Backpackers

By Robert Van SoolingenHoi An, a small city in the province of Quang Nam, is one of the more popular tourist destinations in Vietnam. Unsurprisingly, one can find a plethora of hostels, guesthouses, beds-and-breakfasts, and other inexpensive lodgings there.A room at one of these establishments often does not exceed USD50 a night. To be sure, there exist hotels in Hoi An that charge higher room rates. But these are luxury hotels and many backpackers and budget travelers aren't quite willing to spend all that much for a place which they will use essentially just for sleeping.Having said that, many budget hotels in Hoi An do offer more than just the basic amenities and services to attract guests and to make each stay a pleasant and comfortable one. One will be pleasantly surprised to find t

Since I reside in the Metro Manila area, there is no need for me to stay at backpackers accommodation in Manila. But I do get queries about cheap accommodation. So I checked out the backpackers haven of Manila which is in Malate to find out where backpackers can stay. Here are some of them:Friendly's GuesthouseOne of the more popular backpackers accommodation in the Malate area. They have fan dormitory rooms at PHP290 per person and AC dorm rooms at PHP340 per person. Fan rooms with shared bath start at PHP450. AC rooms with common bath start at PHP800 a night. While AC rooms with private bath start at PHP900 a night.1750 M. Adriatico corner Nakpil Streets, Malate, Manila+63 917 3331418Malate PensionneIt's in the same complex as Portico Restaurant. You can't miss it since there is a Starbu

Guilin is the perfect getaway for nature lovers who want to escape from the noisy and bustling cities to explore one of China's most beautiful cities. Considered as the pearl which showcases China's scenic beauty, Guilin cannot be compared to other cities because it is a complete destination with everything a tourist wants to see from green mountains and plateaus, to crystal clear waters, unique caves and magnificent landscape. Being that Guilin is a well developed tourist center with convenient forms of transportation, the most common tourist activity in Guilin is moving around through the hills and plains appreciating the beauty of this countryside. During the peak tourist seasons, the climate of Guilin is usually around 20°C and 30°C which allows for a perfect weather for sightseeing.

I love hearing travel adventures from backpackers and love to see the photos of the places they explored and people that they met. But one thing that irks me is that they often leave themselves out of the shot! It’s understandable for the most part since they’re the ones taking the photo. Not everyone has the [...]

You read that right, chief. If that doesn’t want to make you start packing your bag, I don’t know what will =)! How did we arrive to that number? A running poll on TravelPunk.com revealed some interesting and thought-provoking results about our adventurous and fearless TravelPUNK backpackers and student travelers. However, because statistics mean nothing [...]

You’re packed and ready to go, prepared for every conceivable travel scenario. You have malaria and stomach tablets, enough DEET to eradicate the Panamanian mosquito population, and more waterproof gear than an Alaskan king crab fisherman. Yet lo and behold, you’re in country no more than six hours before being invited out to a popping new night club and realizing you have absolutely nothing to wear. No sexy dress, no dazzling disco shirt - just chunky hiking boots or ratty flip flops and a pair of zip-up pants to go with your bland Patagonia fleece. In my last two years as a tour leader in Latin America, this is a situation I’ve encountered an incalculable number of times. Travelers around the world love to go out, and there is no better place to meet a local or mix with other vagabonds than in a bar or club. Even if you’re planning a culturally rich, ecologically sound trip, you will invariably end up at a night club more often than expected. Nightlife

Whilst on the road I’m constantly amazed at how few backpackers carry a first aid kit. Maybe it’s simply overlooked, maybe it’s not deemed necessary and sacrificed during the quest to attain a lighter backpack, or maybe it’s dismissed on a cost basis alone. I don’t know the exact reason, but what I do know is that a first aid kit can be worth its weight in gold - at worst it can provide piece of mind and at best could even avert a trip ruining calamity. What follows below is a quick guide to knocking up your own tailor made DIY backpacking first aid kit – it’s small, light, cheap and, most importantly, for its size it’s bloody effective. (more…) Related Posts

Great news for U.S. backpackers looking for work in Australia, via Concierge.com: If you or someone you know is hoping to pick up some casual work while backpacking around Australia, there’s good news: A new agreement between Australia and the U.S. will let Americans do just that. When I backpacked around Oz back in 2001, I ran into hundreds of Brits, Canadians, and Kiwis who were working their way around the continent. Americans who wanted to do the same had to pay more and work less. Now, the same rights that have been granted to British Commonwealth citizens are being extended to us Americans. The visa will be available, starting October 31, to Americans between the ages of 18 and 30. It will allow holders to travel in Australia for up to a year and work for one employer for up to six months. I’ll be over the hill 30 by the time I find my way to Australia, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Fiji forums: Young, but not backpackers in Fiji, South Pacific - TripAdvisor"If the bar/nightclub issue is not important, I'd recommend Matava Resort on the island of Kadavu.It is terrific, and you will get a great island/rustic experience.They have great thatched bures with ocean views, and lots of wonderful activities.No bars, no nightclubs, not even roads that lead around the island, but a true, genuine experience."Fiji forums: Young, but not backpackers in Fiji, South Pacific - TripAdvisor

Record numbers of backpackers received an Australian working holiday visa in the past year, according to new figures released by the Department of Immigration. In the nine months to March, 102,966 backpackers successfully applied for the visa. This is up 15 per cent from the same period in the previous year. The Department of Immigration is predicting the new year will also be a record one, with 130,000 visas to be granted, up from a total of 111,973 this year.

I spent my first long term backpacking trip making backpacker mistakes that seem all too obvious in retrospect. Yet judging by many other travelers I’ve met on the road, I wasn’t the only one learning the hard way. Now that I’m older and wiser (ok, just older) I’ve learned the error of my ways and feel the need to pass on some sage advice. These 5 mistakes may seem like pretty basic stuff but can make a huge difference in the quality of your trip. 1. Packing Too Much You’ve probably heard of this timeless packing advice: take half the stuff you need and twice the money. I’m not sure how realistic that is to double your hard-earned money on the spot, but keeping your backpack light is a good idea. Ditching extra clothes, guidebooks and the kitchen sink are a good start. You can always buy anything essential. While carrying around a huge, heavy load everywhere is bad enough, stressing out about new and exciting ways to cram things into non-existent spaces in yo

They say you've never been to Europe, unless you've been to London. The largest and most populous city in the European Union, London is both a vast, urbanized metropolis and a city rich in heritage sites, among them Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower Bridge. London is the capital city of the United Kingdom, the country that gave birth to such legends as the Beatles, Charles Dickens, and William Shakespeare.London's Bridge to the WorldLondon is both a historical and business hub, so it comes as no surprise that the city plays host to millions of visitors each year. In fact, London is almost never without tourists. Travelers from different points of the globe pay homage to this magnificent city all year round. While the elite indulge in luxurious accommodations in London's many posh hotels, backpackers and students frequent very cheap hotels in London, also known as hostels. And because backpackers and serious travelers make up the bulk of the city's

You’ve just arrived in a new town, beach, or city after a grueling number of hours on a bus or airplane. You dump your bags at your hostel, still sweaty with the heat and exertion. What’s the first thing you do? Check the internet. Okay what’s the second thing you do? Head to the beach, park, or just about anywhere with the room to stretch out your aching muscles and ease your turbulent worries. Recently, while in Nosara, Costa Rica on my honeymoon, my wife and I stayed at the amazing Harmony Hotel, which also happened to have The Healing Centre next door - a place of relaxation, yoga, and massages. There we met yoga instructor Josie Bennett, who was kind enough to come up with this short stretching routine that you can learn and practice just about anywhere. Enjoy! Simple Beach Yoga with Jose Bennett (Note: click the “print” icon at the top of this article to print this out and take it with you on your trip!) 1. Deep Breath First take a deep bre

Recently, I was asked to run a profile on www.thisnext.com’s Summer Getaway Guide, and give some recommends for backpackery type items that would come in handy on the road. Since I’m such a good egg, I agreed. And no, of course the chance of gaining a bit of extra publicity for Ubertramp.com didn’t even enter [...]

If you’re going to be in Melbourne in the next couple of days, head on to the Royal Exhibition Building at the Carlton Gardens for the 12th Adventure Travel & Backpackers Expo. The Expo is the fun and festive way to find out where to go for the time of your life -around Australia and overseas, the best, friendliest places to stay, what to do, how to get there and how to get jobs. Whether you enjoy adrenaline-charged super activities or quietly experiencing the indigenous cultures of remote tribes, night-life festivities or the art galleries of the world, don’t miss your annual opportunity to cut through the information overload and get personal answers to your interests from nearly 200 exhibitors. The expo will be on February 23 - 25, 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is $5.00. Technorati Tags: Melbourne, Adventure Travel, Backpackers Expo