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Tips for travelling long term!

7/20/2014

Hey guys, So this topic came to mind when I started thinking back to when I first started travelling and how I have kept myself going all these years. Through my job, I also meet a lot of people who want to know about me and my life, one elderly man In particular whom I met in Timaru last week, said something that stood out to me. After stopping to have his third, yes third chat of the morning with me, he began to ask me if I missed home and he assumed I had very wealthy parents to be able to live abroad like this. It's not like he has been the first person to ask me this, but it made me slightly shocked to hear it again that day. We chatted for ages and I told him all about myself and how I have managed to travel this much, of my own accord. His view of me turned right around and he seemed to be pretty happy with what I had told him.

Truth is, there is a lot of misconception out there when it comes to long term travel. A lot of people 'assume' that you have either won the lottery and kept it a secret or have had a 'hand out' from wealthy parents to get you by. Honestly, if these were things that had happened to me, I don't think I would be living as frugal as I do. This is the basic awareness of long term travel. For instance, spending all your money on unnecessary things in the first few weeks of a long trip, isn't going to help you long term, so the trick is in the mind set. Growing up, I have always been good at saving (having squirrel stamps as a kid etc -Irish people will know this lol) and I guess if you're not good at budgeting then you need to learn. Prior to my travels, I cut down on shopping, nights out and anything unnessecary, which helps me save a lot faster, easing the stress away.

Long term travel isn't always about saving a lot though, yes, countries are a lot more expensive than they used to be but in hindsight, there are so many more work abroad options available now and we should be grateful. As an Irish citizen, I am lucky to have so many opportunities to get work visas for so many different countries and this has helped me travel for so long.(Check out visas available for your country!) There are always options to join a help exchange website or do some woofing (working on organic farms). Below is a great international website called HelpX, I used while in Canada.

Volunteering can be another amazing way to stay away for longer and you could even 'volunteer hop' (I literally made that up, but it could be a thing) from country to country to help others and help yourself at the same time. Beware of a lot of companies that charge you tonnes of money to volunteer though, you shouldn't have to 'pay' to volunteer so do some research first. Au pairing (nannying) is another great way to travel long term, it enables you to save the money you have by 'living in' with a family and still earn a wage per week. It's an amazing chance to gain life experience and live like a local.
I always plan ahead (in some ways), meaning that while I am working somewhere I am putting money aside every time I can and planning my future trips, researching in between. I guess it's how I'm programmed by now. I always save enough money to get my through the countries I'm travelling before I arrive to the country I can work in. If it happens that you arrive and you have no money to get you by until you find a job, then there are options to tie you over. One option is couchsurfing, where you can crash on a locals' couch for a few days, or even a working hostel where you can do odd jobs in the hostel to pay for your stay and in the mean time you can job hunt. Epic right?

There are so many ways to keep going and if you have travelled before, chances are, you will know some friendly faces around the globe with a spare couch until you get back on your feet, that's what happened to me in Mount Maunganui with Midge & Mark, a Kiwi couple I met in Brazil. I can't thank them enough for their help during my first few weeks in NZ. For now, these are my big tips and if I think of anything else, I will be sure to update you all. Don't stress out about how much money you need, just know that taking the first step is the biggest challenge, the rest will fall into place...

Believe me, iv done it all on my own and you can too :) make today the day that you change your life and live your dream :)

Namaste x

http://wwoofinternational.org

https://www.couchsurfing.org

http://www.visafirst.com

http://www.helpx.net

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The realities of hostel life!

7/4/2014

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So, one of the most repeated questions i have heard over the years, has been, 'what's it like to live in a hostel?', so i thought, with much hostel experience under my belt, its about time i opened up about the true reality of living in a hostel. This blog will relate to a lot of places i have stayed around the world, because, lets face it, hostel life can be easy to come by, and get stuck into (in a good way of course).

To go through every hostel i have ever stayed at, would probably take me weeks to remember, but more than likely, i wouldn't remember every single one of them. There have been hundreds. But you will always remember your first... Mine was the Wake Up hostel in Sydney Australia, which i had booked for me before i set off from Ireland. I wasn't nervous at all, to stay in a hostel because it had looked so luxurious and cool, having googled it beforehand. It was the first time I had met a group of travellers to travel with, the first time i was introduced to 'Goon' (cask wine), drinking games and the first time to have a family away from home, even with people who just came and went. Its funny, but travelling sees you form strong bonds with people at a very fast rate, probably because life is happening so fast that tomorrow they will more than likely have moved on to some other hostel, and different friends. To count the amount of random nights out with people from my dorm, who i never knew that well, or never knew their name as a matter of fact, is countless. But that is the joy of hostel life.

Its not common in your home town that you would have the chance to mingle with like minded people from all corners of the globe, play drinking games and have a truly spontaneous night out on the tiles, picking up new friends along the way... But hostel life allows that.. Most nights lets face it! I have met some truly incredible people and shared some deep dark secrets with total strangers in hostels and have never looked back. I have cooked group meals, watched movies snuggled in the lounge, planned spontaneous travel trips and completely lost myself in epic conversations with global travellers. This is something that staying in lavish, luxurious hotels most definitely cannot provide.

Hostels tend to be classified as 'youth hostels' a lot, which tends to be very misleading, in most cases. I have met and befriended people of all ages in hostels around the world and lets face it, its good to have a good group dynamic going on with a mix of life experience to input. One amazing thing about hostels is that, its obviously the cheapest form of accommodation when travelling, and can sometimes be free if you make a deal to work for your board. Odd jobs can save you a bundle, especially if you are down to you're last pennies after a year of craziness in Australia.. Like me!

The myth that all hostels are dirty, are for homeless people or for drug addicts (which believe me, a lot of people have assumed) is completely false. Obviously there are shelters etc that exist around the world, but lets not define these as all hostels! One of the best hostels of stayed at was pretty cheap at $10 per night in Reggae Mansion- Kuala Lumpur, including breakfast. It was a white and chrome boutique hostel with private capsule dorm beds fitted with white fluffy pillows and duvets. The breakfast consisted of all you can eat scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, noodles, toast, juice and coffee, as if the marshmallow beds weren't enough to leave me ecstatic. This to me, shows that you can have everything and more, for your buck! And you can save your extra dollars for beers on the rooftop looking out to the Petronas Towers, listening to great beats with great people.

Believe me i have stayed at some bad hostels, for example, a random hostel i booked in Hong Kong that turned out to have bed bugs, which i discovered during the night (don't worry, i complained until i got a refund and changed rooms). There have been some other crazy experiences but lets face it, its the amazing places you will dwell on more than the bad ones. Searching reviews of hostels before you book is a good idea among advice and recommendations from fellow travellers to put your mind at ease.

Overall, hostels are a cheap way of living outside of you're comfort zone, living amongst crazy cool, maybe just crazy people (but thats all the fun of it right). Life wouldne be worth living if everything was boring so get out there and book into a hostel.. even if its just across the pond from you, you never know who you will meet or where that experience will send you next. I tend to use hostelbookers or hostelworld to book hostels but generally booking in advance is not necessary unless its a public holiday.

Here are my top 5 tips for staying at a hostel:
1- Take ear plugs (you never know who you may share a dorm with and there are a lot of snorers in this world believe me)
2- Buy groceries and label your food (it saves tonnes of money, gets you involved with others when cooking and prevents your food being binned)
3- Invest in a lock for your bag or a hostel locker for your valuables (most travellers are respectful because everyone knows what its like to have belongings stolen, but better safe than sorry)
4- Invest in flip flops/Jandals/Thongs for hygenic reasons when showering (more than likely in a hot country you will have these already but to prevent foot infections etc wear them in the shower)
5- Invest in a YHA, BBH etc member card as it will save you at least 10% in most of the chain hostels as you travel around... saving you more bucks for activities or beer =-)

Hope that has helped or at least opened up some future plans for hostel hopping. Contact me if you guys want any more info... On any topic, I would be happy to write about anything.

Jade =-)

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Information on Travelling Solo!

7/3/2013

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So I'm sure at least once, you have thought about an adventure you would love to start planning, but then after asking around, you're friends didn't seem too keen to be as spontaneous to just up and leave. Sound about right? Well for some people this has been the case, and for me, It certainly was. Thinking back, I realize how different my life could have panned out if I hadn't faced my fears and chased my dream when the opportunity set in. Dont get me wrong, It wasn't easy and It took a lot of guts to get on the plane and jet off to the other side of the world not knowing anybody, but thats life I guess, you either decide to grab opportunities when you can or risk regrest in the future. Its always nice knowing you have someone by your side when travelling but at the same time, you won't thoroughly understand the advantages of solo travel until you take the leap and try It for yourself.

Below are some of the benefits of solo travel!

It may sound cheesy, but travelling solo can help you to grow as a person and mature into a responsible young adult.
It makes you very approachable to other travellers and vice versa. Alot of people travel by themselves so meeting others in the same boat is never difficult.
You will become very confident in yourself and meeting people will be a breeze to you after a solo trip.
It brings about a sense of pride in yourself and people will be proud of you for taking on something so daunting.
It can leave you open to so many possibilities, perhaps joining others on a road trip or planning a trip abroad to visit new friends.

Travelling solo, doesn't mean that you go on a trip by yourself and you are constantly alone, It Is in fact the complete opposite. Some of the biggest groups of backpackers have been formed by solo travellers who happen to be going the same route and decide to do it together. Think of it as the beginning of something amazing! I know a lot of people who at first thought, said they could never have travelled alone, and when a situation arose and they had to travel alone, they loved it. Returning from a trip that you decided to do by yourself is very rewarding, and so Is looking back at all the friends you have made from merely this decision. I always believe that If you have a dream, go for it, don't ever wait for someone else to have the same dream as you, because what will end up happening, Is that one of you will lose out. Everyone is different and everyone has their own interests, goals and desires so go and sit down now, take a pen and paper and write out your bucket list for the next year! Write out at least 5 things that you want to do and in a years time look back on It and you never know, all 5 could be ticked off and you could already be half way through your next bucket list. This is the importance of life... To live!
Dont let anybody hold you back, get up, get planning and just go! Im not saying you need to be as crazy as me and jet off for a year down under, but even plan a city break away to explore the sights and learn what you love to do.
The general thoughts on 'hostels', or so I seem to hear very often, Is that they are dodgy, dirty and cheap for a reason, well believe me, some hostels out there could pass as 5* hotels any day, they are that amazing. You wouldn't even believe it, especially in Thailand! Hostels are the best way to have a home away from home, meet other like minded people, feel safe and be right in the heart of the action. Why go travelling to stay in a private room in a hotel? Who are you going to meet? And How will anybody find you to invite you on their amazing 'Pub Crawl'? The best days of my travels have been spent in hostels, meeting people at the hostel bar for drinking games ('Im a Viking'), going on crazy tours with people you just met and feeling well and truly at home in the family unit that is a hostel.
If you take anything from this post, I hope you at least consider that this is not an impossible dream, this is something that at the drop of a hat, can happen. Its just you standing in the way of you're own dream. I am here to share my experience and show you that by following your heart and chasing your dreams with wide open arms, It can change your whole path of life, I for one, can vouch for that!

Happy Travels Guys!
Any more info please don't hesitate to message me!

Jade x

Contact Me Here!

Evaser.com

followpics.com

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Top 3 places for first time travel?

7/2/2013

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No.1- Australia

From personal experience and because It was my first place of travel, I would definitely recommend first time travellers to go to Australia. The thing with travelling down under, is that it is easy, "too easy" as the Aussies would say! First things first- they speak English, which is always a great thing when you are new to a foreign land! The second major thing is that it has already been discovered by backpackers and there wont be any major culture shocks for your first adventure. Australia is great for somebody starting out because It is the full of people from all corners of the globe who are ready to mingle, meaning you will not be short of friends. Its a great place to make plans and because it is such a huge country, you will never be short of trips to plan and sights to see. Aussies are very welcoming and Australia is a very safe place, although always practice a certain degree of caution wherever you go.
Visa's are very easy to obtain with a lot of working holiday visa's now being processed in as little as 48hours. You can get more information on applying for all types of Visas under the 'Visa Information' section on this website.
Nowadays, there are so many easy options for Australia i.e you could go as a tourist, go on a 1yr working visa, apply for your 2nd year visa, look into sponsorship visas and skilled visas. A lot of people generally go to the land down under and find themselves drawn to the lifestyle with no plans to every leave. If this is what you are looking for then Oz is certainly an easy place to go. On the other hand, I would encourage anybody to carry on travelling after being to Oz and explore other parts of the world before settling down, if this is what you had planned to begin with. You don't want to regret not seeing other parts of the world in ten years time, and who knows, you might find somewhere you thought you would never love as much as Oz.
Flights down under, compared to when I went in 2007, are very well priced and some companies have really great deals. You could even opt for a round the world trip which will help you take in more countries on your trip and fill up that passport with exotic stamps. This is a great way to save money and see as much as possible. They are pretty flexible and there are a lot of great companies linked on this website to check out.
Another highlight of Oz, is the high wages. Work is vast in Australia and the wages are really outstanding, compared to European standards. You can get a well paid job doing anything from waitressing to farm work to office jobs. The options are endless. There are so many sights to see in Australia and there is no doubt that you will need a whole year to see them all. A year sounds like a long time, but believe me it really isn't. It will fly by so fast that all you will think of is the well known saying 'time flies when you're having fun', because in Oz, it really does.
There are so many places in Australia to start in, with the most popular being Sydney, Perth and Melbourne. Common trips include The Great Ocean Road, The east coast (Sydney-Cairns) and the journey through the centre of the country- probably my favourite. Australia has so much to offer that it seems almost rude not to see as much of it as there is during your year there, especially with hostels and travel being pretty inexpensive! If you opt for two years then you will certainly do that. Travelling is about doing exactly that, work to travel don't travel to work, unless that is you're initial aim, then by all means get a job and work away, but if you are backpacking then try and take in as much of the country, culture and people as you can because this is what you will remember in 20 years... Believe me! If you are interested in this option don't hesitate to contact me for info on itineraries, ideas and options, I have travelled the whole country so I can help you as much as you need!

Jade :-)

VISA INFORMATION CLICK HERE!

No.2- Thailand

Thailand is an amazing place. It is so exotic yet so approachable, which means that It is another great place for first time backpackers to go. The highlights of Thailand are how cheap it is, the beaches, the weather, full moon parties and of course its amazing culture. People tend to think that because Thailand is In South East Asia and with English not being its national language, that it is a hard place to get around, but it is the opposite. The thing that struck me was how almost every Thai person had at least a few words of English, enough for you both to communicate. In a week or two, you will find yourself speaking Thai to locals anyway so the language barrier wont seem apparent at all. The scenery in Thailand is second to none and I would encourage people to visit all the Islands i.e Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan for full moon parties. There are tonnes of other places to see such as Phuket. Krabi down South and Chaing Mai and Pai up north. Getting around Thailand is so easy, there are tour companies everywhere and with a strong ability to haggle, you always find the best price. Thailand is relatively safe but always be cautious and don't stray away by yourself. These tips should be taken on board no matter where you go, you really can't be too careful! As Thailand is a relatively compact country, you can backpack here for any amount of time really, but give it at least two weeks. The weather is great and the sights are incredible, especially the lush green scenery up north. You can buy clothes at unbelievable prices here so pack very very light and go crazy at the markets when you arrive. Mingling is a given here as everyone is in Thailand to have a great time. You will find yourself meeting people and changing your plans to join them or vice versa. Go with the flow, that is the joy of travel and enjoy time with your new pals. Visas for Thailand are easy to obtain at the border but you should be aware of vaccinations you will need prior to travelling. You can easily change money here and a lot of places take credit card too. Check out the link below for information on Visa's for Thailand or contact me for any additional info.

VISA INFORMATION CLICK HERE

No.3-Canada

By no means does Canada come 'last' in this top 3, It is definitely on par with Thailand and Australia with its approachability for first time travellers. Visas for Canada have become much more popular recently and most companies are now offering two years for some nationalities. There is no doubt that it would take all of two years to explore the ins and outs of Canada due to the huge geographical size of it. Most Popular spots for backpackers to arrive are Toronto towards the East and Vancouver over on the West. Both have their own qualities but Vancouver stole my heart and It would be my number one port of call If I was to fly back tomorrow. Canada is huge but don't let that put you off travelling it. There are tour companies that you can book tours with, Via Rail -Canadas national railway, Premier&Greyhound buses and there is always 'ride shares' which I have gone with numerous times and have loved. Have your wits about you though and do some research before looking into a ride share and don't travel on your own. I tended to travel with somebody who was taking other backpackers along too which seemed legit, and turned out to be a great experience. Buses are cheap enough but travelling by train is a bit more expensive. If you have a license you could hire a car or even buy one for the long term. Hostels are vast all around Canada and can host some great deals so do some research. Couchsurfing is very popular here and can be a great way to mingle with locals and get some inside knowledge into places. There are tonnes of great places to go and things to see in Canada i.e - Calgary Stampede, Rafting in Banff, Niagara Falls, Victoria, Quebec amongst many others. Canadians are a very friendly nation and will go to any length to help you 'oot' (Sorry I had to) so don't be afraid to ask for help there. Flights to Canada are ridiculously cheap especially to Toronto so good idea would be to start there and head West to Vancouver or North towards Montreal/Quebec City. Canada Day is July 1st so be sure to plan to be there for that as It is an amazing day full of fun. Don't be afraid to go off the beaten track to Manitoba/Saskatchewan to check out what the prairies have to offer. It might be worth couchsurfing in Winnipeg or Regina should you be here, as the locals can tell you the best places to check out around there. Being a tourist in these provinces may seem boring at first glimpse but don't judge a book by its cover, I spent a long time living with locals in a small town in Manitoba and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Canada is getting very popular with backpackers so be sure to get there to explore the incredible landscapes before the secret is out. Contact me for more info.

Jade

VISA INFORMATION CLICK HERE!

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Budget Travel Top Tips!

7/2/2013

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Below, I have listed some of my top tips for travelling on a budget!

Do your research when it comes to booking flights. Look into flying into different airports on different dates etc and you could save a whole bunch of 'beer' money!
Always look for the best deals on travel within a country, sometimes booking things yourself instead of with a company can save you lots of money.
When eating out abroad, look for the best deals, generally it is cheaper to buy food and cook in the hostel kitchen with other backpackers but if you want to eat out check out competing restaurants for the best deals.
One of the best tips I know is to 'pre drink' or 'pre game' as the Canadians would say, before going out. This can be a great way to socialize at the hostel before going out and saves you a tonne of expensive drinks at a bar.
Always pack lunches etc when travelling on buses, planes etc as you tend to be ripped off on flights and in stop off stores along the way, so this way you can save money for other things.
Budgeting can mean opting out of tours or trips you had wanted to do, but by doing your research through different companies this can sometimes help you save on a trip you once thought you couldn't afford.
Opt for couch surfing occasionally as opposed to hostels as this can not only be a very cultural experience, It can help you make new friends and saves you money for other travel necessities.
Purchase a VIP or Travel Savings card from any travel company before you go. Some hostel chains have their own too which saves you money when you book with them.
Booking RTW flights with a company can be ridiculously expensive and can seem impossible to do but by putting in a little extra work, and booking it yourself before you leave, it will save you all the company charges. Be sure you know all the details before you book to save any extra fees for changing.
Pack as much essentials as you can to save you having to buy things you wish you had brought. You can always send them home if you don't need them but its better than having to buy things you already have.
Travelling in groups can save money and sometimes you can get a group rate on tours and hostels etc. Its worth a try.
Travelling a s student can get you some great deals too so bring a student ID card just in case.
Hostels generally do free meals some nights, or give coupons away for free meals in pubs etc so watch out for this and plan a cheap night with your new buddies.
Staying in a hostel for a few nights? Do a shop in a local supermarket for your few days stay and you wont have to pay for meals out.
Pack lunches for tours that haven't got food included as they will generally try to charge you a small fortune for things like sandwiches etc, you will be glad you did!
An amazing way to see a city is to do a walking tour. The best thing is that they are free and obviously you get a lot of exercise out of it which is an added bonus. You pay a tip at the end if you liked the tour but that is it, and sometimes it is better than paying up front and hating the tour, It is more appreciated this way.
Always use wifi in hostels, coffee shops, airports etc instead of using internet cafe, it is generally free and handy.
Stuck for somewhere to stay? Like really stuck? Don't fret! An amazing website that is available called www.sleepinginairports.net which reviews lots of airports, the best areas to sleep in and he amenities they have. Sounds crazy eh? Well some airports such as Singapore which has been voted No.1 for its 15th year, has some incredible facilites that would put some resorts to shame. Think spa, massages, jacuzzi, free movies to name but few. Don't diss it till you try it!
Always haggle, haggle haggle, unless of course you are in a country where this is frowned upon, then just don't. A lot of local people love to haggle and have great respect for travellers willing to haggle to. Personally I love to haggle and have gotten some great deals out of it. Give it a try!
Lastly, if you are in need of clothes or other essentials, shop at markets, thrift shops or discount stores where available as this can help save a tonne of money and you can get some really great vintage pieces. I have a few vintage denims from a thrift shop in Long Beach, California which I swear by. Go and check it out!

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Tips for travelling long term!

The realities of hostel life!

Information on Travelling Solo!

Top 3 places for first time travel?

No.1- Australia

No.2- Thailand

No.3-Canada

Budget Travel Top Tips!

Below, I have listed some of my top tips for travelling on a budget!

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