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TipsSend your tip suggestions to tips@tommytraveller.com
Hi Tommy I am
travelling for the first time abroad. I am landing in Thailand at
12 midnight and would like a YHA cheap hostel to stay in. Where is
an ideal place to stay nera the airport?
Jody
Black
Hi Jody It can be difficult to get to Bangkok late at night & find a cheap hostel. I am not aware of any YHA places near the airport but there is a 24 hour bus service that takes you to the Kho San Road area where you will get a room at whatever time you turn up and at 1am their will still be plenty of people about & bars open so you will be as safe as can be expected. I think otherwise you might find you pay a reasonable amount for a proper hotel. I hope it works out. If you find anywhere, let me know. Have fun, its a great place Tommy
Hi
Tommy
Hi Susie Peru is a fantastic place and you will have an amazing time there. I think the idea to go to Buenos Aires & Iguacu is an excellent one. Bs.As is my favourite city in S.America and there is loads to do & see there. The Iguacu Falls are in my opinion the most amazing falls in the world amd if yo ugo there plan to spend at least 2 days. Spend 1/2 day on the Brazilian side and then the nearby birdpark is excellent and if you have the cash don't miss the helicopter ride (about US$65). A full day is needed on the Argentine side & a boat ride under the falls is exilerating & amazing - prepare to be soaked though! If you can co-incide the visit a few days either side of the full moon then a moonlit walk to the falls is out of this world! I would stay on the Brazilian side if you can as the town is much more interesting & there are a lot more bars & restaurants. Not much happening in Puerto Iguazu. Try the restaurant Bianco on Kubichek in Foz for a great (and dirt cheap) feast including loads of great Brazilian meat & even chocolate pizzas!!! Don't knock them until you have tried them! Lima is worth a day or two but not much longer and really only for the museums (Museo de la Nacion is probably the best in S. America). Santigo is nice but there is not that much to do there. Better off starting in Bs.As or Rio. It would also be possible to get a day or two in at the Pantanal (see my story on it if you started in Rio) but you wouyld be flat out to do it all in 6 days (8 would be perfect). Arequipa is a beautiful city and I always love going there, its nestled under 3 volcanoes including El Misti which it is possible to climb (use good guides) and the Colca Canyon is breathtaking, especially if you get to see condors, of which ther is a good chance. Personally I think it is worth the drive. When I backpacked there I did a 2 day tour from Arequipa and it was well worth it. Its also possible to do a 2 day hike to the bottom & back. Hard work but amazing! Well, thats probably confused you even more! but whatever you do, you will have a great time! Let me know how it goes & feel free to ask more questions. Happy
travels Tommy
Hi Tommy I came across your web site while looking for information on traveling solo. Like many I know there is a bigger world out there that I want (need) to see. I am fantasizing about quitting my job to travel around S. America (and maybe beyond). Your site is definitely an inspiration! My only concerns are that I am getting older (32 years of age) and I work in the Information Technology sector. The age thing isn't that big of a deal I guess. As far as work, technology changes so quickly that I would not be marketable when I returned from an extended trip. Ideally I'd love to work for an adventure travel organization...leading groups, cooking...that sort of thing. Anyway, I have some questions for you (if you don't mind me asking, of course): 1) How old were you when you started your travels? 2) How much money did you have saved up before you left? 3) Knowing what you know now, would you do it again? 4) Am I just being overly cautious and foolish for not simply jumping into this? Because many of the nations you visited were British Commonwealth 's at one time I suppose you were able to get a work visa? As an American citizen I don't think they'd be as inclined to give me one as we're not exactly the most popular people in the world right now. Let's say that I decide to go through with my plan of traveling throughout S. America ...any tips for someone who has had very little international travel experience (other than going to Canada and New Zealand )? Thanks for a great site and any information you might have!!!! -david-
Hi David Your story sounds very familiar, I too was working in the IT sector wasn't sure about actually going & doing it but ended up telling enough people that I was going to that it was difficult to back down! At the time I was 29 but I didn't return to the UK (bar short visits) for 7 years! You'll meet plenty of people younger than you but also loads in their early 30s and people travelling solo up to 70 years old, so don't worry about age. I'm actually really glad I did it in my 30s as I appreciated things much more than I would have 10 years previous! I ended up working for Exodus as an expedition leader in South America, a job I loved. Travelling is actually seen as a very positive thing my a lot of employees these days. I left the UK with about $12,000, a lot of cash and I lived it up a lot and did everything I could for a year until the coffers dried up. After that I worked my way around the world picking up jobs from picking watermelons to delivring pizzas to business consultancy to english teacher to diving instructor (I learnt to dive and worked up to instructor level while travelling) as well as many other things to bring in a few dollars. I worked in Australia, Mexico, Argentina, Canada and was offered jobs in other countries too. I would love to do it all again and with my current job, still get to go away 3 or 4 times a year, mainly to South America. There is no doubt that I would do it again, even going back to many of the same places as well as discovering new ones. I'd do it with less money too, knowing that I could find work without many problems (any non-english speaking country needs native English speakers to lead classes, even without qualifications). I only had a working visa for Australia but I met loads of people working there without one. My best advice is: Buy a ticket now for 3 months time and just do it, you will never regret going but you will regret not going! South America is my favourite continent, an amazing place that has everything - great & friendly people, stunning white caribbean beaches, active snow-capped volcanos, barren deserts, rolling hills, dense rainforest, incredible and diverse wildlife, high mountains, canyons, culture, history & loads of fiestas! A good route to follow would be to fly into Quito, Ecuador (& do the Galapagos islands if you can afford it, about $1100) spend 2 or 3 weeks there and then head down to Peru, worth a month at least, its an incredibly diverse & beautiful country. Into Bolivia for a few weeks and then depending how much time you have, go down into Argentina & Chile for incredible scenery, massive glaciars and great steaks down in Patagonia. Travel back up via Buenos Aires to Brazil, visit the Pantanal then head to Rio. That will probably take around 4 months but could be done quicker or slower. Youcould always start in Mexico and travel all the way down, Central is a great place too, depends on what time you want to travel for (although once you have started you will always want longer!). You'll be able to find english teaching jobs in most cities along the way. When you have your ticket (Just buy it!) let me know & I can give you more detailed info! Good
luck, you'll never look back! Tommy
Hi Tommy Wow! Thanks for the information...I really appreciate it. I hope you don't mind, but I have a few questions to ask you... I love the idea of doing this but I'm thinking about all the things I would have to sell...my car, my house, pay off my credit card. What did you do with all of your worldly belongings from your home when you left? I was thinking about having a garage/estate sale. What sort of things did you bring with you? Did you use a backpack? Which did you enjoy more...traveling in SE Asia or S America? Right now I'm torn between the two. Thanks again... -david-
Hi again David Before I left the UK, I put most of the rest of my stuff into storage at parents & friends houses. To be honest, at the time I wasn't expecting to be away that long anyway! Since getting home recently I have found that I dont want or need a lot of the stuff so I've got rid of it one way or the other so a garage sale now would not be a bad idea!
I used an 80 litre backpack - big but I like to carry a reasonable amount of stuff. Didn't always use it all but thats just me. The advice you will always hear is to take as little as possible and I agree, it does become a pain lugging around a heavy backpack. Besides it is easy to get things along the way. You'll work out what you need & dont need along the way. I can highly recommend Mac Pack from New Zealand (but available most places - try the internet), I used one for 6 years and it is still going strong (if a little faded!), a side opening pack is better than top openening one. I loved SE Asia with the friendly people, the culture, the scenery and the diving, its an easy place to backpack too. The places I particularly liked & would recommend were Indonesia, The Philippines & Vietnam, also among the cheaper options! So much to do and see. South America is very different but no less amazing. It is far more contrasting and I would always choose it over SE Asia, but many other people would say the opposite. In S.America, it is tougher travelling and English isn't as widely spoken. More of a challenge, but I doubt you'll have any problems & after a couple of weeks there will think it all second nature! SE Asia is a backpackers Mecca, is easy to get to and is cheap, you therefore get a lot of people there (and I mean A LOT!) S.America has plenty of backpackers but is not over-run. You will always make friends & find someone to travel with where ever you go! If I were to do it all again I'd take as much money as I could & travel until I ran out then find work, save up & do it over again. I suppose, in S.America you could do a good trip with around US$6-7,000 lasting 6 or more months depending what you spent. Some advice on spending is that if you see something you really want to do and it is quite expensive - do it if at all possible. I find its better to get low on money, find work & carry on than to scrimp & save, miss out on things and regret it later. Remember, the chances of you actually going back to a particular place are close to zero! Cheers
for now Tommy
Dear Ian (Tommy), I assume by now you are back in England working hard (no more of this working in the pub in Cuzco stuff!!), and dreaming of the mountains and jungles of South America! Firstly, thank you SO MUCH for all the great tips and advice you gave us when we were in Honduras. We have followed so many of them. We were looked after very well by Muyuna - the perfect Amazon experience! Margoth at Andes Explorer put together the perfect Galapagos trip for us on Angelique - our time there couldn't have been better. So,as you know, there is nothing better than a recommendation, and yours have been perfect. But, the trip does not stop here. You mentioned Arara Lodge in the Pantanal when we were taking your notes. I know you said you get there from Corumba and that it is a bit of a pain - is there any way we can get in touch with them (phone number, website, email??). I can't seem to find them on the internet, and we are pretty keen to get there..... We are in La Paz at the moment, and are stuck here as the campesinos are protesting about all the gas that bolivia is exporting to Chile to be processed. Tomorrow we are biking the zongo valley and then on Wed we head south to Uyuni. While you're at it, can you recommend a company for the Salt Plains tour? Will check out the tommy site for other info..... Speak to you soon, Rachel and Chris xx
Hi Rachel & Chris, Sounds like La Paz & the whole of Bolivia is fun at the moment, we have atruck thats just come out, one that couldn't go in and another due in in a few days! Hope it sorts itself out soon! The person that does the bookings for Arara Azul is Cecilia Albuquerque of Destaque Turismo, her email is: cecimuniz@hotmail.com and phone number is 55 (67) 389-9910. The website is: www.pousadaararaazul.com.br There are loads of companies in Uyuni that do the salt flats, the most well known is Colque tours and another I've used is Esmaralda opposite the train station. They have both done good tours for me but it can be a bit of a lottery as all the companies have good & bad vehicles. It is definitely worth doing though, some of the most amazing scenery anywhere in the world. I would probably choose Colque if I did it again. Hope you get out of La Paz soon although its not too bad a place to be stuck! Have fun Tommy
Hi
Tommy,
Hi
Heidi, As for not leaving your hotel, I think that is a bit extreme! I would not advise wandering around too many unlit streets at night, but if you stick to the main busy areas you should be OK. The Zona Rosa is pretty safe, but make sure you get taxis there and back, and particularly at night - definately not the VW Beetles! I actually walked around a fair bit at night by myself & with others & had no problems. The worst problems were always in the Subway! Especially at Hidalgo station - avoid that one like the plague! I heard of 2 or 3 people that I knew getting pickpocketed every week in that station! Great things
to see & do there are: Xochimilco boat rides Visit to the pyramids
at Teotihuacan (a must!) Palacio de Bellas Artes Zocalo and the presidential
palace Coyacan - especially on Sundays Zona Rosa for food & bars Basically there is so much to do & see, you wont be bored. Dont worry too much about safety, but on the other hand take all the precautions and care. Most of
all...Enjoy it! Take
care.
Tommy,
Hi Marcus, Of course, some tips! In Town: Hike up Table Mountain - or, if you are a lazy bastard like me then you can take the cable car - amazing views, but try to pick a day with no or just a little cloud on top. The V&A Waterfront, great for restaurants, bars etc. Also take in an Imax there! Sunset champagne cruise on a Catamaran. I went out on the Fuji catamaran, bookable from the waterfront and it was amazing sitting in the netting over the water sipping bubbly! You can also do it on different types of boat. Greenmarket Square market, just off long street - some good crafty buys. The Purple Turtle (if it is still there!) on Long Street used to have some good bands playing. Check out some of the hostals to find out what is happening on the music scene. There is a fantastic Jazz bar, well worth a vist, but I can't remember what street its on! I do know it's upstairs and I think it is one block to the left of Long Street as you are looking towards the mountains. The fortress is well worth a walk round. The botanical gardens are really nice if you want to get all natury! Beeches - lots of good ones - Camps Bay, False Bay, all down along the Twelve Apostles. Lots of good restaurants in town. Go up Long St. to the top & take the right hand fork & you'll find more good restaurants & pubs. One with Blue in it's name was really good. Mama Africa on Long St. is excellent for eating crocdile & antelope & all sorts of African wildlife - not recommended for veggies! There are some Turkish Baths on the right at the top of Long Street. Find out from the hotel about a good shabeen (African drinking houses). I kow of the Sahbeen on Brie (Brie St.) But I have heard that maybe that area is getting a bit dodgy. I might be wrong though so check it out with your hotel. Paragliding, mountain biking, hiking, parachuting, quad biking, kayaking, bungy jumping and virtually any other extreme sport is available. Outside the city: A trip to Robben Island to see Mr Mandela´s cell - good views of the city and mountain on that one too. A trip down to Cape of Good Hope is excellent - good chance of seeing antelope & stuff wandering the plains. There is a boat trip you can do in the day too which takes you out to see sea lions & other marine wildlife. Well worth it. You might even see whales if the season is right on the drive down the coast. A trip to Stellanbosh should not be missed. It is the wine growing area. You can get a trip along the wine route in a minibus - certainly all the hostals do them for pretty cheap - Be prepared to come back sloshed! You can rent a car cheap & head off down the garden route - amazing scenery, beautiful beaches. You do need 5 or 6 days to do it well though. Township tours are supposed to be good, although I didn't do one so I cant give you first hand info. You will see them almost as soon as you get out of the airport. Sobering! Go Kloofing in the mountains - involves jumping off ridiculously high rocks into small pools below - keep your legs closed or your se life may be over a lot quicker than you imagined! I can't remember how long you said you would be there for, but the above should keep you busy for a month or so! You really can't fail to have an amazing time in Cape Town.
Tommy
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