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posted
26-Aug-2003 20:05
by: romanb »

last reply
26-Nov-2009 19:52
by: Frank_H »

83 replies , 49,301 views

Pages 1 2 3 4 ... 6

Welcome to the Gap Year & Round the World Branch

Hi all

There's a chance your question has already been answered somewhere on the Thorn Tree, so use the search function before you post a message - you'll be amazed at what's already here.

This thread will stay at the top of the branch, so check inside for links and info relevant to the destination you're interested in and feel free to add any useful links you have found.

Here are links to three very useful threads to get you started:

All Travel Questions Welcome

Credit Cards and Debit Cards

<a target=new class=ftalterna... more »

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posted
25-Dec-2009 01:17
by: nmrdxt »

last reply
26-Dec-2009 04:45
by: rorygemwriter »

2 replies , 58 views

Gear List - What do you think ?

Ahoy,

I'll be heading out to wander the world in a September 2k10 (starting in russia, then mongolia, china and the rest of the world :)) ... and am trying to compile a gear list (to figure out whats missing). My trip is going to be mostly on the road/villages, but I do plan to go on the occasional trek (mongolia, nepal, se asia, nz, etc)... I will be trying to dodge the winters, but It will be hard :)

Last time I posted here a gear list it was a disaster, I thought of a week-long trek in the wilderness and not of a vagabonding-style trip...

Since then I've read and hopefully learned something, but I'm still inexperienced, and when it comes to equipment - experience is almost everything (I think).

So, I'd be thankful if you could spot whats wrong (missing, not needed) with the following gear list :

clothing :
2 hiking convertible pants
2 tech long sleeve t-shirts
... more »

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posted
23-Dec-2009 10:52
by: nerina »

last reply
25-Dec-2009 20:37
by: rorygemwriter »

6 replies , 141 views

Favourites...

I know that variations of these questions have been asked before, but I always enjoy reading the answers and getting ideas for more travel research/day-dreaming.

So, what is your favourite:
Beach
Island
City
Town/Village
Landscape
Unique place that's a refreshing change from your ordinary life
Other?

OP first, I suppose:

I haven't found the perfect beach paradise yet, but I love Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove in Dorset, England, for the rock formations and beautiful wineglass-shaped bay.
Island - haven't found it yet
City - Venice, so beautiful, I never get tired of exploring.
Town/Village - so many, but Cesky Krumlow in the Czech Republic is like something out of a fairy-tale.
Landscape - I had views of the Himalayas on a flight into Bhutan and was blown away.
Unique place - Bhutan. So much here is distinctive and beautiful, the landscape, the Buddhist architec... more »

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posted
23-Dec-2009 08:20
by: siddal05 »

last reply
24-Dec-2009 21:49
by: Special10 »

5 replies , 150 views

HELP AND ADVISE FOR MY BIG TRIP OUT!!!!

Hi Everone

I am planning my first backpacking experience, Really excited but really worried about my finances would hate it if my travels would end up getting cut short. Just wanting some help on how to budget my trip? Places to Visit? Things to watch out for?

I am flying out to Bangkok around June/July 2010 (Nothing booked yet). Travelling round the whole of South East Asia going through Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand right down to Singapore where we get a fly from there to sydney round about 20th December 2010 (6 months travelling in South East). From Sydney travel around australia for 3 months on a Holiday Visa. Then get a flight to New Zealand stay there for 1 or 2 month depending on finances then get a flight back to australia on a 1 years working holiday visa where hopefully find work to survive on. My flights are gonna cost around £900 all in. I am hoping to save ... more »

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posted
23-Dec-2009 04:24
by: Doubts »

last reply
24-Dec-2009 21:53
by: Special10 »

4 replies , 116 views

Tips for Round The World Trip

Hey everyone,

Looking around I don't feel very original but yes, I am going on a round the world trip as well. I have a few destinations in mind but am kind of lost in the web of round the world tickets and ways to keep it cheap or not so much, even though I am not really on a budget.

I would like to leave April 2010, stay away for maybe five months, leave from Amsterdam/London and go to:
Nepal
China
Australia
New-Zealand
Peru, Bolivia

Any opinions on that? Like, is New-Zealand any good in winter? Are there any interesting stops on the way? Has anyone done this?

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posted
23-Dec-2009 01:32
by: lionofjudah »

last reply
26-Dec-2009 05:17
by: simia »

4 replies , 133 views

Flight route map for RTW providers

Anyone know where to find a route map that shows all the flights for Star Alliance, Airtrek or other RTW providers?

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posted
22-Dec-2009 22:57
by: thiskey »

last reply
22-Dec-2009 22:57
by: thiskey »

0 replies , 57 views

Travel insurance for scuba diving and skydiving etc

I hope this is the right forum for this post.

I'm travelling the world next year for 8 months. I would like to do some scuba diving (an introductory guide), possibly a sky dive (in New Zealand) and some glacier walking (also New Zealand).

I am trying to find the right insurance. It seems most policies cover the above activities to a degree. For example, the policy that I'm looking at (Insure And Go) covers all the above for a small extra premium (about £10 for the sky dive, for example). I've just spoken to an adviser and she told me that in the case of the above activities I would be covered for medical expenses but, if I was permanantly disabled, I would not be covered for a lump-sum payout.

Is this normal, do you know? Have other travellers had this sort of dilemma? What level of cover did you choose in the end, and which insurer did you go with?

Thanks,
Tom more »

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posted
22-Dec-2009 14:59
by: lmc »

last reply
22-Dec-2009 14:59
by: lmc »

0 replies , 73 views

Volunteer in Nepal: looking for nurses, cook, and others

Namaste!

I live in Nepal with my husband (who is nepali), and we run a volunteer organization. IVAN (International Volunteer Association Nepal) can afford volunteer opportunity in different fields: orphanage, school, environment, health, cook, construction.

Nowadays, we are looking for volunteer in health field: nurse, medical students, to join a local organisation working in villages around Sauraha (Chitwan district, in south of Nepal).
We are also looking for professional or non-professional cooks to teach cooking and bakery in a local NGO training center.
We also need some help to build a shelter for homeless people (hand work).
We still need volunteer in other fields such as orphanages, education or environment.

We can also provide one week orientation class: nepali and cultural courses, informations about the working field of the workplace (children in Nepal, enviro... more »

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posted
22-Dec-2009 09:41
by: mint186 »

last reply
24-Dec-2009 15:55
by: sarahlavendersm... »

5 replies , 128 views

need to book accommodation???

Hey,

This is my first post so bear with me. I’m currently planning our first RTW trip with my boyfriend in Feb 2010, our itinerary stands as:

Japan- 2 weeks
Australia- 6 weeks
New Zealand- 4 weeks (campervan)
Fiji- 2 weeks
USA (LA-San Francisco) - 3 weeks

I’m just wondering how much accommodation I should book? We’re hoping to stay in hostels and cheap is key, we’ve booked most of Japan because of the limited time there but not sure whether we need to be so regimented in places like Australia and USA???. How have people done it before?? We want to be able to be spontaneous but I just have a fear I might get stranded somewhere with no where to stay.

How easy is it to book things on the way and can you just turn up and it’s likely there’ll have a room?

Thanx

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posted
21-Dec-2009 09:49
by: wilmotd »

last reply
22-Dec-2009 12:20
by: hog_wilding »

2 replies , 105 views

Flight Taxes

Hey! First post here.

I'm planning on taking my first RTW trip in Jan 11 (early I know) I'm currently in the process of saving but am a little worried about flight taxes being beefed up this year. After going into STA a couple months back we were told we can't book flight tickets till the new season starts and were told that this could increase the orginal price of £1,250 pound on the STA travel website for the 'classic' ticket which is pretty much what we wanna do.

Anyone have an idea how much these taxes could increase the ticket prices in the coming year? The ticket looks like this...

London - Bangkok - Singapore - Australia - NZ - Fiji - USA - London

We'll be throwing a few flights in ourselves in SE Asia and maybe mix up a couple of things in the main ticket but nothing too drastic.

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posted
20-Dec-2009 08:55
by: Bohemiana »

last reply
21-Dec-2009 12:03
by: mrszhao »

3 replies , 194 views

How much CASH to take for 1 year?

We need advice on how much cash to take on our trip (1 year) and should it be a mix of $1, $10, $20s?? I've heard crisp bills are best. Of course, we'll have two credit cards and a debit card for stores, airlines, hotels and ATMs. We will be doing mostly overland travel in developing countries.

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posted
20-Dec-2009 07:21
by: zrose13 »

last reply
23-Dec-2009 08:18
by: libbyh »

8 replies , 270 views

Itinerary-planning Philosophies

Hi everyone,

First time poster here, so please - be gentle!

I've done a bit of searching and found bits and pieces regarding various philosophies of itinerary-planning. My own isn't yet developed, although I've done a fully planned trip with a detail-oriented friend (Japan for two weeks) and a mostly unplanned trip due to clueless-ness (England/France/Italy/Greece for a month). I'll be separating from the military soon and plan to take a (IMO, well deserved) year-long travel trip. There are many destinations I have in mind, but it's packing a year very, very full and I worry that I'll be on trains and planes more than actually enjoying the new places.

My question is - what are the various philosophies on itinerary planning? How do you plan your trips and why? I'm searching for a way to move forward on my planning and it would be interesting and instructive to get some diffe... more »

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posted
17-Dec-2009 23:43
by: ricemandan »

last reply
23-Dec-2009 04:36
by: pd339 »

3 replies , 198 views

Switching bank accounts to Nationwide

I've just been on the Nationwide site to apply for a current account to use when I'm on my 9 month travel abroad (Oz, NZ, Can and US), but if you don't want to make it your main account, you have to meet one or more of the following:

I currently have, or have been approved for, a Nationwide mortgage
I currently have, or am investing, £2,000 or more in a Nationwide savings account
I am aged 16-21 or transferring from a Nationwide Smart account
I already have an existing FlexAccount which I pay my salary or pension into
I am opening an e-Savings, e-Savings Plus or e-Bond

It seems like I may need to make it my main account, but my question is - will my other account (HSBC) close? I don't want it to - had it for years and use inet banking etc and know my details by heart, so don't want to lose it. Have an ISA with them too etc

I have 10k in my current in HSBC an... more »

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posted
17-Dec-2009 16:46
by: duffalpha »

last reply
17-Dec-2009 23:03
by: myobie »

1 replies , 129 views

Getting aditional visas when already abroad.

If I am India, what is the best way to get a Pakistani Visa? Do I need to send my passport to the Pakistani consulate in the U.S.? Or can I do it in India?
It would seem imprudent to send my passport away when overseas?!

Any tips would be appreciated.

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posted
17-Dec-2009 07:53
by: quinncooper1988 »

last reply
21-Dec-2009 09:29
by: purrfect »

6 replies , 304 views

To travel or not to travel.... That is the question

I BET everyone is sick of this question being asked, but I have trawled through the forums/threads and read others but have not quite got there yet.

Obviously the question is, shall I travel or shall I not. It would be a RTW trip, mainly SEasia though.

I am 21, and by the time I have enough cash I'd be 22.

I have a GF of 4 years, who will not be able to come as she is going to uni next year.

I have a job, not quite career. I say that because to be honest, I do not know what career I want to do, I don't like my job, it pays the bills and would not like to continue it to a career, but at the same time I do not know what career I would like, BTW, it's an office job.

I LOVE travelling, I have done bits and pieces here and there, but never for more than 3weeks.

SO I am in two minds at the minute, and if I get any replies it is probably a unanimous decision to go t... more »

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posted
16-Dec-2009 11:54
by: keppiezbt »

last reply
24-Dec-2009 04:37
by: jtorsch »

7 replies , 280 views

The movie for backpackers

If any of you want to know what life is like as a backpacker, the best movie out there that really hits the highs and lows is a map for saturday. It's the best movie there is out there and made me teary eyed with the memories it brought back

If you haven't ever heard of it, check out the summary and trailer here:

http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/the-life-of-a-traveler/

and you can read my interview with the director/creator here:

http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/interview-with-brook-silva-braga/

who else has seen it?

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