[Samus2]

In a years time I'm going to India and Asia for 6 weeks. Wondering if any one has any advice about how to get around, general safety tips?

[Revent]

(Original post by Samus2)
In a years time I'm going to India and Asia for 6 weeks. Wondering if any one has any advice about how to get around, general safety tips?

Try your best to minimise getting ripped off

[cl_steele]

Anyone got any advice on traveling around Australia by any chance? Im going there and NZ, know my way around the latter but the former is somewhat of a mystery to me

[FormerlyHistoryStudent]

(Original post by cl_steele)
Anyone got any advice on traveling around Australia by any chance? Im going there and NZ, know my way around the latter but the former is somewhat of a mystery to me

If you can drive, then travel by car. Driving is by far the best way of getting around in Australia (and NZ too)! Backpacker car hire was pretty cheap when I was there, but that was 3 years ago so it might be different now.

[LeoB]

From a personal view I think its much more rewarding and bolstering on the CV to get involved with a volunteer program when travelling. If you’re interested in this sort of thing I had an amazing experience with an organisation called Sporting Opportunities. I went on a trip with them last summer for 3 months and played and coached Rugby in South Africa.
It was the perfect trip because it combined effective volunteering with once in a lifetime experiences, including Safari, White Water Rafting and Gorilla Trekking, which I shared with a group of like-minded people, many of whom I’m still good friends with.
The way that SO operates means you really do have a lasting impact and make a real difference in the area, which isn’t the case with a lot of other volunteering organisations.
The team are really friendly and I was really well taken care of.
Good Luck + Safe Travels!

[Emaemmaemily]

(Original post by LeoB)
From a personal view I think its much more rewarding and bolstering on the CV to get involved with a volunteer program when travelling. If you’re interested in this sort of thing I had an amazing experience with an organisation called Sporting Opportunities. I went on a trip with them last summer for 3 months and played and coached Rugby in South Africa.
It was the perfect trip because it combined effective volunteering with once in a lifetime experiences, including Safari, White Water Rafting and Gorilla Trekking, which I shared with a group of like-minded people, many of whom I’m still good friends with.
The way that SO operates means you really do have a lasting impact and make a real difference in the area, which isn’t the case with a lot of other volunteering organisations.
The team are really friendly and I was really well taken care of.
Good Luck + Safe Travels!

That's great, but unfortunately is only the kind of thing you can do if you already have the money to I presume?
I'm travelling through an agency that place us in paid employment. As much as I'd love to travel and have more time on my hands, more freedom to do what I like, and to be able to volunteer, I just could never afford it.

[letsdothetimewarpagain]

I have a plan, think I can afford it by the time I go and will be doing chunks alone. Terrifying yet exciting at the same time

[letsdothetimewarpagain]

How does:

3 weeks travelling India, 2 weeks Thailand (South) , 9 days cambodia, 7 days Laos, 3 weeks vietnam and 2 more weeks in Thailand (North) sound?

I'm doing 2 internships, one in India and one in China with just over 12 weeks inbetween so going travelling in the gap.

[spacepirate-James]

Going to Prague for a five days, or so, around the middle of September. Anyone got some good recommendations of things to do? I don't mind being a tourist. All comments appreciated, thanks

[.Scout.]

One month until I move to France for the year. Ahhhh!

[FormerlyHistoryStudent]

(Original post by letsdothetimewarpagain)
How does:

3 weeks travelling India, 2 weeks Thailand (South) , 9 days cambodia, 7 days Laos, 3 weeks vietnam and 2 more weeks in Thailand (North) sound?

I'm doing 2 internships, one in India and one in China with just over 12 weeks inbetween so going travelling in the gap.

Sounds great to me. I'd probably go for 2 weeks in Nepal and 2 weeks in Thailand, rather than 4 weeks in Thailand, but that's because I've been to Thailand before but not Nepal.

[Ollieeeee]

I'm currently in Melbourne and flying to Ho Chi Minh in 7 days! After I'm bored of there I am heading through Cambodia to Bangkok then Phuket to spend 3 months here www.rawaimuaythai.com and then flying home to Bangkok to see my family and friends that I wont have seen for almost a year SO excited.

Anyone got any suggestions for places to stay in Ho Chi Minh?

[lcsurfer]

(Original post by Ollieeeee)
I'm currently in Melbourne and flying to Ho Chi Minh in 7 days! After I'm bored of there I am heading through Cambodia to Bangkok then Phuket to spend 3 months here www.rawaimuaythai.com and then flying home to Bangkok to see my family and friends that I wont have seen for almost a year SO excited.

Anyone got any suggestions for places to stay in Ho Chi Minh?

I'm living in Bangkok too at the moment... AWesome city!try couch surfing!

[Ollieeeee]

(Original post by lcsurfer)
I'm living in Bangkok too at the moment... AWesome city!try couch surfing!

Yeah I will try, I actually made an account a couple of days ago What do you recommend to do in BKK? I am going to spend a couple of days there before I head to the gym in Phuket.

[lcsurfer]

(Original post by Ollieeeee)
Yeah I will try, I actually made an account a couple of days ago What do you recommend to do in BKK? I am going to spend a couple of days there before I head to the gym in Phuket.

Bangkok is crazy, don't spent too long on khao san road as its a complete drinking tourist spot, good for a night out but after that get into the centre of Bangkok more as the transports ALOT better compared to out that way.
Do the obvious things like grand palace, sleepin buddha, china town etc then if you're here on a weekend the chatuchak and vespa markets are good.
There is normally a fair bit happening on the CS Bangkok group of people travelling/organizing trips so worth a look

[James619]

Though I was happy to travel to Argentina alone, the one thing I really sought after was the chance to get to know the culture outside of the standard hostel scene. For this reason I participated in a sporting opportunities program and can't recommend it higher enough. Amongst others it gave my parents the satisfaction of knowing I would be safe and taken care of, sorted out all accom and transport, got me a placement at a top futbol club something that surely helps the CV, and most importantly gave me the privilege of meeting and becoming good mates with some local Argentinian lads.

[Trini_K]

I'm going to Trinidad and Tobago next year Feb (2013) for the Carnival! Traveling alone is ok---but sometimes its more fun to have company! anyone wants to tag along? I know the festival will be great- having a group even if its strangers to share it with would make it even better! let me know!

[letsdothetimewarpagain]

Dad has left me in charge of booking our next holiday

Thinking either Italy or Greece, can't really do much hopping around but a couple of journies to other cities would be doable.

Want to do both equally so trying to decide which is most suitable for a slightly grumpy 50 something

[Emaemmaemily]

(Original post by letsdothetimewarpagain)
Dad has left me in charge of booking our next holiday

Thinking either Italy or Greece, can't really do much hopping around but a couple of journies to other cities would be doable.

Want to do both equally so trying to decide which is most suitable for a slightly grumpy 50 something

Personally I'd suggest Greece, but it depends what you're going for. Italy is very expensive (not just getting there, but everything you spend on while away), but still a lovely place.
I did Greece last year, so I suppose that's influencing my suggestion, but I absolutely loved it there. We stay in Lefkada (beautiful place, best view I've ever had where I've stayed abroad), and me and a friend travelled into Athens for a long weekend in the middle of the trip which was amazing.

[rockrunride]

(Original post by Emaemmaemily)
Personally I'd suggest Greece, but it depends what you're going for. Italy is very expensive (not just getting there, but everything you spend on while away), but still a lovely place.
I did Greece last year, so I suppose that's influencing my suggestion, but I absolutely loved it there. We stay in Lefkada (beautiful place, best view I've ever had where I've stayed abroad), and me and a friend travelled into Athens for a long weekend in the middle of the trip which was amazing.

That's interesting, I really want to visit Athens but I don't usually hear rave reviews