| Travel F&Q | Ten Travel Tips | ||
 | Questions answered about traveling in the tropics! |
 | Tips to help make your vacation run smoothly! |
• Knowledge is power. This is particularly important when it comes to weather. You don't want to arrive for your long awaited trip to St Tropez, sun block and swimmers in hand, to find a deserted, grey village in the middle of winter. And monsoon season in India could be best avoided. So have a general plan on where you are going to visit in which month and read up about the climate expectations. This will help you pack effectively too!
• Cultural difference. It's an unwritten rule that when we are travelling, we respect the culture of the country we are visiting. In many places this will be made obvious, wearing shorts and singlets to visit many famous churches and mosques, simply won't wash. And if women don't want to cover their heads it is best not to visit some Arab countries. To make things easy for everyone, make no waves and try not to antagonise locals, whether deliberately or not.
• Common sense. Sometimes it pays to stop and think, "Would I do this at home?". If the answer is no, it is wise to think again. We often get so immersed in the sense of adventure that we consider doing things we normally would never do. Not always a good idea.
• Arriving at your destination. Always aim to arrive in a new town during daylight. It is more difficult to get your bearings at nighttime. And then there are the added annoyances of bank and ticket offices being closed, public transport on a less frequent service and less options if you simply don't like where you've ended up!
• Reserve your accommodation. Especially during popular holiday times, it is worthwhile reserving accommodation in advance. Weeks ahead isn't always necessary, but your travels will run more smoothly if you've made a call ahead to ensure a bed will be available for you when you arrive. You can do this on line through www.hihostels.com. Or Hostelling International has an International Booking Network (IBN), which enables you to book accommodation 6 months ahead and pay in your local currency. This is a great idea for those first few nights of your big trip. Visit your nearest YHA Membership and Travel Centre to use IBN. Most hostels also accept reservations by e-mail and fax with your credit card details. While trying "Do you have a bed available for tonight?" in a foreign language, from a public telephone at a noisy railway station is all part of the travelling experience, it's not one you'll enjoy every day!
• Customs in other countries. To keep costs really low, in a few countries you may be asked to make your own bed and keep your room tidy, and do the odd chore around the hostel. Smoking is not allowed in bedrooms and most hostels are totally smoke-free. Some hostels may have a bar on the premises while others may be alcohol-free. In many countries, sleeping bags are not acceptable for reasons of hygiene: Bed bugs aren't fun! So buy a sleeping sheet from a YHA Membership and Travel Centre prior to departure - or hire one from the hostel.
