It never ceases to amaze me how much fear people have about traveling. I’m tempted to just roll my eyes and think, “silly ignorant Americans,” but then I realize I too once shared that fear of traveling. We fear the unknown and for most Americans, the unknown is the rest of the world.
Working in a Hostel While Traveling
August 3, 2009 By / 8 Comments
OK, you’ve handed in your notice, packed your bags, said bye to mum, paid off the credit card (well, most of it) and you’re off on your yearlong adventure. Problem is if you are anything like me you’ve spent a little too long in Europe, enjoyed a couple extra flights in lieu of excruciating overnight chicken buses, sampled a few too many brews in Mexico and before you realize it you are not quite half way through your trip and over three quarters through your budget.
Avoiding the “Gringo Trail” (and Paving a New One)
July 28, 2009 By / 3 Comments
I‘ve loved traveling for a handful of years now but it wasn’t until I found myself venturing off the beaten path in Morocco last year when I started to realize the difference between the beaten path, and off the beaten path.
If you read this site semi-regularly you’ll know I talk a lot and recommend having a good guidebook for your travels. Many dedicated travelers frown on it as they want to see a place on their own terms and not how some underpaid guidebook writer tells them to. I see this point, don’t get me wrong, but most of my trips are condensed into two weeks or less and require some assistance with planning. My vacation time is valuable and that’s why I always use a guidebook.
Tips for Planning a Successful Trip
July 20, 2009 By / 3 Comments
Talk to several different travelers about their travel tips and you probably won’t hear the same answer twice. Everybody has their own preferences and techniques or they don’t bother planning at all. Both sides have their advantages and both have their disadvantages.
New Hotel & Hostel Booking Site Looks to Change Search Habits
July 13, 2009 By / 3 Comments
Flight and hotel booking sites are a dime a dozen. Let’s face it. There are many affiliate programs out there that allow these companies to start a website and search various prices for their visitors. Typically their prices aren’t better than any of the major travel booking sites (Kayak, Expedia, Travelocity, etc) and often actually charge a small fee which makes me wonder why anybody would bother with these no-name sites.
So while there are no shortage of websites to find flights or hotels, searching for hostels has been more time consuming for me than I would prefer. Most times I’ve used HostelWorld to search for hostels based on location, price, availability, and most importantly, customer reviews. Most, but not all hostels are listed on HostelWorld. Others are listed on smaller sites like Hostelz or aren’t listed at all. Sometimes these small establishments find it too expensive to pay commissions to booking sites.
Looking for something a little more mid-range like a bed & breakfast or small guesthouse/inn can also be difficult. You usually don’t find small, independently run businesses on the larger booking sites and Hostel sites aren’t the same niche. I’ve found TripAdvisor to include many B&B’s but I’ve questioned their reviews since several hotels and tour companies have specifically asked me to post positive reviews on several occasions.
For flights, I’ve been a huge fan of Kayak for a while. They search most major airline’s websites and all of the major booking companies as well. It’s a simple, clean interface and does a great job of finding the best prices.
It wasn’t until last week that I found something that piqued my interest as much for searching for hotels though. Somebody recommended I check out HotelsCombined. I wasn’t expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised after running my first search for Budapest. Over 300 results were presented in a clean and easy to use interface. By default the results are sorted by popularity based upon user reviews but can be sorted by price, quality (stars), distance or even the neighborhood.
What I really like about HotelsCombined is that they don’t simply list hotels, but also B&B’s, guesthouses, and even hostels. I can’t say that there aren’t any other sites that like it, but from what I’ve been able to find, it’s very unique.
One reason I continue to check multiple sites for hostels (or whatever else I am booking) is to see the various reviews that customers leave. Sometimes you don’t have much of a selection, but in places like Budapest there are an unbelievable amount of hostels and reading reviews helps you decide on which one(s) stand out. That’s what, to me, is the best part about HotelsCombined as they also aggregate the various reviews from all the sites they search. It saves quite a bit of time if you’re like me and really like to check out reviews.
If you use HotelsCombined and decide to book a room with their service you’ll be forwarded directly to the hotel or booking agent’s website to book without any additional fees. I’ve never understood why some of the major sites felt the need to charge booking fees when they also received commissions.
Give them a look and let me know what you think. It looks to be a good service and I’ll definitely be checking out accommodations through them. It may still take a while for me to break my habit of checking five or six different sites though.
The 10 Best Things to do in Costa Rica
July 5, 2009 By / 9 Comments
1. Zip lining
Also referred to as canopy tours, zip lining entails putting on a harness and attaching to a series of cables strung throughout the trees. These tours are everywhere throughout Costa Rica and run between $50-100 depending on the location and amount of runs you get. Between 8-12 runs seems to be average. High in both adrenaline and excitement! As scary as it sounds, it’s actually very safe and the most difficult part is usually walking between the cables.
2. Hike a volcano
Costa Rica is littered with volcanoes. Some are active, like the popular Arenal which offers visitors views of red falling lava at night and constant rumbles throughout the day. Most volcanoes are located on federally reserved national park land and offer great hikes with amazing views. The Poás Volcano is a popular day trip from the San Jose area and a big tourist draw.
3. River rafting
photo by BallGame68
With the amount of rainfall Costa Rica receives it’s no surprise that white water rafting is a popular activity. Most rafters set out for Turrialba, about two hours from San Jose where they can ride the Pacuare or the Reventazon for anywhere from four hours to three days.
4. Surfing
photo by DLH Creative
It’s no secret that Costa Rica is one of the top surf destinations in the world. Surfing legends like Robert August now make their homes in Costa Rica for it’s legendary surf. Breaks like Jaco and Playa Hermosa provide surfers with consistent waves on the Pacific side while Puerto Viejo de Talmanca and many others are great in the Caribbean.
5. Play with monkeys
Who doesn’t love monkeys? They are everywhere in Costa Rica swinging from trees or digging through restaurant’s trash cans (please don’t feed the monkeys). National parks like Manuel Antonio provide great opportunities for hikers to see capuchin monkeys swinging overhead or even sharing the trail with them. Other areas like the Arenal Volcano are filled with Howler monkeys who can nearly deafen nearby visitors with their calls.
6. Watch turtles lay eggs
photo by Arthur Chapman
Turtle lover? Head up to Tortuguero where conservationists are working hard to preserve the endangered turtles who make the beaches their nesting grounds. Only reachable by boat or plane, Tortuguero is a prime example of eco-tourism.
7. Volunteer
photo by theburied.life
There are lots of opportunities to volunteer in Costa Rica, especially if you are interested in animal conservation. Tortuguero, mentioned above, is a wildlife conservationist’s dream.
8. Drink coffee
What better way to start your day than enjoying some Costa Rican coffee. Stop by a grocery store and pick up a bag to take back home. Not only does it taste better than anything you can find back home–it’s a lot cheaper!
9. Climb a waterfall
Climbing and rappelling a waterfall is an extremely fun and exciting activity in Costa Rica. There are tour operators all over the country that offer waterfall rappels, but if you find yourself in the Quepos/Manuel Antonio area, give Quepo Canyoning a call as they are the only one (currently) allowing you to climb a waterfall. Believe it or not, going up is actually more exciting than going down!
10. Kayak through mangroves
photo by bawish
If you’re looking for something a little slower paced but still plenty of fun, rent a kayak and explore the mangroves. You’ll see wildlife you never imagined.
The Secret to Great Hotel Deals
June 28, 2009 By / 5 Comments
I have a little secret for finding great deals on hotels that I’ve used over the years, and the good news is that in this economy, it’s only getting better.
Many people will probably be angry with this post, including a large number of our followers on Twitter. Why? Because they’re constantly advertising deals for their own benefit through affiliate travel programs or their own business. I have nothing against them doing so, but I have to warn that just because somebody says it is a deal, doesn’t always make it a deal. I receive hundreds of messages daily about amazing prices on hotels in Hawaii or New York. Since I recently visited Maui, I looked into a few of them. I never found any of these advertisements to be less than $250 per night. I would hardly call that a deal. Maybe that hotel used to charge $1,000 per night. Even so, why am I going to pay that much for a place to sleep when I’m there to see the island, not sit around in a beautiful hotel?
So if that’s your business, I apologize in advance but let’s be honest, Have Pack, Will Travel is all about saving money and making the most of your trip, so we never really saw eye-to-eye anyway.
How to find deals on hotels
Some of the best deals are to be found at the last minute. But how last minute should you look? If you’re adventurous, the very last minute. I rarely book accommodations for my entire trip unless I know it’ll be extremely difficult to secure a bed in a hostel or a cheap room in a hotel. I like to book the first night if I am arriving in the afternoon or evening just to be sure I have somewhere to sleep, but beyond that, I play it by ear. Sure, this has backfired and created a headache or two, but I’ve never slept out in the cold and I’ve never had to pay anything unreasonable for a place to sleep.
More times than naught, I’ve landed some incredible deals on hotel rooms by walking up late in the afternoon and simply inquiring about a price. Yes, you run the risk of not finding someplace, but use your judgment on the time of year and the popularity of the city you are in.
The first time this worked out for me was in Florence, Italy back in 2004. I was traveling with three Americans I met and our train arrived late in the afternoon. We walked to a couple of hostels that ended up being completely booked. This was pretty stressful and we weren’t sure where we were going to find somewhere to sleep. Before we knew it, day became night and there were no more hostels to check. On a small budget we weren’t looking forward to finding out how much a hotel room would cost.
By 8pm we entered a small two-star hotel to inquire about the price. Right there on the wall was a sign that said without a bathroom was €50, or €60 with a bathroom. We asked anyway and didn’t act desperate for a place to stay. The desk clerk (probably the owner) knew it was late and the chances of them filling any of the open rooms was unlikely. They offered us two rooms for €25 each. That worked out to about €12 per person for a very clean and authentic Italian hotel. Not bad since in Paris & Venice each hostel dorm bed cost €25 each.
I’ve had a few experiences like this over the years, but what I have been noticing lately is that, given the economy, there are even better deals to be had. Back in February I went to Costa Rica (for the second time in one year) with two friends. It was the high season and all common sense given the area were in said that booking a room was a wise idea. We reserved a private room at a hostel in Quepos as it was considerably cheaper than the hostel and hotels in Manuel Antonio (the national park area that everybody travels to the area to visit). In the guidebook and on their individual websites, all the small hotels on the road between Quepos and Manuel Antonio advertised rates of $99 or higher. You can imagine our surprise when we were driving down the beautiful road taking in beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean when we noticed signs in front of several of the same hotels we looked at online advertising $25-50 rooms! Not only could we have saved money, but we would have had beautiful ocean views and seclusion.
Sure, playing everything by ear can be stressful if you’re limited on time or easily stressed, but the upside is pretty nice.
Have you fallen into any great hotel deals? Talk about it in the comments if you have any experience or tips on the matter!
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Protecting Your Belongings and Valuables While Traveling
June 15, 2009 By / 9 Comments
With the subject of hostels last week I started thinking more about protecting your belongings while traveling. There are very few real dangers around the world that you actually have to be worried about. People love to exaggerate claims of violence and terrorism around the world (thanks media) but the truth is that your biggest concern is petty theft. Here are a few ways you can fight back.
Money belt
These have become pretty popular over the last few years. If you’re going to crowded places where pick pocketing might be a problem, a money belt is a good answer. They’re made of soft fabric that won’t irritate your skin. You were it around your waist and under your clothes and it’s nearly impossible to know you’re wearing it.
Here’s a tip though: I once traveled with a girl who wore one every day but she held all of her money in it. So every time she had to pay for something, she had to open it up in public. Not a wise idea. Instead, keep a little bit of cash in a separate pocket so that you don’t have to reach into your money belt every time. It is supposed to be hidden, right?
Pacsafe
Pacsafe has a few great solutions for securing your valuables or luggage in your room while you’re away. It’s difficult to enjoy your traveling if you can’t leave things back in your room. While many hostels are offering lockers, some leave you without a way to secure your valuables. Hostels are, for the most part, very safe, but it doesn’t hurt to make sure your things are secure. Here’s where Pacsafe comes in.
The Travelsafe 100 is essentially, a portable safe. It’s a small pouch that is virtually indestructible. Just put your money, passport, or even small camera inside and lock it to a bedpost or other secure place.
The other popular product by Pacsafe is Pacsafe55. A small bag contains an expandable eXomesh cover that will wrap around your backpack and make it nearly impossible to get anything in or out of it. Same as before, you lock it up to a bed post and it’s not going anywhere. I don’t believe your clothes are in very much danger in a hostel, but this is a good option for people traveling with cameras or other expensive equipment that has its own bag. These come in various sizes for different types and styles of backpacks.
If you have any other tips or recommendations on protecting your valuables while traveling please feel free to share them in the comments below.
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article photo by squacco
All You Need to Know About Hostels
June 8, 2009 By / 6 Comments
“You stay in hostels?” people often ask when I talk to them about the way I travel. “Aren’t you afraid of getting robbed or murdered?”
Thanks a lot Eli Roth for scaring the bejeezus out of inexperienced travelers and causing them to think they’re going to get murdered if they stay in a hostel. I personally haven’t bothered watching his films Hostel and Hostel II, but I can assure you that there are very few similarities. In fact, if you want to consider your personal safety, aren’t you safer in the small confines of a hostel with other travelers in the same room or nearby than you would be in a hotel? Just saying.
The truth is that hostels actually provide a great option for budget travelers and with their affordable prices, allow many people to see the world they otherwise couldn’t afford.
What is a hostel?
OK, let’s start from the beginning in case you aren’t very familiar with hostels. A hostel is typically much smaller than a hotel and has fewer rooms. The majority of rooms are dorm-style accommodations and have multiple (usually bunk) beds. These rooms can house anywhere from 6 to 12 people usually and may or may not have an attached bathroom.
Doesn’t sound all that glamorous, and it’s not, but they’re cheap. Depending on where the hostel is located, they can cost between $5-$25 on average. Obviously, big European cities are going to be more expensive than smaller towns in South America, but no matter where you are, hostels are going to be considerably cheaper than a hotel room.
Need more privacy?
Nobody wants to share a room with strangers, but some people may flat out refuse to do so. If that’s the case, many hostels also offer private rooms. These typically have a couple of beds and can be a good option if you are traveling with a friend or small group. The prices are higher obviously, but usually still cheaper than a hotel room. It is worth your while to check around though because sometimes you might find a better deal on a hotel room. I’ve seen some overly priced private rooms before and it doesn’t always make sense.
What else does a hostel offer?
Not all hostels are the same but the trend over the past couple of years is for hostels to offer more and more amenities for their guests. Many hostels provide maps and information on the area and some even arrange their own tours. Sometimes these are complimentary or cheap, but often they will help book tours with local tour companies. You should be aware that the hostel usually gets a commission for setting you up with a tour company, but most hostels have already done the work to figure out which companies are trustworthy and a good deal. With the word-of-mouth nature of hostel guests, it’s in their best interest to be honest and helpful as word will get around quickly if they are not.
Most hostels also provide a kitchen where you can store and cook your own food. While I always recommend enjoying the local cuisine and dining out, many travelers choose to cook in order to keep their costs down. Some hostels also include continental style breakfast and a few I’ve seen sell their own food and drinks. In fact, the second-best restaurant I found in Costa Rica was conveniently in the Arenal Backpackers Hostel in La Fortuna.
Another thing that is becoming popular in hostels is free computer use and/or free WiFi. For travelers with their own computer or wireless-enabled phone this can be a godsend for sending emails or planning many aspects of their trip.
A great form of social interaction
Just like a hotel, you probably want to spend most of your time away from the hostel enjoying wherever you may be traveling, but for lazy days or early nights, hostels can be a great way to socialize. Whether you are by yourself or with friends, you’ll quickly meet people in a hostel.
Many hostels provide a common room or area with a TV, music, a pool, or just a place to sit and eat and this is usually where most people congregate. Sooner or later you’ll be enjoying a drink with a handful of people speaking several different languages. This is one of my favorite things about staying at hostels and I have made some good friends like this.
What you should bring
Nearly all hostels now provide bedding but I’m sure there are still a few out there that don’t, or still charge a small fee for it. Some people travel with a sleeping bag or bed sheet but this is very rare these days. You will want to bring your own toiletries as things like soap and shampoo aren’t provided. Also, my favorite thing to bring is a pair of ear plugs. Inevitably you’ll have at least one night with somebody who snores so these can really save your night.
The safety of your belongings should also be a concern and while I have been less than smart about keeping my things secure in the past without any negative results, you shouldn’t try your luck. Many hostels provide lockers but you’ll probably need your own lock. It’s safe enough to leave your clothes and stuff lying out on your bed, but keep your passport, money, and any valuables like a camera with you just to be safe. While theft in hostels isn’t prevalent, it does happen.
Another thing you should bring is a towel. I recommend a thin, quick drying towel made for traveling or camping. These take up very little space in your backpack and dry fast so they don’t start to stink when packed. Many hostels do provide towels but not all of them. Some do, but charge a dollar or two. Having your own certainly makes life easier.
How to find a hostel
The best website out there for booking and researching hostels is HostelWorld which is why I have a convenient form on the right of this web page to search for them. There are plenty of reviews for most hostels along with pictures that can help you visualize the place. It’s easy to reserve a bed or room in a hostel through HostelWorld but I also recommend playing things by ear a little bit. If you know that your destination isn’t incredibly busy, try only booking for a night or two and then seeing how the rest of your time goes. Maybe you won’t like the hostel and want to move to a different one. Perhaps you’ll decide to move on to another city. Not booking too many nights in advance will allow you a bit of freedom. Just make sure you discuss the situation about extending your stay when you arrive because many hostels fill up quickly during peak times. Having at least one night booked to begin with will certainly make things easier when you arrive though so it’s nice to have something arranged ahead of time.
If you are yet to experience a hostel I hope this shed some light on them for you. I highly recommend them not only for the cost savings, but the experience as well. If you have any comments or questions about sleeping at hostels feel free to post them in the comments section.
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Five Exotic Places in the World (that you can still afford to visit)
June 1, 2009 By / 13 Comments
Budget travelers are constantly looking for the best possible places they can visit on the cheap. Here are five exotic places around the world that are still affordable for the budget traveler. Read on!
Panama
Everybody knows it for the Panama Canal, a must see engineering marvel, but Panama offers much more for budget travelers seeking an exotic trip. Plenty of great beaches in places like Bocas del Torro or for the more adventurous, explore the Darién Gap (with a guide of course, this is one extremely dangerous place). It’s easy to spend several weeks in this exotic country without ever staying in one place for too long.
Panama is served by many North American carriers at reasonable prices. The roads are much easier than Costa Rica but the main means of transport over large distances is by small plane. You can fly to most places in the country on Air Panama or AeroPerlas for $50-100.
Hawaii
Thought by many to be an expensive tourist trap five hours off the coast of California, Hawaii is actually a great trip for budget travelers who enjoy doing their own thing. Amazing beaches with the best surf in North America, scuba and snorkeling opportunities everywhere and plenty of diversity with rain forest and volcanoes for nature lovers.
Read more about Hawaii becoming a budget traveler’s dream.
Bali
The most visitor friendly island in Indonesia, Bali may be small in size but not in stature, despite not being the cheapest place in the world to fly to. Flights can cost up to around $1,000 but amenities once you are there can be had at very reasonable prices. Don’t worry, big hotels are available for those who need pampering, but for travelers that require less your dollar can go a long way in Bali.
Costa Rica
Apparently in order to be considered “exotic” you need ocean and rain forest so close to each other in the same country that you can literally feel as if you are in another world in the same day. Not only does Costa Rica allow you to do that, you can literally walk from a gorgeous beach where you might not see another person all day, to forest where you will be surrounded by monkeys and sloths. Costa Rica has to be the ecotourism capital of the world and luckily for budget travelers, prices are still reasonable. A bus ride across the country costs less than $5 and there are many hostels for around $10 per night. Tourism is huge though and there are plenty of resorts and tourists traps but you can still easily get by spending $3 for dinner eating with the locals at a small soda.
Morocco
Morocco stands out on this list because it’s not known for its nature although it does have plenty of that to go around. Fancy a camel ride across the Sahara? No problem. The majority of travelers are here for Morocco’s immense culture though. It’s a taste of the middle east in North Africa. Imperial cities like Fez are home to life in the medinas and souks that has been relatively unchanged for a thousand years. Food lovers will be in heaven enjoying chicken or lamb tagines meticulously steamed for several hours.
1,000 Places to See Before You Die
Inspired by the roaring #1 New York Times bestseller with more than 1 million copies in print, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die Traveler’s Journal is perfect for giving–it’s specially designed for people who love to travel and want an elegant place to record their experiences. Scattered throughout the journal are traveler’s lists (“Unforgettable Destinations for the ‘Been There, Done That’ Crowd”and “10 Experiences Guaranteed to Give You the Shivers”) and quotes that will spark insight and provide writerly inspiration. At the back of the diary is helpful nuts-and-bolts info: time zones, conversion charts, telephone codes, mini-translation guides, and more.
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