Thorn Tree travel forum

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 »

Continental's Micronesia route in RTWs

I have just noticed that Continental has joined Star Allience in October.

This immediately made me wonder if I could perhaps do my long-planned Micronesia trip as part of a Star RTW.
Unfortunately Star's website is all but useless for any real info I need.
To start with, I could find no info on fares for the various mileage levels - any idea where to find these?
Number of stopovers per region?
Also, it remains unclear which region of the world Micronesia would belong to - especially Guam!
They still seem to describe Oceania meaning AU, NZ and the South Pacific only.
Hawaii is in North America for their purposes, so if so is Guam, visiting all the Micronesian islands between these 2 US islands would lead to backtracking between continents - which is not allowed.

I am also aware that Continental is (still? or aleady discotinued?) supposed to be part of that KLM alliance, Wor... more »

overland

This is just floating an idea but I am interested to know what people think.

I am currently in Southeast Asia but it looks like my job won't last and so it might be time to return to Europe. The prices I have been quoted for a one-way ticket are really quite expensive around five or six hundred pounds and its flying which is sometimes a sterile, non-green way to travel. (Like everyone else I am worried about the environment but don't want to stop travelling.)

What I am thinking of is an Air Asia flight to India and then back overland to Europe. So the route would be into Kochi or Trivandrum up India's west coast into Pakistan, across it and then Iran-Turkey-Europe.

Yes I know its a bit much to go on about being not green enough and then fly to India from Southeast Asia but my understand is that Burma is closed to overland travel as is Eastern Bangladesh and that there is n... more »

Tips

Hey all, I am going to be traveling around the world once I've completed college. I was wondering if you could give me any tips or tricks about how, when and where to travel. I would really appreciate this! I have no idea how much money, or supplies I should bring...And I was would like to know basic information that I should get before going...

kthanks!

Kody, Dibble

RTW airline tickets

I'm looking for a decent fare on a ticket from Bangkok to Mumbai, then New Delhi to either Toronto or NYC, any suggestions as far as websites or airlines to use? Thanks.

Best pre-paid travel card?

Hi,

Im leaving in just under two months for a trip to Australia, NZ, Cambodia, Vietnam and China. Ive been doing a bit of digging into best cards to take abroad (im from UK) and have stumbled on the Caxton Fx Global Traveller (http://www.whichwaytopay.com/compare-travel-fx-cards-detail.asp?Product=CaxtonFX-Global-Traveller-Card&ID=213) - has anyone used this before? If so, are there really no ATM or transaction fees?

I was thinking of just getting the STA Money Card, but then realised they charge for ATM withdrawals, and im guessing a lot of hostels/shops/restaurants in S.E Asia won't accept Mastercard?? Also, would a Nationwide account card work out cheaper than an STA card?

All help/advice appreciated, ta. more »

Six and a bit months round the world!!

Hi Guys,

First post so forgive me if it gets a bit long but basically after years of thinking about it all (i'm 26) I think i'm finally going to take the plunge and see a bit of the world!

Realistically i have the seven month period from June to December 2010 to go and see some places and have some amazing experiences.

I have now decided upon an itinery of a few days in Hong Kong, three months in Oz, about two months in New Zealand, a couple of weeks in Fiji then finish with a month in the US just in time to fly home for Xmas. Lots to pack in in that time but these are the places I most want to visit. Other places can just wait for another time!!

I've got a long list of places to see and things to do etc but any off the ball suggestions are welcome. Going to start Oz with Oz Intro then take it all from there.

Regarding money i was thinking about a £1000 a month but ... more »