From resorts such as Zermatt and Verbier to Grindelwald at the foot of the Eiger there is plenty of variety on offer. You can even follow in the footsteps of royalty and celebrities at Klosters and St Moritz. Special offers such as two for the price of one on lift passes can frequently be purchased to make your holiday even more affordable.

Wengen is one of the most beautiful Alpine villages in Switzerland and it is also traffic free meaning those who really want to get away from it all will love the solitude. Stunning views across and down the valley, combined with some wonderful classic architecture make your ski backdrop truly breathtaking. In addition this is a great place for those who are just starting out on the slopes.

Arrive by mountain train and choose from an expanse of pistes, or try some of the other activities on offer including ice skating, curling, walking and tobogganing. Village nursery slopes are easily accessible while there is also a beginners park at Kleine Scheidegg make this the ideal location for those new to skiing.

Verbier is one of the premier resorts in French-speaking Switzerland boasting plenty of nightlife and casual yet creative cuisine. English style pubs are everywhere but there are also many French cafes for those looking for something a little more authentic. A network of cable cars and gondolas connect you with more remote satellite resorts. Athletes love this resort since it offers many difficult ski challenges, great for the more advanced levels.

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Today we’re going to have a look at South East Asia and how that can be done without blowing your budget. We’ll give you a few tips to save your money, see some interesting areas and perhaps go a little off the beaten track.

Thailand was one of the original budget travel destinations and while you can still do it on the cheap, the onset of mass tourism has made it a little harder in popular areas of the country. Travellers are recommended to fly into Bangkok, however, as the flight prices remain low and it’s a great starting point and a gateway for the rest of South East Asia.

Travel links from Thailand to Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia are cheap and easy and with low cost airlines operating between the major cities it’s really easy to get around on a shoestring. For those really looking to spend as little as possible, local buses and trains are a real experience.

If you want a little time by the beach you should head away from the islands in the south of Thailand and look further afield to places such as Sihanoukville in Cambodia, or Mui Ne and Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam. The scenery here is equally stunning as Thailand and you’ll be able to find wooden bungalows on the beach for a pittance. If the party atmosphere of the full moon forms part of your required travel experience, Sihanoukville or tubing down the Mekong in Laos will more than cater for your needs.

Travelling in South East Asia is as much about what you can see as what you can do, so head to Siem Reap in Cambodia and spend a few days marvelling at the temples of Angkor or travel to the ancient city of Hue in Vietnam. The cuisine in all of these South East Asian countries is absolutely delicious, so make sure you eat at the street vendors stalls as this will give you an authentic experience and will cost you next to nothing.

Budgeting is always about how much you spend when you’re there, but it’s also about going at the right time. As currency exchange rates can fluctuate, especially with the increased tourism in Thailand, it’s always important to compare currency exchange rates to ensure you make your trip at the best possible time.

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Image: Aesum

When in Rome, do as the Romans do, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot in order to enjoy its culture and history. In fact, Rome offers plenty of sights to see that won’t cost you a single dime. If you’re looking for accommodation that won’t damage your wallet, check out some great Rome hotel deals at Romehotels.org. Then prepare to spend even less on these following free activities.

Walk off that pasta

The Spanish Steps at the Piazza de Spagna make up a monumental staircase which climbs a steep slope between the plaza at its base to the church of Trinità dei Monti at the very top. Built in the early 1700’s, this stairway consisting of 138 steps is the longest and widest staircase in Europe. After exploring the plaza, go up the stairs and grab a seat to get a good view of the hustle and bustle below, and to do some people-watching: students, artists, tourists, and portrait-sketchers tend to hang out here.

Visit a pyramid and an ancient gate

Rome has its very own pyramid, which is not often a well-known fact. The Pyramid of Cestius is an ancient monument built in the Egyptian style in 18 BC to house the tomb of the magistrate Gaius Cestius. One of the best-preserved ancient buildings in Rome, it stands 37 meters high and is situated right near the Porta San Paolo, one of the castle-like southern gates that form part of the 3rd century Aurelian Walls of Rome.

Spend an afternoon in the gardens at the Villa Borghese

A beautiful and expansive landscape garden which contains the museum Galleria Borghese, the Villa Borghese is the second largest public park in Rome. It was remade into an English-style garden after Cardinal Scipione Borghese transformed his former vineyards in 1605 into the most extensive gardens built in Rome since Antiquity. Bring a picnic along, take a walk through its serene setting, and be sure to check out the lake and the different villas scattered throughout the gardens.

Zig-zag through the streets of Trastevere

To experience a more authentic side of town, you can’t miss this trendy neighborhood filled with winding, narrow streets, restaurants, squares, and bars. Trastevere was once the home of sailors, artisans, and fishermen, and during the Imperial Age, several important figures, including Julius Caesar, built their villas in this neighborhood. Along with vivid colors, an ebullient energy, and a younger, less touristy crowd, Trastevere also boasts two of the most ancient churches in Rome.

Take a free walking tour of the Pantheon

Every evening at 7 pm, Angel Tours offers a free 30-minute tour of the Pantheon starting at its steps. An impressive monument built as a temple to all the ancient Roman gods in 126 AD, the Pantheon is worth visiting to see its grand columns, dome, and oculus. Just remember that it’s closed on Sundays.

Enjoy free shows at the summer festival

During Rome’s main summer festival, Estate Romana, the entire city becomes the site of hundreds of theater performances, concerts, art exhibitions, film showings, and dances, many of which are free to the public. Watch a play in a setting of ancient ruins, or enjoy an evening jazz concert in an illuminated plaza.

Visit an old crypt decorated with bones

For the more adventurous, the crypt of the Capuchin friars at the ConventodeiFratiCappuccinioffers a strange and chilling sight: since 1631, the bones of 4,000 deceased friars adorn the walls and ceiling. Visit the crypt of skulls, the crypt of pelvises, and the crypt of leg bones, all elaborately decorated with the bones of their respective names — creepy to believe, but true.

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Argentina

Argentina has an abundance of breathtaking scenery, particularly the northern highlands, which have some great roads and scenic towns and villages all within a relatively short distance of one another. South of the city of Salta, along Ruta 68, are the imposing Quebrada de Cafayate, a fabulous range of red mountains and rock formations. The scenery shifts again as you enter Argentina’s wine-growing region and then visit the remote, pre-Inca ruins of Quilmes. This road trip is best tackled in an all-terrain vehicle that can comfortably handle the country’s many gravelled, unfinished roads.

Bolivia

At the heart of the continent lies Bolivia, a country that borders five other South American nations and offers one of the world’s most notorious road trips, known as ‘Death Road’. The 35-mile stretch between La Paz and Coroico quickly ascends into dense rainforest and has some extreme drop-offs and precarious single-lane roads that can be made even more hazardous by rain and fog. Although a truly awesome road it should be treated with extreme caution as it is estimated that between 200 and 300 travellers are killed each year on this road.

Brazil

If mountain roads, deadly or otherwise, aren’t your thing, it may be worth considering a trip along some of Brazil’s magnificent coastal roads. There is almost 1,400 miles of coastline between Sao Luis to Rio de Janeiro, much of it littered with small, secluded beaches as well as all of the other natural and cultural highlights the country has to offer. Anyone wanting to take this road trip needs to consider that there is a lot of driving to do with some huge distances between towns, so top up with gas at every opportunity.

Chile

The altiplano area of northern Chile highlights all of the natural wonders this country has to offer, from snow-capped volcanoes to desert mountains via pre-Inca ruins and adobe villages built into cliff sides – you get the lot. This trip will take you across some rugged roads so it is best that you hire a vehicle with 4-wheel drive and be sure to stock up on fuel as petrol stations are few and far between.

Colombia

Colombia has coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea and its flat coastal lowlands and tropical climate make it perfect for a coastal road trip. Alternatively, you can travel further inland and experience the spectacular countryside of the central highlands and Andes Mountains. One word of warning about Colombia, however. It appears to be home to the world’s worst and least considerate drivers and is definitely not one for the inexperienced driver.

1. Replace the casual ‘hello’ and expect to be greeted with a ‘G’day Mate’/’How ya doing mate’/ ‘You right mate?’ …. You will soon become everyone’s ‘mate’ and everyone will be your ‘mate’.

2. ‘Chavs’ are known as ‘Bogons’ on this side of the world

3. When asking the local guy where the nearest ‘alcohol shop is’ expect to be corrected and directed to the local ‘Bottle O’/ ‘Bottle Shop’.

4. Making out with the hot guy/girl in the club is referred to as ‘pashing’

5. ‘Last night was so much fun’ becomes ‘last night was heaps of fun and totally awesome guys’

6. You will no longer be ordering an ‘orange juice’ at the bar/restaurant but an ‘OJ’ (that’s obv an OJ… with vodka unless it’s before midday of course

7. ‘Plans for “this afternoon” will be abbreviated to ‘what’s the plan “this arvo” guys’

8. The hot guy/girl at the beach/in the club has got ‘spunk’ … and when you want the annoying guy/girl in the club to get lost tell them to ‘rack off’.

9. You will find yourself asking for the local ‘hotel’ and not ‘pub’ when wanting to have a beer (I find this most bizarre, I thought hotels accommodated guests for sleeping!!)

10. Grab your “thongs and sunnies” – Put on your “flip flops and sunglasses it’s time to catch some waves”

11. ”After having a ‘barbie on the beach’ you’ll be feeling “chocka” (aka full-up)

12. When you turn up late and there are no seats left on the Oz Party Bus, it no longer ‘sucks’ but ‘shivers’

13. You’ll be paying with X amount of ‘bucks’ to stay in the hostel, not ‘dollars’

14. When you get to your hostel and your bed hasn’t been made you will need to go to reception and ask for a “doona” … not “duvet”.

15. Need the ‘toilet’…. You now need the “dunny”

16. When you’re daydreaming watching the world go by down by the Harbour you are “away with the pixies”.

17. If you are from England don’t be surprised when the hostel staff/bar tender/shop assistant/random on the bus overhearing you speak, gets excited and says ‘oh wow you’re a pom/pommie/pommy

18. All ‘biscuits’ are known as ‘cookies’ in the land down under… even if they don’t have choc chip pieces in them they are still called ‘cookies’ over here!

19. You will start calling ‘sweets’, ‘lollies’ these include all sweets and not just lollies on a stick aka ‘Chupa Chups’ as we know them back home etc.

20. When all your ‘vests/strap tops’ are dirty/have holes in them you will be re-buying some more in the name of ‘singlets’.

21. When it’s time to up and leave one hostel and move on to the next, it’s time to grab your ‘kit’… not your ‘backpack’!

Written by GYE contributor Hayley Woolf.

A lot of people headed to South East Asia will be seeing more than one country. Often it’ll be Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and sometimes Laos too. Burma is less frequented because of ongoing human rights issues, with the United Nations reporting incidences of child labour, human trafficking and limited freedom of speech with great frequency. As such, many backpackers boycott the country, although the more up-market trips to Burma seem less affected by politics.

Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam are all at different stages of development. Thailand has long been the most developed of the three countries, with the other two looking up to it. The slight drawback of Thailand doing so well, is that once unspoiled beaches are now hideously over-developed, and not the images of paradise they once were.

Patong Beach on Phuket is a perfect example of this. Here you will find thousands of tourists milling around the vast number of themed bars with Thai lady boys attempting to lure them in with a flutter of their beautiful eyelashes. And Ko Pha Ngan has become overcrowded with the number of backpackers, seemingly increasing each year as more and more kids take gap years after school.

At home, loads of travel agents put up beautiful images of Phuket in their shop windows. It is the number one destination in Thailand. But as an alternative to Phuket for your holiday, or Ko Pha Ngan, why not go to Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam? Here you can sit on the beach as much as you like and take breaks to do really cool things like motorbiking on the open dirt track roads, or sea kayaking or scuba diving. Photos of you doing all three will beat close-ups of your face any day.

John Hutchinson has enjoyed travelling since he was a young boy when his parents first took him to visit family overseas. Since leaving home, John has tracked down family all over the world and regularly jets off to faraway lands to see distant relatives.

There are several dishes in Vietnam that are regional delicacies. The one you’ll probably hear about the most is beef noodle soup – you may struggle with trying everything if you’re a vegetarian, but you can always try the most similar vegetable-based dish on the menu.

Bún bò Huế or spicy beef noodle soup originated in Huế. It is made with beef bones, shrimp paste (something you will find in many Vietnamese dishes), dried chilli and lemongrass. The best place to eat Bún bò Huế is probably in Huế. Huế is set on the Perfume River, so called because of the scent that emits from the local flowers that drop into the water. Huế has many great restaurants. In keeping with the chilling out vibe, taking a boat up the river before your meal to lazily explore some of the hillsides and pagodas is a lovely way to while away a day.

It is worth noting that because of the French occupation in the 19^th century, you will find amazing pastries in many places in Vietnam. Particularly good, are those in bakeries in the French influenced buildings in Hoi An, where you might have stopped because your guidebook tells you about the tailors here, who can whip up a suit or dress in less than three days for you. Hoi An has its own speciality dish – Cao Lau. Cao Lau usually consists of thick noodles with basil or mint, served with green vegetables or salad and with thin pork slices and croutons on top. Enjoy.

John Hutchinson has enjoyed travelling since he was a young boy when his parents first took him to visit family overseas. Since leaving home, John has tracked down family all over the world and regularly jets off to faraway lands to see distant relatives.

The Snow and Cold on Mount Washington, New Hampshire

This city is located in the White Mountains along the east coast of the United States. It has been labelled “Home of the World’s Worst Weather.” Being 1,917 meters above sea level, the city is known for extremely cold temperatures, heavy snowfalls even during summer months and high wind speeds year-round. Geologically, the reason for the extreme weather is due to the height and the location of the city. Nestled in a high valley among the mountain range, the city is situated in a corridor and receives constant winds from both the Atlantic Ocean, and the western side of the mountains.

Papua New Guinea Volcanoes

The country is known for extreme rainfall and volcanic activity. The country is located 160 kilometres north of Australia and is on the south-western Pacific Ocean. Typically 2,000 millimetres of rain will fall per year but some areas receive more; especially during the monsoon season which occurs in the winter. Papua New Guinea is home to “Ulawan” which has been dubbed the “Decade Volcano” due to its recent volcanic activity and its close proximity to human population.

Typhoons in the Philippines

This country experiences many typhoons and earthquakes throughout the year and contains three active volcanoes. The Philippines is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is an area in the Pacific Ocean that is home to high seismic activity and extreme tropical climate. Approximately 30 typhoons will hit the country in a given year.

The Heat in Death Valley, California

Located in the Mohave Desert valley near the California and Nevada border within the USA, this valley has earned its name through its reputation of having extremely hot and dry weather. Temperatures normally reach 49 degrees Celsius during the day. The high temperatures are due to the depth of the valley; the high mountains surrounding it don’t allow for adequate air flow and the air becomes trapped with little room for movement. In addition, the trapped air prohibits clouds from moving in and providing rainfall.

Australian Droughts
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the south-eastern portion of Australia has experienced extreme drought conditions in the past decade. Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland are the hardest hit areas and have had some of the highest rainfall deficits recorded, which in turn affected both domestic flights and tourism within the country. Between the years 2002 and 2010 the area only received 10% rainfall. Scientists at the National Centre for Atmospheric Research partially blame the recent increase in droughts to the global warming, but this area is known to have natural shifts in rainfall patterns which lead to on going drought conditions.

Whether approached by land or water, the Rock can be seen from miles away. Jutting out into the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean this famous port has been a haven for many a tired ship for centuries. Greek sailors saw it as the end of their known world, while today’s tourist also knows it as a haven (from tax) making its jewellery, electronic goods, perfume and liquor stores extremely popular.

The Rock is not an island, but is connected to mainland Spain by a thin strip of land. Gib, as its residents and regular visitors affectionately call it has been British since being captured by British and Dutch Marines in 1704, but has a history of Moorish, Arab, and Spanish occupation reflected in the buildings. Its location close to Spain, Portugal and Morocco and its function as a major port explains the multicultural society that prevails today.

To see the best of Gibraltar a trip up to the heights of the rock itself is paramount. Local tourist guides in their ubiquitous minibuses will negotiate the roads that go right along the narrow spine of land at the very top, where the rock falls away on one side to the Mediterranean and to the Atlantic on the other. It is recommended to leave your hire car in one of the towns many car parks.

The highlights of an upper rock tour include the Great Siege Tunnels dug out by the British in the late 18^th Century when France and Spain held Gib to siege for 4 long years. The tunnels were dug to allow the guns to fire sideways at the forces entrenched too close to be hit from exterior locations. These tunnels were extended in 1940 to create a great fortress under Churchill’s orders. Both sets of tunnels, an amazing 50 km of passages, are now open to the public.

Natural tunnels have also hollowed out the rock, caused by water draining down through the limestone over the centuries and St Michael’s Caves are another must see on the rock tour. The caverns with towering stalactites and stalagmites, an underground lake, and even a concert hall, are an incredible sight and photography is allowed so the journey inside the rock can be remembered.

The taxi drivers will also know the best places to see groups of the Barbary Apes, which roam free on the rock. These are the most entertaining creatures, often seen with young clinging to them, but it should be remembered that they are wild animals and should not be touched or fed. They can cause horrific injuries if provoked.

The 6.5 square kilometres of Gibraltar is a unique environment, which must be experienced at least once in a lifetime.

Linda Endersby spent 19 years in the airline industry enabling her to visit many beautiful places across the world. As well as writing about the places she loves, weekends as a bookseller offer her fabulous opportunities to research future destinations.

1) end up in a Turkish prison

2) and well…there isn’t really a number two.

The long and the short of it is “don’t end up in prison.” Think of it that way and the entire world is going to open itself up to you. I don’t really want to talk about the “where” in this post, that’s for you to figure out. I want to talk about the “why”. Yes, also something for you to work out on your own, but I figure if I already have your attention, why not drop some knowledge.

The Why (catchy, isn’t it?)

Everyone who takes the fabled gap year trip has their own reasons for doing so. You may think that it isn’t as important as where you go, but if you think about it, the why directly influences the where…which circles back to the what (the trip itself). Who’s on first? Never mind.

Is your trip meant to open your eyes to the world around you? Do you want to immerse yourself in different cultures, live like the locals and slowly realize that it’s a big wonderful world? Then you’re going to want to pack it off to a place where something like that’s possible, and likely not a place that just drips of “tourist trap”. You need to be a traveler, not a tourist.

What about if you want to use the time to help others? Give back to your global neighbors and pitch in your part to help humanity raise the bar a bit? Charity work it is! Get yourself together with an international aid organization and see where it goes from there. Just a word to the wise: please be safe. Some of the places that need help most are the places with an unsavory rep. Going with a well known and respected organization is generally better than showing up wide-eyed with a pack slung across your back.

Not that any of you would ever really want to think this way, but what if your trip was more about fueling a few hours, weeks, months and maybe years (no prison, no prison, no prison) with fun fueled debauchery? Best not show up to a country where alcohol isn’t permitted, or prices are sky high, or the drinking age is something you can limbo under instead of step over. Follow my meaning?

The gap year trip can be a life-changing experience if that’s what you’re going for. Something that forever shapes the person that you want to and will become. Before you set out to spend significant time and money someplace, think about why you want to go there. No need to write a manifesto about it, or a pithy post on the internet (wink), but just get a solid idea and then run with it. Safe trip and travels!

Steve Zimmermann has drank with Aussies in Italy, danced on floating stages in Austria, sailed with dolphins in St. Vincent and pulled boats through creeks in Ireland.  He is a Lancaster, PA based writer who worked on the PR side of travel tourism before embarking on a career as a copywriter who happens to do a lot of traveling.  Follow him @zedcreative and say hello.

Think you’ve heard some crazy stories? Here’s a list of the Top 13 Strangest Hotel Guest Requests:

1. So, How About That Airline Food?

Airline food may be the butt of a lot of stand-up comedy jokes, but one guest at the InterContinental Los Angeles Century City took his airline cuisine very seriously, preferring the meals served at the hotel. Astonishingly, the concierge went the extra mile to help the guest enjoy a pleasant meal on his flight back home by specially delivering a smoked salmon pizza, complete with stainless steel silverware just before take-off. 

2. Speaking of Salmon…

Apparently, hotel guests have a thing for fish, but this one preferred hers living, with a specific living space. According to HotelClub, one guest submitted the following request: “I would like a fish tank in my room that is sized approximately 30 cm and fully stocked before confirming this booking."

3. Got Milk?

Those who take advantage of cheap hotels don’t usually get to enjoy the luxury of spa services, but for a guest at Kiev’s Premier Palace hotel in Ukraine, the basic spa treatment just didn’t cut it. This guest demanded his bathtub to be with milk, from a glass bottle only. Although it took hours, the staff managed to fill it to the brim with the fresh dairy products.

4. Can We Mow Your Lawn?

Perhaps one of the least difficult requests, a guest who was holding a lawnmower convention at a Best Western requested permission to test out some of the new gear on the hotel property to see how well it worked.

5. Love Connection

Concierges are not only capable of bringing you extra towels, but a new wife as well. The concierge at the InterContinental hotel in Hong Kong fulfilled a guest’s request to ask the woman of his dreams to dinner on his behalf. Not only that, but the concierge also scheduled the date in the Verandah restaurant, and arranged for the hotel’s Rolls-Royce to transport the woman there. It was all worth the trouble, because the couple married shortly after.

6. Can You Turn Down the Ocean?

Most people find the sound of crashing ocean to be comforting and relaxing, but not the guest at the Gran Hotel Elba Estepona & Thalasso Spa in Spain, who claimed that the sounds of the crashing ocean waves were bothersome and asked the concierge to do something about the noise. Guess the luxury of beach-front was too much for him; he should have just compared cheap hotels for something less noisy.

7. Wild Things

A man visiting his girlfriend in Miami, Florida as all set on having her move back to London with him, but the girlfriend had one condition: that her pet tiger accompany her on the trip. The couple arranged this request with the concierge and the tiger was able to make it back with no problems.

8. Art Lover

One especially eccentric guest from The Stafford in London requested the concierge assist him in his quest to see every painting ever created by Vermeer. The only problem was that one was a part of the queen’s private collection in Buckingham Palace. Despite the obstacle, the concierge was able to schedule a visit for the grateful guest.

9. A Very Good Night’s Sleep

One couple opted to spend the extra money for a luxury hotel instead of cheap hotels on their vacation to China. A good idea, too: when they first lie down on the luxurious beds at the Shanghai Mansion hotel in China, the couple was so impressed that they asked the concierge to ship the entire bedding set back to their home in Europe.

10. Snakes in a Hotel?

The concierge at the Four Seasons Tented Camp, located in Thailand, fulfilled a customer’s request to have photographs taken of his children with a snake. After calling a local friend who owned a giant python, the guests were delighted with their pictures, taken with the 12 foot long, 265 pound snake right on the hotel property.

11. You Can’t Take It With You… Or Can You?

An American couple, visiting Monasterio Cuzco in Peru, asked the staff of the Chef Concierge Hotel if they could take the red clay tiles covering the roofs of the nearby buildings. The concierge was able to ship duplicate tiles back to their home in the United States with a total cost of $200 for the tiles and $6,000 for the shipping.

12. True Dog Lovers

Two guests at Switzerland’s Swiss Diamond Hotel requested an extra executive deluxe room room—in addition to the executive deluxe room already booked—for their "beautiful dog" to stay for the standard rate of $300 per night.

13. Rugby Enthusiast

An Australian rugby fan staying at the Ritz-Carlton in Georgetown, D.C. requested 24-hour access to the rugby channel in Australia. The concierge honored the request by installing a satellite dish, talking it over with the Dish Network, and setting up the station just for the guest.

So, after all that…do you still think you’re a pain for asking for more towels? You’re not. Chances are the staff has heard much more interesting requests.

This guest post was written and provided by freelance writer and consultant Erica Gustafson for Expedia.

In Dakar, most restaurant prices are comparable to those of the Western world and groceries can be sky-high ($12 a head for broccoli?!). But if you’re savvy about a few key things, you can explore this West African hub on a backpacker’s budget.

Don’t Even Think About Renting a Car

Public transportation in Dakar is lacking for a decent-sized city. There is no rail system and the bus system is often discouraged for foreigners for safety reasons. (Violent crime in Senegal is virtually nil, but petty theft is common.) A car is indeed the easiest way to traverse the town – but let someone else do the driving. A rental car will cost about $500-600 for a week’s time and many rentals are equipped with manual transmission.

Rather than visiting the rental car counter when you touch down at Senghor International Airport, opt to take taxis (and do your fair share of walking). Taxis are much cheaper than in Western countries, with a 15-minute ride costing about $3 USD. Negotiate your price before you hop in the back seat to make sure you’re getting a fair rate; cab drivers in Dakar are notorious for overcharging tourists.

Offer to Housesit for an Expatriate

Hotel rooms in Dakar can be found in all ranges of prices and quality. Expect a decent budget hotel to run about $60 a night at the low end; cheaper accommodations can be found, but many places don’t have a web presence for pre-booking. If you don’t want to take your chances on finding a room once you arrive and you want to save some cash, offer to housesit for one of the many expatriates who reside in Dakar.

The United States embassy in Dakar has a weekly newsletter that features free classified ads; contact the embassy at least a few weeks before you come to West Africa and offer your services. You might have to exchange some light cleaning duties or pet care for your stay, but you’ll likely be staying in a nice apartment or house in a safe part of the city and have internet access. Alternatively, you could offer to stay with a family and do some basic household duties in exchange for a room.

Drink at a Surf Shack – Not a Hotel

Dakar’s hotel restaurants can be appealing; many have rooftop views and swank lounges. But the drinks can be expensive; I recently ordered a simple vodka and orange juice at the Hotel Fleur de Lys in the affluent Almadies neighborhood and shelled out about $15 USD.

The beach shacks that line Dakar’s surfer-friendly beaches offer much more affordable options, in addition to outdoor seating right next to the crashing waves of the Atlantic. Try a Flag or Gazelle, two local brews that get positive reviews from many beer-imbibers.

Be Prepared to Drop Some Dough on Dinner

Budget meals can be hard to come by in Dakar. It’s easy to find a mid-priced meal; if you’re willing to spend about $8 USD, you can find good crepes, burgers or a variety of local fare at many different restaurants. Truly cheap meals of the dollar variety are more difficult to find. If your French is decent and you’re feeling bold, you can step inside one of the cloth-doored restaurant shacks found on many side streets and ask what they’re serving up.

A better strategy might be skimping on lunch and allowing yourself a little budgetary freedom at dinner. Buy some lunch staples at a grocery store or corner stand and save your cash for enjoying one of Dakar’s many worthwhile dinner locales. There’s no shortage of types of food to be had, with Italian, Indian, French and Moroccan fare available along with traditional Senegalese dishes such as yassa poulet (a roast chicken dish accompanied by a rich, onion-y sauce). Just plan your timing accordingly; many restaurants don’t open their doors for dinner until 7 p.m. or later.

Rachael Cullins is an American freelance writer living in Dakar, Senegal, with her husband and two dogs. She will reside in Dakar until summer 2013, when she and her family will move to another foreign locale. She blogs about her expatriate experiences at Girl Guy Globe and tweets at @rachaelcullins

São Paulo is the economic engine that’s driving the Brazilian boom, and as such, it’s the city where most of the money is. Paulistanos – as the city’s 11 million residents are called – do work hard, but they play just as hard, as evidenced by the thousands of gourmet restaurants, music venues, and nightclubs sprinkled throughout the city. A weekend in Rio is cute. A week in São Paulo is hardcore. But if you’ve got to change planes at Guarulhos anyway, you might as well do a quick stop-over; a couple days’ll do ya, and you’ll be glad you did.

WHAT TO DO

For the full-on dystopian chaos that São Paulo does best, hang out in the Centro (daytime only) near the Theatro Municipal or the Rua 25 de Março shopping corridor and watch the parade of kooky, real-life characters pass by. The Avenida Paulista business strip is all hustle and bustle during the day – check out the eclectic São Paulo Art Museum (MASP) or lush Parque Trianon just across the street. If crowds aren’t your thing, verdant Parque do Ibirapuera has thoughtful architecture and museums, the Museu Afro Brasil and the Contemporary Art Museum (MAC) among them. Funky Vila Madalena has art galleries and bohemian boutiques out the wazoo, while slick and sexy Jardim Paulista is but one of the city’s upscale stomping grounds.

WHAT TO EAT

São Paulo’s food is all about the immigrant communities that give the city its flavor: Japanese delights with a side of karaoke in Liberdade, Mediterranean goodies at Athenas on Rua Augusta, pizza at Braz or full-on Italian in the Bixiga neighborhood, and Saturday feijoada – Brazilian soul food – at St-Etienne in Jardins.

WHERE TO PLAY

Get your samba on at Ó do Borogodó or Bar Mangueira. Bourbon Street Music Club and the Orleans keep it cute for the jazzy-belles. Hip-hop heads roll to Clash Club on Tuesdays, Glória on Thursdays, and Joy Club on Fridays. For rock and/or house, hit the Baixo Augusta strip. Rua Frei Caneca is the gay strip, but lady-lovers do The L Club on Fridays while the guys hit The Week on Saturdays. Everybody ends up at down-and-dirty Love Story for the grimy after-hours.

WHERE TO STAY

CouchSurfing is huuuuuuuuuge in São Paulo, and a local friend is almost essential to get the most out of the city. Otherwise, there’s Airbnb.com (though they’ve been shady lately), inexpensive Formule 1 hotels, and the regular, overpriced international chains.

For more info on São Paulo.

This guest post was written by Ernest White II from Fly Brother. You can also follow on Twitter @FlyBrother

In fact if you close your eyes and picture Thailand a hundred or so years ago, before it became a mainstream destination, you could almost be imagining sleepy Laos.

Arriving in the capital, Vientiane, the first thing that strikes you is how quiet it is. You’d never guess it was a capital city if you didn’t already know, and there are few sights to keep you there for long. It’s a pleasant place to spend a couple of days, though – dotted with crumbling French colonial villas, Buddhist temples, French restaurants and riverside bars where you can watch the world go by on the immense Mekong River.

One of the main attractions in Laos, however, is its natural beauty and potential for adventure sports and activities. Whether you’re into climbing, kayaking, rafting or river tubing, there’s plenty to keep you busy on the rivers and up the mountains. One of the country’s main ‘centres’ for outdoor activities is the pleasant riverside town of Vang Vieng, which is surrounded by awesome, rocky limestone Karsts that point skywards, filled with deep caves and caverns. Hordes of travellers flock here and often find themselves staying longer than planned, seduced by the beautiful scenery and laid-back backpacker atmosphere. There are lots of places o visit from the town, including waterfalls and rural villages, and it’s well worth hiring a bike to explore independently if you have a map or a GPS (or just a very good memory!).

Another of the country’s most famous attractions is the mysterious Plain of Jars in Xieng Khuang province, a vast area dotted with hundreds of huge stone ‘jars’ of unknown origin. There are five popular sites to visit, all within reach of the town of Phonsavan, serving up some completely unique photo opportunities.

Perhaps the most memorable place of all in Laos, however, is the gorgeous northern capital of Luang Prabang. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed city is completely captivating, with a small town feel and some great backpacker hostels and cafés. The oldest part of the city is perched on a tiny peninsula created by the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers, surrounded by misty mountains – climb to the top of Sacred Hill (Phou Si) to watch the sun set for some spectacular views. The city’s best-known sights include the ancient Golden City Monastery (Wat Xiang Thong) and the Royal Palace Museum, but most enjoyable of all is just soaking up the lazy atmosphere, taking in the lovely French provincial-style architecture from colonial times, and enjoying freshly baked bread and coffee in one of the many backpacker cafés.

This post was written on behalf of InsureandGo, which offers award-winning travel insurance – including special policies for backpackers.

Compact camera

A good quality compact camera will give you years of good service at a fraction of the price of a SLR or film camera. Most compact cameras are small and light enough to tuck in pocket and take anywhere and if you stick a few spare batteries and memory cards in your luggage you will never be caught short when that perfect photo moment arrives. Some models are even water and dust resistant, useful features even if you aren’t walking across deserts or diving with sharks

Smart phone

A smart phone is truly one of the great revelation in the history of travel gadgetry. A smart phone will not only let you make calls and send messages but will put a web browser, camera, GPS navigator and e-reader in your pocket. They are perhaps a little fragile to take on more adventurous trips but the myriad of applications for them makes a smart phone a 21^st century swiss army knife, just make sure you are insured in case you of loss or damage.

Noise-cancelling headphones

Ah yes, there is nothing like a nice long flight or bus ride. A pair of good noise-cancelling headphones will reduce your travel fatigue markedly byt giving you your own little pool of calm and quiet no matter where you may find yourself. Make sure the model you choose includes a jack to plug into airline entertainment systems and carry some spare batteries.

E-reader

The humble e-reader has come a long way. The first generation of clunky and frankly ugly readers has evolved into a much more elegant family of gadgets that are well suited to the needs of a frequent traveller. Lightweight, with batteries lasting weeks rather than days and capable of holding entire libraries of books an e-reader is a very useful thing to pack. Imaging carrying all the travel guides, dictionaries and language books you need in the palm of your hand rather than dragging them across the world, like a paper ball-and-chain. Pack more souvenirs and fewer books for those long flights.

Universal power adapter kit

While not as sexy as a smart phone, a universal power adapter is a must-have if you are going on the road. It will allow you to charge all your gadgets without the need to carry around a whole bag of different wall socket adapters and keep your gadgets in good working order.

There is nothing like travelling and these five gadgets will make your life on the road a much easier and more pleasant experience. Make sure you pack all the necessary attachments and cables, fill in the warranty cards and get some travel insurance coverage to protect them and hit the road!

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