South East Asia and Latin America. Here you can survive on much less than $40 a day (or $60 a day for a couple). You could stay in a place like Bali and enjoy your own private villa with plunge pool and butler service for $100 a night or an all-inclusive eco-lodge in Panama where the monkeys swing by your room on the way to breakfast for the same.

If you chose to live a bit more frugally (give up the butler service, I mean) then you can still find great places to stay for much less than you would in a country like Australia or Canada.

If safety concerns are plaguing you, consider that based on the Global Peace Index rankings Chile (#27) Malaysia (#30), Costa Rica (#33) and Uruguay (#35) are considered safer than both the UK (#47) and the US (#103).

Full day island hopping excursion (including lunch) in The Philippines = $24 USD

2. Know your shoulder seasons

If you are set on visiting a certain country then consider being there in their shoulder season. A shoulder season is the short time between peak and off-peak seasons. This is usually between two and six weeks when the weather is still reasonably good and the prices haven’t yet increased for the high season visitors.

Overall, May is a great time to travel. It’s just before North Americans get their summer vacation, high season hasn’t yet started for European summer and winter has not yet set in for most of the Southern Hemisphere. November is also a great shoulder season. It’s just after the hurricane season has left places like Mexico but before the end-of-year vacationers descend for their annual escape from the cold of the north.

The main benefits of travelling during the shoulder season is lower prices and also much less people around. If you can manage to schedule your holiday during a shoulder season you will get to see your favourite destinations in a new light. You might get to interact with more locals rather than only other tourists and the more popular attractions will have smaller lines. Sounds like a great vacation already!

3. Stay in hostels

Hostels have been the secret to many a backpacker’s budget travel adventure. To everyone else they can seem like a strange place. Dorm rooms? Bunk beds? Shared bathrooms!

It’s important to know that hostels come in many different shapes and sizes, just like hotels. Private rooms have always been a common option, including ensuite bathrooms but there are even some hostels that are designed for the new breed of backpacker - The Flashpacker. These are savvy travelers who want to take advantage of all the benefits of a hostel but still want the comfort of a luxe room at the end of the day.

You can opt to stay in a dorm where there might be bunk beds but there are also likely to be separate beds in a shared room. Female only dorms are also common for that extra level of privacy.

In most cities you will be able to find a hostel to suit any budget and if you look hard enough you can find hostels with an infinity pool, in-room hot tub, personal wifi connection, buffet breakfast, yoga deck, movie theatre and the list goes on!

For travellers on a budget the best part about hostels is you’ll end up paying half as much or less than you would in a hotel with benefits like free breakfast and access to a shared kitchen so you can cut costs even more by making your own meals instead of eating out every day.

My $9 per night hostel with amazing view over the infinity pool

4. Choose your activities carefully

You don’t have to do everything and definitely shouldn’t try. Make a list of your must-do activities and consider cheaper alternatives.

When you visit a new country there is always a “must-do” list of attractions like going to the Louvre in Paris or the MET in New York City. You might like art and you might not but would you go to an art gallery in your own city? Then you shouldn’t pressure yourself to pay €15 to see some paintings that might mildly impress you while shuffling amongst the hundreds who are also visiting the Louvre on the same day.

If there are things you actually want to see and experience then make sure to do some research first. With a little bit of online research you will quickly find out that admission is free to the Louvre on the first Sunday of each month from October to March. You will also learn that the MET has only a suggested donation and you can get in by donating just $1!

Also consider a tourist pass, like the Paris Museum Pass. These can be great value and include several attractions in one.

Allow yourself the luxury of picking only things that interest you and don’t stress about the rest. You can always come back and remember this is your vacation, not anyone else’s.

5. Get a better flight deal

If you’re flexible about your dates and where you want to go you can book an amazing deal. By using websites like Secret Flying, you can be updated when there are extra special flight deals. You can choose to follow their Facebook page or subscribe to email notifications on their website.

Another option is to use a website like Skyscanner or Momondo for booking flights. These are powerful flight search engines that can allow you to select your starting city and choose variables like “Cheapest month” or “Any date in July” if you know where you want to go or you can even choose from your city to “Everywhere” and it will show you the best options for your date range.

If you’re picky about airlines or number of stops there is an option to filter these as well making it super easy to customise your perfect flight experience.

I wasn’t planning on visiting Amsterdam but after spotting a $250 flight deal I had to book it!

The next time you find yourself stuck while budgeting for your holiday, don’t lose heart, just try to find creative ways to cut costs. There are people out there who go to extreme measures to facilitate their travel goals, including couch surfing, hitchhiking and volunteering their time. Hopefully if you use the strategies above you can still have a comfortable vacation just with a much smaller price tag.

Ultimate Guide To Volunteering Overseas

Note: I haven't included any pics in this post out of respect to the children that I have worked with over the years. I hope you enjoy the writing instead :D

My first time volunteering I was a young 18-year old. It was my very first solo trip around the world and I had chosen to spend three months in Ecuador volunteering with street kids and improving my Spanish. I hadn’t saved very much money for this trip, about $20,000 for a full year of travel after flights and needed to find ways to travel cheaper for longer.

I learnt through my research online that the longer you spend in one place the cheaper your overall travels will be. This philosophy of slow travel really stuck with me and even now you’ll rarely find me staying in a country for less than two weeks.

I found a great looking organisation in Quito, Ecuador using Volunteer South America's website. We emailed back and forth a few times to make sure it was a good fit and then I paid my deposit. This experience cost $290 a month and included meals and accommodation in a volunteer house as well as twice weekly Spanish lessons. I enjoyed my time here so much that I stayed an extra 3 months but because I was feeling a lot more confident as a traveler, chose to find my own place to live and worked out a deal to volunteer for free.

That was my start in volunteering while travelling and I personally think that it can be a very rewarding experience for you and the cause you are trying to help as long as you do your research and enter into it for the right reasons.

Don’t pay thousands of dollars to volunteer!

If there’s only one thing you take away from this then let it be this point. I cringe a little bit every time someone tells me they’ve found a great volunteer gig for two weeks taking care of elephants or as a teacher in an orphanage and it only cost them $3,000.

Firstly, I have a serious issue with how much good you can do in two weeks, especially working with children. There’s been a lot of discussion around the fact that you cost the charity time and resources by having to train someone, only for you to leave a few days later. This is why you will likely find yourself in a very unappealing position, cleaning elephant poo in the enclosure when the elephants are not around or as a teacher’s aide where you fetch materials for the actual teacher and have no interaction with the kids.

Sure you’ll get your necessary elephant selfie or snaps of you colouring with the poor orphans but did you really do any good and could you have just sent all that money to a grassroots organisation that is trying to make something of their community from the ground up?

This has been covered a lot more thoroughly here and here if you’re interested in learning more. Just know that I volunteer often while traveling and the most I have paid was $290 a month and that was for food and accommodation. I also believe that anyone who actually wants volunteers will never want someone for as short as two weeks much less have a maximum period. That is a major red flag!

What if I have an actual skill?

There are also lots of opinions around about volunteering your time in other countries when you have a useful skill like a heath professional or a skilled worker like a carpenter or electrician. These skills are widely needed all around the world and if you have them then you should definitely go for it!

Be sure to understand, though, that there are some perceptions in the world that you are taking jobs away from locals who could be getting paid for it and also you could be working for an organisation that is profiting from your free labour. Make sure you understand how volunteers fit in with the local workers and why they are supplementing their time with yours.

What is grassroots volunteering?

When I think of grassroots, i think of organisations that are working from the ground up. Actual people from a community identifying a problem and creating a solution to help fix it. They may still use help from outside influences, including financial backing from generous investors but the cause is still personal and real. They work hard at the cause because it is what they need to thrive as a community.

The alternative of this would be if I went to Tanzania, for example, and I saw that there was a particular area that didn’t have a primary school. The kids had to travel long distances or just couldn’t attend at all. I could say to myself, “Wouldn’t it be great if I could create a charity where we build a school and have volunteers teach the kids?” Then I started pestering all of my friends, maybe start a Kickstarter campaign or a GoFundMe page, eventually get financial backing, register as a charity in my country and then arrive with 20 volunteers with minimal experience in building anything or teaching and struggle along for the next few years eventually handing over the poorly built school with no long-term plans for paying a teacher to the local community to deal with.

Sure, I’ve done some good, helped some kids and all the volunteers and people who donated to “Cristal Cares” feel great about themselves. I would have spent a lot more money getting all those volunteers into the country when it would have been better spent just donating my time, energy and funds to a grassroots organisation who has the same intentions.

For more information on high impact giving opportunities I strongly suggest you have a look at Give Well’s website  and specifically this excerpt from Peter Singer’s book “The Life You Can Save” on cost effectiveness of charitable organisations.

Where should I start?

These four websites are my go-to when I’m looking for volunteer opportunities around the world. They will give you a good starting point but always remember to do as much research as you can before you commit to anything.

• Worldwide organisations -  http://grassrootsvolunteering.org/
• Latin American organisations -  http://www.volunteersouthamerica.net/
• Summer and Year Long Teaching Programs - http://www.worldteach.org/
• Eco/green organisations - http://www.greenvolunteers.com/ (this one you have to pay a small fee to access their database)

Also consider

• Workaway and Helpx - More of a work exchange. Less helping charities and more volunteering your time in exchange for accommodation and sometimes meals. This could be babysitting for a local family, helping on a farm, a receptionist at a hostel or even helping on sailing boats
• Local or expat forums on Facebook or online - Try searching for these online as they can be a goldmine for volunteer opportunities that don’t have a strong online presence
• Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree forum - Always full of useful information and assistance from people who live in the area
• Couchsurfing - You can try asking in the country or city’s Couchsurfing group
• Fellow Blogger, Elly has been updating her page with volunteer opportunities that are fee-free 

Google

My suggestion would be to choose the region/country that you want to volunteer in and then do a google search for organisations that are on the ground. Try “Cusco volunteer” and see what comes up or if you want to be more specific “Namibia volunteer street kids”. Play around with some different search terms until you get a good list of 20 or so opportunities and then spend some time researching their website, looking for participant reviews and emailing the ones that you like to see if they’re a good fit for you.

Contact hostels

I have also gotten in touch with popular hostels in the city and asked them if they had any recommendations for volunteer opportunities. Hostels are in a good position to collect views from travellers who have volunteered with local organisations and can point you in the right direction or steer you away from the bad ones.

Even if you are not a hostel person, just remember that hostels are unique in this regard because of their social nature. You wouldn’t spend much time socialising with the staff of your hotel, would you? At a hostel, however, the staff and owners are always around, answering questions and potentially sharing a drink with the guests in the common areas. Feedback is a lot more honest after a few tequila shots and budget travelers always look out for each other.

What should I look out for?

This is the tough part. There are no global rules or regulatory bodies that provide guidelines on what is a good outfit and what is not. You will have to use your own common sense when vetting a company.

Perhaps it's easier to give you a list of definite don'ts and points to consider to help you decide:

1. Don't work with anyone who offers for you to cuddle or take pictures with a lion cub, tiger, monkey or any wild animal. Riding elephants is also off the table. For example, anything that involves working directly with lion cubs in Africa directly contributes to canned hunting. There are greater implications to working with wild animals and if you would like to do work in this area be very careful about what you choose. Think about it carefully. What would they have to do to these animals to make them complacent enough to allow you to interact with them? Elephants, for example, are tortured when they are young to break their spirits. They are beaten with clubs, bull hooks, starved and deprived of sleep. Not really the stuff travel dreams are mad of, is it?
2. Stay away from anywhere that will allow you to work with children for a period of less than 30 days. Please consider the impact many people entering and leaving an organisation can have on a child.
3. If you can't clearly see where your money is going then stay away. The organisers should be able to advise how your fee is spent and if they can't then find somewhere else.
4. Is it obvious how they are helping the local community? Are they working directly with them and constantly assessing and adapting their methods? Some orginisations start off with the best of intentions but over time, their methods become less and less effective. I recently heard of a sanctuary for orphaned gibbons in South Africa that doesn't allocate funds to desex their males, allowing captive breeding.
5. If anything seems off or there is not enough information then just keep looking. Unfortunately, foreign aid in general and oversees volunteer is a complicated issue with many views on what is right and whether unskilled volunteering helps at all. The best that you can do is choose a program with plenty of information, reviews and a long history of helping the local community.

Why do you want to volunteer?

Be honest with yourself. What is the reason that you want to volunteer? Is it to make the world a better place? Is it to experience a different culture outside of the regular tourist activities? Is it to make long-term travel more affordable? It could be a combination of these and none of these are a bad thing. I am very honest with myself these days and know that I won’t really change the world with my volunteering activities and I probably will have little impact on the cause I'm working with.

Now that I’m older and I’ve been volunteering on and off for the last 12 years, I know the main reasons I volunteer are to get a unique insight into the lives of the locals and also to save money on my travels.

Orphanages and Voluntourism

Voluntourism has become a big enough industry that people with the worst intentions have cottoned on to not just how to profit from it but are also putting children in a worse situation because of the orphanage.

The way it works is the “founder” of an orphanage will start to traffic children from small villages or pay parents to take children away from them and place them in an orphanage. All of this so they can rake in donations from overseas investors and kind-hearted volunteers. Even worse, they will purposefully keep these children in awful buildings to encourage more investing. More sad children + terrible conditions = more donations.

There are certainly many worthwhile orphanages out there that you could work with but unless you can clearly see that the practices are completely above board then I suggest you steer clear.

For more information visit Journey Wonder’s article on Orphanage Ethics and ABC News' for some devastating examples.

Are there any pros to voluntourism?

The major positive and biggest draw for people is the peace of mind that you have handed your money over to a company that has promised to take care of you.

They include extras like:

• Pre-departure support
• 24-hour emergency phone
• Airport pick-up
• Welcome meeting
• Location orientation
• 24-hour in-country support

Essentially this is what you’re paying for. They do al the leg work, put you on contact with presumably good organisations so you don’t have to go through the steps I’ve detailed above and promise to be there for you if anything goes wrong.

For someone who has never stepped out of your own country, this can be an attractive proposition and I don’t blame you for this at all. Please consider, though, the impact that all that money you’re handing over to the for-profit organisations could have on the cause you’re wanting to help.

Just remember that the costs you pay do not usually include:

• Flights
• Medical and travel insurance
• Visa costs
• Extra local excursions
• International and domestic airport taxes
• Personal Equipment

Do some research into how much it would cost to live in the country you want to volunteer in and then compare that to what you are being asked to pay. What’s the difference? Is peace of mind really worth that much?

As a case study, I volunteered with a local group in Oaxaca, Mexico at no cost to me. I did have to pay for my own food and accommodation, which they offered to help with. I found a great one-bedroom apartment in a lovely neighbourhood and ate either street food or in comodores and the occasional nice restaurant and I spent on average $200 a week. This also includes regular activities and excursions when I wasn’t volunteering. I could have cut the costs significantly by opting to stay in a private room in a nice hostel or even a shared room.  I felt supported the whole time, staff were always checking in on me. I got a cheap sim card for my unlocked phone where I spent about $20 a month for calls and data so always had a way to get in touch with my friends. I had my own kitchen so I could create my own Mexican inspired dishes as well as enjoying visiting my neighbourhood market to buy local ingredients.

Here is a similar program that costs $1,990 for two weeks, almost 5 times the price!  The accommodation is stated as “shared  and basic” so it you were to do a further comparison with my favourite hostel in Oaxaca, Casa Angel,  you could get a bed in a 4-bed dorm for $10 a night which includes a full buffet breakfast and easily survive on $100 a week. That becomes 10 times less than paying these people to volunteer with them.

Where does all this extra money go and how do the two options compare in terms of experience? I certainly enjoyed every minute of my time volunteering and never felt like I was missing out on anything. You really need to decide for yourself.

Further Reading

I would love if you would check out these two books. They will open your eyes to the world of Effective Altruism and help you find opportunities for the right reasons in the future:

• Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Help Others, Do Work that Matters, and Make Smarter Choices about Giving Back by William MacAskill; and 
• The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically by Peter Singer

Please share any advice you have on volunteering overseas or any experiences you’ve had with me in the comments. I’d love to know what you think!

This post includes affiliate links. When you make a purchase via these links, I receive a small percentage at no additional cost to you. Very small but very appreciated.

Hostel Packing Essentials

I’ve written a lot recently about my hostel experiences, what they’re like and some great ones to stay in. One important topic to cover is the essentials specific to staying in a hostel. These are all the things that you should make sure to pack and some that I have ditched along the way. Some of these might already be obvious to you but hopefully you’ll pick up on some new items.

I’ve covered what you should definitely pack and some things that I read on other “must pack” lists that I really didn’t need. These are my hostel essentials only so doesn’t cover the basics for every trip like clothes, adaptors and other travelling essentials for backpackers. Check out this awesome eco-friendly packing list for an idea of everything you should pack.

What to Bring

1) Eye mask

Eye masks are great not just for hostels but also for any travel you might be doing along the way. In airplanes, buses and trains, if you need to do any sleeping, this is a must have! There’s often an unwritten rule in hostels that the light will stay on until a “reasonable” time. I’m usually in bed by 10 pm and am not afraid to just turn it off when I’m ready for bed but if you’re less assertive you might just want to throw your eye mask on and get some sleep on your own time.

Personally, I prefer the ones that don’t rest against your eyes as I can’t stand that feeling but there are loads of options out there. Look for ones that say "contoured" or "3D" for the most comfortable fit.

2) Ear plugs

This one is similar to the eye mask, great to help you get to sleep when everything is happening around or you have a snoring sleep mate or two. I’ve tried a few different brands out but love these ear plugs. They’re the easiest to put in and seem to block out most noise.

If you've got the cashoola you could consider the Noise Cancelling Ear Plugs by Crioxen. Even better, if you’ve got the space and are serious about your head phones, you can get noise cancelling headphones and use the noise cancelling function to block out even more snores.

3) Travel towel

Most places you stay these days will offer a towel during your stay, either free of charge, for a small deposit or maybe for a fee. If you want to save money, then a travel towel can still be a great investment and don't take up much room in your bag. You could also use one as a beach towel when heading out as most places won't let you take the towel out of the room.

They range in price but you can get a teeny tiny one for as little as $10 and I've seen some fancy ones get up to $100+. Look for them in any camping or adventure store and of course online.

They take a little getting used to as they are made out of that shammy-type material but they are super quick dry and pack very small, a lot smaller than an actual towel. My top tip is to get either a Large or X-Large size. It won’t add that much more bulk and there’s nothing worse than not being fully wrapped when needing to run from the shower to the room.

4) Lock

When you stay in a hostel you will usually be provided with access to a locker but will need your own lock. I suggest carrying two strong padlocks with a combination instead of key access. Trust me on this, I’ve travelled with someone who lost BOTH of their keys and had to have the lock broken.

The locks can also be used if you’re leaving your backpack in a luggage storage room after check out or to lock your backpack while in transit. Make sure to use a TSA lock if you’re travelling through the US.

5) Toiletries

As with the towel situation, hostels usually don’t provide toiletries like you would find in a hotel. Depending on your situation you might want to bring along some travel size toiletries or just buy some products when you get there. For me it depends on how long I’ll be staying in a particular place and when my next flight is. I don’t mind carrying around a full tub of toothpaste but as I travel carry-on only I’m unlikely to get it past the airport checkpoint.

You don’t need to go overboard with the toiletries though. If you’re away for 3 months then you probably don’t need to take a 6-month supply of floss with you but DO check what will be readily available for you to buy at your destination. In some places sunscreen is more expensive than crude oil and tampons are the devil so just make sure you’re prepared.

6) Flip flops

So, if you’ve never stayed in a hostel before, then the idea of sharing a bathroom with a group of people must seem very strange. It’s actually not that bad! Sometimes each dorm will have its own bathroom and sometimes there’s be a big shower block for all the rooms to share.

Either way, those showers are seeing more people in them every day than is usual and they might only be cleaned once a day. I’m no hygienist but my personal preference is to wear a pair of flip flops into the shower so I don’t catch any potential cooties. If you’re like me and live in them 24/7 then they probably need a good wash anyway.

7) Flashlight/head lamp

Depending on your trip you might have use for a dedicated torch or head lamp anyway but just in case think about the types of experiences you’re likely to have. Often I’m mixing city stays with off the beaten track activities in jungle and river lodges. There is likely to be some sort of camping or “eco” situation where I will have to use an outside toilet.

Head lamps are awesome for this as you can go "hands-free" if you know what I mean… Ever tried wiping with one hand while directing a torch in the direction of the giant centipede you just saw 2 inches from your face?

At the every least, make sure your phone has a flashlight app that you can use in a pinch. This should be sufficient for rummaging through your stuff at four in the morning for an early departure without waking the whole dorm up.

8) Plastic bags

These are very multi-purpose: to separate your dirty clothes so they don’t stink up the rest of your clothes; to store your muddy shoes in that are still wet from a rainforest like but you have a 20 hours travel day ahead of you; keep your electronics dry during a rainy open water ferry crossing; super cheap way to store your soap so you don’t need a fancy soap case. Just make sure you always have a couple on hand and you’ll always have a use for them, I promise. 

One thing to keep in mind is that plastic bags are noisy as all hell in the middle of the night so try to avoid your immediate demise at the hands of your fellow bunk mates by not rummaging through your plastic bags when all is silent.

9) Bottle opener

Hostels are filled with happy travelers who are having the time of their lives, maybe this is the only two weeks they get off every year and they want to make the most of it, maybe they’re on an extended multi-year trip to find themselves and "every day is Friday” and “every hour is happy hour”.

Whatever the case, when you stay in a hostel, you will make the best of friends if you have a bottle opener on hand. Even better, if you know how to open a bottle with any object on hand. I once saw a guy open a beer with a shoe! How do they even do that??? Why did I not learn this in school?

10) A tupperware container

I learnt this one from a vegan I met traveling and thought it was a very cool idea. If you’re going to be cooking a bit and using those awesome hostel kitchens, then chances are you’re going to have some leftovers to contend with. Rather than throwing it out or leaving it to the other life in the hostel fridge, you can throw it into a tupperware container. This way you can eat it the next day and even carry it with you as a lunch option. The best part is they don’t take up any room, just stuff them with something else and you’re good to go!

11) Bonus - A playlist that reminds you of home

Before I leave on any trip I always put together a playlist of all my favourite songs and my friends’ favourites. Why? When I’m feeling homesick I just pop my headphones in, tune into Spotify and listen to all the music that makes me think of the people that I leave but in the best way possible. You could also try having some photo albums on your phone or even a couple of real life pics if you’re a visual person.

Don’t bring

1) Door jamb

So, this is a tricky one. I’ve never chosen to stay anywhere that I felt unsafe enough that I would use a door jamb. Saying that, I would hate to be the one to tell you not to bring it and then something happens to you so I’ll leave this one up to you. They’re heavy as hell but maybe there are some new solutions that can help you feel safe and not weigh down your luggage.

2) Sink plug

This is used for hand washing and soaking clothes in sinks. If you’re staying in a dorm this is just not practical. You’ll be sharing a room with at least 3 other people and they’re not going to be happy with you using the sink to keep your laundry in. If you’re in a private room it’s a little more practical but I usually just take my clothes in the shower with me to give them a good rinse and wash with whatever I have on hand. I’d wash my clothes like this maybe once or twice and then take them to a laundromat to give them a good wash after that.

3) Clothes hanger

This one is probably a personal choice and depends on how many clothes you’ll be washing at one time or how expensive it is to wash clothes where you’re staying. When travelling through Latin America I found that I was happy to pay the $2-$3 a week to wash, dry and fold a full load of clothes. Laundromats in the US and Canada were also reasonably priced. When I did want to save money, I would usually be washing clothes overnight and hanging them up on my bed or somewhere convenient. I only once saw anyone hanging clothes up on a line but again this could be appropriate for you.

Any surprises for you or is there anything that you would add? Let me know in the comments! 

This post includes affiliate links. When you make a purchase via these links, I receive a small percentage at no additional cost to you. Very small but very appreciated.

6 Tips to Choose a Hotel for Your Next Solo Business Trip

Travelling is often a great experience especially for people who don’t like to stay still. However, not everything on our trip is always under our control, there are many factors which affect the overall quality of our trip. One factor which can greatly affect our overall well-being and satisfaction during our solo business trip is our choice of the hotel.

The important thing is that this factor of hotel choice is usually in our control and the major factor which affects this decision is usually the cost. We have a list of tips to help you make the right choice when you stay in a hotel on your next solo business trip.

Location

As opposed to leisure trips, business trips are characterised by some special purpose. The purpose could be to meet a client or to finalise the details of a new business partnership with a foreign business partner. No matter what the final details are, any meeting with a foreign partner or client would require a suitable location. The location is not just important from the meeting’s point of view; a good location can actually help mitigate some travel costs too. Often people go for a cheaper hotel in a foreign location and they realise that it’s too away from the airport and the city centre and they’re going to spend large amounts as taxi fare.

Research

Many hotels spend a large amount of money to make attractive websites which present them in the best way possible and many of us fall prey to this trap of effective marketing. We should be thankful for the internet as it has opened up a wide range of options for us to conduct a thorough research before we part ways with our hard-earned money. There are a number of websites which list hotels from different parts of the world and are ranked by the feedback they receive from the general public. These reviews on travel websites can save you a lot of time and effort when you’re deciding a hotel to stay at on your next business trip.

Service

The quality of service matters a lot when you’re traveling to a new country. You won’t be able to get anything done if the staff at the reception doesn’t speak your language or you would be left hopeless if there is no staff at the reception if you’re coming close to midnight. It’s important to check the internet to see that the staff is present and attentive to your needs. Also, the other services such as laundry etc. need to be timely and up to the par.

Business Facilities

Your entire reason for traveling is a business so it stands to reason that the hotel should provide some of the basic business facilities to ensure that your work doesn’t stay in a limbo all because you didn’t have access to the internet or a printer. Before you confirm your reservation, check that the hotel provides free unlimited access to the internet – it is important that the internet is unlimited otherwise you’ll be large amounts of money for sending or receiving those large attachments. This would also be the time to ask about other business facilities like fax and scanners etc.

Food

Not all countries place too much emphasis on the hygiene of the staff which prepares food so you need to be extra careful in this regard. It is also heartening to know that quality meal can be ordered at a decent price once you’re done with the work for the day. You should also look for hotels where meals are covered in the price of the stay. It is also a good thing if you can get room service for the same price after all it would be nice to have your dinner in peace once you’ve completed your work for the day and are completely tired now.

Leisure

Traveling alone can be tiresome, combine that with the work you’re required to do on our trip and you have a recipe for burnout on your hands. It is often a great thing to be able to relax in a pool at the end of a tiring day or hit the gym to recharge yourself if the gym is the place that makes you reenergised. Check for the leisure options when confirming your stay at the hotel.

This guest post is written by Frank Lee and you can follow him on Twitter at @franklee84.

You Might Also Like

What Is It Like Staying In A Hostel?

I am a solo female traveler. That’s how I identify myself when I travel and it speaks to both how I like to travel and also what my limitations are. I’m not independently wealthy, nor do I have the inclination to wait for friends or family to find the time to travel with me so that means that I travel alone and I also try to travel as economically as I can. Check out my article here on how to survive as a solo traveler.

A consequence to my circumstance is that I spend a lot of time staying in hostels.  After over 10 years of hostel life I feel overly qualified to help new travellers who are hesitant about staying in a hostel for the first time. Read on for a guide on what you can expect from a stay in a hostel.

How's this for $12 a night? Zephyr Lodge - Lanquin, Guatemala

What is NOT a hostel?

Sometimes when I speak to someone from an older generation and mention that I’ve been staying in a hostel they get a look of horror on their faces. Recently when visiting family in Toronto, my uncle described the only hostel he knew that was located in a shady part of the city. It was frequented by drug addicts and was often raided by the police. It was known to have a queer smell and respectable people generally stayed away.

Words I would use to describe these types of lodgings include halfway house, flophouse or lodging house. These types of accommodations cater more for transients, people on the fringes of society and more commonly addicts and people with mental disabilities. Modern hostels are not like this.

Cooking dinner in the hostel kitchen. Pagalu Hostel - Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

What is a hostel like?

Choosing your right kind of hostel is very important as there really is something for everyone out there. You might not want to stay in an eco-hostel because of the smell from the compost and the marijuana smoking residents but someone else might treasure the opportunity to make a difference to the environment and jamming into the night with a band of makeshift instruments.

A party hostel, on the other hand, is filled with booze-crazed 20-somethings and can be a good time until you’re woken up by the guy across the room throwing up on the bunk below him - true story!

Generally speaking, here’s the experience you can expect from a decent hostel:

You walk in and are greeted by someone at reception. Often this is another traveller like you who has opted to stay a while in the city and is working a few hours a day in exchange for a free bed and maybe some meals. They’ll check you in and probably ask for your passport as identification. They will offer you a map of the city and explain how the hostel works, point out the facilities and show you to your room and your bed.

I usually take this time to either introduce myself to anyone hanging out in the dorm or head to the common area to meet people and feel out the vibe. It’s better to do this sooner so that you know what’s on the cards for that evening and what everyone has planned for the next day. This way you don’t miss out on anything! 

A hostel might offer breakfast and this may as simple as toast, butter and jam with tea or coffee or as elaborate as a fully cooked breakfast with fruit, cereals and fresh juice. Some hostels offer a make-your-own pancake breakfast which is a happy medium. They provide the batter and syrup and you cook it yourself. Generally you will have to do all your dishes yourself in any scenario.

The "smoker's lounge" in my river hostel. Hotelito Perdido - Rio Dulce, Guatemala

Most hostels will have some sort of kitchen access and it can be a fun activity trying to find a knife capable of actually cutting. Even if you don’t plan on cooking, a kitchen is great to store and reheat leftovers the next day. There will usually be a pen or marker to label your food so it’s not thrown out. The hostel kitchen is also a good place to meet new people. Offer to share your meal with a hungry looking backpacker who’s got a sad looking bowl of cereal for dinner and you will have made a friend for life!

There should be some sort of common area and often there are multiple including a living room; tv room; courtyard; balcony; roof top; or terrace space. A good hostel has many places to just hang out and relax, perfect for those days when you are exhausted from a 20 hour bus trip or you’ve had enough of sightseeing.

A good hostel will have at least one activity organised during the week. This could be a walking tour, a pub crawl, a bbq or a trivia night. This will be another great opportunity to meet people!

Lastly, a hostel usually has all the regular amenities that you would expect from a good hotel or guesthouse, including wifi, computer access, book exchange and all the tourist information you can handle.

There are eco-hostels, party hostels, luxury hostels, youth-only hostels, all-inclusive hostels, meditation hostels, capsule hostels and the list really goes on and on. Once you decide what type of hostel you prefer that will dictate the type of people you’re likely to be surrounded with.

Check out my guide to booking travel to make sure you pick the best hostel in each location. 

The Group Dinner menu at Bubba's House in Boca Del Toro

What are the people like?

One of the benefits of a hostel is that you can meet people from all different walks of life who will have at least one thing in common with you; they love to travel! I’ve met people who are well off in their careers and could easily afford a nice hotel but choose to stay in a hostel because of the unique opportunity to meet new people.

There will be a mix of solo travellers, couples and groups of friends. You’ll meet people who are travelling for years, months or just a couple of weeks. I’ve stayed in dorms with people as young as 17 and one gentleman who was 75 and everyone in between. I'm almost 30 but have been staying in hostels since I was 18. There are lots of 20 years olds but also a fair number of people in their early 30's.

There will always be the night owl, who is incapable of going to bed before 3 in the morning, the early bird (usually me!) who quietly creeps out of bed at 6 am, the open-mouthed snorer and the guy with the smelliest pile of clothes you ever thought possible.

Some people you won’t click with and sometimes you get the opportunity to meet a new friend. I am lucky enough to have several people that I have met while staying in hostels that I consider to be some of my closest friends. At the very least you might meet someone who offers you a couch for some future destination.

Hostel in the middle of the jungle with infinity pool and sundeck. Zephyr Lodge - Lanquin, Guatemala

What are the rooms like?

In a hostel you often find dormitories and private rooms. In each option you might have an ensuite or separate shared bathrooms. Costs are dictated by the level of privacy involved, for example, a private room for 2 people with a private ensuite would be more expensive than an 8-bed dormitory with a separate shared bathroom located down the hall.

In a dormitory you will commonly find bunk beds of varying quality. Sometimes it will be the stock standard bunk bed that you can find in the shops and sometimes you will find some custom made bunks. These days I’ve started to expect the latter from my hostels, as a cheap bunk bed that squeaks and sways when someone gets in doesn’t cut it anymore. Some hostels will do only separate beds but that’s a rarity.

Sometimes they expect you to make your own bed and hand in the sheets when you leave. You should always be provided with sheets and blankets if you need them. You will often be offered a towel either for free, a deposit or a small fee.

Better hostels will often have some extras built into the bunk including a lamp for reading at night, your own power outlet, a bedside locker, small shelf or cubby and the ultimate indulgence - a privacy curtain! 

Dorms can have anywhere from 4 beds to 12 beds and above. I’ve stayed in a 20 bed dorm and heard stories of whole floors of bunk beds! They will often be priced based on how many beds are in a room. For female travellers traveling on their own, there are often female only dorms available to give you a greater sense of privacy and you get to avoid the smelly boys at night.

Most importantly, is the epic struggle for the bottom bunk. Bring it up when you first check in and if there isn’t one available make sure to find out when you can switch!

A hostel with a sloth nest?! Bambuda Lodge - Isla Solarte, Bocas Del Toro, Panama

What about the facilities?

You should either have a locker in your room or somewhere in the hostel to keep your electronics, cash, cards, passport and whatever else you want to keep safe. Most of the time you will need your own lock so make sure to bring a couple with you but often the hostel will rent or sell locks.

If the bathroom isn’t attached to the room, then you can expect a separate male and female shower area. As I mentioned, towels are not provided and the it’s likely that shower soap won’t be either.

Often the hostel will have some sort of honesty system for snacks and beer. This is basically a fridge where you can take a drink when you need one and write your name down on a tab and pay for everything when you check out. Some hostels also have a bar or cafe within or attached.

Luxury dorms and hostels

There are more luxury and up-market hostels popping up for those who still want the hostel environment but enjoy the finer things in life. I’ve stayed in some hostels that offer a separate wing, floor or area for VIP-style accommodation where you have access to faster wifi, fancy bathrooms, a separate common area and nicer dorms and private rooms. You can still mingle with the common folk but can retire to your nicer digs at night and when you want a break.

Check out this great post for some of best hostels in Australia.

This hostel had it's own deck for boat access. Bubba's House - Bocas Del Toro, Panama

Hostel Pros and Cons

Cons

• Potential to share with smelly/noisy/snorey people
• May have to wait for a toilet or shower
• Certain etiquette to be followed e.g. lights out at a reasonable time, no chatting in the room too late etc.

Pros

• Drastically reduced accommodation costs
• Breakfast often included
• Increased opportunity for meeting people
• Access to a kitchen
• Access to common areas
• Bar or café located on the grounds or connected

Are hostels for everybody?

Hostels are not for everyone. Sometimes even the private rooms can be below expectations and sleeping in a dorm with a group of strangers can certainly take some getting used to. That said, if you can get past the dramatic loss of privacy, staying in a hostel is a great option for those looking to stretch their money out and has the extra benefit of being the perfect place for solo travellers looking for temporary travel buddies.

A nap with a view! The hostel pet getting in the picture.

Have you got any advice for first timers staying in a hostel or have any extra questions? Let me know in the comments below!

You Might Also Like

How to Find The Best Travel Deals For Your Next Vacation

Sometimes a holiday can be a carefully planned affair and sometimes if you let it, you can have a Spontaneous Travel Experience. Luckily for everyone, there is a travel deal out there no matter your preference!

As someone who usually has more time than money I often place a huge emphasis on finding the best deal that I can to make sure my dollar goes further. This can mean 10+ hour flights on super budget airlines, sleeping in hostel dorm rooms and often opting for the 3 stopovers over the direct flight. This kind of travel is definitely not for everyone! Sometimes when I travel with friends or family, I've found I can relax my frugal ways a bit and indulge in hotels, direct flights and full-service airlines but still find a great deal to help me save.

I’ve compiled below a full list of all the travel deal resources that I refer to no matter what type of trip I’m planning and there are a couple of luxury options in there as well! This list is part of The Ultimate Guide to Booking Affordable Travel On Your Own series and you should definitely couple these sites with my list of Top Travel Websites and Top Travel Apps to help when booking your next holiday.

Error Fares

First things first is an explanation on one of the most exciting things to happen in travel in recent years - the ability to widely share a magical fare called an Error Fare. What is an error fare exactly? Well, an error fare (aka mistake fare or glitch fare) is basically a pricing error that has occurred when issuing the ticket. It’s interesting to note that the error in pricing usually comes down to human error. Simply missing a zero on the end of a number can cause a pricey business class fare to cost as little as an economy one.

This is a great article from Secret Flying on What Causes An Error Fare for those that want to get into the details of how it works.

There are three golden rules when it comes to booking an error fare:

1. Book it as soon as possible!
2. Do NOT book anything else
3. Do NOT contact the airline

An error fare can get shut down as quickly as an hour after being made public. Once the airline figures out that there is an unusually large amount of interest in their Washington to London flight in December and hang on, why is it being bought for only $200 RT??? They put a stop to our fun pretty quickly! Do not think about it too hard. If it kind of works then just book it.

Even though it’s not likely, some airlines have been known to not honour their error fares and will cancel your ticket. Don't worry, they'll always refund you your money. It is just very important that you do not book any accommodation or other flights until your ticket is issued.

Even more important: Do not contact the airline! You will ruin it for everyone else who is yet to book this juicy deal. In the past people have been known to call the airline to check if the deal was for real or to find out when tickets would be issued and this is the quickest way to make sure the deal is discovered.

Deal Aggregators

For those who are happy to let the deal come to them and plan their holidays around whatever flights tickle their fancy. You can get notified of specials through your favourite medium: Twitter, Facebook, emails and even set up app notifications for the truly obsessed. The best thing is that all of these services are completely free and you as the saying goes, it doesn’t cost anything to just take a look!

I've split my recommendations into three levels to make it easier for you to choose how involved you would like to be and how high your comfort level is booking your deals online.

Level 1 - The deals nicely packaged for you

These are usually my recommendation for people just starting out who might be used to booking holidays through travel agents or like packaged deals. 

Travelzoo

http://www.travelzoo.com/

Travelzoo was my first dip into the travel aggregator world. They are best known for their weekly "Top 20" compilation of travel deals which include flights, hotels and package deals. Sitting in my office dreaming about the places I wanted to go, I would drop everything when their Top 20 email came into my mailbox every Wednesday filled with so many possibilities.

Now that I'm more knowledgable about finding these deals for myself I might not regularly read my weekly Travelzoo newsletter but I still subscribe and will have a quick look if I'm in need of some inspiration. They're also a great company to deal with. They are very quick to act if I've ever had any questions or needed to change anything.

Example of deals from travelzoo newsletter

Solo Traveler

http://solotravelerblog.com/solo-travel-deals/

SoloTraveler is a similar service with a focus on travel deals for single travelers. This is important when you start looking at package deals and realise that they are all priced for couple or group travelers. That deal which would have been amazing for a couple is not so great for a single person.

Solo Traveler looks for deals that are beneficial for just one person including cruise trips and groups tours when you would usually be expected to pay a single traveler supplement.

Deal Websites

This includes websites like Groupon and LivingSocial. These could be a great option for a long weekend or shorter trips away. It often includes a full package with flights, accommodation and sometimes car hire and activities. The one thing to be careful about with these is to make sure you really are a getting a good deal. A midweek break (Tuesday - Thursday) is sometimes your only option or the hotel may not be the pick of the litter once you check the visitor reviews.

I did book an awesome weekend break in Niagara for $40 (including breakfast!) with my cousin through Groupon where we got a further 50% off an already significantly reduced deal. It was only one night so we didn’t really care about the 3-star ratings and the hotel was actually quite nice. Just make sure you manage your expectations and these deals can be a great saving.

Tip: Look for "first timer" type deals If it's your first time using the website. Sometimes you can save as much as 50%!

Level 2 - A bit of effort involved in piecing together your own trip

Secret Flying

http://www.secretflying.com/

Secret Flying is everyone’s favourite travel deal website. They regularly post deals that they find on their Facebook and Twitter pages and you can even receive an email newsletter to make sure you don’t miss out on anything. It's a very easy way to stay abreast of travel deals and even better, you can tailor your email notifications to just the locations you are looking to travel to or flights out of your home country.

The Flight Deal

http://www.theflightdeal.com/

The Flight Deal focuses on mostly US deals but is great for travel in and from the states and also includes some hotel deals.

Secret Escapes

https://www.secretescapes.com

This is my top "luxury travel" deal website. If I want to go somewhere nicer than the usual, maybe for a girls weekend or a family holiday, then this is a great option with deals for 5* resorts and hotels, some with fights included.

Airfare Watchdog

Airfare Watchdog is a good option if you really just want to be notified about great prices to locations that you're interested in. You choose your desired destination and it gives you some cool stats on cheapest times to travel and the option to be notified of significant price drops. 

Next Departure

http://nextdeparture.ca/

This is a great website if you’re located in Canada. They compile specific deals for travel out of Canadian cities so you could really just ignore the other websites. Lucky Canadians :D

Level 3 - Only for the travel obsessed!

Traveldealtree

Traveldealtree is not for everyone. Firstly, it's only available on Twitter so you'll need an account to be able to follow and access the deals. You need to request to Follow the account as the tweets are protected. Once you've been allowed access you will first see how overwhelming the feed can be. They estimate that they auto-tweet 60 flight deals every 15 minutes so there is a lot of information to sort through!

These deals come from all over the internet and you might see some deals from some of the websites I've mentioned above and even from some foreign language websites. My biggest suggestion is to log in occasionally (every day if you're me!) and do a search for either your home airport or the location that you'd like to visit. You do this by typing "from:traveldealtree searchterm" and replace searchterm with the city that you want to search for. So if I want to find flights from my home city of Brisbane I would search with "from:traveldealtree Brisbane" or "from:traveldealtree Australia".

If you're extra techy, you can even set up an IFTT recipe for airport alerts or glitch fares so you can be one of the first to be notified of those all important error fares. Here's one that I've amended and that works pretty well:

Happy to discuss more ways of getting value out of traveldealtree or IFTT for those that are interested. Just let me know below!

Remember that you can still search for flights and accommodation the old fashion way and still save some money. Check out my post on Top Travel Websites For Planning A Trip for some of the best ones out there.

That's all for now but I'll definitely keep adding to this list as I find more excellent ways to be in the know for the best travel deals. Everyone has their go-to travel websites to find great deals, these are just mine! What are your favourites?

You Might Also Like

Must Download Apps for Travelers

I'm often asked what my favourite apps are to help with trip planning and while I'm on the road. Here's a roundup of my favourite apps that are always top of mind when I need help booking accommodation, staying in touch when I'm far away from home or just something to keep me entertained and sane on long travel days.

While most of these apps are free to download, some of them have a pro or premium version that can cost to upgrade. Let me know what your favourites are in the comments!

This article is part of my The Ultimate Guide to Booking Affordable Travel On Your Own series. Check out the other articles in the series for some more thorough advice on travel planning like a pro.

Whats App

Free for first year; $0.99 annual subscription - Android or iOS

This is a great app to help you stay connected with people while you’re traveling. It’s basically a messaging app that also allows for calls over an internet connection, voice messaging and location sharing. When I meet someone on the road and want to stay in touch WhatsApp is usually the easiest way. You just need a name and a number and you’re connected. No need to hand out your Facebook details as I find Facebook can sometimes get clogged up with people you barely know and usually don’t remember. Another useful features is the ability to create groups. It makes organising with your friends before and during travel a lot easier.

Currency

Free - Android or iOS

This app is really a lifesaver on the road. You can quickly access currency conversion information to make sure you’re not getting ripped off or when changing money at a border. You can add countries to a shortlist and compare one currency against another. It’s a really simple app but you’ll be glad you have it. 

Trip Advisor

Free - Android or iOS

As mentioned in my Top Travel Websites For Planning A Trip article, TripAdvisor is the first website I check to see what activities are on offer in a new city. It groups activities in a useful way so you can see all companies who offer snorkelling activities for example, or all walking tours, and read the reviews to choose one that suits you.

You can also check reviews for hotels on the go as well as look at prices from different booking websites. For those who like to plan ahead, there are some cities guides which are available for download so you can access everything offline.

Google Maps

Free - Android or iOS

Not just great for maps, many people don’t know that you can download maps offline, add tags and read reviews. Google Maps is also my main app for public transport navigation in most parts of the world. I’ve found it far more seamless for figuring out how to use multiple modes of transport as some countries have their bus, train and ferries as separate business with separate timetables.

Evernote

Free - Android or iOS

One of the best apps for taking quick notes while you’re on the go. It’s a God send for me as a travel blogger as I can note prices, trip details and my initial impressions quickly. It's great for making sure you have all the info you need for a full day of sightseeing. I like to compile one note with meeting times, screenshots of bus timetables, names of places that I want to eat at and anything else I need for the day 

Foursquare

Free - Android or iOS

Not sure where to have lunch after your museum visit amongst the many tasty looking options? Foursquare is another app that allows users to review places to eat as well as attractions. My favourite feature of Foursquare is that it encourages brief reviews with a focus on dishes that you did and didn’t like as well as who would like that restaurant.

Foursquare learns what type of places you like to eat at and tailors recommendations for you when you arrive in a new city. Feel like a taco at midnight? Foursquare will be able to tell you which place is most popular at that time of the night and which tacos are everyone’s favourite. Another unintended feature of Foursquare is getting wifi passwords! Helpful visitors note passwords for the wifi network so you can linger outside and use some wifi when in need.

Yelp is a similar app that is more popular in some countries like some cities in the US and Zomato is quite big in Australia.

Airbnb

Free - Android or iOS

For booking on the go, sometimes you don’t have a lot of options. I know I’ve visited some very small towns that don’t have a single hotel! Sometimes you are left with no other option but to consider some local hospitality. I’ve been saved by Airbnb a few times and now will often consider it as an alternative to hotels or hostels whenever I can. It might not be the cheapest option if you’re on your own but if you’re travelling in a group or pairs then you can find some great options (like a whole villa!) that gives you more of a local flavour than a traditional hotel.

Use this link for $25 off your first stay!

Expedia

Free - Android or iOS

This is my favourite hotel booking website. I’ll always check what’s available through Expedia first before I look elsewhere. I find their app to be easy to use and doesn’t frustrate me when I'm in a rush like other booking sites. They also have a great reward program and you get extra benefits when you book through the app versus the website.

Spotify

Free - Android or iOS

I’ve tried Apple Music and it might make more sense if you are travelling with an iPhone but I always come back to Spotify. It’s so much easier to use and I can quickly download playlists to play my favourite songs offline along with recommended playlists so I can stay in touch with what’s new while I’m travelling.

Pocket Casts

Free - Android or iOS

If you’ve never tried a podcast before then drop everything and download Pocket Casts. Seriously. A podcast is basically a form of audio broadcasting on the internet. Pocket Casts is a podcatcher or a podcast client which you use to download and play all your favourite podcasts. There are many different genres, including comedy, business and they are great to listen to when you’ve got a long flight or bus ride, while jogging or anytime you’re sitting and waiting for something to happen. Which could be often when you’re travelling.

You can use podcasts to learn a new skill or just for pure entertainment and there really seems to be something out there for everybody and all of this content is out there for free! Here are some of my favourites to get you started: Serial, This American Life, Reply All and Invisibilia.

There are many podcast playing apps out there and I’ve tried my share of them but Pocket Cast is my favourite by far.

Snapchat

Free - Android or iOS

It’s a really fun way to stay in touch. It takes a while to get the hang of it as there is no real user guide. You are sent a how-to video when you first download it so make sure to watch it so you know what you’re doing!

Essentially it’s a social app that focuses on image messaging, using "snaps" which can be a photo or short video that you can send to an individual, several individuals or post to your "Story" which is like your wall on Facebook. The filters that you can use are super fun and change regularly so you always have something new to play with and send to friends.

I really didn't get it at first but really love it now so give it a try for a few days before you give up on Snapchat!

Instagram

Free - Android or iOS

Very cool way to see pictures from a destination you’re in or heading to and also to stay in touch with friends you’ve met along the way. Facebook is kind of old news in that way as my feed is too saturated with videos and pictures and not enough actual content that I want to read. Your Instagram feed is all about the people you choose to follow and you don’t have to be friends.

You can follow my adventures here!

Loving my time here in #Toronto visiting with my family. It's ridiculously cold for this time of year but they've made sure I'm extra warm with clothes and blankets. I feel like a homeless person 😯

A photo posted by Cristal Dyer (@tofutraveler) on May 17, 2016 at 1:03pm PDT

Tinder

Free - Android or iOS

Traditionally a dating app, Tinder is now being used by travellers as a great way to find people to give you tips on real local places and experiences to check out and sometimes you might even get someone interested in showing you around their city. I’ve had some pretty cool experiences with people I’ve met through Tinder and I definitely recommend giving it a try.

To make sure you're not breaking any hearts, I suggest that you’re upfront about your intentions in your bio and make sure to state that you’re visiting and you’re interested in some local knowledge.

Uber

Free - Android or iOS

When available, I will always use Uber over a traditional taxi service. I always feel secure and know that I will get to my destination for a great price. There’s often been some hesitation about Uber when it first enters a new city but from personal experience using it at home in Australia and across the globe in places like Costa Rica, Mexico City and Toronto, it’s always been a smooth ride.

The basic concept is that you tell the app where you are and where you’re going, they give you an estimate of how far away the closest driver is and then you can track their arrival in real time. You’re given their registration number, name and a photo so you can properly identify the driver when they arrive. At the end of the ride you just thank the driver and jump out! No need to fiddle with cash or negotiate fare as you often have to do in developing countries.

You can take some extra safety precautions when you use Uber to give yourself peace of mind by “sharing your ride” with a loved one, where they can track your route and see that you’ve arrived safely and you can also split fares with another passenger so you’re not taking on the full cost. In some cities they also have UberPool so you actually pick up a passenger heading the same way as you for a reduced fare.

Click here to sign up and get your first ride free!

Skype

Free - Android or iOS

This is my go to for longer chats with family and friends. All calls are made over the internet and you can find Skype on your mobile, tablet or even on your laptop. I love nothing more than spending an hour catching up with someone when you’ve been away for a while and if your wifi is good enough you get the benefit of being able to video chat! You can also find video chat on WhatsApp and Facetime if you’re calling someone with an iOS device.

Duolingo

Free - Android or iOS

This is a popular app amongst travelers to help with learning the basics of a new language. There's a fun game factor that helps keep you going back to the app and lessons are designed in bite sized chunks to help you manage your time around it. You learn by reading, listening and even speaking!

There you have it! A huge list of my most useful apps that I reach for time and time again. Most are free so jump in and give them a try for your next trip or even just to use in your home town.

Do you have any other apps that you would recommend? Let me know below!

You Might Also Like

Top Travel Websites For Planning A Trip

Updated November 2016: I have added some new favourites and have ditched some websites that are no longer as amazing. Let me know if you have any favourites to add. Cristal

If you've ever thought that planning a vacation and booking a flight yourself was too difficult and complicated then check out these travel websites which I use personally to plan and book my own trips.

This article is part of a larger series called "The Ultimate Guide to Booking Affordable Travel On Your Own". A Guide with detailed information to help you find and book travel for any budget.

Flights

Skyscanner

This is my #1 go to for flight booking. I generally check a selection of websites but Skyscanner usually the cheapest. It’s pretty flexible in terms of allowing you to explore a variety of destinations and dates so if you don’t really mind where or when you go it can help you find the cheapest place to fly in a country, region or even all over the globe! You can search for a specific date, a whole month or even just ask it for the cheapest date to travel to specific location.

Momondo

This is not as flexible so it’s the most useful when you know where and when you want to go. The best thing about Momondo though is that it rates each fare based on a calculation of duration and price so you can easily see which fares are the best deal. Momondo also has some great filters if you want to be more specific about which airline, how many stops you’d prefer and maximum flight duration.

Google Flights

This is probably the most flexible flights search engine of them all. It’s as searchable as Skyscanner but also allows you to see the destinations and prices on a map view which works well for me as a visual person. My only criticism  of Google Flights is that not all of the super budget airlines are included so you might not always find the best deal. It’s a great starting point though if you really just want to explore the options.

Skiplagged

Skiplagged is a special search engine that checks if there are any flights that stopover in your destination city that could potentially be cheaper than a direct fare. For example, you want to fly from Miami to Salt Lake City and you can get a fare for $200 but Skiplagged can see that there is a flight from Miami to Portland with a stopover in Salt Lake City for $150. You would take this fare and just leave the airport at Salt Lake City, no worries. They also claim to take advantage of other inefficiencies and round trip prices that could save you money. I have never actually found a better deal on Skiplagged probably due to my unique choice of destinations but I always check this website before I book anything and have heard some positive reports from the travellers.

Other Transport

Rome2Rio

A great website to help you discover options to get from Point A to Point B. Rome2Rio includes links to purchase directly with the providers and incorporates bus and train schedules, flights and car hire options.

Seat 61

This website encourages train and ferry travel by providing detailed information. Seat 61 has a heavier focus on UK, Europe and Africa travel but there is some information on most destination around the world. If you’ve ever fantasised about grand train journeys like traveling on the Trans Siberian Railway this is the place to go. There is ample information on what to expect, changing stations, connection times, classes and special needs. Honestly, if you’re thinking of train travel at all, I strongly suggest you check out this website.

Accomodation

Tripadvisor

Once I’ve decided on where to go and I’m ready to look into accommodation, Tripadvisor is my first stop. TripAdvisor relies on reviews from regular people staying in a hotel, compiles these into one page and ranks each hotel. If you enter your dates in it will also give you an idea of the cost and who you should book it through.

There are some useful filters including one for ‘Type of traveler’. You can choose ‘Family’ to read reviews by guests who stayed as a family or ‘Business’ for guests who stayed specifically for business purposes. My favourite filter is the ‘Time of year’ where you can see whether the hotel is as enjoyable in winter vs summer.

So Tripadvisor is a fantastic resource but this recommendation comes with a caveat. Like anything that is online, it’s very easy for someone to fake a review. This could be because maybe they represent a rival business and want to leave a damaging review or maybe the business wants to leave some sparkling reviews on themselves. There have been reports of business paying companies to leave reviews and other dodgy activity.

My number one tip is to take most individual reviews with a grain of salt. If it doesn’t sound like something a regular person would right then it’s probably a fake. Are there a spate of reviews left by people who only have one review? Then they’re probably fake or a business has enticed people to sign up and leave a review by offering some good or service, which is completely against Tripadvisor's terms and conditions. If there are hundreds or thousands or reviews and you just want to get an idea of whether somewhere is good or not, then just check out the overall score and leave it at that.

TravelPony

TravelPony is a great hotel aggregator that claims to have the best prices you can find anywhere. They’ve never steered me wrong and the website is very easy to use. It’s all about price on this website so you won’t find much more information besides the hotels address and contact number and a list of amenities. 

Expedia

Even though I use either TripAdvisor or TravelPony to help find the best prices for a particular hotel, if there was a choice, I would use Expedia to book. I have only ever received great customer service from Expedia and they have travel guarantees built in and a reward program that actually rewards you!

Agoda

Agoda is a recent gem of mine for hotel booking. It's not always the cheapest but it does seem to be one of the cheapest options and their interface is one of the most pleasant to use. It's especially worth checking Agoda for travel around the Asia, Pacific and Europe regions.

Airbnb

Airbnb allows you to book the home of a local host. It can be just a room with access to the common space or a whole hours or apartment. There are also some interesting accommodation types listed in Airbnb, like castles, tree houses and houseboats if you want to try something different. Sometimes it can work out cheaper to book a vacation home through Airbnb than a traditional hotel and it can be a great option when traveling somewhere off the beaten track without a lot of accommodation options. There’s also a built in review system for piece of mind when booking.

If you haven’t used Airbnb before, click here to get $25 off your first rental.

Hostelz

Hostelz is a great resource for those who like staying in hostels and other budget accommodation. It aggregates the hostel booking sites and gives you an overview of the reviews and prices so you can choose where to book from. It also includes the contact details and websites for each hostel so you can check them out and book directly.

Location Research

To get an overview of a place it can be helpful to google the official tourism websites. Some are great and interactive and full of information and advice and others are lacking or non-existent. I would usually do a quick Google search to see what’s available and use that as a starting point in your research.

Travel blogs like this one are also a great resource. You get insight from actual people who’ve been to these places and what their experiences are like. Just be mindful that most f the time, when someone writes about a destination, place or service, they’re only writing the positive stuff. It’s just human nature to want to highlight the ’best of's’ but it doesn’t paint the whole picture. When wanting to get inspiration from travel blogs, try searching: ‘destination’ ‘blog'.

An example of a great destination blog is this Sayulita travel blog. It’s packed full of info on what to eat, where to sleep and what to do,.

Thorntree forum

A forum is a place you can go to online to find like minded people and participate in discussions. Lonely Planet’s Thorntree forum is filled with other travellers just like you who are either destination experts that provide insights and updates or people searching for help and advice. You can post things like a tentative itinerary that you’ve planned and seek feedback on it or ask a specific question that you can’t find the answer for elsewhere. There’s usually a FAQ or destination guide for each place as well.

Tip: Basic forum etiquette is to search for your query first to make sure the answer hasn’t already been provided.

Local expat forums

Some locations have such a huge expat community that they’ve developed their own forums online. It’s worth it to google 'destination' and ‘forum’ to see what’s available. Often users on Thorntree will be the first to advise that you should check out another forum for help. When planning my trip to the Dominican Republic, I was directed by a Thorntree user to the forum DR1 for help with my questions.

Wikitravel

A crowdsourced travel guide, Wikitravel is a great place to get an overview of a location with information on getting in and out, pubic transport options, top sights, places to eat and places to stay.

Activities

Tripadvisor is a great site to find things to do at a destination, with their user submitted reviews and ranking system you can find the most popular activities and tours available.

Vayable

A website to discover unique, cultural experiences from local hosts around the world. You an find a variety of tours on Vayable centered around design, photography, street art, ethnic food tours, private dinners hosted by locals, underground history and general sightseeing. 

You can even get $10 off your first booking, click here for more information.

Don’t forget about travel insurance!

World Nomads

Like my flights and accommodation I used to always compare prices for travel insurance. Now, after 10+ years of solo travel, I just book through World Nomads. They’re the most comprehensive, flexible and easy to understand. You always know what you are and are not covered for. For people traveling long term, World Nomads is one of the only companies that will let you buy cover while you are already traveling. 

This post includes affiliate links. When you make a purchase via these links, I may receive a small percentage at no additional cost to you. Very small but very appreciated!

You Might Also Like

The Ultimate Guide to Booking Affordable Travel On Your Own

I’m just going to throw it out there. I love to travel. I love actually traveling and I love all the parts that come before, the planning, researching and booking. I could spend hours just planning the perfect route for the perfect price. This is no secret to people close to me and they take advantage of my madness by using me as their personal travel agent. There’s nothing more satisfying than helping someone who previously thought they couldn’t afford a trip to plan something  that fits their budget.

I truly believe travel can be achievable for most people and you don’t need to fork out loads of cash to get someone to plan a trip for you. With a little bit of time and effort you can plan your own dream holiday yourself!

Over the next few weeks this travel series will highlight the most useful travel websites, apps and the process I personally use to book affordable flights, hotels and accommodations. Don’t forget to sign up to my newsletter to be notified on new posts! I also provide travel planning and travel coaching services so please get in touch if you need some help or are happy to let an expert take care of all of this of for you!

Part 1 - Top Travel Websites

Part 2 - Top Travel Apps

Part 3 - How to Find The Best Travel Deals

Part 4 -  How to Plan a Trip on Your Own

You Might Also Like

Solo Travel Tips - How to meet people while traveling

Traveling on your own can be very daunting. For some people, it’s the one thing that stops them from getting out there and visiting the places they want to. As an introvert, I still get anxious when I get to a new place and I have to make friends all over again.

Solo travel can be tough but it also has it’s benefits. Funnily enough, one of the main benefits is how easy it is to meet people!

When you’re travelling in pairs or as a group, you don’t naturally tend to include other people in your conversation and likewise, a group of solo travelers are less likely to reach out to big groups of friends. Some of my closest friends are people that I have met while travelling and sometimes have even met up again to visit new countries together.

To help you get over your own inhibitions about travelling on your own, here are some tips that has helped me over the years.

Group excursion to a small weaving community, Antigua, Guatemala

1) Choose the right hostel

On my travels I have found myself in some hotels that attract certain groups of traveler. There’s the all hippie, fire-twirling, crystal carrying crew with questionable hygiene and a focus on “eco” practices over all else. There was the all French Canadian hostel where the conversation was predominantly in French. Some places are just popular with certain groups of traveler because it meets that particular need. There’s even some hostels that mostly attract couples, not much fun for a single female!

To circumvent this, make sure to do you research when choosing where to stay. Read reviews online using either TripAdvisor or a hotel booking site and look for key phrases and guidance on where will suit your particular personality.

A lot of hostels these days also put on events, like free drink nights, Sunday BBQ's and movie nights. If you have a choice, I also highly recommend staying in a hostel that provides breakfast. A communal breakfast is a a great opportunity to chat to other travelers. 

Christmas picnic with some new friends

2) Stay in dorms

Depending on your budget, you might think that a dorm room is the last place you want to sleep. They can be noisy, smelly and personal space is at a minimum. If you do your research though, you can find some very nice dorms. The benefit of staying in a dorm is you have some automatic friends, people to chat with during the day and discuss travel plans.

I am currently staying in a "Deluxe Dorm" that has brand new orthopaedic mattresses, privacy curtains and personal outlets and lights as well as hotel-style bathrooms and a balcony. I can still sleep in comfort and take the opportunity to hang out with my fellow room mates.

3) Force yourself into the middle of the action

Just last night I arrived at a new hostel in San Cristobal, my all-female dorm was on the quiet side and everyone seemed to be hanging out in the garden by the bonfire. Even though it made me feel physically ill, I forced myself to go take a seat by the fire and say hi to everyone loudly. Once that was over with, everyone introduced themselves to me and I was instantly part of the conversation.

If being confident doesn’t come naturally to you, the best thing to do is to just pretend. Choose someone in your life that you admire for their assertiveness and pretend to be them. I pretend to be a good friend from home who is the most extroverted, confident women I know. When I’m on my own I just think, how would she assert herself into this conversation?

Hanging out with some new friends on an excursion to cerro del cruz in antigua, guatemala

4) Do some group activities

Just because you’re traveling on your own doesn’t mean you have to do everything by yourself. Sign up for some half-day or full-day trips that interest you, and you have some automatic friends for a few hours. If things work out, you then have some people to have dinner with or share a long bus trip with to the next destination. You might even end up with some travel partners for days or even weeks.

Cuba was one of the hardest places to meet other travelers because of the lack of hostels, but somehow I ended up with a great bunch of travel buddies after a horse riding trip. 

Have you got any advice for traveling on your own? 

How to Survive with Dietary Restrictions When Travelling

Anyone with dietary restrictions might have serious doubts about travelling in a developing area like South America, Africa or India. Those doubts are definitely founded but with a little bit of preparation and some helpful advice (mine!) you should be able to get by just like everyone else and walk away with a full tummy.

Be prepared

Rule #1 of a restrictive diet is to always have something to eat on you. This could be a granola bar, nuts or fruit; just try to make sure it has some sort of nutritional value so you’re not going to be hungry again in 20 minutes.

Even if you follow all of the tips below there will be a time when you can’t find something to eat and you’ll be glad for the pre-packaged sustenance. If you're anything like me, once that hunger hits you won't be able to do any sort of rational thinking until you get something in your stomach.

Know what to expect

Just like with other aspects of the culture you are visiting, it is important to do some research into what you can expect in your chosen location.

• What does a regular breakfast, lunch or dinner look like?

• How late or early do they eat?

• What is the street food like?

• Will there be modern-style grocery stores or do you have to rely on markets?

• Is the diet predominately meat?

• What vegetables are grown locally?

• What are the traditional dishes?

• What are the basic ingredients of a meal? Is peanut oil used? Lard instead of butter? Do they like ham in their potato salad?

Once you know what to expect you can start thinking about how you can adapt your diet to the culture.

You can also consider reaching out to other veggie travellers through groups on facebook or find some while travelling to help get a better idea of what you should know for your next destination.

A vegetarian Japanese meal in a small town in Guatemala

Learn the basics

If you are travelling to a non-English speaking country, learn how to say what you can and can’t eat in the local language. Even better write out your restrictions so you never feel rushed in a situation where there are many people ordering quickly, like with street food. I have even seen some travellers with severe allergies carry a card with a picture of their allergy with a red cross through it. That should get the point across!

Always advise your requirements when ordering! My little sister is allergic to nuts, amongst other things, but dislikes drawing attention to it when she eats out because she doesn’t want to make a fuss. Sadly, she’s been caught out a few times by mystery ingredients that have made her unwell.

Remember, even if it looks safe on the menu it’s always worth it to double check that they’re not going to add something that you can’t eat. You might be pleasantly surprised and get something special prepared off-menu by an eager chef.

Don’t use labels

Due to variations in certain diets, people can be confused or previously misled by what you may or may not eat. As a vegetarian I am often offered fish, chicken and even pork because other “vegetarians” have eaten those things. I recently met a vegan who ate dairy and eggs "outside of home" and even ate shellfish “because they don’t feel any pain”. 

Everyone has different reasons for eating what they do but just be aware that simply stating that you are a part of a certain group of people leaves your meal up to interpretation. Be specific!

Understand what you will missing

Having dietary restrictions often means you will miss out on having some of the traditional dishes of a country. No need to despair though! Usually if you head to any tourist hub you can find alternative versions of local dishes.

When studying Spanish in Cusco, I ate a lot of my meals at a vegan restaurant that made vegan dishes of the local meals. I even got to have a mushroom ceviche!

You could also try to find a local cooking school that is willing to help you adapt a particular dish and learn how to cook it yourself.

If it doesn’t change the recipe drastically (like no peanut oil for a stir fry), you can try to direct the restaurant or food vendor to emit a particular ingredient. In El Salvador and Honduras where the pupusa and balleada are cheap and tasty streets foods, it’s very easy to get vege-only versions. 

Think about your nutrition

When I’m travelling I find it especially difficult to make sure I’m getting a balanced diet each day. Some days I’ll get to midday and have no energy and just want a nap. More often than not I’ll realise that I’ve had no protein, thus the lack of energy.

Make sure that whatever you are eating every day has a good balance of carbohydrates, fats, proteins as well vitamins, minerals and lots of water!

Find health food stores to stock up on nutrient-rich foods that you can eat on the go or add to your meals. I genuinely recommend chia seeds because they are rich in fibre. Research other so-called “super foods” to supplement nutrients that you might otherwise be missing out on.

Health food stores are also great places to find alternatives like soy and nut milks for those who don’t eat dairy. If you like a light breakfast you could consider buying some protein powder and mixing that up with some water for a quick meal that you can also take on the go.

Typical Nicaraguan breakfast - filled with proteiney goodness

Top tip: Breakfast for lunch?

This is my favourite piece of advice! It’s true, breakfast is the best meal of the day and if you have dietary restrictions, it’s also the easiest way to accommodate them.

For a person with dietary restrictions, breakfast can be your saviour. If you’re a celiac, then you can have fruit salad or a breakfast without the toast or tortillas. If you’re lactose intolerant then just avoid the yoghurt and any butter-heavy meals. Vegan? Just skip the eggs and enjoy something more continental.

I have found that even in the smallest towns I have been able to find something enjoyable and filling for breakfast. It’s also the easiest thing to cook for yourself if you have access to a kitchen. Usually, I will try to eat my full at breakfast and then just have a light snack at lunch.

Importantly, if you’re stuck for something to eat at lunch or even dinner, try asking if you can have a breakfast dish instead. This has worked for me in a pinch and as breakfast is my favourite meal it never feels like I’m missing out. Most places will be happy to prepare a breakfast dish for you, especially if you let them know that it’s because you don’t have many other choices on the menu.

Other helpful tips

1) Find a place with a kitchen so you can cook for yourself. Think hostels, Couchsurfing or Airbnb. Google is your friend here and can help you find those unique properties like this gold option I found when searching for where to stay in Sayulita.

2) When in doubt head towards places that you know will have food that you can eat. Italian, Indian and Middle Eastern food are usually my safe bets and you should be able to find one of these in any bigger city.

3) Browse markets for fresh fruit and veg that you can eat on the go. Often there are chopped and bagged fruit ready for you to snack on or take on-the-go.

4) Use websites like TripAdvisor, Foursquare or HappyCow to find specific food types in your location.

5) Be prepared to be bored with your choices. In some places, you might find that there really are just not that many options for you. In the Amazonian jungle region, I have often found that the choice was rice and fish or just rice. Luckily, I had my handy bottle of hot sauce to spice it up as well as a few pieces of fruit and veg to keep me going.

6) Get ready to have many a conversation about your chosen diet. More so than at home, people will likely want to delve into your diet, why you’ve chosen it, how it works etc. In some places, locals might be baffled and genuinely confused about why you eat what you do.

7) Raw oats! These are a great option for an on-the-go quick healthy meal. Just add hot water and you’re good to go. I have been able to find some variety of these in most places I’ve been to. Also check out other local grains available, like quinoa in South America or Teff in Ethiopia.

Vegetarian ceviche in san jose, costa rica

As someone who’s been plant-based for over 18 years and who enjoys getting out and exploring the world, I admit that sometimes I have come across some tricky food situations. I have learnt over time that the most important thing is to be prepared and you should be able to overcome most obstacles. If all else fails, you should always have a granola bar or piece of fruit handy that can keep you satiated until you find another option.

Just remember to stay positive and enjoy getting to know the culture around you. Even if you’re not getting to eat everything that locals do, keep in mind that some locals have dietary restrictions too! Have you got any tips for surviving with dietary restrictions while travelling?

How to use your phone while travelling

Have you ever thought about what the options are for using your phone while overseas? Depending on the type of trip and your desire to remain connected, the need to access either wifi, data and voice calls on your phone will vary.

Some things to think about:

1. How long is your trip?
2. Will you be happy with wifi in your hotel and cafes?
3. Do you need access to a data plan for work?
4. Will it make you uncomfortable if you are unable to access the internet or a phone signal for long periods of time?
5. Are you travelling in a remote location?
6. Will you be travelling in just one country or will you be in and out of different countries?

Here are some of your options:

1) Wifi only

For: travellers who are don’t need access to a phone plan for calls or data. You are comfortable accessing what you need when and if you have wifi. You aren’t interested in navigating the potentially complicated world of phone plans or won’t be in one country long enough to benefit from the cost and time it takes to organise one. You are sticking to the well trodden tourist paths.

Wifi only should suit most travelers. These days it is rare not to have access to wifi in a hotel or hostel and even Airbnb’s usually have wifi.

You should also be able to get the odd wifi connection in the more touristy cafes and restaurants and I even spotted some wifi in a local 6-table restaurant in Santo Domingo.

There are also a few apps that make life easier when travelling without mobile data. One great app to use if you are doing wifi only is WiFi Map. You can download locations of free wifi spots and their passwords in advance. Most small towns are free to access and some of the bigger cities require you to pay for access to the information.

Another tool is Foursquare. Often a helpful local or traveller will post the password of a business. You will need to check Foursquare while you are online so a bit of forward planning is required.

In a big city? Seek out large chain restaurants like McDonalds or Starbucks as they will most likely offer free wifi.

Free wifi in a 6-table cafe in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

2) Local sim card (voice only or voice and data)

For: Any traveler spending more than a couple of weeks in one country. Anyone needing to stay connected on the cheap. Anyone who wants a bit of a safety net when heading off the beaten track.

I often opt for this option if know I will be heading somewhere that requires complex navigation or organisation. I’ve gone as far as kissing my phone when I had taken the wrong bus, got dropped off in the middle of nowhere and the bus driver disappeared before I could quiz him on how I could get back to civilisation. I easily found the bus schedule on the city transport website and found an easy route to my destination.

Contacting airbnb hosts in the middle of the night when their directions have failed you is also a common one for me. The ability for my family back home to get in touch with me if I don’t have access to wifi in a more remote location also gives them a lot more confidence in my travel plans.

Often, with a bit of a research, you find that a sim card costs $1 or $2 and you can load as little as $1 worth of call time onto it.

My advice is to simply google the country name you are visiting and “phone plan”. You will usually find information on how to get a sim card and how to recharge. If you’re struggling for information or the details in English are lacking then you can always submit a request on a forum like Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree or a local expat forum. You can also use your hotel or hostel as a resource.

Usually, voice only is the simplest and cheapest option. That said I have seen unlimited data plans in some Central American countries for as little as $15 a month.

To do: unlock your phone!

This step is very important if you’re going to be using a foreign sim card. You need to make sure you unlock your phone before you leave home. This could be as simple as changing your setting online or might require a phone call or in-store visit to your phone plan provider. Make sure you get this sorted out before you leave!

3) Data roaming

For: travellers travelling for brief periods in each country, have researched the data roaming policies with their phone companies and are comfortable with the policies and costs.

This is one that I am not very familiar with but do know some people opt for it mostly for the ease. If you need to make the odd phone call or quickly check a website while you’re on the road please make sure you understand how your particular phone plan treats data roaming and how much it costs.

You might not be able to rely on this method in all countries and regions depending on your phone company and plan.

Some phone plans now allow you to add-on a roaming package so you can use your phone overseas for a short amount of time and know exactly what you'll be in for upfront. This can make roaming a lot more affordable than it has been historically.

4) International sim

For: Frequent travellers or those who work while travelling.

This could be both the most convenient and the most expensive option. There are a number of companies that sell sim cards that you can use in multiple countries. You will not be getting great rates and coverage may be spotty, but the main benefit of this option is that you will have just one number that you can use anywhere in the world and your phone should simply work as you move from country to country.

I have never personally used any of these services as I have found the plans to be out of my budget and not all countries are covered. My advice would be to do your research and make sure you choose one that fits all your requirements and look for some first-hand reviews online.

5) Purchase a cheap phone

In some countries you might consider just buying a phone. Often with local promotions you will find that getting a simple phone is relatively cheap with included voice or data and it means you won't have to be as concerned with damaging your regular phone.

New technology

New plans and technologies are being rolled out all the time making it easier for travellers to stay connected. Just recently I heard about a local phone and internet company in Australia that is allowing you to access wifi anywhere in Australia if you allow your home internet to act as a hotspot. Customers will also be able to connect to hotspots overseas in 18 countries including the UK, Spain, Brazil, Japan, France and Germany.

http://exchange.telstra.com.au/2015/06/26/set-your-home-broadband-data-free/

There’s also a phone company in Central America that allows you to use your phone plan and sim in six neighbouring countries, including Mexico!

It’s never been easier to stay connected and have the information you need, you just need to do a little bit of research beforehand. Have you got any suggestions for using your phone overseas?

Is it Wrong to use Technology on the Road?

I’ve heard some criticism recently of the use of technology while travelling. Some see the backpackers hanging around in hostel common areas chatting on their phones or catching up on the latest episode of Game of Thrones on their tablet or laptop, and think it speaks to a new, less social age of travel. More than before we’re talking to each other on the road less and trying to stay connected with the folks at home.  We’re getting lost in the online world instead of taking in the beauty and diversity of the area around us.

As someone who likes to stay connected and uses her laptop for work while while travelling, I’m definitely in a different camp. I believe that for most people it is important to stay connected with friends and family, just as you would if you were at home. It’s also important to have an avenue to allow you to disconnect. Moderation, however, is the key.

When travelling in some of the poorer regions of this world, you get glimpses of a life that is not always pleasant to see or be a part of. For me at least, this can take a toll on my mental state and I need more than anything some nights to sink into a nice happy episode of whatever is new on Netflix.

As someone who is travelling for months instead of weeks, it’s also important for me to keep up with my people back home and the new people that I meet as I travel. I’m looking forward to those free accommodation offers in Germany yall!

Staying connected

I know first hand that when you get back from a long trip it can be hard to restart those relationships. When I was 18, I travelled around South America for a year and when I got back things just weren’t the same with all my old friends. These were the days before Facebook and Whatsapp. Where scheduling a Skype session involved complicated calculations of when we were both awake and when the internet cafe was open.

I figured out that while I was being told about the Big Things - engagements, new houses, promotions - it’s really the little things that tie people together. These things are not something you think to include in a long email about what’s been happening, but with new technology you can now take the 30 seconds you need to send the snippets of your life.

When my friend Bel is waiting for the bus sometimes she’ll reach out and give me little snippets of her day. When my friend Gabe was recently waiting at the airport, exhausted after not having enough sleep, it’s easy for him to let me know how tired he is and that it was a terrible idea not getting a direct flight. These are things no one would bother or remember to write in an email but it’s really the little things that make up the conversation and fill the gaps once you get back home.

If you think about it, when you spend time with your friends, it’s rarely the big, life changing events that you discuss, it’s mostly the little things.

In my opinion, access to apps like Whatsapp and Snapchat allows you to keep up the conversation with your loved ones so that you can quickly share the little things. Just like you would at home.

Time for yourself

Even writing this is a good escape for me. I get to reflect on what I’m feeling as I travel, how I’ve handled certain situations and offer advice to new travelers on how they might avoid some of the mistakes I’vee made. Sure, I could write this all down in a journal, but how would I get it out there so that it could actually make a difference?

If you need it, take a night off and watch a movie or catch up on your favourite show. If you have something to share, spend some time chatting with your people back home. Don’t feel bad, seriously, what’s the difference between that and plunging into a good book on your hostel sofa? Of course, wearing headphones can be the surest way to say, “I don’t want to talk to anyone right now” but as you travel you realise that there's people everywhere. If you spend one night in your own head, you’ll be sure to meet people the next night.

Heck, you could even offer to watch something with someone else if they look bored. I know I have sometimes made some great travel friends when I’ve given them the opportunity to relax into a good movie in a hostel barren of other activities.

I think there’s definitely a balance. Try not to escape from the world around you too often and remember that if you’ve got headphones on then you have less chance of connecting with your fellow travelers.

The important thing is that you don’t worry about what other people think. If you need to chill, chill and if you need to hang out with your friends online, then do that.

How To Have a Successful (Temporary) Travel Partnership

Meeting other travellers on the road can be one of the most enjoyable parts of travelling. As a solo traveller, it can also be a great opportunity to band together for a time, giving each other company and sharing costs.

I am naturally quite introverted at home and really enjoy my own company and a good book but when you're travelling for weeks at a time even the most hermity of all hermits will eventually crave some human interaction. I generally find myself travelling with other people for at least 20% of my time away. That could just be hanging out for a couple days at a time or my record was two whole months (on and off) with a lovely couple from Alaska.

I've learnt ALOT from my experiences with my temporary travel buddies; made some poor decisions and also let my temper get to boiling point a few too many times. There are definitely some do's and don'ts when it comes to partnering up while on the road.

Here’s some advice to help you succeed in your new travel duo! 

Talk about your budgets

This is extremely important! Arguments about where to stay and eat can ruin friendships. Some travelers like to stay in the cheapest local hotels available and cook very low cost foods for every meal, choosing instead to spend money on activities or just extend their trip for the longest time possible. Others spare no expense, staying in 4-star hotels and eating out. The majority, like myself, sit somewhere between these two extremes.

At the very least you need to understand where your travel buddy sits on the spectrum and I highly recommend agreeing ahead of time on daily budgets for accommodation and food.

Discuss interests and priorities

Once you’ve made sure you’re on the same wavelength money-wise, it’s a good idea to talk about what your “must-sees” and “must-dos” are. If these don’t match up at all then it might make for some frustrated conversations over how to spend your days or in which towns you want to stop.

Make sure it’s clear to each party what the priorities are so you don’t get too far before realising your priorities aren’t aligned.

It’s also important to make sure you are somewhat similar in your travel habits. Are you a party animal or do you get up to watch the sun-rise? Would you be annoyed if someone was never on time and kept you waiting, or are you happy to keep things flexible?

Figure out what’s important to you in a travel partner and make sure to figure out if this new person meets your minimum criteria. Opposites can attract, but you don’t want to be stuck with someone who has completely different values.

Give each other space

Regardless of if you are travelling together for one day or one week, make sure that you’re aware of your own need for space as well as your travel buddy’s. Making new friends, seeing new things and having new experiences is exhilarating, but can also be tiring and sometimes emotional.

There’s likely a reason you’re travelling on your own in the first place and if the reason is that you like your own space then make sure to communicate that to your new travel buddy.

Plan your time together in chunks

I recommend against planning extended time together. Once you’ve figured out that you have some similar travel plans, I suggest tentatively booking only a few days in advance. Our feelings towards people change as we get to know them and that’s fine, but it’s worth keeping in mind.

Remaining flexible and not booking accommodation and travel too far ahead can help you avoid feeling trapped with your travel buddy if you need space or your feelings about them change.

Photo by Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar / CC BY

Maintain your level of security

One of the benefits of setting out with a temporary travel partner is sharing the cost of accommodation. If you would usually stay in a dorm bed you might be able to share a private room instead for a similar or slightly higher cost.

This means that where before you might have had your own locker you will have to trust this person with all your valuables. As you travel together you will start to gain each other’s trust, but make sure to keep your things safe, ultimately they are your responsibility.

Keep up the communication

After being on the road together a while it could be a good idea to have a chat and make sure your travel plans are still what you both want. Bring up anything that you think you want to hear as a travel partner.

Not getting along so great?

Know when to call it quits

There could be many signs that it’s time to part ways:

• you’re no longer enjoying each other’s company;

• you’re headed in different directions; or

• if your travel plans or goals are not quite aligned

Having this conversation with your travel buddy can be difficult, but the key is to be respectful and honest. Don’t take the easy way out and leave them with a lot of maybes. “Maybe we can meet up in this town” or “Maybe we can do this together in a couple of days”. Just let them know that you’re ready to move on and you’ve enjoyed the time you have had together. Keep it simple and try to give them enough notice so they can make other plans.

Note: If the reason you want to head off solo is because the other person is just not a great mate for you then no need to tell them all the reasons why!

Make the most of your time together!

This is the fun part. It can be great having another person to share special experiences with and to talk through the events of the day.

While you are together make sure to also take advantage of having another person to help you with all those little things that could get annoying when you’re solo. No longer do you need to take your backpack into the gross toilet at the bus station. No more awkward selfies at important monuments. No more solo surcharges on tours or getting knocked back because there’s only one of you.

Summary

Travelling on your own is great and I would never have it any other way, but when you find someone you enjoy spending time with and getting to know, that also  happens to have similar plans as you, rejoice! This could be just the break you need from being on your own.

Do you have anything to add? Ever met up with someone new on the road and figured out too late that they were not the right fit for you? What are some other advantages of finding a temporary travel buddy on the road?

How to Budget and Save for Your Trip

When I made the decision to head off on a long-term trip I had to first work out how much it was likely to cost me, how much I wanted to save and if I was willing to work on the road. Once I knew what my saving goal was I then set out to work out achievable ways to get there.

This outline might not be relevant for everybody as I do confess to having quite an indulgent lifestyle. These costs are also all in Australian dollars and you might not be aware but us Aussies get charged way too much for things.

Step 1: Cut out the small things 

My very first step was to identify what spending I could cut-out of my life without drastically changing my lifestyle. Here are some examples of what I found in my own life that I could do without or have less of:

• Spotify subscription $9.99 pm

• Other subscription services (online magazines etc.) - $15 pm

• Daily coffee $4 pd

• Daily lunches $8 pd average

• Occasional breakfasts - $15 pw

• Drinking during the week (unless it’s for an occasion) - $30 pw average

Total saving - $444.99 per month!!

Basically, I started cooking more at home so I could have delicious left overs for work, switching to yummy flavoured tea instead of suffering the office's instant coffee and finding free alternatives to paid subscriptions.

What about the big stuff?

Everyone has different goals. If you're like me and travel is a major goal you could consider making some bigger changes to your lifestyle. Consider getting some financial advice and seeing where you could adopt an alternative lifestyle to start putting money away for a big trip or even many small ones.

To provide further context on my personal situation, I had  already gotten rid of my car when I first started travelling ten years ago and rent instead of owning. Where I live in Australia, I could save a lot more money by renting an apartment than paying a mortgage. When considering home owner costs like insurance, rates and body corporate fees I decided to put the amount that I saved every month directly into a savings fund specifically for travel that I never touch.

Likewise with car ownership, as a depreciating asset that only costs you more money to maintain, I opted to become one of the few of my friends who waked, biked or used public transport. The important thing is to consciously make the decision to take the hundreds that you would save from these major expenses and put them away.

Step 2: Be more mindful about casual spending

I wasn’t super frugal but I did make an effort to really think about whether I needed the “nice-to-have” items that I encountered during the day.

If my friends were having delicious bubble tea, did I have to have one? Could I just sip on my water bottle?

Do I really need that chewing gum? The answer could be yes if I cooked the night before as I am pretty heavy handed with the garlic.

Do I actually need 3 glasses of wine with dinner or could I be happy with just one?

I’m also a big reader and instead of picking up a new book anytime someone recommended one to me, I put out a call to my friends to lend me any they thought I would like.

More often than not it was pretty easy to abstain if you give yourself some guides to measure against. Here were some of mine:

• Two lunches = one night in a hostel in Antigua, Guatemala

• A bubble tea =  Dinner out

• Two glasses of wine = A one hour horse ride in the Nicaraguan countryside

two glasses of wine or a ride on this beautiful girl? I know which i would choose!

Step 3: No more Shopping

The lifestyle I had grown accustomed to saw me buying what ever caught my fancy. I loved “sales” and quickly accumulated a wardrobe filled with more clothes than I could ever need. Once I made the decision that I was going to be travelling long term, I enforced a “No New Stuff” rule.

That meant:

• No clothes;

• No jewellery;

• No shoes;

• No house stuff; and

• No electronics (unless I would be taking it with me).

To be perfectly honest, it started to feel very liberating. I realised I was under the control of big corporate marketing, getting excited every time I got a sale email or spotted a 2 for 1 deal and by allowing myself to step outside of that space, I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.

I no longer needed to think about whether I should buy something new to go to a friend's wedding or if I should replace my ailing frying pan. Buying something new was no longer an option, I just had to make do.

Summary

These are just some of the things that worked for me. I do know that I could have made some more drastic changes to save much more money but for me it was important to find a balance. I started planning for my trip a year out and I knew that if I made too big of a change I would just be miserable for a year.

I could have moved in with my parents, who live 40 minutes away from the city and my work, but I would not have been able to see my friends as much or as easily and I wouldn’t have the privacy that I am used to.

I could have also eliminated more socialising from my life but again I didn’t want to treat that year as a waiting period. A whole year in my life that I was just wishing away waiting for it to be over so I could start travelling.

I hope that these points at least give you some ideas to help you with your own saving goals. Check out this guide on saving money while traveling for tips once you've bought your ticket and have headed off!

• Create a budget and be aware of where your money is going.

• Start looking for the small things in your life you can stop paying for.

• Look for cheaper transport alternatives, could you ride a bike or walk instead of public transport?

• Have a clear idea in your mind how much certain things will cost when you’re on your trip to help make quick decisions about casual spending.

• Unsubscribe from all email marketing lists (unless it’s travel related of course).

Isn't this worth all the sacrifice?