Travel/Backpacking info websites

[arc123]

Bit of a long shot this..... but anyway....

I found a very good website with lots of independent travel/backpacking info. All sorts of guidance on RTW tickets, detailed accounts of lots of countries (a lot of countries that don't often appear on the tourist trail ie pakistan/iran). Best feature (and the reason why i'm trying to locate this site) is that it had an estimated cost calculator, where you could enter the amount of weeks you were planning on spending in each country, and it would calculate the estimated costs for you.

Know its a long shot, but are there any experienced travellers here that know of this site, or anything similar?? Cannot believe I didn't bookmark it when I found it!

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Andy

[Sudoxe]

You could try www.bootsnall.com ?

Dan

[Kinvig]

I've been getting my travel info from the fco.gov.uk & the http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/

Where/when you going? Got your visas sorted out?

[arc123]

Thanks for the links - not the site I found (which was excellent) but both look pretty good so will give them a go.....

I have nothing sorted! Just been thinking about doing some travelling for a while. I fancy starting in India/Pakistan/Nepal/Syria/Iran before moving on to the more travelled routes of Thailand/Cambodia/Vietnam then Aus/NZ etc.

I almost went travelling when I finshed uni 8 years ago, and got sucked into a career that I have never been enthralled with.

I'm looking for a big change really - looked at moving abroad to work (but that would be in the career I don't really like!). So thinking about saving up as much as I can and trying to explore for 12 months or so.....

Are you going away then Kinvig?

[Kinvig]

You'll need to start factoring your visa requirements. Some of the countries will need a Letter of Invitation.

Iran will be an interesting one to get - I was speaking to the couriers this morning that do visas (the guys tha are always in front of you athte embassy with 50 passports!) & they say that the Iranian visa requires som patience.

I've got a russian multi-entry visa which required the LOI, i cost me ?250 all told. A double entry Kaz one cost ?60 incl LOI (available from Stantours, speak to David). Single entry/tourist visas for 30 days are normally cheaper. Travel insurance is sometimes needed as are bank statements to prove credit worthiness (though this is normally only for business/multi-entry).

Check with the embassies (via their websites) whether you can get a visa in a neighbouring country or whether you have to get it in your country of residence before you go! It's cheaper in a neighbouring country.


I know exactly where you're coming from. I'm planning a trip at the moment (as you can surmise). More details on Friday 29th Feb.....!

[Kinvig]

...pm me for any info I may be able to help with.


...and check out the maps at stanfords online & covent garden.

...& first contact travel clinic for jabs (you get a free lolly with each jab!!!)

[pmapp]

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

Is what the missus sister used while planning her traveling.

[andywilson460]

Also don't forget TripAdvisor as it has one of the best travel communities online

[Wayluya]

Bit of a long shot this..... but anyway....

I found a very good website with lots of independent travel/backpacking info. All sorts of guidance on RTW tickets, detailed accounts of lots of countries (a lot of countries that don't often appear on the tourist trail ie pakistan/iran). Best feature (and the reason why i'm trying to locate this site) is that it had an estimated cost calculator, where you could enter the amount of weeks you were planning on spending in each country, and it would calculate the estimated costs for you.

Know its a long shot, but are there any experienced travellers here that know of this site, or anything similar?? Cannot believe I didn't bookmark it when I found it!

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Andy

Never heard of that site, but from past experiances of travelling around parts of the world for extended periods the answer on cost is really down to how much you want to spend/ your lifestyle. Not helpful I know, but......

3rd world is always cheaper than places like Europe or Oz and NZ - and IME the expensive part is........travelling!.....base yourself for a few weeks or pref a month or 2 and your expenses drop radically, better deals on accomadation / you get to hunt places down and find out what is cheap in "your" area, do not feel the need to do "everything" quickly (their is always tommorow!) and yer get the chance to develop some freindships or at least longer term acquaintances.....of course it means you travel /see less but I think everyone eventually gets tired of changing scenery and realises it's about the people you meet not the places you see........

I always travelled alone and the no.1 question I was always asked was "don't you get lonely?"......the answer was the opposite, I got tired of always meeting new people :p

I went travelling (outside Europe) a bit "later" as well - but never too late :cool:

[Richie]

Planning your travel, when I did it back in 1989 there was no internet to look at, all I did was get a RTW ticket and left... went where the wind took me.
Fantastic time.

[arc123]

Thanks all for you responses..... :)

Planning your travel, when I did it back in 1989 there was no internet to look at, all I did was get a RTW ticket and left... went where the wind took me.
Fantastic time.


Where did you go to then Richie??

Never heard of that site, but from past experiances of travelling around parts of the world for extended periods the answer on cost is really down to how much you want to spend/ your lifestyle. Not helpful I know, but......

This site just had a simple (yet approx) calculation - you could use a template of countries and how many weeks in each, and it factored in the approx cost of daily expenditure in each country (to include food/accomodation/travel, but not alcohol/ciggies and other 'unneccessary' costs etc). I'm really trying to get a rough idea of how much money I would need to do something like this so I can get some plans of timescales etc together....

I always travelled alone and the no.1 question I was always asked was "don't you get lonely?"......the answer was the opposite, I got tired of always meeting new people :razz:

I plan to go by myself so any experiences you can share would be great.

So wheres everyone been?? What were the best bits? The difficult bits??

I am actually open to anything - Looked at working abroad, volunteering abroad (in Sudan) and travelling. My hope is that some time away from my current life will give me a different and new perspective on life in general. So would love to hear any experiences people have had!

many Thanks

Andy :cool:

[Richie]

Flew to NY, then drove across America to LA, then flew to Hawaii, did the islands, then on to Austrailia, drove all of it over 7 months stayed in Townsvill for a month learning to scuba dive, bar work most of the time and fencing in the out back later. then on to NewZealand, bought a GS550es did the North Island then the South, bought a log cabin in the Remarkables cheeper than hostel over 4 months as sold it to some kiwi freinds I met in Oz, for learning to ski and then had a part time job working for AJ Hackett Bungee jumping. Got a little home sick then decided to come home back to good o'l Blighty.

I should have stayed in New Zealand... LOVED IT THERE.

[Wayluya]

Me also pre-internet. Bought a cheap RTW ticket for a year. Picked 1/2 a dozen destinations (Thailand / Singapore / Hong Kong - still British then! / NZ / LA / NY) and set off with no pre-planning or guide book. ended up putting Oz on my list for a few months. Had a great time - I was also going due to simply being fed up with "Here" - did it change anything? yes and no.....only thing yer can't run away from is yerself - a cliche that is true.

Loved NZ. but ended up in later years for long trips back in Thailand (go figure :p) and around about places - Asia just grabbed my imagination, plus being cheap as chips is always a big plus :p Lots of fun been had over the years, not all of which I can remember :smt109. or will admit to :D and even met me late wife on my travels :santa:

My suggestion would be to keep your plans as flexible as possible but still have a plan - can always come back later / another trip, and don't try and do too much, ie visit 7 countries instead of 27. IME the more time you spend in a place the better it becomes.

Top Tip - Unless you intend to go trekking, then buy a case with wheels on it. and not a classic back pack top opener - soon get tired of everything you want always being 3 foot down at the bottom :mad:. Hard case saves a lot of worrying about theft. and you don't have to worry about it sitting in wet / dirt and makes a good seat........Samsonite :p

I am half tempted to make my next trip this summer either on the SV650 (or by car!) down to the Black Sea area......I am more into boats nowadays than bikes (Heresy I know!) and have an intention at some point to sail off into the sunset and the Black sea seems to have captured my imagination and before I sail their I figure worth having a look see first :smt045

Have fun!

[Kinvig]

Top Tip - Unless you intend to go trekking, then buy a case with wheels on it. and not a classic back pack top opener - soon get tired of everything you want always being 3 foot down at the bottom :mad:. Hard case saves a lot of worrying about theft. and you don't have to worry about it sitting in wet / dirt and makes a good seat........Samsonite :p


Pelican Cases are pretty robust. Thinking of swapping over my topbox for one.....