Advice from others who've gone Articles
October 19, 2005
Booking Hostels in Advance
Travelers often ask if they should book their hostels in advance. The advantage of having a reservation is just that - you know you're guaranteed a spot to lay your head (that isn't a train station bench). However, you often have to pay deposit fees and are not assured of a refund if you can't fulfill your reservation. This includes a missed train or flight, a change in opinion about where you want to stay or because you decided to spend an extra day hopping around all the cool sites.
There are some times when its better to be safe and sorry and plan to book in advance - just hope your plans don't change!
Major holidays: Think holidays where people travel, like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Independence Days and other location holidays. Looking for hostel Sydney Australia based around the New Year, for example, will leave you without a place to crash - or a very high credit card bill.
Events: Heading to a city for a cool convention or nifty event. Awesome! Just keep in mind, if you're doing it, chances are a lot of other people are too....and they're all going to need a place to sleep. Do yourself a favor and book far in advance if you plan on staying anywhere remotely close to the action.
Weekends in Major Cities in the Summer: Lots of people take extended weekend trips, especially when the weather is nice. Although it may seem that there are an unlimited number of Paris hostels during Tuesdays in January, you realize how they can all afford to stay in business on a Saturday evening in July.
September 16, 2005
Back Home...
So I'm home now, and it feels weird. It's strange to hear all these American voices (although in my neighborhood, I hear a lot of Spanish, Polish, Chinese, other languages and accents), to hear English spoken so freely, to wash dishes and cook food and grocery shop and scoop my cat's litter. I miss traveling. Sure, I'm glad to be wearing a clean outfit that I haven't worn a million times over the past three and a half months, but I miss everything being in my backpack. Going through brochures and postcards and boxes of stuff, I'm aware of how much I own and how I prefer having everything in a backpack. So where I am to go from here?
Continue reading... | by Cherie | # | Comments (0)
Traveling Off Season
The high season in Greece ends August 31. We arrived September 2, and have saved heaps of money by arriving...Continue reading... | by Cherie | # | Comments (0)
Goodbye...To My Solo Adventures
So this is my last night traveling alone as a backpacker (except my one night stopover in London)--tomorrow I meet...Continue reading... | by Cherie | # | Comments (1)
Security on the road...specifically, theives
I have been nervous about my stuff lately. Knock on wood, I have the most important things. However, in Madrid...Continue reading... | by Cherie | # | Comments (0)
Phone cards
I really miss my boyfriend, and of course, my family. However, with the pain that phone cards are, I barely...Continue reading... | by Cherie | # | Comments (0)
stages of travel
Ya know, when I started this trip two months ago I thought I had SO MUCH time. I was actually...Continue reading... | by Julie Dunn | # | Comments (0)
maps
If you plan on being someplace for more than a handful of days, splurge on a pocket map if a...Continue reading... | by Cherie | # | Comments (0)
how to lose some weight--for real!
i left reykjavik yesterday but let me tell you, that city was so expensive i would walk everywhere as opposed...Continue reading... | by Cherie | # | Comments (0)
itīs impossible to fight jetlag
I was determined to not have jetlag, but was unable to avoid it. I read articles and books on avoiding...Continue reading... | by Cherie | # | Comments (0)
How to prepare for a long trip: the research process
Im a librarian, and if I even wonder something, I usually find a reliable website or good book to answer...Continue reading... | by Cherie | # | Comments (0)
Sleeping Gear?
I can't decide between a hostel sleeping sack or a sleeping bag. I've found a great Kelty Aspen +30 Bag...Continue reading... | by LiveNomadic | # | Comments (0)
Can cybercafes be used as a digital picture upload station?
LiveNomadic plans to do loads of digital shooting, but his digital camera storage is pretty limited. Can he upload at...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (1)
The lost art of hand-washing clothes
Chris Albon has been giving me a lot of feedback on my packing list. He had noted to hand-wash my...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (3)
Feedback & Thoughts on first draft of Europe packing list
The packing list saga continues......Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (3)
Europe Travel Tips from Neville Millen, II
Neville Millen with some more tips on knowing where you're going, annoying cell phone people, packing and more:...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (1)
Europe Travel Tips from Neville Millen
Neville Millen has been working up a travelogue on his 2-month trip: Tour of Duty: An art pilgrimage in southern...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
Venice & Island of Burano: Italy tips from Sylvia
BootsnAll writer Sylvia Seschel has traveled Italy a fair bit. She was back there recently, and she has some advice...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
Things to do in Portugal: Belem, Lisbon, Portuguese cuisine
Fred Perry writes the Portugal Travel Guide for BootsnAll. He just sent along a couple of pointers for when I'm...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
Americans Visiting Paris: What to Expect
Given the current climate, Americans might wonder what they can expect on a visit to Paris at the moment. Chris...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
Some street scams in Barcelona, Spain
Some street scams in Barcelona, Spain...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (4)
Lonely Planet Europe on a Shoestring
Lonely Planet Europe on a Shoestring, 3rd editon, 2003 - at Amazon.com » Is it truly dead weight if you...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (7)
International driving licence
If you're driving in Western Europe without an IDL, will you get fined if you're caught? Rob wants to know:...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (4)
Turkey: How Safe is Istanbul?
Eko is a new BootBoards member from Turkey. With the war and traveler worries and such, he has some insight...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (2)
Digital camera suggestions & possibilities
Ever since this post on Internet Cafes and downloading pics off a CD, I've been chatting with various travelers out...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (4)
Pacsafe: Park and lock it. Not responsible.
The PacSafe gets a lot of discussion, and a fair bit of "love it or hate it". Joe E throws...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
How to sleep sans seatmates
Trying to bed down for a nap, but without those blasted seat- and compartment-mates?...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
Book Review: Paris Revisited: The Guide for the Return Traveler, by Gary Lee Kraut
Paris Revisited: The Guide for the Return Traveler, by Gary Lee Kraut - at Amazon.com » "A new look at...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (1)
digital camera batteries
What's the best way to power your digital camera when on the road? digi cam batteries...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (1)
Internet Cafes and downloading pics off a CD
The lads and I are wrestling with this same question. I'll have a digital camera with me, and we are...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (7)
Short-term work in Europe: "investigate the gray market"
The hard part about working in Europe, as far as E. is concerned, has nothing to with finding work, but...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (1)
Digital Camera vs. Film Camera for the traveller
The debate on digital vs film continues, with some great arguments in favor of both coming in on the BootBoards:...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
Is 4 to 6 months trip to Europe with Eurail too short?
Hmmm... 4-6 months... sounds familiar... Now this is a good question! Is 4 to 6 months trip to Europe with...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
Most blatant tourist rip off?
Philip Blazdell asks: where on this wonderful world have you been ripped off the most? Especially check out what Nikos...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (1)
Europe Railpasses - are they worth it?
Some love 'em, some hate 'em - but it all seems to come back to what you need for your...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
Switzerland travel questions from me to Aoife
Switzerland is one that I've still been a bit unclear on. In my rough itinerary we slotted in Zurich, Bern...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (2)
Getting fishy in Hamburg
Tip from Aoife: "Don't miss the fish market in Hamburg - opens at 5am satudays and sundays - it's a...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
Lausanne as a good base for Swiss exploring
Tip from Aoife: "Lausanne is a good base for seeing cities like Bern and Fribourg or exploring the wine regions...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
Ouchy Beer festival
12-15 June, 2003: I won't be there for it, but check the Ouchy Beer festival for your own Europe trip....Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
Bugger Cardiff for Hay-on-Wye?
I'm on the phone with Joe E. We've been gabbing about travel gear, including the DreamSack, and then we got...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (5)
Dreamsack: silk sheet for hostel sleep?
Who out there has used a DreamSack, or some similar sleepsheet, before? I need to know......Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (3)
Buying travel gear & clothes: 10 essential items with entirely different budgets
Joe E takes the budgets and plans of Nick and Ant — no relation to us BootBoyz, really, no I...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
Talking About Shirts
Hmmm... maybe we can get Joe E to veedub up to Oregon and help me pack. I'd been wondering for...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
I wish I had a picture to show you, but I don't
Over on the Travel Gear Blog, Joe E talks about the cameras he's owned over the years, and how things...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
Travel Gear Blog
BootsnAll member Joe E is the man. You want to know about travel gear, and what to consider when packing...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
Banking on the road?
Great discussion on taking care of cash, traveler cheques, credit cards, etc on the road, from Europe to anywhere else:...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
Your favorite hostel in Amsterdam? - from the BootBoards
To help with that hosteling decision—and what have your experiences been like? Your favorite hostel in amsterdam?...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
Ossuary of Sedlec, bone church in Kutna Hora, Czech Republic
Another dispatch from Philip: there is that famous bone church just outside Prague... that would be cool to go to......Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (2)
Philip Blazdell on worthwhile cities
Philip's been all around Europe (amongst other places), and he gave his take on some of the cities we're kicking...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (3)
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Contiki's European Adventurer Tour
Jacob Kuriakose's site on his Europe adventure will have you pondering the differences between Eurail and Contiki travel:...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
Philip Blazdell requests your presence in England
Philip Blazdell has written at least 70 articles for BootsnAll (here's one of his latest stories), and he's one of...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (2)
Using an Alpha Smart 3000 while traveling in Europe
Originally Alpha Smarts were engineered for the classroom. Writers found out about them though, where they caught on big. Businessmen...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
No guidebooks, just the BootsnAll Community
Reading email, hitting the boards, blogging, reading the articles on BootsnAll — we've heard the stories. We've seen and heard...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (6)
London - Edinburgh (return) via National Express Coach
Anyone NatEx'ed it from London to Edinburgh? Want to? Should you? London - Edinburgh (return) via Coach...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (2)
Cortona, Tuscany: Italy travel tip
Northern Italy tip from Claudia: "How far south are you heading in Italy? I'm sure everyone and their monkey is...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (10)
Americans travelling during and after Iraqi war
Timely chat, even for ppl going to places like Europe. You might be surprised at how Yanks are received abroad...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
Digital Cameras & Internet Cafes
Ask your friendly BootsnAll message boards, and ye shall receive... the guys and I have been mulling this over for...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (0)
A day in Athens, a night on the Ouzo
Maryann Lekas on Athens, ruins, and cab drivers (note to self, tell Maryann how much I like ouzo...):...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (1)
Greece's Santorini sunset
Maryann Lekas is living in Athens and gave some cool tips:...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (1)
Italy expert: David @ Perugino
Once again the baristas at Perugino, my fave coffee shop, come to my rescue....Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (1)
Napflio, Greece: Getting out of Athens
From my friend Taylor Jane, who spent quite some months in Europe a couple years back:...Continue reading... | by Ant | # | Comments (1)
