Thorn Tree travel forum

Best warm sandy beaches with snorkeling Feb-April

I have 3 months off work February through April 2010, and would appreciate your suggestions of the best places to visit during these months.

Looking for locations in any or all of the following: Australia, New Zealand, Pacific, Asia, Middle East, Caribbean or Central America.

Looking for warm to hot weather (daytime over 24C or over 75F), not the rainy season, friendly people, interesting culture, natural beauty (such as flowers, trees, or mountains), and ocean front with sandy beaches and snorkeling nearby. I also need reliable internet access at least twice a week.

Please say whether good snorkeling is available in the area. If weather differences, please say which of these months have the best weather.

Please also say your opinion about whether traveling in that country or area after paying for international airfare is very expensive, moderate, or inexpensive BY WORL... more »

SLR on a RTW

Anybody have experience with that (took an SLR camera on a RTW trip) ?

I am seriously considering taking my D90 with 2-3 Lenses... mainly because I love photography, and know that it will be an important part of my trip. But I have no experience in this kind of travel (only treks so far with crappy P&S, which sucked), so I don't know how it will affect on my photo taking agenda.

My plan is probably the average budget vagabonder, ie, mostly on land travel and, in short, all-over-the-place itinerary :) I have no time constraint. you get the idea.

Anyone had this dilemma before ? What did you decide and why ?

Thanks a bunch.

A call to all Quebecers (and other socialists) - how do you fool the RAMQ?

Hey guys!
Going for a RTW next month and wondering what to do with the RAMQ (public health insurance) - do you tell them that you are leaving for over 183 days? They are saying that if you had left for 183 days or more you are no longer insured and eventually have to pay for all the services you may have received extra.
What to do? I will be insured with World Nomads but I am worried.
Thanks guys!
Marina

calling exreme travellers

Hi, my name is Jai, I just completed a solo trek across the Gobi Desert in Mongolia and I am sitting in China now hating society. I am planning a Christopher McCandless/ Into the Wild type trip to Tajikistan or Nepal soon. Would have preferred Bhutan but it is like 120 us dollars a day. I would prefer to hitch to the Pamirs in Tajikistan and seek solitude. Does anyone know if there is a hunting shop where I can pick up a rifle in Tajikistan? Can I get some form of transport from China to Tajikistan? Can I pick up a visa at the border? If there is anyone out there who is mentally and physically resilient and wants to meet up with me in China and hitch to Pamirs they are welcome. We can then maybe seek solitude and arrange to hitch back to China at a certain date.

"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because ... more »

Thailand - UK Overland

helloooooo,

me and my friend are flying out to bangkok and travelling back to the uk overland through laos, vietnam, china, mongolia, russia and belarus - then through europe (thats the easy part).

does anyone have any advice/tips from travelling in those regions - paticuarly living costs, and if it is possible as a british citizen to get visas for belarus/mongolia whilst travelling? can anyone tell us how frequent trans-siberian trains are and how much tickets cost at the stations around june/july

Thoughts From A RTW Cyclist...

Cycling solo around the world for years, you obviously have a lot of time to yourself, to think, to reflect, to try and keep your mind a little active. Some of that time, I´ve spent making up all these hit lists, best of lists and other silly things that you might (might not) find useless.

Anyway, here they are, my favorite lists of things that make bike touring just a little more perfect.

Comments, suggestions etc more than welcome. As usual.

1. Beers of the World! - Beer tests from different countries...

2. Odd stats and the like... - Bike facts and the like...

3. Conquer the world! - Visited countries in the world...

4. The Milestones - A portrait for every 1.000 km cycled...

5. That car is from...? - Guess a... more »

SINGLE GIRL HITTING THE ROAD, PLEASE HELP WITH ADVICE

hey everyone,
I'm 22 yrs young Czech girl. My situation is as follows: After finishing high school in 2006 I left for the UK and spent 2 and half years au-pairing in a wonderful family in North London. I came back to CZ in Dec 08 and started uni in Sept this year, studying English and Applied Economics I don't find it satisfying and long for adventure as before. I have a baaad money issue though, just 1500 pounds in a piggy bank :(
I want to leave the school next year, probably in summer if I get lucky and won't fail till then. Well, I'd like to stay in the UK for some time, probably earn some more money (on farms?)and then, would like to head towards LA, where my friend lives, throughout the USA. Not sure how it is with a Czech citizen, visas, work and the US :-/ After this I's like to go to NZ, Australia and then back to LA.
Do you think it is possible?? for a Czech citizen es... more »

Money issues...

Hello all,

I'll be leaving next year to go travelling around Asia and I've got a question about money.

First off I'll be starting in India, then heading to Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and eventually down to Australia and New Zealand perhaps going to a few other countries in between.

I want to know how much money to take with me basically. Will it be better to take what I think I'll need for India, then use credit & debit cards for the rest of the trip, or should I take a bit of currency from each country I plan to visit?

I've been reading some of the posts on the forums and they seem to give advice on the best credit/debit cards to use, and have an idea about that now.

This will be my first travelling experience so I'm obviously dumb on the subject and any advice from people with experience will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks. more »