FAQS, LINKS & APPS

If you look around this site and read the travel quotes you'll find plenty of inspiration. The world is a big place and there's a lot to see.

They say travel broadens the mind and this is true in many ways. It's amazing how much your knowledge of geography improves once you have been to an area. It's hard to be racist when people have welcomed you to their country and treated you so well. Sadly in some cases much better than if they had visited your country.

You will learn about religion, culture and history. It is the university of life. You will develop useful traits like patience and tolerance. You will get fit because walking is interesting and all tourist attractions seem to be uphill.

You will eat new and delicious meals and have memorable nights out. You will make lots of friends and life long bonds with fellow travelers. But most of all you'll have lots of fun. When was the last time you saw something you'd never seen before? Out on the road you'll see something everyday.

You'll need to work a few things out first.

1. How much time and money you have.

2. Where do you want to go and will you be alone or have companions. Look through the relevant itinerary and you will find the information you need for that particular city, country or area.

3. Then you'll need to check your passport is up to date, or apply for one if you've never had one.

4. Once you have your passport you can check and see if you require any visas and organise them. (See do I need a visa in Logistics).

5. Now you can buy your airline tickets online and then get some travel insurance to cover yourself. (some credit cards give you free travel insurance if you buy the air ticket with them and some also provide rental car insurance excess)

6. Depending on when and where you're going you can make your hotel bookings in advance with free cancellation and pay when you arrive. Just check the fine print first (it's easy to see).

7. Sort your money out and advise the bank which countries you will be travelling to (see how much money and how should I take it).

8. Pack your bags. (see what should I take in General)

9. Get a lift to the airport.

Have a look at Equipment in Travel A - Z for a pretty comprehensive look at what to pack. Generally less is more. If you forget something you can always buy it over there. Plus you'll need room in your pack for all of the things you're going to pick up along the way.

• If you are going somewhere cold before somewhere warm you can take some old clothes and shoes and abandon them once you're finished with them.

• If you take prescription pills take enough for the trip. Get a letter from your doctor to say you can have them as some prescription drugs are illegal in some countries.

• There's not much you cant do with duct tape and a sarong, so they are worth taking. And these days a smartphone pretty much does everything else.

• It's nice to have enough clothes that you don't have to do your laundry every second day. Packing your things into separate cells (like toiletry bags etc) makes it easier to locate items. A bunch of plastic bags take up no room and always come in handy. Some rope to hang up your washing and something to put your dirty clothes in, like one of those plastic bags.

• A lot of cheap airlines and cheap flights have minimal luggage amounts so travelling light can save you money. Fees for excess baggage are exorbitant so some travelling scales are also a good idea.

• A few padlocks will help with your security on beachside bungalows, hostels and some hotel safes. I like to carry a small keyring with an led torch on it for getting home and in the door at night.

Travelling alone can be very rewarding but it's much more fun to go with people you know. It doesn't always work out but there's only one way to find out and that is to just go for it. Even couples will find their relationship being tested in some unusual ways. If you do go the distance you will have forged lifelong bonds that can't be replicated at home.

Travelling alone forces you to come out of your shell a bit and talk to people you don't know. Eating and drinking alone isn't a lot of fun. Have a look at Should I go alone in Health & Safety below.

Other major advantages of travelling with someone are that you halve accommodation and transport costs. You can keep an eye out for each other, share crazy experiences and have someone to talk about them with when you get home. Both have their pros and cons but don't let it stop you from going.

It's nice to leave the phone at home and get away from it all but these days it is far too useful not to have. It is the ultimate travel tool and it means you can leave your camera, mp3, torch, computer, alarm clock, blood pressure monitor, video, pedometer, etc. etc. at home. They are handy for communications too. Take photos of any damage when you rent something. Take a photo so you don't get lost or lose where you parked. Have a record of all of your hotel and flight bookings. Make bookings on the road, check out local restaurants and a million other things.

A good compromise is to take a tablet or small laptop which you are more likely to leave back at the hotel.

Your main two options are to go on an international plan with your phone company or buy a local sim card when you arrive. Have a look at this guide to weigh up the pros and cons.

The other consideration is safety. Be careful about taking your phone out drinking with you. Be wary of snatch thieves in certain areas. Read up on the local things to look out for.

You should get a VPN to protect you while using public access wi-fi. Never do any banking or other security sensitive business over public wi-fi. You may be able to get a VPN included with your computer anti-virus package. Otherwise there are free and paid options. They are also helpful in countries like China that ban Facebook and google. What is a VPN? Have a look at the FAQ below.

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It gives you an extra layer of privacy and security when you are using the internet. It encrypts data coming in and going out as well as disguising your location. More than likely you will be using public access wi-fi in airports, hotels, cafes etc. where you are vulnerable to data theft, viruses and hackers. A VPN will protect you from all of this.

It is also useful in places where certain apps are banned, a VPN will make it look like you're in another country where you can use it. Certain countries have banned the use of VPNs.

Many people don't have one and get by without any problems but extra security on the internet is always a good thing. Never do any banking or other sensitive transactions on public wi-fi. Have a look at this guide for more information.

An eSIM is a digital SIM card for your phone that you can download from the internet. This means you can be organized before you leave home, avoiding the hassle of finding one upon arrival. No need to fit a physical card or worry about accidental connections that can be costly. To get an eSIM, click on the eSIM link at the top of each trip page on our website. It will direct you to the eSIM for the country or countries you will be visiting. Check if your device (smartphone or tablet) is compatible, pick the plan that suits you, and pay online. The links on our site take you to Yesim eSIMs, which are data-only. To call or text, use apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, or Skype. You can also use your phone as a hotspot to provide internet to your other devices.

Close to the top of the 'Country' pages you will find a Marker Map. On the top right hand corner is an image or icon that will explain the legend if you click it. The Marker Map can be enlarged to full screen by clicking the little square in the top right hand corner next to the icon. On the other itineraries you will find a link to the Marker Map near the top as well. It will be an image of a map or mobile phone.

Almost every place that has been recommended in the itineraries is marked on the map with a colour and symbol coded marker. So if you go to the area you are in you can click on all of the hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars, attractions, stations and other transport options. Basically everything in the trip and when you click on it there are 10 photos showing you what it looks like, ambiance, view, food - the works. It's a very powerful tool to help you make decisions on where you want to stay, eat, drink etc around the neighbourhood. As well as pictures you will get addresses, phone numbers, websites and other useful information. Also it will give you a link to Google Maps which has their opening hours, busy times, reviews and more. So with a few clicks or taps you will have all of the information you need on anywhere you are going

and how to get there.

You can also use it to work out how to get anywhere by public transport. It will give you information on walking to the nearest station, what time the transport arrives, whether it is on time, frequency, travel time, where to change if necessary, arrival time and time, distance and directions to your destination.

You can also use it to find locations you are having problems finding. Just click on the box on the top left hand corner and you will see a list of the places drop down. They are pretty much in the order of the trip. Just locate the one you want , click on it and it will be highlighted on the map.

It is also invaluable for walking around and navigating in a city where you don't know your way around. You will need wi-fi to use it. If this isn't possible use your Maps.Me app that you have installed onto your phone and downloaded all of the relevant maps for your trip. Or Google Maps offline. Even if you're not travelling Marker Maps are useful for the area you live in. You might find a few surprises you didn't know about. Or you might be going somewhere for the weekend and are looking for a few ideas.