1. travel

Budget Travel:
Around the World on a Shoestring
Randy Ross, publisher,
RossTravels.com
Why Am I Here?
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Publish site for firsttime world travelers.
Tips/Advice blogger for
TravelBeat.net
Circulating novel to
agents based on trip
around the world.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Why Are You Here?
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Curiosity?
Ready to plan a trip?
Reasons to travel:
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“Laid off with severance.”
“Cheaper to ride out
recession overseas.”
“Relatives bet I wouldn’t
last 2 weeks abroad.”
“Fiancé dumped me and
parents moved to Spain.”
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Format for Tonight
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6:00 to 7:20: Presentation.
Questions on material I presented welcome.
7:30 to 7:40 break
7:40 to 8:40 Presentation and related
questions.
8:40 any remaining questions.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Assumptions
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“Independent Traveler” Not
looking for prepackaged tour.
Want to do what you want,
when you want.
Traveling on a budget.
Starting to plan three to four
months before trip.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Four Steps for Extended Trips
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I) Destinations: 3 to 4 months out.
II) Transportation: flight 6 to 8 weeks out.
III) Accommodations: 6 weeks out.
IV) Pre-trip Preparations: 6 weeks out.
All urls and resources are on my Web site -see sign-up sheet.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Step I: Destinations (3 months out)
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Interests?
Length of Trip?
Budget?
Solo travel?
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Interests
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Sight-seeing.
Exotic food, culture.
Partying.
Beach or mountains.
Sports or activities.
No idea? Try Rough
Guide “First Time
Around the World.”
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Sight-Seeing
World Heritage Sites.
z Unofficial Web site:
worldheritagesite.org
z Lists 878 lakes,
mountains, temples,
monuments, etc.
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Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Parties and Festivals
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Rough Guide
sort-able
calendar
worldparty.rough
guides.com/
Druggy raves to
wine-tastings to
nudity events.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Sports
Riverboarding
www.riverboarding.co.nz
z Bungy
www.ajhackett.com
www.faceadrenalin.com
z Windsurfing
www.velawindsurf.com
www.club-mistral.com/en
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Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Sample page
from “First Time
Around the World”
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
A Word About Guide Books
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(Read: “Do Travel Writers
Go to Hell”)
Best I
found.
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A New
version
Feb 2010
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New
312
pages
Outdated/Inaccurate
Heavy (almost 1lb)
Expensive. ($11 - $20)
Too much info
Not tailored to U.S.
Borrow them:
– Library, other travelers.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
My Preliminary Destination List
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Windsurfing: Google search found
velawindsurf.com (Brazil, Greece, Egypt).
Sports: New Zealand.
Cousin at game reserve in South Africa.
I liked “Apocalypse Now.” (Vietnam, Laos)
Asian architecture: Cambodia, Myanmar
Partying: Beaches of Thailand.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Destinations: Safety
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State Department
International Herald
Tribune
BBC News
Oriental Expat (Asia,
Thailand)
Thorn Tree Travel
Forum (Lonely
Planet)
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Current Warning for Thailand
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Country-Specific Info
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Length of Trip
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At least two weeks
in a location.
Three weeks is
better.
Don’t cram too
much.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Budget: Destination vs Cost
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500K
Vietnamese
Dong $26
50 S. African
Rand $6
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Developing World is
cheaper. (Asia, Africa,
China, India, even
South America)
Hanoi: dorm, food, beer
$18/day, $125 week,
$6.5k a year.
Melbourne: $55/day
$385/week, $20k/yr
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Budget: Accommodations vs Cost
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$500 a night (Hoi An beach, Vietnam)
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Budget: Accommodations vs Cost
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$11 a night dorm room, Storms River, South Africa
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
4-Month Budget: Lower End
Third World
Airfare and insurance
Dorm room
Food/ day: 2 meals and
beers from street stall.
20 percent contingency for
travel, activities, etc.
Total
SE Asia, India, China,
parts of Africa
$3k to 3.5k
$10/night (120 days)
$10/day (120 days) ($5/
meal)
$1500
About $7,500
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
4-Month Budget: Mid-Range
First, Second, Third World
*Airfare and insurance
*Rooms: singles/dorms.
*2 meals and beers from
cheap establishment.
20 percent contingency for
travel, activities, etc.
Total:
New Zealand, Venezuela,
SE Asia
$3.5k to $5k
Avg: $30/night (120 days)
Avg: $15/day (120 days)
($7/ meal)
$2000
$12,500
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Fine Tune Your Itinerary: Season
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Europe: July/August
crowded/pricey.
South East Asia:
Monsoons June to Oct.
Southern Hemisphere:
(South Africa, Australia,
New Zealand). Our
winter is their summer
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Good Deals Right Now
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Less Developed
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Thailand (deals once
political climate settles.)
More Developed
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Euro Countries ($1.23),
Ireland, Hungary, U.K.,
Australian ($.85),
NZ.($.67)
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Traveling Solo: Do it!
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Pros:
– Do what you want,
when you want.
– Meet more people;
lose fewer friends.
– Hard to find
someone else with
same time off.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Traveling Solo: Do it!
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Cons:
– Will get lonely.
– Women need to be a little more careful.
– Single supplements.
But:
– I met plenty of men and women ranging
from 20 to 70 who were traveling alone.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Paperwork: Passports ASAP
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Go to Post Office
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First passport,
Old passport was lost,
damaged. Issued when
under 16. (4 wks $100, 2
wks: $160)
Mail to renew
(4wks/2wks)
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877-487-2778,
www.travel.state.gov
For travel in less than
14 days, Boston
passport service.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Paperwork: Visas ASAP
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Some countries let you
order online.
(Cambodia, Australia)
D.C. consulates may
want passport. If time
is tight, ask if you can
send Xerox.
Visa expediting a ripoff.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
More on Visas
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Photos: Fed Ex Kinkos
Not cheap: $12.95 for
two, $5.99 for extra
sets of two.
Bring extra photos for
visas overseas.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Step II: Transportation (2 Months Out)
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Have a rough list of destinations.
Travel in one continuous direction: Boston
across Atlantic or Boston to West Coast
across Pacific.
Zig-zagging from northern to southern
hemispheres can add to fare price.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Transportation Overview
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Handful of companies
specialize in multi-stop.
Kayak.com, Expedia,
difficult for complex,
multi-stop tickets.
Traveling overland or
by local transport to
saves money.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Airfare Strategies for Multi-Stops
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Buy tickets upfront:
Low stress, $$$
Find deal that’s close
enough: Low Stress,
$$
Buy ticket to one city
and travel. Not for
newbies, $
Get best price and
haggle with agent.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Where to Look for Deals
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airtreks.com
airbrokers.com
statravel.com
(Student? Office in
Boston.)
Only a few stops?
Kayak.com, etc.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Good for 6
months,
flexible.
Taxes?
Fees?
Pass vs. RT
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Kayak: BostonBangkok: 8/31-9/30
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Prices about $1200
RT
Check fees and
taxes
About 28 hours
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Deal #1: Interesting
Airtreks.com
$1399
$1399-to
$1825
$1825
Taxes:
$500. Any
other fees?
$2,400 three regions:
Asia, Middle East,
Europe.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Deal #2: Not So Good
Airtreks.com
Airfare to S.F.?
$1599 to
$2099
Tax:$600
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
More Deals: Airbrokers.com
-Note max length of trip.
-Add $150 for NYC departure.
-Compare to Kayak/Orbitz at $2139
- Taxes or fees? (Add $125 for Boston –take
Fung Wa bus and train to Kennedy? – plus $500
or so for taxes.)
- Interesting itinerary: Iceland, Moscow, South
East Asia, gateway to China. (Europe, Central
Asia, East Asia.)
-R/T Bangkok
to Boston
on Kayak.com
Randy
Ross, Publisher,
RossTravels.com
$1300
(includes taxes and fees). 26 hours, 2 stops.
Interesting but lots of hidden
charges:
-Old listing: add $200
-Taxes and fees: $400
-Baggage fees unknown
-Flight leaves from JFK?
-New total at least $2000
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
www.circletheplanet.com
Interesting: Middle
East, India, SE Asia
Site made me a
little nervous: No
“About Us” page,
got voice mail when
I called, unclear
about taxes and
fees.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
No Deals? Price Estimation Tools
Enter cities/pick from list.
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itinerary box.
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range – then click to
request quote.
z They tend to use lower
tier carriers.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Another Tool: www.oneworld.com
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Click tab in middle of
page for “Itinerary
Planner.
Click “Create New
Round-the-world…”
Price by number of
continents.
Expensive but uses big
name airlines.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Now Contact Travel Agents
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Get quotes from:
airtreks.com,
airbrokers.com, STA
Travel agents. (Star
Alliance, OneWorld.)
Play agent prices
against each other.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Questions to Ask Travel Agents
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Overnights in pricey
countries I can avoid?
Pre-book travel dates?
Penalties for change?
Names of airlines?
(United vs. Air
Afghanistan?)
Pay by credit card?
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What if airline cancels a
flight? (Bangkok, India)
Can I have 4 - 5 hours
between connections?
Can I get estimate in
writing with all fees?
Replace flights w/
overland/open jaw?
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Cost-Cutting: Airfare
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Open jaw: fly to one
country and out other.
Local transport/easy to
book.
Common routes: into
Bangkok out of
Singapore.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Open Jaw
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Fly into Bangkok
Fly out of
Singapore 5
weeks later.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Local Flights
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Web sites, Kayak.com, work from overseas.
Ask hostels, guest houses for best fares.
For SE Asia, www.airasia.com:
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One way Bangkok to Hanoi: $13
Best fare on Kayak.com: $204
Greece, Venez. – countries have local air.
Vietnam Air only option and not cheap.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Buses: Hop on, Hop Off
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Get on/off, like T-pass
(Baz 2wks = $271)
Stop at hostels, guest
houses.
Easy way to see S.
Africa, New Zealand.
Hanoi to Saigon: $32
by bus, $464 by plane.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Sample Hop On, Off Buses
Australia
Oz Bus
(Sydney/Cairns
New Zealand
20-day $461
www.ozexperience.com
Bruce Pass
Magic Bus 20-day min.
$587
www.magicbus.co.nz
Wayward Wanderer
Vietnam
(very rough!)
TNK-An
Phu “open
bus”
$32 Hanoi to http://www.tnktravelvi
Saigon
etnam.com/html/open
tour.htm
(3 months)
Vietnam
“sleeper
bus”
n/a
n/a
S. Africa
Baz Bus
21-day $376
www.bazbus.com
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Local Travel: Boats, Ferries
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Comfortable.
I took ferries in Greece,
Vietnam, Cambodia.
3-day, 2-night boat from
Saigon to Phnom Penh
for $47. (TSK Travel)
2-day to Halong Bay
Keep receipts handy!
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Cambodian-Style Tuk-Tuk
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Quick and Dirty Recommendations
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S. Africa: Baz Bus up
and down the coast.
SE Asia: Thailand,
Vietnam, Laos,
Cambodia, Malaysia by
land, boat, air.
New Zealand: Magic
Bus N. and S. Islands.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Travel Insurance
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Big name insurer –
Squaremouth.com
Get health – does yours
cover overseas?
Evacuation?
Get trip interruption, trip
cancellation.
Make sure covered for
whole trip.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Step III: Accommodations
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Lungile, Port Elizabeth, S. Africa.
Hostel: Not just for
kids.
Guest House: Not a
quaint Vermont B&B!
Homestay: with a
family. (Nice, France)
Multi-night discount?
Online booking: often
per person!
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
More on Accommodations
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A/C: usually extra, not
always available.
Quality: tough to tell
from books, travelers.
See room before
signing in.
Lie down on bed, check
a/c and reading lamp.
Inn Longstreet, S. Africa
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Lonely Planet Pick: The King
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“Elvis lives on in Phnom
Penh, in name at least! The
range of rooms is as wide as
the king's girth in the later
years of his life, and there is
a huge restaurant and a
travel centre downstairs.
Check out the handouts,
with a handy ticklist of what
all the rooms include.”
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Sample hostels and prices
in Athens, South Africa,
South East Asia, Australia,
and New Zealand.
City
Hostel
Room
price for
10/8/08
Athens
Dioskouros
double
$60
Cape Town
Inn Longstreet
double
$37
*Oudtshoorn
Backpackers' Paradise
double, priv bath
$42
*Storms River
Dijembe
queen, priv bath
$35
queen, priv bath
$40
double
$33
double <two
single beds>
$32
*Port Elizabeth Lungile Backpackers
*Wilderness
Most were booked
with hostelworld.com
Dorm rooms in Asia,
S. Africa about $10 a
night. Cheap room in
Australia $20-$35.
Fairy Knowe
*Plettenburg Bay Albergo
Bangkok
HI-Sukhumvit
single
$21
Hanoi
Hanoi Backpackers
double
$18
price for cheapest
my rating
dorm bed
Dumpy, but in nice part of town.
Mid-construction during my visit
(hopefully). Note on toilet: don't
$25
flush toilet paper -- a little scary.
But manager said it was ok.
Breakfast included.
A Lonely Planet author's pick,
but I thought it was a dump,
$12
noisy (my room across from the
bars. Noisy till 4:00 a.m.),
somewhat social. Web access.
Social, nice accommodations,
$8
bar.
Personal favorite. Set deep in
the woods, nice room with
$11
queen bed, like a little bungalo,
bar, very social.
Nice room, dumpy part of town,
near sad aquarium. I had a cold
the whole time, which didn't
$13
help. Good social scene, but
early 20's and younger (locals
would stop by to play pool.)
Nice location deep in the woods,
room had decent bed, shared
bathroom and shower were
$11
sketchy, not much social scene
when I was there.
Double room had two single
beds, instead of one large one; a
$11
waste of money. Good social
scene, bonfire every night, long,
but do-able walk to beach.
Dumpy, somewhat social; not
$8
near legendary Khaosan Road.
Very nice!, great social scene,
bar happy hour. Includes Web
$8
access, but it was almost
always in use.
Hoi An
An Phu (budget hotel)
single, priv bath
$30
n/a
Saigon
Red Sun Hotel (budget
hotel)
single, priv bath
$16
$9
** Phnom Penh Indochine II (budget hotel)
single, priv bath
$20
(online
price:
$27)
n/a
Melbourne
City Centre Budget Hotel
single NO A/C
$71
$35
Auckland
The Nomads Fat Camel
double
$55
$19
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
books travel?
?
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
?
yes
Very nice, had a small pool. I
negotiated and got "Superior"
(midrange) room for $20. But
advertising is misleading: claims
hotel is .5 miles from beach. It's yes
actually 2.4 miles. I believe hotel
is owned by same company that
ran bus company, which made it
easy to arrange bus transport.
Little flies in the room, checked
out after one night. Includes
breakfast and Web access.
Lonely Planet pick, one of my
favorites. Great location near
river, great staff, travel desk. My
room had no windows. Window
add $5. Hotel fills up fast. Rated
as a two star hotel, but it was
brand new and clean.
No a/c, checked out. Little
social activity. Includes Web
access.
Dumpy, room had no window;
great bar.
?
yes
yes, but not great -never mentioned OZ
bus.
yes
Accommodation Strategies
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Check options: guest houses, hostels See
www.hostelworld.com, www.hostels.com
Once you have flights, book at least first
night, I prefer two. (Can leave after one.)
Pre-book cheap hotel with travel agent and
cancel if you find something cheaper.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Ways to Cut Room/Board Costs
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Stick to Third World countries.
If traveling in First World, buy groceries.
Sleep in dorms instead of single (or rotate).
Work/barter – read fine print and fees
www.eslcafe.com, www.wwoof.org
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Recap: 6 to 8 Weeks Before Trip
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Once plane tix purchased
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Buy travel insurance.
Pre-book hostel for first night or two after red-eye.
Passport all set?
Visas?
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SE Asia: get them in Bangkok? (don’t need for Thailand)
S. America: Venezuela (no), Brazil (yes).
Western countries: Generally, no.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Step IV: Pre-Trip Prep
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Travel clinic.
Gear and clothes.
Money and security.
Care for your Boston apartment/home.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
The Travel Clinic
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Vaccines and visit
usually covered.
Clinics all around:
Mt. Auburn,
Deaconess.
Primary care will
refer you.
No fear!
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
More on Travel Clinic
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What to expect:
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Shots (I got 7 and had to
go back 3 times).
Blood drawing
Prescriptions for antimalarial pills.
Map of malarial zones.
Pamphlet that says not
to eat, drink, or leave
your hotel.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
What I Did in Dodgy Countries
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Drank only bottled water and beer. (No ice).
Brushed teeth with bottled water.
Kept mouth shut in shower.
Didn’t swim in fresh water or walk barefoot.
(Wore Tevas even on beach)
Ate anything and everything that was cooked
and hot. Bought food from street vendors.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Results
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Never got food
poisoning.
Didn’t meet anyone
who did.
Caught three colds, two
in Western countries,
one in Cambodia.
Tip: be careful on
mopeds.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Luggage: The Back Pack
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40 to 60 liters
(2400 to 3700
cubic inches).
Prices: $200+.
Test Drive: 30
lbs/15 mins
Pack at home to
check fit.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
The Day Pack
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Need a second small bag, or
day pack.
For long trips, use it for
items that you may need
immediately, such as
reading material, a
toothbrush, snacks.
On short sight-seeing forays,
pack water, maps, snacks,
and the like instead of
lugging your back pack.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Clothes
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Bring few as possible (multipurpose).
Quick-dry for hand washing. (camping).
Zip pockets for securing valuables.
Shop at camping stores:
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EMS
REI
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Clothes: Best Things I Bought
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REI Sahara Tech LongSleeve ($50)
Ex Officio Amphi Pant
(couldn’t find women’s
version)
Coolibar swim tights
(www.coolibar.com)
Wide-brim hat
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Packing Tips
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Like items in trash bags.
Airlines with strict weight
policies, splitinto two bags.
Use backpack cover
Put heavy, bulky items at
bottom of pack.
Leave guidebooks, jewelry,
items you can buy overseas
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Carry-On Weight Restrictions
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American/BA: 40 lbs +
Cathay/Qantas: 15 lbs
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Dress Code: Conservative
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No expensive jewelry,
watches.
Wear swim shorts or
the like for beach.
When visiting religious
sites and temples:
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no bare skin,tight
clothes.
No singlets, shorts,
dresses, skirts, tops with
low neck lines.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Money
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Local cash for cab to
first hotel.
Stash $100 bill in pack.
Money belt on plane
and airports.
Zip pockets.
Out and about: small
amounts of cash.
ATMs in most countries
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Top Travel Tips
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Long flights: 5 hours been transfers.
Bring bags on-board.
Split a big bag in two.
Center overhead bins are larger.
Late arrival? Ask hostel for airport pickup.
Pre-book first night in a new city.
Miss flight? Check monitors not ticket agents.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Misc: Laundry
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Most hostels have
laundry – long lines.
Wear clothes in
shower, soap, rinse,
hang to dry.
Handwash in sink, dry
outside.
Southeast Asia: cheap
to send out.
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com
Sign-Up Sheet
List of urls
z E-mail newsletter
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[email protected]
Randy Ross, Publisher, RossTravels.com