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).

Photo of the Day - Sydney Harbour Bridge

View of the Harbour Bridge from North Sydney

Although we've chosen to show it here, Sydney is more than just a bridge and an opera house! With world class beaches, dining, attractions and nightlife, miss it at your peril! One of the most naturally beautiful cities in the world, it should be part of every backpacker's itinerary in Oz, whether you fancy surfing in Bondi, drinking in edgy King's Cross, holding Koalas in Taronga Zoo or (yes, we know...) climbing the Harbour Bridge, you will never forget your trip to Sydney.

Click here for our free guide to travelling in Australia.

Photo of the Day - Kyoto, Japan



Boasting 17 Unesco world heritage sites and over 2,000 shrines and temples, Kyoto is the cultural and spiritual home of Japan. Perhaps more of an insight into the way Japan used to be pre- Westernisation, it’s not unlikely that a wander down many of the City’s streets will see you come face to face with a Geisha, rather than the usual huddles of well-heeled teenagers. Take a moment to explore the outskirts of the city, where practitioners of Wabi-sabi and traditional landscape gardening will conjure nostalgic imagery of Samurai from a gone by era. Be sure to check out Ginkaku-ji temple at opening/closing time for a sense of real tranquillity.

Click here for our FREE guide to backpacking in Japan.

Photo of the Day - Mount Bromo, Indonesia

The moonscape surrounding Mount Bromo as the mist spreads over the otherworldly Sea of Sand

Mount Bromo - Java, Indonesia is situated at the Eastern area of Java, this magnificent volcano (or group of volcanoes to be precise) is a must-see on the route across from Jakarta to Bali. Bromo is accessed from Cemoro Lawang and is best seen at sunrise as the mist across the sea of sand clears to reveal an incredible lunar landscape. The crater itself can be reached by jeep, horse or foot and seeing its sea of rock, lava and sand truly is an experience of a lifetime.


Click here to read our FREE guide to backpacking in Indonesia

Photo of the Day - Peaceful waters off Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Sihanoukville, Cambodia: Relax, kick off your shoes and take a break from temple-spotting and the heart-rending sights of Phnom Penh. The beach at Sihanoukville is a great one, lined with low-rise thatched beach bars and restaurants: the night-life, though years behind its brasher neighbours in Thailand, is fun and buzzing. Take boat trips out to uninhabited tropical islands, indulge in some decent diving or visit Ream National park to spot monkeys and dolphins amongst the mangroves.


For our free guide to backpacking in Cambodia, please click here.

Photo of the Day: Isla del Pescado, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Whether you chose to explore the area from Uynui or Tupiza, you will see more incredible landscapes on your trip to south west Bolivia than you could ever imagine. Stunningly beautiful in a very barren and rugged way; expect to see volcanoes, flamingos, geysers, hot springs, and of course the world famous salt plains (the Salar) themselves. Most backpackers touring the area choose to take a trip in 4X4 complete with local driver/guide and cook – prepare yourself for a few days where you will be constantly wowed by the scenery and also by just how brain-numbingly cold it can get at 5000m above see level!


Click here for our free guide to Bolivia.

funtotravel.info TIPS: How much money do I need to go travelling?

An answer to this question is a real moving feast! It depends on a few different factors (not an exhaustive list):

 · Where you choose to travel to.

· What kind of accommodation you require.

· Whether you intend to go out and party a lot.

The best advice we can give you is to look at the funtotravel.info Country guides for each place you plan on visiting on your trip for an idea of a daily budget. If you want to stay in a basic private room, eat out once a day in a cheapish restaurant and have a few drinks in the evening, we would give these figures as a very, very rough guide:


· If you plan to travel in South East Asia, India, Nepal, Bolivia, most of East and West Africa or most of Central America, then a realistic daily budget is US$50 a day.

· If you are going to travel in Western Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand or Brazil, the expect to get through up to US$100 a day and quite possibly beyond.

· For other countries and regions expect that figure to be somewhere between the two.


At the bottom end of the scale, if you really wanted to live on a shoestring budget then you could probably halve all of the figures listed above. This would mean sleeping in a dorm room in a hostel or camping, self-catering and either walking or travelling by public transport. You would also struggle to get out in the evening for a few beers in a bar on this limited budget.


Of course every day is different – with these figures we have tried to take into account those budget-busting one-off fees, like a skydive in Australia, a trek in Nepal, a trip to Machu Picchu in Peru or a visit to the Taj Mahal in India. Remember to account for these one off expenses when you are budgeting – they tend to be the things you remember forever.


To balance these big expenses out there are bound to be days when you end up doing very little: days sat on the beach, days nursing a hangover, days spent in transit etc. What we’re trying to say is that every day will be different, but make sure you have enough cash available to ensure that you don’t miss out on the things that make your trip so special.