Just some advice and recommendations on travel from a girl who really has no idea what she is doing.- Just Do It! Lets face it, who doesn't want to travel? If you want it, put forth the conscious effort to do it! Looking at the big picture, the process can seem long, expensive, overwhelming. At the same time paradise awaits! So why do we open the flood gates of our mind to the millions of excuses we have been unconsciously clinging on to just for this moment. You know, the one when your mouse is hovering over the 'purchase' button at Delta.com and the fear of change and anxiety of costs settles in.... Okay maybe that was just me. But it took a few days in thought to realize, why am I making excuses to NOT do something that I want to do?? It was time to let go of the fear, embrace the change, validate myself, and rid myself of the materialistic mindset. Which leads me to my next point:
Just because we are traveling doesn't mean we have to be on a full fledged vacation. In Australia working and traveling usually go together. There are hundreds of harvesting jobs all around the country. Many backpackers travel as far as they can, and when they need money they stop off and harvest bananas, mangoes, flowers, sugar cane, you name it. Workers are always wanted in this field and although not many of us actually want to sit and pick mango all day, working for a week or two in this setting is a great way to allow yourself to continue on through the country.
3. Airfare. There are thousands of airline sites all offering "the best deal!". Honestly, I never use the direct sites of airline carriers. Delta.com offers some "last minute deals" which are cheap, maybe 10 percent of the time. Southwest.com also has deal calculator called 'Ding' this isn't a bad choice if you don't care where or when you travel to. Even sites like Expedia and travelocity are lacking in their ability to find the cheapest ticket (though that doesn't mean you shouldn't check them). Utilize all options! I search through at least 7 sites before I buy a ticket.
For international travel my first go to is Kayak.com. Kayak compares fares from all different carries to that area. If you are traveling internationally it will show you flights from the local airlines, which tend to cost less.
It will also show you costs of travel on a calendar so if your dates are flexible, you can be sure to get the best possible deal. Momondo, lastminutedeals, cheapoair, and studentflights are all wonderful options to check out. If your planning ahead of time, sign up for a few price alerts from them, they will email you when a cheaper ticket price has been posted.
I'm currently booking a flight to Brisbane. I found my ticket through Kayak and am flying on a local airline, Virgin Australia. This airline offers checked bags $12 for 23kg (~50lbs). However before you book your international flight it's important to check their baggage allowance. Most other countries will limit the number of bags you can check (if any at all).
4. Travel Light. Yeah, this one seems obvious. However to me, traveling 'light' is three suitcases (40-50lbs each) and a backpack. Ehm...this is just too much shit, even for a years travel. Less is more, and it's surprising how minimalistic I have become since my world was flipped upside down. Make sure you have all your favorite "essentials". For example Marley and I have considered buying out Costco of their Tampax Pearls and having them shipped to Australia... it's the things you don't expect to be awkward and different that ARE. Tampons may have topped our list for biggest culture shock thus far. Pack any specialty items that you have taken a liking to, they are worth the space. Among that we have really taken to the Aussie fashion, but we have no space in our suitcases to squeeze any more clothes. Anyways, remember that you need to bring your souvenirs home some how... and don't forget your tampons!
5. Google It! No, seriously. Google it. The internet allows us to unlock a world of knowledge if we just take the time to research it. If you are looking to drive while in a country there are a lot of cheap options for renting cars and campervans. Companies will offer relocation deals for as little as $5/day ... some are even FREE rental! This option isn't for everyone. You are limited in the amount of days you can have the vehicle and the availability is always fluctuating. Unfortunately this option won't work for Marley and I this time around. Most of the vehicles that need to be relocated are departing from Sydney, not going to Sydney. Still, it doesn't hurt to browse around. The site I used was http://www.standbyrelocs.com but there are heaps of others!
Another great way to save is through the local websites. In Australia, Gumtree.com.au is the best tool for traveling. They post job offers, trades, barters, rideshare, accommodation, skills/language swap, the list goes on and on. You can sometimes get a free ride to another city, as long as you help drive, or simply pitch for petrol.
Anyways now a days we have access to practically the same information as travel agents.
Next time instead of facebook stalking at 1am, put on some good music and plunge in to googles search engine. My latest research track has been Island by The xx
Enjoy :]
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