funtotravel.info TIPS: Should I take my laptop with me when I go travelling?

As long as you have it adequately insured and carry it in a bag that protects it properly then we would definitely recommend taking a laptop that is wifi enabled. Not only does it make it easy to access funtotravel.info, your emails, blogs and Skype while you're travelling, but it also makes it easier to back up your photos, upload and share them and also download music and movies.

It's fair to say that you certainly won't feel like the odd one out if you take your laptop away – an increasing number of people are doing so. So much so that you might find yourself fighting for sockets in the communal area of hostels these days!

You will find so many places with free wifi when you travel: hotels, hostels, restaurants, internet cafés and libraries. This makes it easier than ever to stay in touch with people.

We would though recommend that you are careful with your laptop. Either buy a daypack with a purpose built laptop sleeve in it, or make sure that you have a separate sleeve and that your laptop is carefully stored. Invest in a decent lock and always make sure you carry it on you in your daysack rather than risk leaving it in your main bag in the luggage compartment of buses or trains where it could get damaged, stolen or ravaged by dirt and rain.

Finally, ensure that your laptop is adequately insured and make sure that any important documents or photos that you have on it are backed up in a separate location (i.e. an email account or a CD).

funtotravel.info TIPS: What's it like to travel on your own?

This very much depends on your personality. If you are used to spending time on your own and enjoy your own company then travelling solo will present very few problems. If you like company however, you might find it a little more tricky. If you stay in dorm rooms, cook in communal hostel kitchens and hang out in hostel/backpacker bars you are bound to meet lots of other travellers – we tend to be sociable and chatty creatures so you shouldn’t have any problems in this regard.

Having said that, you will most likely still spend large amounts of time on your own, even if you meet new people - everyone has a different itinerary and different ideas on the way they want to travel. You should get used too to spending time on your own; bus, boat and train journeys can give you a lot of time to think, but can also provide you with a brilliant opportunity to meet other people (travellers and locals alike). Rest stops and border crossings on international journeys can be a great time to do this, so don’t be shy about chatting to people – they’ll be as bored as you are if it’s a long journey. We’ve met friends for life on buses and boats, so don’t be shy!

Other tips for avoiding the blues if you are not used to travelling on your own:

• make sure that you have some well-loved books for the long bus/train journeys as well as the odd early night in your hostel;
• an iPod (or any personal music player) is a great thing to take with you – whether it’s for listening to your favourite tunes, audiobooks or podcasts, or watching movies then it can be a great distraction when passing time on your own; and
• keep a journal – it’s a great way to distract yourself, keep a record of what you’re doing and even better to look back at when you return home at the end of your trip.

By registering as a funtotravel.info member, you will be able to use our free services to connect with other travellers on the road like never before. If you are heading to a destination in the next couple of days and are worried about what it will be like then use the site to message members who are there now for advice or to see whether they fancy hooking up for a drink when you get there. Or if you’re not likely to be there for a while then why not stick a post on the destination’s Noticeboard on funtotravel.info and see if anyone wants to organise travel or a night out when you arrive – it’s a great way to make new friends and keep in touch.

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