Top Tips For Travellers Please

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RTRsBM

RTRsBM

Striker
I've never travelled apart from European holidays and one jaunt to the U.S. to work as a student. But now I possibly have my first and only chance to travel further afield. I'd be looking at cheaper Far East places like Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam (seriously the Gary glitter jokes are not funny) and probably end up in Perth as I can stay there rent free with my sister.
I'm basically looking for any tips at all eg what kind of things are best to take clothes wise (I know I can't pack a bag etc), places to visit, do' and dont's when travelling cheaply. I'm going to read flavs blog for ideas but as this is likely to be my one big trip I'm wanting it to be the best it can.
I've got someone coming round to look at the house this morning with a view to renting it so hopefully things are falling I to place.
I'll be really grateful for any sensible advice and will probably bump the thread at times to get as much info as possible. Thanks in advance.
 


There are loads of website for travellers with advice on what to take etc. have a look through them. My advice is travel light. Don't take a huge bag and stuff it with everything including the kitchen sink. And wear decent shoes!
 
when you get to Perth can you ask your sister to return my SD card I don't want it falling into the wrong hands
 
RTRsBM said:
Long dong?
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Big head!

I haven't been to the Far East but having worked somewhere with a lot of international students I'd advise you to be careful yet receptive to the locals. They seem to have a different attitude than Westerners. They tend to be polite and humble and are almost naive in a nice way, i.e. they aren't as materialistic and don't want to get rat arsed at every opportunity. It might be different with some of the more wealthy areas but I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

You could start off with something like an organised/chaperoned trip say for a week or two and then branch off on your own when you are more confident.
 
Don't plan much and go for it. Pack next to nowt, you can buy stuff there for buttons.

Check the birds for male genitalia before parting with cash.

Sir Lancelot said:
There are loads of website for travellers with advice on what to take etc. have a look through them. My advice is travel light. Don't take a huge bag and stuff it with everything including the kitchen sink. And wear decent shoes!
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sensible shoes are a must.

Get into Raffles for a Singapore Sling with a decent pair of brogues.
 
Get a book (rough guide are better than lonely planet imo) and a flight and bugger off. Work out where/how to go when you get there.

Wear a money belt all the time and stash 50$ somewhere sneaky for emergencies.
 
decide what your budget is and treble it as that's what you'll spend and travel light as you can pick up anything on the way.
 
Watch Banged up abroad,ignore the amazing bits at the start and note what happens at the end

Done a bit on motobikes,dont over plan be flexible some places turn out to be crap some great,keep it simple ,most things can be bought except passport and cr card
 
Have a contingency fund if your tennant fucks off while you're away.

Seriously, you don't want to have to cut your holiday short because of it.

Take a 60ish litre rucksack and pack it with clothes and shoes plus a decent sleeping bag.

Do everything else on the fly, plan the first few weeks (where you want to be and for how long) and then leave the rest to fall into place.

There's some great hostels out there as well as some shit so choose carefully.

Have a working mobile phone.
 
RTRsBM said:
I've never travelled apart from European holidays and one jaunt to the U.S. to work as a student. But now I possibly have my first and only chance to travel further afield. I'd be looking at cheaper Far East places like Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam (seriously the Gary glitter jokes are not funny) and probably end up in Perth as I can stay there rent free with my sister.
I'm basically looking for any tips at all eg what kind of things are best to take clothes wise (I know I can't pack a bag etc), places to visit, do' and dont's when travelling cheaply. I'm going to read flavs blog for ideas but as this is likely to be my one big trip I'm wanting it to be the best it can.
I've got someone coming round to look at the house this morning with a view to renting it so hopefully things are falling I to place.
I'll be really grateful for any sensible advice and will probably bump the thread at times to get as much info as possible. Thanks in advance.
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Travel light. Costs pennies to get laundry done anywhere on the continent. Five days kecks, five days socks (you've be in flip flops mostly), five days t-shirts and a couple of pairs of shorts are essential. Joggers/light trousers and a light jacket are handy but not essential. Depends on the season though obviously.
Always ask for the taxi on meter, otherwise you will be ripped off. Meter ka/krap in Thailand.
Flying is as cheap as taking the train sometimes, use Skyscanner before booking any tickets and avoid using travel agents where possible. They're invariably gobshites who will charge you top whack to earn the best commission percentage.
Don't strap your shoes or trainers to your rucksack, feet and footwear are considered offensive in many Asian countries.
Avoid Changovers by drinking Chang Export. Much crisper than the sugary, albeit cheaper, regular and you're less likely to get snipered by the "average" volume, which ranges up to 10% if I'm not mistaken.
Don't be scared to barter with people - the Thais are tough negotiators, but don't rise to it, stay pleasant, because they don't like aggro.
Get out of Bangkok immediately and head for the North. Visit Chiang Mai but don't stick around too long, Pai, up in the mountains is where it's at.
Try to fit Malaysia into the trip. Friendliest people in the region for me and the best food by a mile; mix of Chinese and Indian cooking, on account of the huge immigrant population.
 
Bukowski said:
...

Don't be scared to barter with people - the Thais are tough negotiators, but don't rise to it, stay pleasant, because they don't like aggro.
....
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My mate has spent a lot of time in the Far East, mainly Japan.

He told me that people are nice and don't want to fight because once they commit to a fight they won't ever stop as that would be losing 'face'.

So ideally you would negotiate and compromise so that both sides appear to have won.
 
Make a copy of your passport and laminate it.
In many countries you'll be asked for it and sometimes cops will not give it back.
That happens, a laminated copy ( 1 with you, 1 with your family ) will help the immigration dept in quickly issuing you another.
Make sure you are insured for medical evacuation at least.
Have a credit card with as big a limit as you can manage and use it only in extreme emergencies ( preferably never ), and keep it well hidden/concealed
NEVER carry too much cash at one time. Enough to get you through 1 or 2 days.
Keep out of trouble, never ever start or try to finish a fight if you can possibly run away. In many countries regardless of who started it, you are the foreigner, you are to blame and you can afford compensation.
Never ever accept any drugs, even a joint.
Stay away from motorbikes if you possibly can.
Never let women you've recently met buy and bring you drinks. Try not to get drunk. Tipsy is OK.
Always carry some immodium
 
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