Thorn Tree travel forum

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

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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 »

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?

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 »

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

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.

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 »

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 »