Q for anyone who's been travelling? Accommodation....?

Question

I've just started thinking about the possibility of going travelling around the world - 2 destinations in Africa, 2 in Asia, 2 in Australia, 2 in America. I have seen some great deals online for the flights but am unsure what to do about accommodation - do you book it before you go or find it when you get there? And if the latter can you always find somewhere to stay? This is a totally new idea so any other advice on travelling would be appreciated. Thanks!!!

Answer 1

Join the International Youth Hostal Association before you go - contact details for the UK YHA can be found via link posted at end of this. Then you've usually got a fall-back if need be. If you're looking to backpack you can always arrange accommodation when you arrive in a country, the only problem is that in some countries if you arrive by air they want details of where you are staying before letting you out of the airport and into the country! You would be better doing a little bit of checking on that for each country you plan to travel to. If you go to one of the travel companies that specialise in long haul backpacking they will help advise you on these sorts of things. I used Trailfinders when I went away and they were great - when I wanted to cancel a flight half-way through my travels I got onto them and they did the rest. I've listed a couple of travel companies who can help and a website that gives all sorts of advice for taking a gap year. The Lonely Planet might be something of a 'bible' for backpackers on the usual route through Asia but if you decide to go to South America throw it in the bin instead of doing what I and so many others did and chucking it against a wall/across a room etc because when it comes to South America they are useless. The best book for South America is Footprints South American Handbook. The Lonely Planet have a useful online resource including the Thorn Tree where people post advice etc so do have a look at that and get a feel for things before ordering your guide books.

Don't be nervous - so long as you get yourself prepared and buy the essential 'kit' (backpack etc) you'll have the timeof your life and spend the rest of your days planning where else you would like to get to!

Answer 2

I did a little bit of travelling when I was at university. The best advice I had was to join the Youth Hostel Association. It doesnt cost all that much and you can stay in hostels all over the world. Youth hostels are great, they are cheap, clean and it not a dormitory or anything! Try www.yha.org.uk and yes your UK membership would cover you around the world.

Personally I booked my first lot of accommodation before I arrived and then booked it by phone before I moved on.

The best advice I can give you is to be prepared. Make sure you have met all the visa requirements before you travel. When I was travelling I met people that were refused entry to certain countries because they didnt have the correct passport stamp. Also make sure you have at least 6 months remaining on your passport, many countries will refuse you entry or you may not be able to take off in the first place if you don't. Also make sure you have had all the relevant vacinations before you travel. Needles are not nice, but being ill is far worse.

I would also make sure you have insurance. Personally I use insure and go (www.insureandgo.co.uk) as they really did provide me with the best deal (65 pounds for a worldwide annual policy, that allows me to stay in one location for upto 90 days as adverse to the next cheapest quote from tesco which was 210 pounds and only allowed me to stay for 42 days).

My next piece of advice is to make sure you stay in contact with people back home and let them know where you are, my folks almost went crazy when they didnt hear from me.

Also make sure you have a good insect repellent and sun screen. You do not want to get eaten alive or burnt to a crisp. For the repellent I recommend something that contains catnip (yes catnip), as it is far less toxic than chemicals and is 10 times more repellent to mosquitoes than DEET (Most commercial insect repellents contain DEET). As for sun screen use a high factor one that is water repellent.

I would also recommend travelling light and making sure you have appropriate clothing.

Finally, check the weather for each country before you book. I would hate you to book your flights and find out you have decided to travel to a country during its rainy season. You should be able to get this information off of the internet or in a book like the encyclopaedia geographica.

I hope you find all this information useless. Have Fun. I did.

Answer 3

Depends on the level of accommodation you are after; if you like hotels then you would certainly need to pre-book, if you like it cheap and cheerful then hostels are your best bet, you can normally get a room in these by just turning up, or ring them a day or two before if it makes you feel more comfortable. Lonely Planet or Rough Guide will list all the accommodation available in each area you travel.

Answer 4

I think you need to get the first few nights sorted out before leaving at the very least. I've had a few panics over hotels and then you end up staying somewhere more expensive.
Take a look at "laterooms.com" from page below. Never used it yet but may be useful...covers the world.

Answer 5

Go to a good Travel Agent and he/she will have a World Hotel Directory and you can select your Hotels and the Travel Agent will make the Hotel Reservations in conjunction with your Transportation Reservations and Rental Car reservations.

Answer 6

never book previously, it ties you down going places and gives a strict timetable!
Buy lonley planet guides for where ever you are going, they are like the bible of travelling, will tell you all you need to know about the place, and you find because everyone has one you all end up in the same place ie the best place!

Answer 7

I'm a snob I only go 4* + as they offer every comfort I want when on holiday. So i always book before leaving the country.

Answer 8

Book before you arrive. To many times I have arrived in different countries only to find the hotel I want is full.

Answer 9

sort the accomodation out when you get there, always sapaces in hostels, make sure you have a latest edition of a lonely planet tho. its the bible for backpackers. i have been travelling for about 4 years in total and never once booked accomodation 1st and never had any problems.

Answer 10

Assuming this is backpacking and you're looking for cheap accomodation - I always book when I get there, except for mega tourist locations (like Amsterdam) where it almost always pays to book in advance.