Travel Tips for Beginners

London Backpackers and Hostels are still up there in quality, if you are looking for budget accommodation in the British capital. The main aim when it comes to backpacking, is to see the world and NOT spend an arm and a leg on expensive accommodation. London can be quite an expensive destination, but if you do your planning right and you know of all the things you can do in London for free, then those hard earned Pounds, Dollars  or Yens can be stretched quite far! I've put the following summary together of links that you can use, to assist you when you are planning a trip to London: Search and book affordable London Hotel Accommodation  or Search and book a great hostel in London on Hostelworld.  or Search and book a great hostel in London on Hostelbookers . Plan your London Itinerary by first focusing on free attractions as well as on events happening while you will be visiting London . Add to your Itinerary the sites that you want to visit that will cost you ...

With the current international lockdown in place, it has become almost impossible to travel. Our only option these days is to travel virtually and what better way is there, than to do this with a Virual Reality Headset - or in short a VR Headset. All you need to do is to slot your phone into it and start watching fantastic footage from all over the world. So as a first step you need to purchase a VR Headset. The below model on Amazon is similar to one I've purchased recently from a brick and mortar shop. OPTOSLON 3D VR Glasses for Mobile Games and Movies, Compatible 4.7-6.2 inch Once you have got your headset, read the instructions and fit your phone into it, you need to start getting your travel library together.  See below Instructional Video providing more information: Here follow some of  the best VR 360 Videos I've watched. The Netherlands  The Keukenhof Flower Garden Amsterdam City Tour Italy Rome - a guided City T...

If you are going to backpack in Europe, then there is a good chance that you will have to travel through Switzerland. One of the best cities to stay in Switzerland is Geneva. I visited this city a couple of years ago, just as the city was in the full throws of the Festival for the Animals("Fete des Animaux"), to collect money for the local SPCA. We had an an absolute surreal experience in this very influential European city. The weather was beautiful and we were treated to the most fantastic animal displays on the lake. It really made us miss our pets at home. There were a lot of life saving demonstrations with huge black dogs, bringing guys "drowning" to safety on the shore. We were also treated to parades around the lake by various groups, which looked to be representing the various Cantons of Switzerland. Every year there are various festivals in Geneva, with the most famous one, the  Fêtes de Genève  . So you might say, OK, all good and well to...

Vilnius in Lithuania, has continuously been voted a top destination for the young at heart backpacker. I've decided to have a quick look, to understand why this city, in a fairly 'obscure' part of Europe is ranking so high on most respected travel publications and web sites. Big was my surprise when I started my research to find out what a spectacular city, Vilnius is and what it actually offer tourists. So here are my findings: (Please note that I haven't visited Vilnius yet, but it is on my bucket list!) Vilnius Town Hall Vilnius is located in Lithuania on the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. Lithuania used to be part of the Eastern Block during the Cold War and such it was a no go area for most Westerners. With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 most Soviet satellite states became independent, including Lithuania. This also opened up the treasure that is Vilnius, to the world. Vilnius is a medieval town with lots architectural masterpieces. The city was develo...

Are you planning an exciting backpacking trip to Europe, but not sure where to start, then the below advice will hopefully help? Critical Items Decide the route that you want to go. Decide your means of travel - Train , Bus etc. Decide if you are going to do a circle route or fly into one city and fly out from your final city. Decide how you want to lodge - Hotels, Hostels, Bed and Breakfast etc. Decide and confirm your budget. Confirm if you require any Visa and also if your passport is still valid. Decide when you want to go - weather can be a crucial factor especially in Europe. The St. Bartholomew's chapel on the Königssee in Bavaria is a popular tourist destination. Copyright: M.tesch at de.wikipedia Important Items Electronic copies of all important travel documents and booking confirmations. Email critical documents to an email account that you can access while you travel. Take a couple of certified photocopies of your passport long as well as pass...

Many tourists that were planning to travel to Greece in the Summer of 2015 is now unsure if they should cancel their plans or still proceed. The answer to this question will be different for different individuals. Greece, public unrest. Photo: AFP So let us review the current situation in Greece. Before I dive into the below items - The most important item to make sure off before you leave home for any overseas trip, is the following  - Ensure you take out Travel Insurance! Money All banks are closed until at least 15 July 2015. Daily ATM withdrawals are capped for all Greek issued cards. The current cap is 60 EUR. This does not apply to foreign cards. Card transactions in store are unrestricted, but not all business accept cards. So firstly, if you are going to travel to Greece, take cash with you. This is the best advice, especially if you are an independent traveller. Package tourists should also take cash, but you will be able to get around with less c...

British Museum One of the best kept secrets of London is the British Museum located in Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG. Every time I visit London, I make a point of it to make a turn at this outstanding museum. I've probably visited this museum more times than many locals. The great thing about it, is that there is no admission fee. You are however asked to leave a donation. This museum has got some of the most historic art treasures in the world. From the Rosetta stone to the Elgin Marbles, it has got it all. The central quad of the museum was covered in time for Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee in 2001/2002, providing an excellent area to take breather from all the fantastic artifacts you are exposed to. The Contentious Elgin Marbles. The museum has got a great Egyptian collection with an especially good collection of huge granite statues. This collection spans from the 1st Dynasty all the way to post the 26th Dynasty, going into the Ptolemaic peri...

 Façade of the Celsus library, in Ephesus, near Selçuk, west Turkey. Benh LIEU SONG  - Wikimedia Commons. I've always wondered if Turkey is a good destination for backpackers. I've never visited the country and would really want to know what other travelers have experienced in the big Turkish cities like Istanbul, Bodrum and Ankara? I've been fascinated by all the historical sites located in Turkey, for example Troy, Ephesus and many other ancient Greek sites. Turkey is also well known for leather goods, Carpets and many other sought after products. Please share your stories in the comments section below. Thanks in advance.

Cesky Krumlov, Town View - Wikimedia Commons Cesky Krumlov has been voted as a top back packing destination for many years. I've decided to have a look as to what makes this city such a favorite destination for tourists, young and old. So let us first have a look at the history of this classical Bohemian city. Cesky was founded in the 13th century at a crossing in the Vltava River. This area was important for traders and as such the town started to flourish.  Cesky Krumlov, Castle  - Wikimedia Commons Part of the building of the town also included the building of a huge castle, called the  Český Krumlov Castle . The town and castle have been owned by many many noble families over the centuries including the  House of Rosenberg ,  House of Eggenberg  and the  House of Schwarzenberg . During the Second World War the Nazi's annexed the city, as part of the Sudetenland " Lebensraum " experiment. After 1945 the town fell within the communist rep...

Royal Tank Regiment While walking through the streets of London, I discovered this beautiful statue dedicated to the Royal Tank Regiment. I've never heard of this regiment, so I had a bit of a research session and found the following. This regiment became necessary with the advent of tanks. It was officially founded on the 28th of July 1917 and has been a regiment ever since. This is just one statue that you will see while walking the streets of London. If you like history then a visit to London will be a must.

If you are travelling to Paris, France as part of your backpacking adventure, then you can find some great reviews on Where to Stay for Cheap in Paris, France?  This page provide good quality hotels at very affordable prices. The important thing when visiting Paris is to decide in which of the 20 arrondissements (Municipal Area) you would want to stay. The cheap accommodation is usually available in the artist area of Montmartre which is the 18th arrondissement. If you want to be closer to the River Seine then you need to look in the 3rd arrondissement. Sacre Coeur  -  Copyright Wikimedia Commons Have a look at  Where to Stay for Cheap in Paris, France?

I recently visited the village Carrbridge, in the Scottish Highlands. This village has got a rich history and is very much tourist focused. I enjoyed visiting the main attraction in the village namely the Old Pack Horse Bridge, built in 1717 and badly damaged in 1829. This damage is still evident today as the bridge was never repaired. See below some of the photo's I've taken during my whirlwind travels through the Highlands. Sign at bridge detailing the History. Old Pack Horse Bridge There are some great accommodation all over the Highlands, but I particularly liked the  Carrbridge Hotel. Carrbridge Hotel Another view of Old Pack Horse Bridge Scenery around Carrbridge Signposts in Carrbridge Scenery around Carrbridge  Looking for other hotels in Scotland? Search Here!

Image Copyright Busabout I will be posting more updates and stories about the merits of using the Busabout service to see Europe. It is an absolutely great recipe to see Europe at your own pace. There is no age restriction and the service is top-notch. I've made use of this service and thoroughly enjoyed it. There is a good selection of Hostels used by Busabout , but you are free to book your own accommodation. You just need to ensure that you are at the pick up points in time for the bus on the day of your departure. Busabout is owned by the same operator that owns Trafalgar Tours and Contiki Tours . Rome,  Colosseum at evening Image Copyright Wikipedia Want to start your Busabout tour in Rome ? See what hotel specials are available in Rome .