Posts by : Izy Berry

There’s so many different ways to get around while traveling and there are lots of pros and cons to both. From train rides throughout the Czech Republic, sleeper trains in Vietnam right through to walking rickshaws in India, I’ve sampled the lot. The transport you will use will depend heavily on where you are and how long you’ll be there. Here are some tips I’ve learned from a few years on the road:

Photo Credit: “Just Drive”

1) Driving is Best in Australia and New Zealand

As someone who was born in Australia and spend most of her time living in New Zealand, I consider myself a semi-expert on both of these countries. I can honestly say that the best way to travel either of them is by car. While cities in Australia (not in New Zealand) have excellent public transport, getting between the cities can be a nightmare, unless you want to fly everywhere. Hiring or buying a car, depending on how long you’ll be there, is the best way to see everything and it allows you a unique level of freedom. If you’re planning to stay for a while in Australia or New Zealand but don’t have the spare cash to buy a car, there are a number of Auto Finance companies that might be able to help you out, such as Westralian Auto Finance. Many visitors to NZ and Aus buy cars, use them for the duration of their trip and sell them off. Japanese cars especially are quite affordable in both countries. 

2) Trains are Almost Always More Comfortable

I once spent 36 hours on a bus from Vang Vieng in Laos, across the Vietnamese border to Hanoi. It was painful, I had food poisoning and there was no toilet on board. Thankfully, I’m almost Vietnamese sized so I managed to get some sleep, but it’s kinda gross sitting in a bed you’ve been laying in for hours and hours on end. It was a cheap and efficient way to get between the destinations and I had a bunch of friends with me which made it a little more fun. I’ve learned, as a general rule, that trains are always more comfortable than buses. This proves true for day trips, as you can wander around and rest your legs. There’s often someone selling snacks and drinks, while some trains even have meal services. There’s always a bathroom on a train and while some of them are in horrible condition, other’s aren’t so bad. If you get the choice between train and bus and there isn’t a huge price difference, go with the train. You’ll also get significantly better views out the window, too. 

Photo Credit: “Train Ride”

3) Lock Up Your Stuff

The number of people I’ve met along the way who have had stuff stolen while they were on buses, planes or trains is outrageous. It happens, I wish it didn’t but it does so you need to be aware of that. When I’m sleeping on a sleeper bus or train I will put my laptop (probably my most valuable item) in it’s case under my pillow. Yes, that might seem a bit over the top but it’s not been stolen yet. My other valuables are kept in a small backpack that I keep near me. My passport, money and phone also go under my pillow too. When I’m on buses I’ll lock up the two zips on my bag. I understand if someone’s really keen to take something, that probably wont stop them but it might deter them. 

These are my tips for getting around when traveling and keeping all your stuff in tow. If you have any tips or comments you’d like to share, please feel free to do so in the comments below:

It seems almost impossible, right? To save money while on the road. But there are lots of things you can do to keep the costs down so you can keep the travel flowing. My last trip to Asia with my sister was the only trip where I wasn’t on a strict budget as I was still working overseas. But all the rest of my trips have been taken with a finite amount of money and saving a few hundred dollars here and there meant I could travel further. Along the way, I developed a bunch of tips that made it a lot easier to save money while traveling.

Photo Credit: “Saving”

1) Be Smart With Your Money

This will matter more for those who are planning long term travel, rather than two week jaunts. Being smart with your money in terms of spending is important, but also how you save or hold it. I know of a few long term travellers who have invested money with fund management teams, such as Goodman Australia, and are making money while they’re away… considerable amounts of money too. This is a great option if you’re planning on hitting the year for or two and have a bit of capital you’d like to turn into an investment.

2) Couchsurf

I’ve already written a post on how much I enjoy Couchsurfing, it’s really great. Of course you need to do your research properly and make sure the people you’re intending to stay with are people you think you’d like to be friends with. As per the Couchsurfing rules, people are supposed to host you for free and it’s up to you whether you’d like to gift them something small in return. This is a great way to meet people and to keep your travel costs down.

Photo Credit: Scrambled Eggs by cookingclassy.com

3) Fly Low Cost

Lots of people complain about low cost carriers – they’re late, the seats are too small, and so on. I have flown extensively and like other people, I prefer decent airlines. More than anything, though, I prefer a few extra dollars in my bank account. I frequently fly low cost carriers in a bid to save money and extend my travels. My sister and I flew long haul to Asia on Air Asia and while she found the flight pretty painful, for us both it was worth the savings.

4) Skip Breakfast

Lots of people might think I’m crazy for saying this, but I routinely skip breakfast, even when traveling. It’s called “Intermittent fasting” and basically operates under the thought that eating within a smaller window of time prevents overeating. If you are eating out for most meals while traveling, chances are you’re eating considerably larger portions than when at home as well as foods that are probably higher calorie. Skipping breakfast (or if that is too much for you, having a small, simple breakfast) is a great way to save money and to keep your waistline in check.

These are my tips for saving money while traveling. Let me know if you have any other tips in the comments below.

The human body is one of the most interesting things and it is very complicated in how it operates. As technology and resources improve, our understanding of the human body and treatment we can provide when things aren’t working properly increases. If you’re living in London or planning a trip there soon, this is one event you simply need to add Foreign Bodies, Common Ground exhibition to your list of things to do here. It’s taking place between the 14th of November right through to the 10th of February, 2014. If you’re looking for some accommodation nearby, I have heard great things about Holiday Inn London Regent’s Park.

So what’s it all about?

This collection is a unique exploration into health across the globe and how it varies from country to country. It is a comprehensive collection including a number of media, such as photography, sculpture, film, performance and paintings that were made during residences in Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam and the UK. The programs were funded by the Wellcome Trust and has resulted in a very moving collection of pieces.

Cultural context has a significant impact on health in varying cities and countries and this exhibition really showcases the differences. From the spread of diseases from animals to people, to the continued HIV epidemic in Africa, this is a wonderful insight into the reality of global health.

As someone who studied Science at University, this exhibition is very exciting to me. Many people fall into the mindset that holidays and travel should be purely for relaxation and light hearted fun. While I agree that is important, some of my most moving experiences overseas have happened in educational buildings. I saw both The Human Body Exhibition in Prague, and the War Remnants museum in Ho Chi Ming city, which both left me speechless, although for different reasons.

If you’re heading to London or living there now, make sure you set aside a little time to browse this interesting collection. Foreign Bodies, Common Ground is on show at Wellcome Collection, see their site for more information on opening hours and location.

Photo Credit: Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel by eGuide Travel

Flying can really take it’s toll on you, and the last thing you want to deal with after 10, 20 or even 30+ hours of transit is navigating your way around a city. When I flew from Calcutta home, VIA Dubai, Bangkok, Sydney and eventually landing in Christchurch I ended up getting an airport hotel in Dubai. It was one of the smartest decisions I ever made, as by the time I landed in Dubai I was a walking zombie that desperately needed a shower and a sleep. There are so many benefits to airport hotels, including:

Allowing you to be close to the airport when you have an early morning flight:

There’s nothing worse than having to get up at 2am to be at the airport by 5am. Often airport hotels are mere minutes from the airport, so you can roll out of bed, into the shower and arrive at the airport promptly. This saves precious time in the morning and ensures you can have the best sleep before a long day of transit. 

They are a Sanctuary During Transit:

Many airport hotels have buffet breakfasts, high quality showers, beds and other facilities that allow you to refresh yourself during transit and get comfortable. Flying isn’t the most comfortable thing in the world, but it is a necessary part of travel. Booking into a transit stay at an airport hotel is a great way to refresh yourself and make sure you are comfortable. If you’re traveling with children, it can be a much needed resting spot to get everyone ready for the next stage of the trip. 

Photo Credit: My room by David McKelvey

Airport Hotels Have Great Business Facilities: 

If you’re traveling for business, it can be tricky to find hotels that offer decent WIFI for good prices, business services and facilities so that you can do your job. Airport hotels are often used by businessmen and women, so cater well to that side of things and usually will be able to meet all of your needs. Because you’ll be closer to the airport when your flight is due, you can spend more time working (or relaxing) before your flight, ensuring a productive trip. 

You can get Great Deals on Airport Hotels:

Using sites like AirportHotels.com you can get great deals on airport hotels, saving you time and money. Just because the hotel is convenient and high quality, doesn’t mean it has to break your bank. Through booking in advance, you can save some serious money. Some airlines also have a partnership program with local airport hotels to offer further discounts. Because of their location, airport hotels are usually cheaper than central city hotels and the perfect option if you have a late or early flight. 

There are a number of airport hotels around the world, from Gatwick Airport hotels or even Belfast Airport hotels, so the next time you’re traveling, consider all the advantages of using an airport hotel. 

Many people who long term travel have jobs or careers waiting for them at home. I was not one of those people. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science, which I soon realised I probably wasn’t going to use. I had worked in a law firm as an assistant and quickly learned it was not a position I was likely to return to. 

I had no idea what I wanted to do.

Many travellers, like me, set off in a bid to explore the world and to find some long term direction. They’re a bit lost, so they solve it by getting really lost in far flung places. 

Throughout high school, friends and family told me not to travel until I’d studied, because I’d simply never return to formal education, which of course would ruin my job prospects. While I’ll never regret studying and getting my degree, I still wish I’d listened to my instinct and gone traveling fresh out of school. 

There are so many things travel teaches you about yourself and the world that you can’t learn while at home. It shows you the bigger picture and affords you the opportunity to think about your future with that in mind. 

Whether you want to go home and start a business with the assistance of equipment finance, or you want to go to university and study your passion, or you want to pursue teaching, travel will allow you to focus a little more on your long term goals. 

For me personally, my current “job” evolved through my travels. Originally I worked as an au pair in the Czech Republic and English teacher to fund my travels. I did that for six months and thoroughly enjoyed it, but knew that personally it was not a long term career move for me. 

It was here that I started my travel blog and pursued my love of writing in my free time. 

So I traveled some more and eventually was an au pair for a few months in Madrid so I could explore Spain, Morocco and move west across Europe to Istanbul, before flying home. 

During this time I started some freelance writing, which soon became full-time work. Working for yourself while traveling is really the ultimate lifestyle, because you can find a balance between earning money and then spending it in countries that are much cheaper than your own country. 

Now I’m fully self-employed, balancing freelance writing with other online projects. It was never the career I studied for, or worked towards, but it became a reality because of my travels. 

So if you find yourself questioning your life or your career choices, I think travel is the perfect solution. If you come home no clearer about your career, well at least you had a great holiday.