Community > Travel & Transportation

Topic: Backpacking
StrangeFinnishGuy Joined Sat 01/12/08 Posts: 48	Sat 02/23/08 02:47 PM
Some more tips I didn't think of, but found out to be important: Scan and send copys of your passport + other important documents to your email. Makes things easier if you get robbed when you can ID yourself. Embassies give temporary passports for unlucky ones. Make sure your money isn't on a savings account, as some banks won't let you cash them out in instant. Also authorise someone you trust to use your account if necessary. I'm getting a second atm card and give it to a friend to keep and mail to me, if I get in some trouble and have to disable the first one. I also got a new phone (Nokia N81 8gb) just because I can get the maps of entire world on it, and it also works on wlan. Oh, check your phone how it works across the world in different gsm bands, and of course, how to charge it. Check your operator for network roaming in eu + australia. There. A lot of boring planning and checking to do. Well, it all will be worth it.

theotherbachelor Joined Sun 12/09/07 Posts: 267	Sat 02/23/08 06:47 PM
Some more tips I didn't think of, but found out to be important: Scan and send copys of your passport + other important documents to your email. Makes things easier if you get robbed when you can ID yourself. Embassies give temporary passports for unlucky ones. Make sure your money isn't on a savings account, as some banks won't let you cash them out in instant. Also authorise someone you trust to use your account if necessary. I'm getting a second atm card and give it to a friend to keep and mail to me, if I get in some trouble and have to disable the first one. I also got a new phone (Nokia N81 8gb) just because I can get the maps of entire world on it, and it also works on wlan. Oh, check your phone how it works across the world in different gsm bands, and of course, how to charge it. Check your operator for network roaming in eu + australia. There. A lot of boring planning and checking to do. Well, it all will be worth it. Thanks, the email thing is a good idea. I hadn't thought about doing that. Its so easy to get caught up in just thinking about where to go and overlook the most simple of things. Whats it like driving in Europe? I have been thinking of getting a vehicle but I have heard some pretty crazy stories! Do you think it would be hard to meet somebody who already has a vehicle and just throw in on the gas expenses?

Milesoftheusa Joined Fri 10/27/06 Posts: 5122	Tue 02/26/08 01:46 PM
I have not been thier but I know skype.com has cell phone service in europe cheap.. Miles

StrangeFinnishGuy Joined Sat 01/12/08 Posts: 48	Fri 02/29/08 11:03 AM
Ultimate people skills + alcohol + making people keep their promises = free car for a day or two. I know I'd be sceptical about giving my car for a fairly strange dude, for how it is in rest of the people around the world, I dunno. I've heard some frightning things too, especially about Italian and French drivers. Plus UK (and Ireland?) has left side traffic, and imperial system, I suppose. All I can really say for sure is Finnish traffic and I don't see anything special about that. Germany at least has those no-limits autobahns (it would be so cool to rent a powerful car and go 300kmh - legally!) but they have a hierarchy of their own that prevents slower cars to get mixed with speeding Porches. Most exotic difference I can think of is different cars populating the streets and different music on the radio. Oh, in Finland, the cost of gasoline (95oct) is about 1.40€/litre, but I think it'll be cheaper around EU.

theotherbachelor Joined Sun 12/09/07 Posts: 267	Fri 02/29/08 05:31 PM
Do not try to smuggle anything into Italy! Well don't keep us in the dark! What happened?

Jess642 Joined Sat 03/31/07 Posts: 22732	Sat 03/01/08 02:26 AM
Australia.... will you be using public transport, or plan on buying a vehicle over here? Buy a hard copy of the Lonely Planet, it will be your bible.... use the Backpacker accomodation noticeboards, they will be your guide, and also assist in a lot of info...even if travelling by car, book into a Hostel every few days across the country, to get the 'dirt' or goss, on where to go, what to see, what to avoid, where to find work... It's an easy thing, to travel around Australia, and outside the cities is extremely safe, I have hitch hiked all over Australia alone, for years, and never had a challenge anywhere... and when you get to Queensland and book into Cool Bananas Backpackers in Agnes Water, ask them to call Lee, and we will call down and show you the local sights..

kidatheart70 Joined Sun 04/08/07 Posts: 6234	Sat 03/01/08 08:26 AM
Hi Lee I guess I'm not the only Finn on the site after all. S F G, if you intend on coming to Canada, send me an email.

theotherbachelor Joined Sun 12/09/07 Posts: 267	Sun 03/02/08 12:03 PM
Australia.... will you be using public transport, or plan on buying a vehicle over here? Buy a hard copy of the Lonely Planet, it will be your bible.... use the Backpacker accomodation noticeboards, they will be your guide, and also assist in a lot of info...even if travelling by car, book into a Hostel every few days across the country, to get the 'dirt' or goss, on where to go, what to see, what to avoid, where to find work... It's an easy thing, to travel around Australia, and outside the cities is extremely safe, I have hitch hiked all over Australia alone, for years, and never had a challenge anywhere... and when you get to Queensland and book into Cool Bananas Backpackers in Agnes Water, ask them to call Lee, and we will call down and show you the local sights.. Sounds like fun, I'm not sure when I will be landing in Australia though. I'm thinking about heading there in the winter or spring. That will probably change again though. We shall see.