Earth2Eartha's Travel Hacks: Nifty Tips for the Practical Traveler

While I was still working for the ship, I held a series of talks for the crew, called, "Travel Talks with Eartha". It was a mini event arranged by our Crew Enrichment Director, open to anyone who's ever wanted to learn about how to travel smart, and on a budget, straight from a professional cheapskate like me.

I didn't expect the turnout to be as great as they were, that I actually had to do the events a few times to accommodate everyone that wanted to participate and learn. 

It was also really great to be able to share my story with everyone... Letting them know about alternative ways to travel, and getting out of their comfort zones.

I figured, since people were interested in the little tips and tricks I had to share, as well as the things I did on my travels that helped me stretch my dollar, I may as well write a post about it!

So to those of you on the ship who missed my talk, and to anyone else who's interested in the knowledge I've gained over the years of traveling, I bring you:

Earth2Eartha's Travel Hacks! Nifty Tips For The Practical Traveler!

ON BOOKING YOUR FLIGHTS

Google Flights

...is a revelation. It is my go-to website for looking at the cheapest flights available. It gives you a snapshot of the cheapest days to fly in a month, therefore giving you the best option, money-wise! I don't know about you - but I almost ALWAYS base my travel plans around the cheapest days.

For instance - above is a snapshot of the monthly/daily price comparisons of a one way flight out of LAX going to London (my usual destination). If you look at the month of December - it already highlights the cheapest days to fly out of the month. You may not see it, but December 5 and 6 are the cheapest at $180.

If, for instance, like me, you don't usually have a solid destination yet, but are flexible enough depending on the cost of the ticket to get there, Google also has this "Explore" feature that gives you an idea of price comparison per country/destination, coming from your home airport.

For example - On December 5, if I'm not satisfied with a $180 one way ticket to London, I can just type "Europe" as my destination, and this is what Google will show me:

It has all of the cheapest flights to all of those countries on the day that you pick, to give you an idea of cost.

Which brings me to my next point.

If You Want to Fly To Europe - Fly to London!

Not a lot of people know this, but flights to London from the US are usually very cheap (if you live in a big city). It is, in fact - the cheapest flight you can take to get out of the country to get to Europe (As I have illustrated in my previous example, prices start at $180 for December... And the flight I booked earlier this year only cost me $160 coming out of LAX)

Norwegian Airlines and Wow Air are two of the most affordable airlines at the moment. They are both International budget airlines, the latter of which came out more recently and is cheaper, but always has a stopover in Iceland. I, for one, am a very big fan of Norwegian Airlines because of their direct flights to London, and I've been flying with them for years! But on my upcoming trip this November, out of sheer curiosity (and blogging purposes), I decided to test out Wow Air to experience it for myself. (Watch this space for a review!)

When you get to London, the flights out of there to mostly anywhere in Europe is very cheap!

For instance, last year, I knew I wanted to go to Croatia. Instead of flying straight from LAX to Zadar and spend a little over $1000, I flew to London first, then took a flight out of there instead, thereby saving me about $500! Hurrah!

Set Up Price Alerts

Websites like Hopper and Airfare Watchdog notify you when the prices for the flights you are watching out for, drop! You can give them an estimated time - perhaps the week you'd like to travel, and where... And they will send you alerts when the prices go low!

Hopper in particular lets you know whether or not the prices are expected to rise after a certain date, and will give you solid advice by saying - "This is probably the lowest it will be, and so I'd book this now."

Airline Email Feeds and Frequent Flyer

A lot of airlines send you emails regarding "Flash Sales" or Promo's that Google Flights won't be able to show you (JetBlue, Southwest and United are examples). Signing up for ALL of the frequent flyer programs of any airline that you fly with is a good idea, too! Any trip that you take without accumulating some sort of miles is money wasted. 

Using Websites For Multi-Destination Travel

If you are planning to travel to a lot of destinations for a significant amount of time (6 weeks to a few months, maybe?) and you already know the countries/cities/places you'd like to visit - it may be worth it to use websites like AirTreks or BootsnAll. They make round the world or multi destination travel easier and simpler.

I used AirTreks on the first leg of my Round The World Trip where I traveled to about 7 or 8 cities in the span of 7 weeks. I find that it is best to call them to talk to an agent. They work with you regarding your dates and your destinations, and they give you all of the cheapest/practical options - considering not only price factors, but flight times and layovers as well.
I saved a LOT of money using their service, and they saved me a lot of time and effort figuring all of that stuff out myself.

DELETE Cookies!

A lot of the travel websites use your search history against you, and when booking flights - sometimes raise the prices based on your flight searches. "Cookie Tracking" is for realz. This has happened to me several times, (my laptop showed a significantly higher price on a flight than my friend's mobile device --- I did an experiment!) and so I have often made it a habit to delete cookies (or go on incognito mode!)and delete history on my phone and laptop!

Stopover Programs

There are several airlines that offer free stopovers - so that instead of waiting for a connecting flight, you are able to explore that city for a few days at no extra charge!

For instance, if you booked a flight to go to London via Icelandair or Wow, they will always have a layover in Reykjavik. Since you're already there - they will give you the option to "stopover" to explore Iceland for a few days, free of charge! And you can just hop on the flight over to London a few days later. 

The Airlines that I know of who offer Free Stopovers are:

Icelandair, Wow, Etihad, Hawaiian Air, Thai Air, Copa, Turkish Air, KLM, Air Canada, TAP Portugal and Finnair.

ON BOARD AND LODGING

Rather than staying at a hotel (which I am notoriously known to avoid), I have explored all other options, including the following:

• Staying with Friends and Family

• It really pays to know people all over the world! Be nice to everyone and you will be rewarded tenfold! :)

• Couchsurfing

• This is the option that raises a LOT of eyebrows, but I have had some amazing experiences (and one bad one) and met SO many interesting people through this website. The house or couch that you'll be staying in may be a hit or miss - so you'll have to be prepared for this, but the experience itself (because of the people you meet) is rewarding. Plus - it's absolutely free!

This is the home of one of my Couchsurfing hosts in New Zealand!

• Hostels

• When I was traveling by myself - I LOVED staying at Hostels. It's a great way to meet people, it's cheap, and it's always so much fun. I always made friends, staying at hostels... and some of my most exciting adventures while traveling happened with people that I've met at a hostel! Could be a roommate, or the staff, or just random people that I've met at the common area! There's a common misconception about hostels being really nasty --- but that's where your researching efforts come in! I myself only book hostels with raving reviews on Tripadvisor or Hostelworld... All you need to do is make a little effort.

One of the best hostels I've stayed in - Home in Lisbon, Portugal

• Airbnb

• Probably my favorite thing ever! It's a cheaper alternative to a hotel, it's has a very homely touch, you can choose to either be in a private home all to yourself, or book a room in a house and interact (as much or as less as you want) with the hosts and or other guests, you get a local/inside scoop on the city you are visiting - from a local's perspective, I mean - it's everything. (Airbnb, if you're reading this... would you hire me?)

This is one of my favorite Airbnb houses - Location: Bruges, Belgium

PACKING HACKS

First of all - do not over pack. Whatever you think you'll need, you'll most likely only use half of those... What I do is I lay out all the clothes and things I want to bring, and then once I think I have everything, I toss half of them back into my closet and stick to whatever I have. I've gotten so good at being an "underpacker", but even then, there are a few articles of clothing that I think I could have done without on previous trips!

• Use a BACKPACK

• It's easier than lugging a wheeled luggage around - especially in Europe.
  COBBLESTONES.

• Use Packing Cubes

• They keep things nice and organized

• Use Vacuum Sealed Packs

• They really REALLY give you a lot more space. And if you don't have a vacuum cleaner, it's okay... you can roll the air out of it manually!

• Use Compression Sacks

• Similar to a vacuum pack, only round, and squishes everything into a small ball.

• Roll. Don't Fold.

• You save a lot more space this way

• Dryer Sheets

• I leave a few sheets in my backpack to keep things laundry fresh!

VOLUNTOURISM (WORK EXCHANGE)

I call this my secret weapon. If you have at least a few weeks of vacation time and want to experience an alternative way of traveling, consider Volunteering via websites like WorkAway, HelpExchange, or WWOOFING.

You can work for a few hours a day in the location of your choosing, in exchange for board & lodging and food. I've written about my experiences on several of my blog posts. You can check them out here.

You don't get paid - but you're not shelling out any cash either. What you get in return is a wealth of experience and a big wad of fun! You get immersed in the culture, you learn first hand about their language, their food (my favorite bit!) and the way they live. Way more than what you would get from a random excursion, or from a guide book. My experiences voluntouring are some of the most memorable and unforgettable I have ever had. 

ON EARNING SOME MONEY FOR/WHILE TRAVELING

The key to making some money on the road (if you need it, or if you are traveling that long) is to USE YOUR SKILLS. Some of the things you can do - that I have seen other people do to earn a little bit of cash on the road are the following:

• Street Performing

• Are you a musician? Do you know how to play an instrument? Do you have rhythm? Use it! Throw down a hat and play for some cash on the streets. I have done this once myself, and in a country where no one knows who you are - It's a lot of fun!

• Sell Handmade Goods

• I've encountered a lot of people on the road who sell handmade jewelry, hair ornaments, etc! I have recently taken up knitting, and I fully intend to use my new found skills to use one day!

• Bartend 

• You'd be surprised, but a lot of hostels, and bars/restaurants hire skilled bartenders and pay them under the table.

• Teach English

• I have taught English (without a TOEFL certification) in Brazil, was paid cash, and was able to make a living and survive! I have a training background that helped me out - but honestly, what really got me hired was my American Accent. Brazil is not the only country that hires foreigners to teach English, either! And if you want to do it the legal way, well - I hear China, Japan, Korea and Prague are in need of English Teachers right now. It's a pretty good gig!

• Seasonal Work

• Check out websites like Cool Works to learn about seasonal employment. Get hired to work at a resort for 4 months, earn some cash, have fun, get some experience... and at the same time - explore the city/town/country that you're in on your days off! (This is exactly what I'm about to do this winter in Alaska!)

• Cruise Ship Work

• Ok - I know I just quit this job. But even if it's not for me anymore, doesn't mean it can't work out for you! Everything is paid for while you're working at the ship. You get to save all the money that you earn... And if you're lucky, you get assigned to a ship that goes to your dream destination, like Australia or The Baltics, or Western Europe! Then you go on vacation for months at a time --- and if you want to keep traveling, you can!

• Work Online

• Everyone is a digital nomad nowadays! Try to check out websites like Upwork or FlexJobs for online work! You can get a part time or full time gig, depending on the hours that you can give. There are also a lot of online English Classes that you can do (VIP Kid or 51Talk are a couple examples), and the hours are very flexible! The sky is the limit!

And there you have it! These are some of the things I've learned along the way that I thought maybe could help anyone who's interested in practical travel! I hope this helps get your foot out the door!

What are your own personal travel hacks? Please share by posting in the comments section below. :)

My Worst Travel Experiences

On my previous post about traveling alone, I've mentioned that my purse was stolen in Buenos Aires, and said it was probably the worst thing that's ever happened to me while I was on the road.

Uh.. That's actually..... debatable.

Even though I did lose about 500 USD, my credit cards, ID, and phone, and I felt completely violated... there were actually a couple more "unspeakable" incidents that never made it to this blog... and i didn't write about it then - for several reasons. The biggest of which is that I didn't want anyone to worry about me, especially my family.

Why write about it now? Well - I guess I thought maybe people could learn a thing or two from what had happened to me. I used to have a little shame or embarrassment about it in the past because I wanted to encourage people to get out there and see the world, or at least get out of their comfort zones ---- NOT scare them away.

Looking back though, I guess they weren't THAT scary anyway. And if anything, I'd like to make sure that everyone understands that with good preparation, a proper mindset and sheer willpower (OK, and maybe a little bit of luck), there's always a way to get yourselves out of danger. 

THE ONE ABOUT THE ABOMINABLE AUSTRALIAN BOGAN

I was in Uruguay doing the backpacking route down the coast of the country jumping from one beach to the other when I came across a really nice and fun hostel by the shore.

It was one of those places where everyone that was staying there just became quick friends because of how the bar and the lounge was set up. It was conducive and encouraged "participation". 

In my dorm room of 6 beds, I only had one roommate -- The Abominable Australian Bogan (AAB). Huge guy, about 6 feet 5, a little older, but with a young spirit. 

Him and I hung out by default, just to keep each other company. We joined the other hostel guests for pre-dinner drinks down by the lounge, but decided to do dinner somewhere else.

We walked a little bit, found a nice restaurant, had a great dinner, great conversation. He even paid! Said he really appreciated the company. I thought it was sweet.

OK I would like to make it clear that there was absolutely NO flirting involved here. Not on my part, at least. And IF he was (and I doubt he did), then I never picked up on it.

In fact, when we went back to the hostel, him and I hung out with different groups of people. I went over to the young exchange students, and he went over to the adults. He must have turned in early because I didn't see him for the rest of the night. 

This was my crowd at our hostel under the moonlight in Punta Del Diablo, Uruguay

I came back to the room, he was still awake, just playing with his phone. I said hi, talked his ear off about this young college dude that tried to hit on me just then, and we both laughed about his failed efforts with me.

Everything was completely platonic, totally friendly.

Until a few minutes later when the lights were out and we were both just fiddling around with our gadgets that he freaking crawled onto my bed, and said something lame like - "So I want you to show me your blog from your iPad."

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?" I yelled as he sort of tried to maneuver his way on top of me.

He was like, "Come on, it will be fun."

Thank goodness for the little self defense trick I learned from one of my friends --- I was wearing a little hair tie on my wrist, attached to a key. I call this move, the "Deadly Key Fist". (I wrote about this on my Self Defense Article)

I slipped the key into my fingers and aimed it (sharp edge) at his eye and said,
"I swear to GOD, Dude, if you don't get off of me, I will fucking stab you in the eye! I'll do it!!! Get off of me!"

He went a little cross-eyed as he tried to focus on the sharp weapon about to poke him in the eye, and then backed off.

"Awww Really?" he said as he jumped out of my bed, laughing to himself - I think to mask his nerves or shock. 

"Oh my God, Abominable Australian Bogan! Jeezas!" I said to him angrily, but he said nothing. He just went back to bed as if nothing happened.

I, on the other hand, packed my stuff with lightning speed, and dashed out of that room. I went down to the receptionist and said - "Listen, I cannot stay in that room. That dude is an asshole. You need to put me in another dorm."

The receptionist, seeing my disheveled hair and wild eyes, looked like she wanted to say something or ask what happened... but I stopped her and said I just would rather not talk and just to please give me another room.

She didn't say another word and handed me another key.

I left before anyone in the hostel even woke up, to catch my very early bus ride back to Montivideo... Thanking my lucky stars that I didn't use that hair tie to pull my hair up that night.

THE ONE ABOUT THE JACKASS COUCHSURFING HOST NINCOMPOOP

When I went to Rio for the 2014 Rio Carnival, I couchsurfed at this place in the center of Rio, owned by 4 Brazilian guys. They were, apparently, the premiere Couchsurfing Hosts/Spot in Rio. I had to "apply" to surf with them by submitting some kind of essay about myself and what I could "contribute" to the group -- as apparently they were hosting a whole bunch of people, and I was fighting for my spot.

Really.
I know, right?

To my defense, they had about a million excellent reviews, and the idea of coming into Rio with a whole house full of surfers/travelers really appealed to me, especially since I was traveling alone. Which is why when they "approved" me - I was over the moon excited! It was such an ideal scenario, coming into Rio for the Carnival with an instant group of friends!

THIS was the apartment. THESE were the boys, their friends, and the surfers.

Well, when I arrived, it was all I ever imagined and more. I got there, and already there were about 12 people in the apartment, already drunk, giving me hugs and shoving caipirinha's in my hand! It was a shock to my system - but it was Carnival, and I was out to have a great time!

I think there were about 6 or 7 of us Couchsurfers in that apartment. All girls from different countries, all single, all cute.

Hmm...

4 Brazilian Guys who opens their apartment up for female cute Couchsurfers only....

That should have already tipped me off right there.

The boys who lived there will each have one girl in the room, sleeping on a mattress on the floor, and the rest will sleep in the living room in either the hammock or pull out couches or extra mattresses.

It was, in essence, the ULTIMATE Couchsurfing Experience.

I was assigned to one room - and yes, you guessed it, it was the Jackass Nincompoop's room.

It was fine at the beginning. He seemed nice, very respectful, kind, and super accommodating. 

Slept the first night fine, woke up to follow Bloco's the next day (Blocos = Samba Moving Street Floats), stayed up till 2am in Copacabana, drinking and partying with the rest of Brazil.

It got ugly when we all went home to crash for the night.

What I didn't realize is that the Jackass Nincompoop (JN) wasn't just drunk, he was high out of his mind -- and I'm not even sure what kind of substance he was on, but he wasn't all there.

I was already on the floor on my mattress when he came into the room and plopped onto his bed. All of a sudden, I felt his hand rubbing my back - and it wasn't a very "friendly" rub, if you know what I mean.

"So... How are you..." he mumbled.

I moved his hand away from me and said - "I'm good, JN. Just trying to sleep. Good night."

But - he did it again. This time, he started touching my hair, too.

"So... How are you..." he said again. I don't know what his problem was as I was sure he knew more English words than that.

I took his hand away again and said, "JN, you don't want to do that. Trust me. We're friends right? Let's just sleep. We had a long day. Boa Noite."

He started massaging my back again and said, "Why... Friends can have fun, right? I was nice to you, right?"

OK he wasn't getting it, so a little more forcefully, I threw his hand away from me and said, "Dude! STOP IT. No!" --- I think it's important to note that at this point, my free hand had already found its way into my bag and on my pocket pepper spray.

I looked at him and he was totally out of it. Drunk or stoned or high - whatever it was, he didn't look right.

He kind of stumbled out of bed and left the room... my hand still gripping the pepper spray. I was nervous - but I think I was more annoyed. Sooo annoyed at myself for being naive enough to land myself in that kind of situation.

I calmed myself down for a bit and just tried to go to sleep.

But JN came back about 15 minutes later. Plopped himself on the bed. His hand went and rubbed my back, and said....

"So.... How are you...." as if nothing ever happened. I swear, I thought I was in the twilight zone.

"Jeezas Christ, Jackass Nincompoop!!!! What the fuck is wrong with you???" I yelled, and I stormed out of the room.

Obviously, I couldn't sleep after that, and the wheels in my head were turning. I was formulating a plan to get myself out of there.

Now - THIS is when Travel Magic Happens.

About 6 months prior to that, while I was staying at a hostel in Rome, I met this Brazilian guy, George.  We were roommates, spoke only long enough for us to add each other on Facebook (as travelers usually do), and went our separate ways. We literally only spoke for 2 seconds. Our relationship after that was just "likes" on each others photos on FB.

Well, when he found out via my posts that I was headed to Brazil, he shot me a message and very kindly offered for me to stay with him and his partner for when I went to Rio. He did warn me that his house was about an hour away from the main city via the Metro, but wanted to put it out there anyway.

I told him that it was so very kind and sweet of him to offer, but that I already found accommodations in the city --- however I would love to see him and hang out!

Well - in my desperate moment, curled up by the hammock after the gross incident with JN, I sent George a message. I said something like, "George, I know this is completely last minute... I need your help. It's a long story and I will tell you all about it when I see you - but if the offer still stands, can I please stay with you? I cannot stay here anymore..."

And without any questions or hesitations, George just said - "YES. Stay here with us. I'm coming to get you."

My Brazilian Angel.

This is my hero, George!

May I please reiterate that at this point, I had only met George that one time in the hostel in Rome, 6 months prior, and we hadn't spoken to each other apart from him offering his home to me.

And so no matter how horrible my experience was with JN, George and all his kindness, just made EVERYTHING worth it.

I stayed with George for the rest of my trip in Rio, going back to the couchsurfing house only to hang out with the girls that I met, JN completely oblivious to the fact that I had moved out.

I spoke to one of the 4 guys who was living there and told him about what JN had done. He was livid! I told the girls about it, too, and they told me that something similar had happened to a couple Chilean girls that came in previously. Apparently, JN had tried to get one of the girls in bed, and when she refused, he basically kicked both of them out - saying they don't have room for them anymore.

What a dick!

I was mortified, thinking again how lucky I am that I had George to save me.

In defense of the other 3 boys - who were all completely different from JN, when they found out about the incidents, they totally slammed JN, apologized to the girls and to me on behalf of JN's behavior... And I found out a few months later that they kicked him out of the apartment. 

LESSONS LEARNED

1. Whenever one finds oneself in compromising situations (like examples above), one MUST be firm in saying "NO" or "STOP". One must be strong, and never be afraid to show strength or fight back if necessary. 

2. Will never again stay in a "Mixed Dorm" hostel, unless I had no other choice. 
(On a side note: I did end up staying at a mixed dorm by accident when I booked a room via AirBnB recently in Manhattan - but my roommate was a little person, auditioning to be one of the Elves at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. It was, apparently, his lifelong dream to be one. 

I know we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I think he was pretty harmless. There was a twinkle in his eye....)

3. Will never underestimate the power of good self defense. Will continue to carry defensive weapons like pepper spray, and/or deadly key.

4. Will always remember to ask for help, when needed. 


I have completely put these incidents behind me. I'm actually still really good friends with one of the 4 dudes in Rio - Obviously not JN - and we just roll our eyes when we talk about it. Considering the fact that their apartment was very small and there were about 12 people in the house at the time that JN tried to harass me, we both agreed that I was in no real danger because anyone could have woken up to seize JN if anything were to have happened -- assuming of course that I haven't already beaten the shit out of him.

Did I mention I was a boxer?

And even in the hostel with the Abominable dude... The hostel was small, the walls were thin, packed with people... I could have easily been able to produce a bloodcurdling scream to alert anyone within 3 miles of us, if he continued being a stupid imbecile.

So - these were definitely nerve-racking experiences, with a danger level of - I'd say 2 and a quarter stars out of 5?

Were they awful? 
Heck yeah.

Did they turn me off from traveling alone or CouchSurfing or staying in Hostels?
Eff no.

If these were some of my worst travel experiences, then I'd say George coming to rescue me was one of my best. It just really proves that sometimes, the brightest light appears even in the darkest moments. I have always believed in the magic of kindness, and it manifests in the times you need it the most. At least it has for me, on many occasions.

I was practically a stranger to George, but he took me in at a moment's notice... and so even if I was still really peeved off by JN, George's act of genuine goodness really touched me, and it turned my experience around... That when I think of Rio, I think of him, and it makes my heart happy.

I think it was my chubby friend, Buddha, who said - life is neither good nor bad... it just is. (Not sure if Buddha actually said that, but let's just go with it)

Perhaps I shouldn't look at these as my worst experiences - but rather just see everything that I've been through as a collection of experiences that make up my so-called life. 

I learn more when I stumble... and my joyous and most grateful moments often happen after terrible times of despair and gloom. 

At the end of the day - I keep moving forward... as we all should!

I have lived to tell these tales after all...
(Mom - if you are reading this, don't freak out!)

I sincerely hope that none of the things I wrote about has put anyone off from traveling or taking an adventure. Things happen, you get challenged sometimes, and you deal with it. You move on.

If you're not convinced - next week I'm writing about my FAVORITE travel experiences, and I'm sure I'll change your mind. :)

Aloha!

Hostels 101

This post is directed mostly towards people who have a preconceived notion about staying at hostels, perhaps due to bad experiences (in America), horror stories from the Internet or other people, or because of the really bad movie, “Hostel”.

My very own sister, for example, wouldn’t dare come near a hostel. When we were younger, we went and stayed at a hostel in Manhattan… and I think it used to be a hospital (or a mental institution) before it got converted. It was very basic, we were roomed with a crazy old lady, and there were no lounges where people could hang out. I didn’t mind, really. I was in Manhattan, one of my favorite places in the world… and the hostel was warm and clean. As long as I had a bed, I was fine. My sister on the other hand, upon seeing our dorm room, was on the verge of tears. It just wasn’t what she had expected… and I suppose she carried that “traumatic” experience with her all this time.

In all fairness though, that was way back in 2004. 10 whole years ago. The quality of hostels have definitely improved since then.  And if you are a traveler or someone who’s considering staying at hostel but never have, or just curious about what it’s really like --- Then this is for you. The inside scoop of hostel-ing. The good, the bad, the ugly. The TRUTH.

MY CREDENTIALS

I’ve been traveling and staying at hostels for years.  I’ve even worked at a couple of them (through Help Exchange) on this trip. In fact, even while I was living in LA, I’d hang out at the hostels in West Hollywood just to meet other travelers (and sing at their Karaoke Night on Wednesdays).  So – yes, I am a seasoned hostel goer, and this makes me an expert witness.

Home Lisbon Hostel, Portugal
Photo from their website

THE BASICS

Hostels are more affordable, less formal and more social than hotels. You usually get a dormitory type room, shared with 3 to 30 other people. You can choose between a mixed dorm, all male, or all female dorm (mixed are usually cheaper), and there are private rooms available as well. Bathrooms are shared. Sometimes there is a toilet/shower room for the whole floor to share, and sometimes if you’re lucky, you’ll have your own bathroom in your room! 

Oban Backpackers, Oban Scotland
Photo from their website

Kitchens are usually big enough for you to be able to bring and cook your own food, and a lot of the hostels I’ve been to organize dinners for their guests (if you pay a certain amount). Breakfasts are included most of the time – but it’s nothing fancy. Most of the time it’s just bread and cereal plus tea and coffee. If you’re lucky, you get some fruit, eggs and meat too.

They have guest lounges usually equipped with computers, musical instruments, TV and DVD’s, couches, books, games, etc… This area encourages camaraderie. Apart from the weird hostel my sister and I stayed at in New York, all of the hostels I’ve visited had one. If Wifi is not enabled on the entire hostel, the lounges will have it.

Home Lisbon Hostel, Portugal
Photo from their website

THE GOOD

Like I’ve said a few times before, when you travel, you hardly ever spend time indoors anyway… So as long as you have a clean bed and a bathroom (and a roof), you’re golden. So in general, that’s how you should expect hostels to be. BUT… Hostels all over have been sprucing themselves up lately… And if you’re lucky, like I have been, you’ll find yourselves in places that are waaay better than some hotels.

Caveland Hostel, Santorini Greece

COST EFFECTIVE

The range in cost of the hostels I’ve booked in the years I’ve been traveling have been anywhere from 13 to 40 US Dollars. I paid around 40 dollars in a hostel in Paris during high season, but the hostel was great. It was cute, centrally located, and really clean… Plus the price included a hefty breakfast. It was recommended by a friend, too! The cheapest hostel I’ve stayed in wasn’t bad at all… The worst one may have been the one in New York – and the US hostels don’t really compare to the ones in Europe anyway. 

St Christopher's Inn, Paris France

THEY MAKE THINGS EASY

When you travel solo (or even with friends) to new unfamiliar places, it’s nice to have someone to tell you where to go and what to do, which restaurants are good and cheap, which popular landmarks to visit, or which bars have the best and cheapest booze. The hostel receptionists are trained to do this for the guests… They give you a map, and encircle the areas that are worth visiting… They tell you which buses or trains to take, they point out great food locations, etc! Most of them organize walking tours or pub crawls for you too… If the hostel is big enough or if it's a party hostel, they have parties and events of their own...Which saves you the trouble of figuring out what to do and where to go for the day.  If you’re on your own, this is the best way to make friends too!

Toga Night at the Party Hostel, Pink Palace in Corfu Greece

NEW FRIENDSHIPS

Honestly, the friends I’ve made while staying at different hostels have been AMAZING. Some of them, will be my very good friends for life. FOR LIFE! It’s astounding how incredibly open these people are… I don’t even know why I’m surprised… because the people who stay at hostels are usually the people who are just like me… You know? Like-minded people who like to travel, are down to earth, easy, open… on a budget… Haha :)

My hostel Roommates from Rome

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said goodbye to people I’ve met – even for just ONE DAY, who have said something like – “Please, if you ever visit my country, you must stay with me…” or "Mi casa es su casa! You must visit me!" There have been times in the past when I get a little anxious traveling by myself staying at a hostel. I was always worried that I’d end up in a corner by myself with no one to talk to… But in all the years that I’ve been traveling, that’s NEVER happened to me. NEVER. You ALWAYS make at least ONE friend. If you’re a little shy and are not comfortable reaching out – Someone WILL reach out to you to say, “Hi! Where are you from?” --- this is a typical opening line at hostels, by the way. 

New friends from hostels in Greece and Israel

It will be easier to meet people in hostels that are a little smaller…

Sometimes when you stay at big and fancy ones with hundreds of rooms and several floors, it’s a little harder to reach out because of too much space. Which is why when I do my research, I usually search for the ones that are smaller, family owned, or with great reviews that say they make you feel like you’re part of the family… The more intimate, the better.  I check out Hostelworld or Tripadvisor for the reviews. They’re usually spot on…

AMAZING FINDS

Some hostels stand out… my favorite hostel, hands down, is the hostel where I’m in now. Home Lisbon Hostel in Portugal. 

It's really cheap, breakfast is included, the rooms are AMAZING, the staff are friendly, the location is central, and the whole place is absolutely beautiful. Mama, the owner's mother, cooks authentic Portuguese dinner for the guests every night (for an extra 10 euro) and it's sooo good! The lounge is spectacular, they have tons of DVD's and books, the TV is huge, they have a guitar... And I've made such good friends over here in the 3 short days I've been here. I LOVE this place. 

My favorite people in Lisbon

This is Mama <3

THE BAD

OK, obviously… it has a few downsides too. For instance – lack of privacy. Sometimes after a long day of traveling and walking, you just want to go to your room, strip off all your clothes, shut the drapes and pass out. BUT because there are other people in there, you can’t.
If there isn’t a bathroom in your room and you wake up in the dead of night, desperate for a pee, it’s a chore to have to get out of bed and slowly and quietly get out of your room (not to wake your roomies up) and walk to the nearest toilet (the farthest I’ve had to walk was 2 flights down)

30 Bed Dorm. Photo from Orient Hostel.

Sometimes you get roomed with weirdo’s. 

Sometimes you get roomed with people who have no sense of respect for other people… who come banging into your room at 4 am after a wild night out, drunk and loud and annoying. 

And sometimes… no matter how much research you’ve done… NOTHING will ever prepare you for the time when you wake up to your roommates trying to have sex – “quietly”. O_O

THE UGLY

I have been a victim of bed bugs. And it was UGLY. Seriously, the worst thing EVER! I reported it to the hostel as soon as I found out, and they acted on it immediately. Fumigated the room, changed all the mattresses, burned the sheets… etc. The good thing about it is that they take it so seriously. The bad thing about it is that no matter what they do to appease you, you’ve already been bitten, and you’re going to have to suffer for a few weeks. I have dark skin, so the marks from my bites took a LONG TIME to heal… and I was itchy for weeks!

It is as itchy as it looks. Sorry if it's gross... :(

The bed bug epidemic isn’t just exclusive to hostels though. I’ve been bitten while staying at a 4 star hotel in the Virgin Islands a few years ago. 

The good news is that a lot of the hostels nowadays use precautions against bed bugs. Some of them only give you your sheets when you check in. Sheets that you know are clean and freshly laundered. Some hostels inspect your backpack before you check in – because the bedbugs are “transported” by travelers. If a person stays at a hostel infested with bed bugs, the little critters crawl into their backpacks or clothes… and when they move to another place, it is very likely that the bugs will transfer to the new bed in the new hostel.
Believe me, when I was bitten, the first thing I did was empty my backpack, wash my clothes and dried them all in very high heat --- which is one of the ways to kill them if they crawled into your clothes and bags.

The best way to avoid it is to do your research well before booking. If there is a bad review about cleanliness or if someone mentions bed bugs, I usually avoid staying there. But like I said, sometimes you just get unlucky – like I did – and get bitten anyway, even if you’re staying at an expensive suite of a hotel.

IN CONCLUSION

I think in general, the good outweighs the bad. I know the bed bug thing probably freaked you out – but remember, I’ve been traveling on and off for years and I’ve stayed at a hundred different hostels and hotels. One incident in a hostel and one incident in a luxury hotel are pretty good odds. Nothing is perfect. Even if I suffered from the wrath of the bites, it didn’t phase me one bit. It didn’t turn me off either. It just taught me to be a little more cautious for next time… because seriously, I have SO MUCH fun staying in hostels and I LOVE meeting the people I meet while I’m there. Nothing could ever beat the price, which is awesome for a budget traveler like me. :)

So the next time an opportunity to travel comes up for you, you can now make an informed decision on where to stay. I doubt my sister would ever be convinced of staying at a hostel though - and that's okay. Some people like what they like, and if you can shell out a few extra bucks for a more luxurious option, then why not? I've had the opportunity to "travel in style" once or twice in the past, and I gotta say, nothing feels as good as sheets of Egyptian linen... or whatever it is they use on those beautiful tempurpedic beds...

If you're on a budget like I am nowadays though... at least you know more about hostels now, and you can decide if you want to give it a go!

I highly recommend it. Just do your research, compare prices, read reviews, be open... And you'll be fine. :)

Good luck!

How I Can Afford To Travel

The first thing people usually ask me when they find out that I’ve taken a year off to travel is --- “How did you do it?” “How much money did you need?” or “How did you acquire the money to pay for it?”
I don’t blame them. That’s usually the first thing I ask someone when I find out they’re traveling like me… Some of the people I’ve met on the road have been living a vagabond lifestyle for 2, 4, 10 years even! Now THAT’S impressive!

There have been so many articles and blog posts that come out, claiming to teach you ways on how to “Travel For Free”.  In my opinion, that’s false advertising. I mean, come on! Let’s get real! If you want to travel, you’re going to *have* to shell out some cash at some point! Plane tickets, transportation, food, etc…

 No, no, no. The question should not be – “How do I travel for free,” but “How can I afford to travel?” Or, “How can I stretch my dollar when I travel?” Or – if you want to get really straightforward about it… “How do I travel on the cheap?”

 

MYTH BUSTED

People usually assume that I can travel long term like this because I’m loaded. Richie Rich kind of rich. Even my own father thinks I’m wealthy! It’s hilarious, because they couldn’t be more wrong! I’m too cheap to even pay for my own hair cut (I found a salon that cuts bangs for free).  As a matter of fact, at this moment, I am writing this blog post on a bus as I am journeying from Cardiff to London. I could have taken the train, which is a quicker, more comfortable option… but I opted for the longer, more grueling bus ride, even if I suffer from motion sickness… because the bus fare was only 3 GBP, as opposed to the train’s 30 GBP cost.

No, people. I am not rich. Rich in experience, friendship and love… yes. In cash? No.  What I am is practical and resourceful. I’ve met so many other travelers on the road who have been on the road for yeaaars… Everyone has a different strategy… Everyone has a different story. And this? This is mine.

I SAVED

It’s not as exciting as finding out I had a rich great grandfather that magically left me his entire fortune on his will. Really, it was simple. I prepared for this trip, and I saved. In September of 2012, I gave my company a 6 month notice. I said I was leaving by the end of March 2013 to travel. I was completely moved out of my apartment by the end of the month, sold and donated all of my stuff, and I was Couchsurfing with my friend, Wriss, by October. 

Moving Out!

The money I would have used for rent just went straight to my travel fund. Add the money I got from selling all my furniture… Plus my tax refund…  Plus the little cash I had saved up before I even thought about doing this… Put it all together, and I had roughly  --- $18,000.

For a year, that’s not a lot. Research tells me I’d have needed at least $35,000 to survive for one whole year. Well… I wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t a little stubborn or defiant. I was going to make $18,000 work. And so far, 9 months in… I’m still alive! The funds are draining, sure… but I’m still within budget!

I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY ALL OVER

The Sydney Clan!

This is true. I have a BIG family in Sydney, a friend from church in Auckland, a friend from college in Wellington,  a friend from high school in Japan, a sister in Japan, friends from college in Dubai, a friend from church in Dubai, and best friends from all over the UK! And now that I’ve been traveling for a while, I’ve made even MORE friends… So when I go to Spain, I’ll be set. When I go to Brazil, I’ll be set. When I visit Peru, I’m golden. 

With my friend, Tina the Desert Fox in Dubai

I’m SO lucky to be surrounded by such amazing and generous people in my life. Every single one of my friends and family that I’ve stayed with have been great hosts to me, and I’m so looking forward to the ones I have yet to visit.
When I had my own apartment, I was a really good hostess too. I’d like to believe this is my good karma for being awesome. :)

COUCHSURFING

It’s safe, I promise. Just be smart about it, as with anything else. I’ve only had very positive experiences in Couchsurfing, and I plan to do more of it in South America this year! What I usually do is send my requests weeks in advance. I choose the hosts based on their reviews by other surfers, and I go as far as contacting those surfers to give me the real deal on the hosts --- just to be 100% sure.

This is the house of my first host in New Zealand. BEAUTIFUL, right?

This is me, my new friend and fellow couchsurfer, Dulce, and our host, Karen.

Be a good surfer as well by offering to cook for your hosts. It’s just polite… and a great way to show your appreciation for their hospitality. Don’t treat it as just a free bed – hosts hate that. Remember that a lot of these people open their homes to travelers for a reason… and mostly it’s because they like meeting and getting to know people from different cultures too! Swap travel and adventure stories and etc.  So be sociable and polite! This earns you great reviews, which will make it easier for you to Couchsurf in the future. :)

HELP EXCHANGE/ WORKAWAY

 THIS is the best idea in the world of worlds. Working in exchange for board and lodging in different countries… I cannot even begin to explain how this has single handedly changed the way people travel! I am SO lucky I found out about this!  It’s the best thing you can do for yourself when you’re traveling, I swear. You just LEARN so much… You meet so many people… You gain so many new LIFE SKILLS. That’s how it was for me, at least. I guess it’s like a very informal way to volunteer… its’ the easiest way to describe it. I’ve done it throughout Italy, Greece and Israel… working mostly for hostels and B&B’s. The tasks are varied, depending on the place you choose to volunteer in.  I have to say though that this isn’t for the faint heart. It’s REAL work… and it’s NOT glamorous either… So you must be willing to get down and dirty and clean toilets.

My hosts, Franco and Martina from The Shanti House in Italy

Other opportunities include working at a farm, at a vineyard, ski resorts, etc… It depends on the season, and on the demand. 
I’ve had 5 different Help Exchange experiences in those 3 countries and I’ve had an amazing time in all of them. I’ve honestly learned SO much, about the work, about the country and their culture, and about myself… AND I’ve gained SO MANY amazing new friends from it. 

My friends/fellow volunteers from La Preghiera in Perugia, Italy

Honestly, it’s the best thing since sliced bread. You work for a few hours a day… you stay and eat for free… so you therefore save money! I’ve even had instances where my hosts gave me some pocket money to spend on booze! Haha! How cool is that? :) Seriously though… if you have time and are willing to just work it… DO THIS. Use HelpX or Workaway… either one works. Different organizations, same purpose.  Go to their website, sign up, pay the fee (around 25 USD membership fee for 2 years), and start searching for your future hosts.

Just DO IT. It’s amazing. I promise!

With my fellow volunteers at The Overstay Hostel in Israel

I STAY AT HOSTELS

This was my hostel in Santorini. Caveland. 13 euro a night.

I LOVE staying at hostels. It’s just SO EASY to make friends when you’re there, especially for solo travelers like myself. They are SO MUCH FUN… There’s always something going on, like an organized tour… or themed nights… or group activities… You’ll never be bored. If you do, it’s your fault. And it’s SO CHEAP. Cheapest hostel I’ve been in only charged 11 USD a night. And it was decent!  

These guys were my roommates at my hostel in Rome

I mean let’s be honest… when you travel to new destinations, how much time do you actually spend indoors anyway? In my opinion, as long as the bed and the bathroom is clean, no matter what the size, and no matter how many people are in the room with me (I’ve been in a 30 bed dorm), all is right in the world. 

It is in hostels that I get to jam and share my ukulele-ing skillz with people too! Most of them have common rooms or lounges where people just hang out… I’ve been to a few who have musical instruments lying around for anyone to pick up and play too! I love it when musical numbers spontaneously combust out of the guests… And I love being able to jam or sing along. Music brings people together… 

An impromptu jam session in my hostel in Oban, Scotland

If this isn’t your style and you’d rather stay at a private room – you can do that at hostels too. And their prices are still cheaper than booking a room at a hotel.
FUN FACT: Just 2 minutes ago, I booked a 3 night stay at a hostel in Portugal. My total cost for three nights was about 8 pounds cheaper than my 5 mile cab ride in London earlier.

I TRAVEL SLOW

It is a fact that if and when you travel slower, you save more money. It’s the better way to travel anyway, because that’s the only way you could get acclimatized to the culture properly. I was in Italy for about 6 weeks, a month in Greece and another month in Israel.

When Karen and I did my birthday Eurotrip in March of 2012, we visited 5 countries in 2 weeks. Our money was well spent just on transportation costs alone… and I probably spent more in those 2 weeks all over Europe than I did in all three months of Italy, Israel and Greece combined.

I guess enjoying your trip depends on your travel personality. I used to love the fast paced travel I used to do… One to three days per country, then boom… on to the next. It was exhausting, but it was fun. But then all you ever really get to do is be a tourist.

When you spend a good amount of time in a particular place, you’re not just a tourist – you become an actual traveler… Because then you get to interact with the locals more… learn about their food… their language… participate in their culture… And it’s really great. It’s such a great feeling… to feel like you are included and you belong in a place that isn’t your home. Before you know it, you’ll get invited into their homes for anywhere from good conversation to good food to a nice warm bed (for SLEEPING, ok??)
I’ve definitely been able to hold on to the little cash that I have by spending a longer period of time in the places that I visit. You should try it too!

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT 

ladies and gents! All the secrets have been revealed! My life is an open book, and now you know EVERYTHING. It’s anticlimactic, isn’t it? There’s no stealth here… no foul play… no undisclosed bank account in the Cayman Islands…  Every penny that I used on this trip, I’ve acquired through perseverance and hard work. No mumbo jumbo of any kind…

At the moment though, I’m trying to come up with ways to actually make some money while I’m on the road. And there *are* a few options I can explore… I’m just waiting for the right opportunity to come along… Something that I’d be comfortable with, and something that I’d be good at. So if you guys have any ideas for me, please, by all means… Hit me. :)

Meanwhile… I hope this post helped those of you who are thinking of taking a trip… big trip, small trip, doesn’t matter… The point is, I hope this very practical “revelation” has encouraged you to go for it… because now you’ll know it doesn’t really take a fortune to be able to do something like this. If you have some money saved up, even if it’s not as much as what I started with… maybe you can take off just for a few months and see where it takes you.

Just remember… that travel is never a matter of money, but of courage. So be brave, little one. There’s a big and beautiful world out there. Go out and explore. :)