funtotravel.info: How times change. - 2002 vs 2012.

Although I took my first trip away from the parents in the heady summer of 1998, from London to the mysterious wilds of Italy and Greece, the fact that the whole thing was organised by said parents (who although they wouldn’t be coming insisted on planning most of the finer details) means that we can’t count it.

No, this intrepid explorer took his first trip as a fully fledged backpacker with his younger brother in April of 2002, in the midst of a post-university ‘what the hell am I going to do next?’ gap-year. We journeyed around Western Europe on hastily purchased Interrail tickets taking in the sights, smells, sounds, wine and women (ok, lots of the former and not so much of the latter…) of the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy and Greece. My brother and I met up last weekend for the Christening of funtotravel.info junior, and found ourselves reminiscing on the trip – good times and bad.

What struck us was quite how different the whole experience was then to how it would be now in terms of booking, planning, meeting people, what to do in minutes of boredom and recording your experiences on the way round. It’s hard to imagine a time when the internet was still in its infancy, but it does provide us with an interesting basis for comparison, given that the funtotravel.info family have just booked a trip back to Thailand for a spot of island-hopping in March/April.

	2002	2012
Planning the trip	Using Lonely Planet/Let’s Go guidebooks bought or borrowed from the local library	Using funtotravel.info (obviously!), reading other travellers’ blogs, reading the Lonely Planet website and the Thorntree forum etc. We still bought the relevant guidebook though!
Booking the trip	Through our local STA Travel shop/other cheap travel agency. Interrail tickets were bought in person.	Online: Book flights/hotels using price comparison sights like Kayak/STA Travel/Expedia. All booked online using a secure connection.
Booking accommodation in advance	Either calling the hostels/hotel listed in the guidebook and attempting to bluff our way in that language or going to the local tourist office in the town in question and asking them to find us a room.	Online: Through a website like hostelbookers, hostelworld, sawasdee.com etc
What technology would you take with you	Discman/mini disc player, 35mm camera, and….ummm….that’s it.	Ipod, possibly tablet/laptop, smartphone, digital camera, kindle etc
What did you do on long train or bus journeys?	Read a book, listen to a CD, talk to people	Read a book on the Kindle, write a blog on the laptop, play games on the iPad, look at the pictures I have already taken on the camera etc, watch a movie.
How do you meet people on the road?	Walk up to them, talk to them, leave messages on hostel noticeboards at a push	Hook up on facebook, though twitter or on funtotravel.info!
How do you keep a record of what you’ve been up to ?	Write a diary, on paper, using a pen	Write a blog on my laptop
How did you communicate with home?	Send postcards, call home from a payphone, if you’re feeling daring and trust the dial-up connection in the dodgy looking internet café, then write a group email.	Call on skype using laptop/tablet or an internet café, message people on facebook, write some emails, write a blog. All online.

All of the above provides a stark and very amusing indication of just how much independent travel has changed. The use of the word ‘independent’ is a very pertinent one – the changes in the world of technology mean that  travellers are ‘alone’ less than ever before even if they are, strictly speaking, travelling on their own. The world is covered in wifi spots and high-speed internet cafes, meaning that in a bafflingly large percentage of places that you would ever want to travel, you can be online talking, face-timing, sharing photos, downloading music and movies etc.

Back in the pre-internet days, if you were stuck down in the common room of your hostel in the back-end of nowhere, people tended to be more talkative. The need to communicate in person with your fellow travellers was naturally far greater when you couldn’t fall back on the fact that you could whip out your smartphone to boast about where you are, play Angry Birds on your iPad, listen to one of 20,000 songs on your ipad or even watch a movie on your phone. Travel seemed more sociable back then and created a real sense of camaraderie amongst travellers – if you were on the road you knew it, and the only real way to pick up tips on whether the train was running between Kunming and Hanoi, or whether you needed a visa to get into Cambodia was to ask around the people staying in your guest house. Call us old romantics, but travel the ‘old way’ seemed more open and more in tune with the spirit of discovery. The world has definitely shrunk…

Having said that, we are huge hypocrites. We have booked our trip to Thailand online, fully intend to keep up this blog when we are away, have emailed queries to potential hotel about baby cribs etc and will no doubt be boasting on facebook and twitter about how great our holiday is on the way round. I guess convenience can be a wonderful thing, even if it does make you an unsociable old bastard!

Let us know what you think about the relationship between technology and travel.

funtotravel.info offers help to anyone looking to travel the world. Going on a Gap Year and not sure where to go or how to start planning? Want to go travelling but in need of some inspiration and tips? Use our advise me page for FREE, ON-DEMAND, UNBIASED travel advice written JUST FOR YOU!  

funtotravel.info also offers informative and practical country profiles, real-time traveller reviews for destinations around the world, as well as social networking for backpackers, connecting you on the road like never before. What are you waiting for? Sign up today! For more information on what we offer and who we are, please check out our FAQ section. 

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.

Click here to join funtotravel.info for free advice! If you have any questions, please use our contact us facility and we'll get back to you asap.

Photo of the Day 18 December 2010

Inside the Vatican Museum, Rome, Italy (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Rome: Incredible history, architecture, sights and some great hostels and nightlife make Italy's illustrious capital a must-visit. From the Colosseum to the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, St Peters and the Vatican Museum give yourself as much time as possible to drink everything in – you'll need it.


Click here for our free guide to Italy.

Photo of the Day 16 December 2010

Our apologies for radio silence - some technical issues at our end!

The beautiful hills over Tupiza, Bolivia

Tupiza was the setting for the infamous adventures of the real-life Butch Cassidy and the Sunshine Kid: it feels like a little slice of the Wild West, Bolivian style. The small but pretty town is set in a stunning rocky landscape replete with canyons, gorges and forests of cacti, perfect for horse riding, mountain biking and hiking. The town has one or two idiosyncrasies (every restaurant has an identical menu), but is a charming and wonderful place to start your tour of the Salar de Uyuni.

Click here to read our guide to Bolivia

funtotravel.info TIPS: What inoculations do I need? I hate needles - they hurt!

This really is a complete no-brainer. The answer is that of course you should get every inoculation that your doctor suggests. Check the requirements for each country as to what inoculations/vaccinations are needed using a service like net doctor, then speak to your local doctor or travel clinic to organise them. Be sure to leave enough time before you travel for the necessary vaccinations to become effective.

Note that certain countries have very strict rules about letting you enter their territory unless you have had certain vaccinations. An example of this is Brazil: if you have been to Bolivia (or any other country that carries a risk of exposure to Yellow Fever) within the last 6 months they will insist that show them a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate. Without it they will not let you enter (though you can pay for the injection at the border in some circumstances).

The vaccinations/inoculations that you should ensure are up to date as a bare minimum are:

• Typhoid
• Hepatitis A
• Tetanus
• Polio

You should consult your doctor over this, but we would also recommend that the following inoculations are up to date when you travel to areas in Asia, Central and South America and Africa:

• Hepatitis B
• Diptheria
• Tuberculosis

A couple of other inoculations that you will find are recommended if you are planning to be away for a long time and travel to ‘risk’ areas (see net doctor for further details and consult with you doctor) are:

• Japanese B encephalitis
• Rabies
• Yellow Fever

Consult with your doctor or with a specialist travel clinic as to whether these will be necessary. Though they can be expensive we would thoroughly recommend getting them done as the consequences of becoming ill with any of these diseases are grave and potentially fatal. We think that the injections are worth the money if only to give you complete peace of mind. We still wouldn’t recommend that you go wrestling any wild, rabid dogs even if you have had the injection!

Tropical islands: lots of fun but don't neglect to get your jabs - you could be miles from a proper hospital if you get sick

Malaria is another concern for travellers visiting infected areas. If you are planning on visiting an area that is a malarial hotspot then please consult your doctor at home at least two months before you plan to travel, as some malarial medicines should be taken a good time prior to arrival in the country with the malarial threat. The Malaria Hotspots website is a very useful guide.

Be sure to carry a written record of your vaccinations and inoculations with you on your trip as you may need it as evidence of your treatment. It is especially important that you bring your Yellow Fever certificate with you if you have had the inoculation in order to visit a particular country.

funtotravel.info offers help to anyone looking to travel the world. Going on a Gap Year and not sure where to go or how to start planning? Want to go travelling but in need of some inspiration and tips? Use our advise me page for FREE, ON-DEMAND, UNBIASED travel advice written JUST FOR YOU!  

funtotravel.info also offers informative and practical country profiles, real-time traveller reviews for destinations around the world, as well as social networking for backpackers, connecting you on the road like never before. What are you waiting for? Sign up today! For more information on what we offer and who we are, please check out our FAQ section. 

Click HERE for free, personalised advice on your trip or holiday.

funtotravel.info TIPS: Should My Career Stop Me From Travelling?

The Pros and Cons of a Career Break

We at funtotravel.info think that taking a career-break to hit the road for a period is a great idea, not that that will surprise you much! It is very easy in this day and age to feel like you are going stale in a job or that you are unappreciated in the workplace. Taking a break to visit a new country or countries can be just the tonic that you need to reassess your career and think about what you want to do for the rest of your life. You should not assume, as many do, that a period travelling will be a stain on your CV or that prospective employers will look on it badly – in the majority of cases this is simply not true.

In terms of making the big decision, only you know whether it would be the right or wrong time to head off, and whether in fact you really want to take a break at all. Your decision depends entirely on what your career is, how long you want to take off and how long you've been in your current role: every person's circumstances are different. Our best advice would be to discuss the possibility with your boss, or ask your human resources department if the company has a policy for sabbaticals or extended unpaid leave.

Better than a sandwich at your desk?! Ko Lipe, Thailand

We are writing this during a period of economic difficulty for the western world, and it seems like crazy advice telling people to pack in their jobs when millions are losing theirs or being made redundant. Assess your options carefully! If you have been unfortunate enough to have been made redundant, then it could be the perfect time to have a break and decide what you want to do next. Travelling can give you the time and space to assess this properly: how happy were you in your job and is it really what you see yourself doing in the long term?

Bear in mind also that a career break doesn't just have to be a long holiday. It's a great chance to add something extra to your CV by learning a new skill, helping with volunteer work or learning a new language.

Many of our friends have chosen to take career breaks and have either gone back to the same job as they had before, or had a moment of inspiration and decided on a change of career. It can give you the fresh impetus, distance and clear head to think about what you really want to do with your life.

As stated above, employers are unlikely to look at travelling as a negative thing. Indeed often they will see it as a benefit in terms of what it brings the person with regard to life experience and maturity. In reality, a period of travelling will do no harm to your CV/résumé as long as you can explain what your reasons were for going.

Our advice: think long and hard, assess your situation and speak to your boss or your human resources department. A career break can be a wonderful opportunity to improve your quality of life, so don't rule it out just because you are either starting or in the middle of your career.

funtotravel.info offers help to anyone looking to travel the world. Going on a Gap Year and not sure where to go or how to start planning? Want to go travelling but in need of some inspiration and tips? Use our advise me page for FREE, ON-DEMAND, UNBIASED travel advice written JUST FOR YOU!  

funtotravel.info also offers informative and practical country profiles, real-time traveller reviews for destinations around the world, as well as social networking for backpackers, connecting you on the road like never before. What are you waiting for? Sign up today! For more information on what we offer and who we are, please check out our FAQ section. 

Click HERE for free, personalised advice on your trip or holiday.

Photo of the Day 25 November 2010

Beautiful Iguazu Falls, Argentina

funtotravel.info TIPS: How to stay healthy while you're travelling

The nature of independent travel means that at some point you are likely to get sick. A lot of backpackers travel to exotic countries, cover a lot of ground in the time they’re away, carry around a heavy bag, spend a lot of time on night buses and trains and some indulge in strenuous activities like treks, kayaking trips, long bike rides etc. For this reason, tiredness tends to set in frequently making you more susceptible to illness.

For information on inoculations and injections, please see our upcoming blog on that very subject.

Cocktail buckets, Thailand: a lot of fun, but not such a good way to stay healthy!

To keep yourself fighting-fit, we suggest the following tips:

• Get a decent amount of sleep – if you’ve been on an overnight or just a very long bus or train trip, give yourself time to recover, even if you feel like you slept during the journey – it will catch up with you!
• When you’re in what you would objectively consider to be a less-developed country, avoid tap water and stick to bottled or filtered water instead. Try to avoid creating over-excessive waste by re-using water bottles where possible – many hostels and guesthouses will now refill your bottle for you. Also avoid drinks with ice that may come from tap water in similarly undeveloped areas, though in heavily touristed destinations they are used to making ice from boiled water, which is fine. If in doubt, avoid ice.
• Yes, your mother was right, eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables as you can to boost your immune system. The exception to this rule is if you are in an area where the tap water is unsafe to drink. Eat only fruit that you’ve peeled yourself as you won’t know whether it has been washed in untreated tap water. Boiled vegetables though will be fine since any bacteria will have been killed by the boiling process.
• It may seem like overkill, but take (and use!) anti-bacterial handwash – it will prevent the spread of harmful bacteria that could see you confined to your bed for days at a time.
• If you are travelling somewhere where you are unsure of the freshness of the food/availability of refrigeration, avoid meat as you never know quite how long it has been sitting out, particularly in hot climates.
• Be cautious (though not overly so) of buffet food, particularly at service stations or road-stops – it is likely to have been sitting for a long while and can be a haven for bacteria.
• Make sure all of your inoculations are up to date before you leave home.
• Ensure that your travel insurance covers you for any doctors appointments or medicines you require should you be unfortunate enough to get sick.
• Take a small but adequately stocked medical kit with you, complete with plasters/small bandages, rehydration salts in case you get sick, painkillers (useful for hangovers if nothing else) and any other personal medication you require.
• If you are in hot climates or doing a lot of physical exertion, keep yourself well-hydrated and aim to drink at least 2 litres of water (bottled if tap water is unsafe) per day. This will help keep you feel in shape and healthy.

Try and eat a balanced diet and never be afraid to try local food or taste regional specialities (bearing in mind the above tips though!) – if it’s good enough for the locals, it’s good enough for you. The last thing we would want any of the above tips to do would be to put you off trying any dish offered to you because trying the local food is one of the great pleasures of travel; all we suggest is that you use your common sense.

Stay well-rested, well-hydrated and in good shape physically and you will most-likely avoid sickness during your trip.

funtotravel.info TIPS: What to pack if you're going travelling

Off on a round the world trip and have no idea on what to pack and what to leave behind? This blog will deal with the bog standard things that you should take away on any trip.We haven't included money (probably the most obvious thing you'll need to take!), as we'll be covering that in a separate blog in the next few days. 

Forget your nail clippers? Don't worry too much - I'm sure you'll find someone willing to help!

First and foremost, let’s not forget the vital things:

• Your passport. Ensure that it has at least 6 months (preferably a year) validity on it past the date you’re planning to return home. Some countries will not let you in if your passport is due to expire within this period.
• Plane tickets/train tickets etc.
  • If you have been issued with actual physical tickets, then you will obviously need to bring these with you, but make sure you keep a photocopy of all the tickets somewhere safe (away from the actual tickets), and a scanned copy in your email account.
  • If you have an electronic ticket, print a paper copy anyway and keep it somewhere safe (handy for confirming flight times if you can’t get online for some reason), as well as emailing a copy to someone else in case you accidentally delete the email.
• Clothes. What to pack depends on where you are planning on travelling and at what time of year, but our golden rule is that you should always pack far fewer clothes than you initially plan. You won’t wear half of them. Bear in mind also that you will no doubt pick up clothes along the way to suit the climate you’re in, and also that you can buy some absolute bargains in markets and shops around the world. Leave space in your bag.
  • It is always worth taking a lightweight waterproof jacket that you can fold up and keep in your daypack, in case you get caught in the rain.
  • If you’re heading to colder climes then remember that the golden rule of staying warm is layering. Having said this, we spent a decent sum of money on a thick fleece lined waterproof jacket to take to Bolivia and Peru in the winter and did not regret it for a second. If the temperatures reach –20°c you will be grateful for the protection!
  • Thinking of the cold, if you’re going somewhere with extremely cold weather (i.e. Russia or Canada in the winter) then it is worth investing in some thermal underwear. They are remarkably thin and will roll up to take up very little space in your backpack.
  • Take a pair of jeans. They are practical for going out, are warm but not too warm to wear out at night in a tropical climate, hard wearing and will help you blend in, believe it or not.
  • We’d recommend buying a Buff – they are so useful and versatile no matter whether it’s hot or cold in that they can be worn as a hat, headband, neck warmer, balaclava, sun, wind or dust screen, bandana, helmet liner, scarf, pirate-style cap or hair band. They are also perfectly fine to just wash in the sink of your hostel, do not lose their elasticity and are pretty hard wearing.
• Shoes.
  • Take a pair of flip flops/thongs/sandals (depending on where you’re from). They are great for when the weather is hot, for the beach and for hostel/campsite showers. Havianas are cheap, durable and eternally popular with backpackers.
  • Take a pair of durable trainers for cold weather, walking long distances and for when it’s raining. If you plan on sampling the nightlife then it makes sense to pick a pair that look ok with your jeans!
  • If you plan on trekking, it’s up to you whether or not you take hiking boots, as they are heavy, take up a lot of space and you will not be using them for most of your trip. We have found that in 99% of places where trekking is popular you can either buy or hire boots there, which seems a far more practical solution to us.
  • When we’ve been away recently, we bought trail running shoes which are perfect for day to day wear, much lighter than hiking boots and did us just fine for treks in Nepal, Peru and New Zealand.
• Towel (travel towel)
  • Definitely take a travel towel since they take up very little space, are super absorbent and dry very quickly. They are not cheap but are worth every penny.
  • We’d advise you not to pack a beach towel. If you really want one you will have no problems finding one at whichever beach town you rock up to first, and probably cheaper than home. A better alternative anyway is a sarong, which is perfect for lying on on the beach and can also be used as a bed sheet, a skirt, towel, headscarf and for covering up when visiting temples.
• Toiletries
  • Try and pack light if you can and avoid taking unnecessary grooming products, makeup etc – there’s even a branch of Boots (the popular British chemist and beauty product store) on the Khao San Road in Bangkok.
  • If you are a girl, and are travelling to anywhere that the average person would not consider to be a fully developed country, then take plenty of tampons with you. For either sex we would advise taking some condoms made by a reputable company with you rather than relying on unknown local brands.

Waterproofs: useful!

Things you should take even if you can’t see why you’d ever need them when you pack:

• First aid kit. We suggest that as a minimum you include the following:
  • Any medication you need personally (including your malaria medication)
  • Plasters
  • Bandages (a small roll should suffice)
  • Antiseptic cream
  • Paracetamol/aspirin
• Sleeping bag liner. This is invaluable in weather too warm for a sleeping bag in hostels or cheap hotels where you don’t fancy sleeping under their sheets! You can buy a cotton one for pretty cheap in most adventure stores. Whether you take a sleeping bag or not is a similar debate to the hiking boots one – we think that unless you are travelling in the winter (when a decent sleeping bag is vital, particularly if you are sleeping in dorm rooms in hostels every night) then just hire one as and when you need it (on treks etc) as this is easily arranged in most touristy destinations.
• Copies of important documents: it is vital that you have copies of your passport, insurance documents, any travellers cheques you are taking as well as your airline tickets, rail passes etc. Store them separately to the original versions obviously!
• Earplugs. Especially useful if you are staying in a dorm and there are snorers in there! They are also brilliant if you are staying in a party destination (like Ko Phangan) and want a night off from the noise. That way you get a decent night’s sleep even if no-one else does.
• Ziploc bag: as stated above these are very useful for keeping shampoo and toothpaste in to stop any spillages from causing damage to everything in your bag.
• Dirty laundry bag: why? You don’t really want your nice clean clothes mixed in with your dirty ones, do you? What would your mother say?! Also useful for carting your dirty laundry down to a laundrette or for keeping clothes together for an in-hostel laundry service.
• Torch: very useful in a dorm at night if you want to avoid waking everyone up by putting the light on. Also useful in locations that don’t have 24 hour electricity.

Others

• Books:
  • Guidebooks: first and foremost, we imagine that you, like us, enjoy the comfort of having a guide book with you when you travel, for times when there is no internet available, or for when you’re on a train or bus. If you are travelling around a number of different countries in different regions then we wouldn’t advocate taking a guide book for all of them from the start of your trip – those guidebooks are heavy! Instead take one for your first couple of destinations and no more – there will be plenty of guidebooks in hostel book exchanges, bookshops and you can also swap them with fellow travellers along the way.
  • Personal Books: whether you’re into novels, history books or biographies, take a few of your favourite books with you or books that you’re desperate to read. They are invaluable for long bus or train journeys, for the beach or even just for chilling out. They are invaluable for people travelling on their own, as reading is obviously a great solo activity. Plenty of hostels have book exchanges and you will find some second hand bookshops wherever you travel. There are though areas where English language books are difficult to get hold of and off-puttingly expensive. It therefore makes sense to have a couple on hand that you can swap with other travellers.

Optional extras

• Universal sink plug: you’d be amazed how many hostel sinks or bath-tubs are missing them. If you do want to save cash by washing your own underwear then this will be an essential purchase, as will a portable clothes line.
• Pacsafe: if you are paranoid and want your bag to be ultra secure then this is a good option. They are designed to cover your backpack or case and protect it from tampering or theft. Made of tough but flexible and expandable stainless steel, you can throw it around your pack, secure it to something fixed and not worry about losing everything. Great for overnight trains and buses and for leaving your bag in a dorm during the day.

Many people ask us about taking electronic equipment like iPods, digital cameras, laptops etc on their trips. We will cover that area in another blog. If you can't wait that long, why not contact us through the website and we will get back to you!

funtotravel.info TIPS: How to haggle

Bargaining over the price of goods is a tradition in many countries that are popular with travellers. To give you a guide of all of these countries would be a little difficult, but is best summed up as follows:

Amongst other places, in Southeast Asia, China, India, Nepal, most of Africa, and parts of South and Central America haggling over prices for taxis, clothing, souvenirs, commodities and even accommodation prices is a part of everyday life and if conducted properly and in the right spirit can be a lot of fun. Outside of these regions, prices are mostly fixed, and attempts to drive down prices through bargaining are unlikely to work or be seen as a good idea (though give it a go if you’re feeling brave!).

Most Western tourists are not entirely comfortable with the idea of bargaining, and it does take some time to get used to. With your first few attempts you are likely to either pay over-the-odds for something (which is why it’s best to start with low value goods first!) or be laughed away for trying to pay a pittance for something that’s worth a lot more. Many people find that bargaining for things becomes one of the most fun and pleasurable elements of their trip – it is one of the best ways to interact with the locals and be satisfied that you’ve got yourself a bargain. There is a real knack to bargaining though, and don’t underestimate the value of a smile and a sense of humour about the whole exchange. Practice makes perfect and don’t forget – a few cents makes little difference to you but could be a big deal to the person selling to you.

Here are a few tips on the best ways to bargain:

Tip 1: Do your research

Before starting to bargain, you should have an idea what the item you’re interested in should usually cost – this should stop you from getting taken for a ride by the seller and being overcharged. Have a look around the other stalls, browse, look and listen to what others are paying for similar items and this will give you an idea of what you should be paying.

Tip 2: Pretend you’re not interested

Have a look at a few different items; and don’t make out that you’re interested in the particular thing that you actually want to buy. Don’t even ask for prices at this point.

Tip 3: Let the seller quote the price first

It’s best to force the seller to make the first move. You’ll be encouraged again and again with ‘How much do you want to pay?’ from the seller in the hope that in your presumed ignorance you will quote a price much higher than he/she was hoping. Don’t fall for this and get them to suggest the price first. You can assume that this first price will be much higher than the price that they are willing to actually sell for, with anything from double to five times a fair price being quoted. It always helps to look shocked and slightly offended at this point!

Tip 4: Smile and ask for a better price

Smile and tell the seller something like “I know you can do better than that” or “we both you know that you can give me a better price than that”. If their English is not great and neither is your grasp of the local language (shame on you!), a cheeky smile and a “Cheaper price!” should suffice…

Tip 5: Naming your price

This is the tricky part, and where it’s handy to know roughly what you should be paying for an item. You want to name a price that’s lower than you know the price should be, but not so low that the seller thinks you are taking them for a fool – they will soon stop taking you seriously if you name an insultingly low price.

Tip 6: Have a sense of humour and keep smiling!

Don’t get too emotional – if you keep a smile on your face and negotiate in good humour then the seller will be far more likely to co-operate with you. Getting angry will not work in your favour and you could well be insulting the seller. You are likely to go back and forth a few times with prices until you reach a stage where you feel you will both be fairly happy with the price offered.

Tip 7: Bulk buy = discount

If you like more than one item that a merchant has for sale then ask for a discount if you buy both. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. The more items that you buy the better the potential for discount. Though don’t forget that your backpack only has a certain amount of space as we discovered when we bought 60 DVDs in Vietnam once…

Tip 8: Walk away if you’re not happy with the deal

A brilliant tactic as a last resort. If you feel that you’ve reached a fair price and that the seller is just being difficult then try pulling out of the negotiation and walking away. You’ll be surprised how many times the seller will follow you and suddenly agree to your last price.

Tip 9: It’s not over until it’s over

Until you have agreed on a final price, you have no obligation whatsoever (even morally) to go through with the purchase. Even if you have haggled back and forth for twenty minutes, if you have not agreed on price then you are completely within your rights to walk away and try somewhere else. Do not feel pressured or guilted into returning to the shop and paying a price you’re not happy with.

Tip 10: The best times to grab a bargain

We think that you’ll get the best price either at the start of the day or at the very end. At the start of the day, most sellers are keen to get a sale under their belts to get the day rolling properly and will usually lower their prices slightly to get things off to a good start. Likewise at the end of the day most sellers are looking to boost the amount of cash they’ve taken so will usually lower prices slightly to get rid of stock. Take advantage of this!

Tip 11: Once you’ve agreed on a price then it’s final

Once you are both happy with a price and have settled on the amount you are going to pay then you have to go through with the transaction – to walk away at this point would be seen as very unfair and cause you both to lose face. Culturally this is not cool at all.

Tip 12: Don’t use a big note for a small price

If you’ve just spent twenty minutes pleading your poverty to get the price down on a $2 t-shirt, don’t then try and pay with a $20 note and expect to get change. Not only is this extremely rude and slightly duplicitous (after you’ve just been telling the seller that you have very little money), but culturally not really acceptable and also serves to highlight the gap between the haves and the have-nots. The myth in many areas is that tourists are just walking ATMs and it is exactly this kind of behaviour that gives travellers this reputation. Carry small denomination notes with you for exactly this reason.

Tip 13: Remember where you are and don’t take things too seriously

Please don’t spend twenty minutes bargaining over the matter of 20 cents – it makes very little difference to you and a lot of difference to the seller trying to feed their family.

Always remember these tips on bargaining and most importantly, smile, relax and have fun: by being respectful and having fun at the same time you are bound to get yourself a bargain!

funtotravel.info TOP 10: PARTY HOSTELS

Here's our selection of outstanding places to stay if you want to have a riotously good time while you're travelling the world. You might not get much culture or a good night's sleep, but you will have a damned good time!

1. The Flying Pig, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The Flying Pig actually own two spots in the City – Uptown and Downtown. Downtown is the place to go if you want to have the time of your life: situated in a great part of the infamous party city that is Amsterdam, it’s a top spot to meet travellers, with a buzzing bar, top tunes and even a smoking room (this is Amsterdam after all) if that’s you’re thing. It’s also a great spot from which to explore this fascinating city, if you can drag yourself away from the bar!

http://www.flyingpig.nl/index.php
To read our guide to the Netherlands, click here

2. La Casa Roja, Santiago, Chile

A real blast whether you’re beginning or ending your South American odyssey, the Aussie owned Casa Roja is an absolute must-stay on this list. Not many city hostels have a pool and a hot tub, but even less have a cricket net! The bar seems to be open every hour of every day – drinks are cheap and plentiful and it’s not unusual to find people sinking a few beers when you come down to make breakfast! The hostel is based in a restored mansion in a pleasant suburban area of Santiago, with a supermarket and some cheap restaurants nearby. As well as offering the standard pasta, party and barbecue nights La Casa Roja offers Spanish lessons, a great kitchen and some good value tours. A fantastic place to meet people and very hard to leave!

http://www.lacasaroja.cl/
To read our guide to Chile click here


3. Loki, Cusco, Peru

Our favourite of the small chain of hostels set up by backpackers in South America (others in Lima, Mancora, and La Paz), this is THE place to stay if you want to party after Machu Picchu! In a stunningly restored 450 year old house in the historical centre of stunning Cusco, people come here to party. The bar is fantastic, and offers live music, quiz nights and a great garden for drinking and sunning yourself. All the amenities are top notch, and the place has clearly been put together with party-loving backpackers in mind. Though the beds are very comfy (proper duvets!), don’t expect to get much sleep!

http://www.lokihostel.com/en/cusco
To read our guide to Peru click here

4. Pink Palace, Corfu, Greece

This infamous place on the green island of Corfu is a must-visit on the 21st century European ‘Grand Tour’ for backpackers. It’s essentially a giant pink fun-house built on the cliffs of Agios Gordios Beach where you’re given a free shot of Ouzo on arrival. This sets the tone for your stay in surprisingly decent digs – drink, volleyball, drink, beach, drink, booze cruise, drink, toga parties, drink, pool parties, drink etc. You can also (when sober!) hire quad bikes, cars and mopeds to explore the beautiful island. Though open in the off-season, expect a much more chilled out experience: come in high-season for a slice of frat-party life in the Greek sunshine. Utter, utter debauchery.

http://www.thepinkpalace.com/index.html
To read our guide to Greece click here

5. Siam Hut, Ko Chang, Thailand

OK, so it’s not on perennial party favourites Ko Phangnan or Ko Phi Phi, but in our humble opinion it’s still one of the best beaches left in Thailand to party. Siam Huts is located on the south end of Lonely Beach on the tropical Island of Ko Chang. Built on ramshackle wooden platforms jutting out over crystal clear waters, the crazy bar here offers frequent live music, nightly fire shows and wild cocktail-bucket parties pretty much every night of the week. If the scene here isn’t loud enough for you, then we’re sure that you’ll find a party to suit your mood somewhere along the beach! The huts here aren’t bad at all, ranging from basic to mid-range, but don’t expect to get a great night’s sleep if you come here in high season – parties rage on pretty much until sunrise.

http://www.siamhutkohchang.com/
To read our guide to Thailand click here

6. Balmer’s, Interlaken, Switzerland

Backpackers flock to Interlaken for skiing, canyoning, bungy, hiking, rafting and sky-diving all through the year. And they come to Balmer’s famous hostel to party. It has the most popular bar and nightclub town which throngs with backpackers from around the world, as well as its own beer garden which is a great place to chill out after a day of activities. It’s a must stop on the European party tour. If you want to experience real Swiss culture and hospitality, don’t stay here, but if you want to drink around the clock with other backpackers from around the world then go for it. This place can eat money if you’re not careful – Switzerland is not a budget destination. Not for the faint-hearted!

http://www.balmers.com/en/

7. Che Lagarto, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Surely one of the most fun destinations in the world, Rio de Janeiro has its fair share of party hostels but Che Lagarto has to be our favourite. It’s in a brilliant location, just a couple of blocks from infamous Copacabana beach, and possesses a fun, loud and very lively bar. It’s a great place to base yourself in Rio (especially during Carnaval), and as well as hosting some fine events in-house (pizza nights, samba nights etc), they will give you a steer as to where is good to go afterwards.

http://www.chelagarto.com/index.php/en/hostel-in-copacabana.html
To read our guide to Brazil click here

8. The Yellow, Rome, Italy

Brilliantly located near Termini station in the centre of Rome, The Yellow is one of the greatest party hostels in Europe. This is thanks to two things: firstly, the popularity of its cheap (well, cheap compared to the rest of the city!) bar, which is a brilliant place to hook up with other backpackers, and secondly, it runs some of the biggest and most fun pub crawls in Italy (chock full of free drink offers). A really fun place to stay in one of the most memorable cities in the world.

http://www.the-yellow.com/
To read our guide to Italy click here

9. St Christopher’s Village Inn, London, England

Quite simply, this is London’s premier party hostel. In a great destination not far from wonderful Borough Market, the Village Inn has its infamous Belushi’s bar (a brilliant place to meet people) as well as a comedy club. It also benefits from a great number of pubs, bars and clubs within walking distance. This is a really fun place to stay and sample some of the UKs top-notch beers. Oh, and when you get bored of the bar and the comedy club, the Village has its own pumping nightclub – don’t stay if you fancy an early night!

http://www.st-christophers.co.uk/london-hostels/london/london-bridge
To read our guide to the UK click here

10. Hostel Inn Iguazu, Puerto Iguazu, Argentina

The fact that this fantastic hostel used to be a casino says a lot! Don’t be put off by the fact that this is an official HI Hostel (with their rather straight laced reputation) – it’s in a beautiful position with a giant pool and a great outside bar (as well as one inside). They run regular barbecue nights, five a side football, samba and tango nights and pizza nights where the booze flows. They will also help you run trips out to the truly incredible Iguazu Falls. It’s a great place to stay and a lot of fun.

http://www.hostel-inn.com/?idioma=2&seccion=hostels&id1=11&le2=0&id2=0&le3=0&id3=0&le4=0&id4=0
To read our guide to Argentina click here