Websites you should check out before you begin planning your trips overseas

Over the years while travelling I have done a lot of online research to help me become more proficient at travelling. I bookmarked plenty of websites but as I gathered more and more experience from my own personal travels I began deleting pages, forums and blogs because they no longer helped me out and/or better alternatives came out.

Below I have written out a list of the websites I still use even today to enhance my travel experiences.

1. Trip Advisor
   One of the most popular online websites when it comes to reviews for many attractions, hotels, hostels. I always check it out to plan out stays in popular towns to see what the best attractions are. It’s also a great place to get in touch with people who share similar interests with you. A all in one place to get plenty of great resources. Best of all you can download apps on your phone and/or tablet to use them offline which provide you information and walking tours which is awesome.


2. Google Maps
   
   Google maps is just so easy to use and best of all its free and available offline. You can map
   
   your trips you can navigate from your phone and also get points of interest and reviews for attractions and places.


3. Kayak
   
   When it comes to flights the first place I will check out is Kayak.com. it’s super easy to use and in most cases it will have the cheapest options when it comes to flights. Best of all it has a multi city options and a flight price tracker which gives you suggestions on when you should buy your tickets.


4. Momondo
   
   My second favorite website for flights is Momondo.com. Again super easy to use and I usually
   
   compare the flights between one and the other. One thing I really like about Momondo is that it shows the prices for return flights a week or so on either side of the flights you are after.


5. Wandering Earl
   
   This guy is a true Nomad, he has traveled for countless years and the amount of knowledge and experience he has is huge. He knows his stuff and his ebooks are super informative and have helped me in my travels as well. Best of all he really likes communicating with his followers and in many instances will answer any questions you might have about your travels.


6. Quora
   
   Just recently I came across Quora which is a website on which you ask questions and have thousands of other people there that are likely to be able to answer your questions. I have seen questions relating to flights, best places to travel, which insurances to purchase and so on. Literally a treasure trove of information and best of all you can join in on conversations and contribute as well.


7. Reddit
   
   Reddit can be difficult to navigate, I know when I first started I was so confused but once you get your way around it (use the search bar) then you can find tons upon tons of useful information. Again you can ask questions and the helpful community will usually be there to help you out. They are really nice and as long as you don’t begin spamming things you will find that everyone is helpful.


8. Workaway.info 
   
   This website is my dream creator. You go on it spend hours upon hours searching it and come up
   
   with some great plans on things to do. You can literally go travel the world experience new things and all in exchange for helping out on a farm, looking out for a few kids, pets etc. for a few hours a day.


9. Couchsurfing
   Strapped for cash, want to meet some new people in the countries you visit. Then sign up to this website, so that you can hang out with locals in their own homes. Great way to socialize and in most cases you will get a bed and your own room. Best of all the locals know all the cool spots around town and can show you around. In return maybe cook them a meal, buy them drinks and be super friendly


10. Vacations to Go
    I never was a person that would take into consideration cruises, I always thought that they would be to expensive so I never really bothered with them. Then this website came along and provides huge discounts on many of the cruises around the world. We aren’t talking 10-20% off in some cases you can snag a 90% off discount. Which is huge.


11. Travbuddy
    Last but not least, if you are a social person and like to travel with others than this website is for you. You can meet people, share experiences and best of all tag along on others adventures. Literally what could be better.
    

    This is my list of the most useful websites for travelling. have you got any suggestions of your own? Add them in the comments below.
    
    Thanks for reading
    
    Konrad

Websites you should check out before you begin planning your trips overseas

Follow these 10 Travel Hacks to become a Seasoned Traveler Right Away!!!

I won’t lie, traveling is my favorite thing to do. I have been doing it for as long as I remember and I make it a high priority to go overseas at least once a year. Over the years I have come across many hax which made my travel easier every time I went overseas again. By publishing this article I hope to share some of my most valuable hacks with you and if you have any that you would like to share please enter the into the comments below

1.Email yourself your passport and I.D.

Travelling overseas can be pretty hectic at times and if you become a victim of theft and lose your I.D’s and even worse your passport then things can really become shit in no time. By sending yourself an email with a copy of your documents than at least you have something to show while booking into hotels and it will also helps out at the consulate.

2. Turn on Private Browsing when buying

flights and accommodation.

By now it’s no longer news that when buying flights, even booking accommodation online website’s will leave cookies in your browser which will spy on you. While spying on you they can adjust the prices to make you feel a sense of urgency. In doing so you might end up spending more money than the tickets are worth at the time. I have tested this out multiple times and have seen the price jump up over $200.

These days most web browsers come with a Private Browsing option which disables the cookies and by doing so the websites can’t spy on you. So next time you are purchasing tickets online

3.  Carry a Power board with you everywhere you travel

Lets face it, when we travel these days we carry at least 2 electronic devices that require charging (laptop, phone, camera etc.). With just 1 power-board and a travel adapter you are able to kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Charge all your gadgets at the same. Another reason to grab a power-board is you can share outlets with buddies and being a good chap they usually are more inclined to buy you beers in exchange. Just the beer alone is good enough of a reason to carry a power-board everywhere you go.

4. Use Google maps Offline

The amount of times I pull out my phone while travelling to check out Google maps is bordering

on obsessive. In saying that Google Maps is amazing and a little less known feature of Google maps or android and Apple is that you can actually download sections of maps directly onto your device. This makes it a breeze to navigate your way around even if there is no Wi-Fi available nearby.

5. Download Travel Apps

These days there are so many amazing apps for travelers. With just 1 smartphone you can book flights, accommodation, tours stay in contact with friends and family who are back home, research new destinations, keep tabs on your cash and so much more. Below are just a couple of apps that I use on a regular basis while travelling.

Kayak

Hostelworld

Trip Advisor

Airbnb

Google Maps

Duolingo

6. Carry an Empty Bottle

I find when I am on a plane I usually become pretty dehydrated, but its always awkward asking the stewardess over and over to keep the water coming. Lets also face it from time to time you need to wait a fairly long time to receive your tiny glass of water. To overcome this just bring an empty bottle through customs and once in lounges just fill it up. Make sure it’s empty before customs or else you will have to drink all the water on the spot or leave your prized bottle in the bin.

7. Roll your clothes instead of folding

A pretty neat trick to maximize space in you bag is to roll all your clothes. By doing so you can stuff them into every nook and cranny and end up with a fair bit more room. Additionally your shirts are less likely to crease, which is an added benefit if you are looking at going out and want to look shmick.

8. Bring your own entertainment on the plane

On some planes yo will find yourself with many hours where you will literally twiddle your fingers. I always have my phone and laptop fully charged with a few movies, music and games preloaded onto them so that I can enjoy my prolonged sitting session. A book is also a great idea or if you’re like me stare at people for hours at a time and sing songs in your mind.

9. Follow the Pub Crawl

No matter what city you are in, you will always find a pub crawl at the local backpackers. They are an awesome way to meet people, get drunk and get a mini tour at the same time. You could obviously just follow them around but I find it much more enjoyable when you are part of the group and don’t have to worry about the tour guide telling you off.

10. Bike tours are the best

Bike tours are not only great ways to see a city fast, you also get some exercise and meet awesome people which you can drag along with you to a pub crawl afterwards. I find bike tours to be my favorite way to visit a new town, mainly because you can see the majority of attractions the city has to offer in just 1 day.

Did the Travel Hacks help you in any way? Have any of your own that you would like to share? Just pop them into the comment below and when I update the blog I will ad them to the post. These are my 10 favorite Travel Hacks. I have plenty more where those came from and in the future I will be posting them here. So make sure to check in from time to time, or even better follow me on Facebook or Twitter to get all the updates.

Follow these 10 Travel Hacks to become a Seasoned Traveler Right Away!!!

Going Hiking? have you got the right equipment Packed?

Planning a trip into the wilderness and not sure what you should take with yourself?

Check out my list of must have gear that I take with me on every hiking trip.

 Working as an outdoor instructor I have quickly learnt to take only the things I really need on trips. Reason being first of all I only have limited space in my back pack but I also like to keep my bag as light as possible. Below you will find the list of things that I won’t go hiking without, let me know in the comments section what you think of my list and if you agree with it. If you have any suggestions please also type them up into the comments.

1. Toothpaste + toothbrush – I know many hikers take a toothbrush and cut it down to a smaller

size to save the extra 10 – 20g but in all honesty I am more happy to carry the weight as it just makes the job to brush teeth in the morning that much easier. I use a tooth paste called EarthPaste as I find it to be the only toothpaste I used so far that I can brush my teeth with and then not bother rinsing my mouth out with water. All natural and after only using one tube of it I found my teeth to be super clean and even whiter by a few shades.

 

2. Sunscreen –  I don’t use sunscreen very often but whenever I find myself doing water activities I apply like there is no tomorrow. From my own experience as a lifeguard on sunny days and while in the water my skin would get super burnt very quickly. Let’s face it it’s not heavy and might as well carry it around just in case there is a need for it.

3. Hand Sanitizer – As you go hiking you will find your hands seem to get super dirty and eating food with dirt on them might not be the most hygienic, personally I use water and sand to wash my hands but I also keep a hand sanitizer on myself at all times as well. This is just in the instance I have no access to clean water and need to get a good scrub in.

4. Broad Brimmed Hat – Well These days I find myself always wearing a hat, for obvious

reasons but the wider the brim the more skin it protects and for me its important to not get sunburn as it not only looks unprofessional for an outdoor professional to be burnt but also I don’t want my skin looking like leather in the future. I purchase hemp hats because they look cool but also can be folded up and packed away nice and easily.

5. Rope – I find rope to be the most useful piece of gear that I take out with me on camp. First of

all you can use it to play heaps of games and initiatives but also you can use it to set up your shelters, tie things together and pretty much your imagination is the only thing stopping you from using rope in any way you need. Rope is so versatile. I carry 30m of high visibility rope with myself and paracord for rope that is strong but does not take up much room in my bag .

6. Back pack – Probably the most important piece of gear that you should really look at investing some decent money into to. After all you will be carrying it on your back for hours upon time. You want something that will fit you properly and have a really comfortable harness that will make carrying your backpack a breeze. Keep in mind there are many different sizes for both men and women. Do your research and when you look at buying a bag place weights into it to make sure that it actually works well with you before buying it. I have a Mont Flyte and I can’t fault it. It’s durable, compact 75L and the harness makes it feel as if everything is just floating on my back.

7. Shelter – If you are planning on going out for overnight expeditions you will have to really think about getting a shelter. There are heaps of different types of shelters ranging from tarps, tents to waterproof linings for your sleeping bags. It’s going to be up to you to decide how much weight you want to carry and how much comfort you want included during the trip. I personally carry a 2 person tent which has enough room for myself, my mattress and a bit of my gear on the inside to keep it safe. At the same time it only weight 1.5kg which I would consider to be very lightweight.

8. Knife – I never used to carry a knife when I went out into the wilderness but since I have

purchased a leatherman Skeletool I can’t imagine going back to not having one. I always take it with me not for protection but just the fact that I can use it for so many things (rope cutting, . Best of all, with the skeletool I can clip it onto my pack and its really easily accessible.

 

9. Water Container – Bottle’s are great, easy to fill up and you can carry multiples so you keep tabs on how many liters you have remaining. On the other hand there are plenty of camelbacks out there which make it super easy to store large amounts of water, plus make it easily accessible through a tube which you can hook up to the outside of you bag to continually sip on water while walking. I think this is great because I find myself constantly drinking water and by doing so I stay hydrated. On the other hand I sometimes go through 6L of water without really realizing it because its just so easy to keep drinking water. I purchased a MSR Dromedary which I find to be tough and perfect for all the things I require it for.

10. Food Container + Spoon –  When going camping or hiking on my own I like to take a bowl that I can also use as a cooking utensil. For example a small pan or a pot. This means I can not only eat food out of it but also, boil water and cook my food all in one. As for the spoon, fork knife debate I always just take a spoon because I can use it for soups, all meals and if I need a knife I have my Leatherman.

11. Burner + Fuel – There are so many different types of burners out there which you can purchase, I find the best ones are the ones that take up barely any space and ones that work with mentholated spirits. My preference is mentholated spirits because they are affordable and you can buy large amounts of it for many camp trips. Plus you always know how much fuel you have on hand unlike prepackaged gas cylinders.

12. Lighter – A simple lighter usually does the trick, on the other hand I also carry fire starters to make it super easy to rock up at a campsite and get the fire started. If you are after some fire starter ideas check out my post about them here.

13. Thermals – Thermals are a must when going camping, I always go for merino wool, just

because it doesn’t smell and they look a lot better then most synthetic thermals. I always have thermals on hand just in case the nights get a bit colder and just sleeping in a sleeping bag is not enough. Also if you end up doing a water activity by you can quickly change into them as they dry very quickly and keep you warm.

13.  Notebook + Pen – A notebook and pen can sometimes be the best things to bring on a solo trip through the wilderness. It’s amazing how many great ideas you come up with when you are left on your own with just your mind. The serenity and beauty of nature can truly inspire your creative side and after a few days you can easily end up writing a notebook full of interesting things.

14. Rain Jacket – Don’t go out without one. First of all if you get soaked you will have a bad time, secondly you will get soaked and thirdly it can be dangerous for you to be wet for longer periods of time as it will speed up hypothermia significantly. A great jacket is one that is small, very waterproof and has air vents to allow for your body to cool down and release your sweat from the inside. I like to always store my jacket in a very accessible place in my bag. After all its better to be prepared than rather digging to the bottom of your bag when you are getting soaked.

15. Sleeping Bag – If you are going for overnight expeditions make sure to get a good sleeping bag. You need to take into consideration if you are a warm or cold sleeper, if you are a female or male and also the temperatures that you are going to be subject to when hiking. Do the research and save yourself from having a sleepless night due to being overly cold.

16. Inner Sheet – You have a sleeping bag so why do you need an inner sheet? To keep you sleeping bag cleaner for longer, It’s amazing how much dirt ends up on the inside of the sleeping bag. Also by having the inner sheet you create layers which in turn make it even warmer for you to sleep in. I have a thermal liner which gives me a super toasty good nights sleep.

17. Sleeping Mat – I truly believe that the sleeping mat is the thing that will make you have a good nights sleep rather than a bad nights sleep. Reason being is that you will be more comfortable but also a lot of temperature from your body escapes into the ground. If you spend a whole night on the cold ground you will most likely wake up with stiff and painful joints. I have an exped mattress, Yes it weighs 1.5kg but when I take into consideration the amazing nights sleep I get from it it really becomes a no brainer. Find a mat that will work for you.

18. Hiking boots – Planning on walking for long distances? Make sure you have boots that are comfortable. If you just purchased them make sure you wear them in before the hiking trip so that you don’t have put up with blisters during the trip. If you have leather shoes and have no time to break them in use a hair dryer on them. Heat them up and stretch them back and forth to make them more flexible and comfortable for your feet.

19. Quick drying shirts and pants – Pretty self explanatory. You want shirts and pants that dry quickly. These days we have a whole array of incredible synthetics which make it super easy to choose the right ones. I always try to go with Merino wool ones because they not only don’t get as smelly but also are more comfortable to wear. One thing I make sure I don’t do is wear cotton shirts or clothes in general. Reason being is that they store moisture and don’t keep you warm when they get wet which in turn makes them dangerous as they can speed up Hypothermia.

20. Jumper – Fleece or wool jumpers are the best as they dry quickly and are warm. You could also look at investing in a puffy down jacket. Just make sure that the jacket is waterproofed as if the feathers get wet they can start to gather mold and in no time you puffy will be useless.

21. Camera and spare batteries – When you go out hiking you will find yourself coming across some incredible sighs, make sure you capture those moments so that in the future you can revisit the memories more easily. I always have spare batteries as I take plenty of photos. I like the Go Pro 4 as I find it to take amazing photos and its super compact.

22. Head Torch + Batteries – A head torch is in my opinion a better choice over just a torch, you can do so much more with a head torch. Plus these days they are so powerful you don’t really notice the difference. Research a head torch that is bright and has a long lasting battery life.

23. Dry Bags – Keeping your stuff dry is super important. I won’t go out camping without these, I store my tent inside a dry bag, I store my change of clothes, I store my sleeping bag and just to ensure that its 100% safe I store all that in another large dry bag. Seriously getting to camp and sleeping in a wet sleeping bag sucks and on top of that is dangerous again due to hypothermia. Invest in dry bags, if you can’t at least take many rubbish bags so you can wrap up all your gear.

24. Change of socks and underwear – I personally don’t change my socks for 4-5 days but in saying that I know many people that love the feeling of fresh socks on a daily basis. So make sure to have at least a spare change so that you can put them on when you need to. Also a great idea is to have bed socks so that if your feet get cold during the night you can keep them warm, in fresh toasty socks. As for underwear I take a pair but free balling is my preference. Take the amount you need and if possible make sure they are not cotton. Again if they get wet they will make your groin cold plus major arteries which run down your legs will be affected by cold. Making you feel more miserable faster and also speed up Hypothermia.

25. Map and Compass – These are must have items, a GPS just doesn’t 100% cut it, what happens if for no apparent reason it stops working and you are in the middle of the forest. That is when a map and compass become your best friend. It’s one thing to take it out but also make sure you learn how to navigate effectively as well. A map and Compass are only as good as your navigation skills are. Check out my post on some Advanced Navigation Skills here and practice them before going out into the wilderness.

26. Toiler Paper and shovel – As much fun as it is trying out different types of leaves to wipe your butt it is also dangerous if you don’t know what plants are what. Grab a few TP (toiletpaper) rolls with you and wrap them up in some bags to make sure they don’t get wet. Nothing worse then needing to go to the bathroom and having mushy paper to wipe your butt with. Also grab a shovel so that you can bury your Poo and paper underground so that animals don’t decide to snack on what your body digested.

27. First Aid Kit – The first aid kit is like your insurance, you will carry it around with you for

heaps of trips and one day if something happens you will be 100% happy that you brought it along with you. One with basic necessities is usually all I need but I sometimes will change it dependent on the areas I go hiking in, ones with more water, colder places, snakes etc.

1. broad brimmed hat


2. rope


3. backpack


4. shelter


5. knife


6. water


7. food container + spoon


8. Burner + fuel


9. lighter


10. Notebook + Pen


11. Rain Jacket


12. Thermals


13. Sleeping Bag


14. Inner Sheet


15. Sleeping Mat


16. Hiking boots


17. Quick drying shirt and pants


18. Jumper


19. toothpaste + toothbrush


20. sunscreen


21. camera


22. head torch + spare batteries


23. Dry Bags


24. Change of socks


25. Change of underwear


26. map + compass


27. Hand Sanitizer


28. Toilet paper + shovel


29. First Aid Kit

So that is my list of things I carry with me whenever I go hiking, It may seem like a big list but I easily fit it all in my 75L pack. It ends up weighing in at around 15-20 kg depending on how much water and food I take along with myself. I do constantly look at reducing the weight of my pack but the only way I could do that is if I start purchasing lighter gear.

What do you think of my list? Have I forgotten something? What do you take with you that is super important for you? Write it down in the comments below and as usual don’t forget to follow me and share this post on facebook and twitter.

Going Hiking? have you got the right equipment Packed?

A Portable Hot Tub??? Hydro Hammock is actually amazing

Sometimes when I go camping I find myself thinking about some creature comforts that I have back at home and many of them involve a bath, hot water, some chilled music and a 6 pack of some good quality beer.

Lets face it, you probably have been in the same situation once or twice before. in your mind go back to a day where you went camping in the rain and you were cold, miserable and covered in mud.
Well some brilliant guys at Hydro hammock have come up with a brilliant design that is not only portable but also seems like a super comfortable design… It’s a Hammock after all.

I’m already thinking of all the possibilities, all the places I would use this. I mean chilling next to a beach, in the mountains, besides a river and enjoying hot water in a bath tub. Bringing you closer to nature and making it an unforgettable experience at the same time.

Obviously if you are hiking this is probably not going to be a thing for you, after all who would like to carry a bag behind themselves while climbing a mountain. On the other hand imagine pulling up with a car at a campsite, finding a secluded spot and just taking all that nature has to offer from the comfort of your hot tub.

Also in the video it shows you can fit more than one person in the hammock which means you could easily get yourself a few gorgeous ladies or male hunks if you are into that and make it an unforgettable experience. I mean a few drinks, some nice snacks, and the company of some of your friends or loved ones. Ahhh magical.

Either way the Hammock is now an actual reality, no longer just a kickstarter campaign and you can own one for yourself today. They are a bit pricey but when you think about it you can have unforgettable experiences every time you go camping and lets face it, that in itself is priceless.

For more information go to https://hydrohammock.com/

Are you the type of person that would also think of this as a awesome idea? Where would you set one up if you owned one? Let me know in the comments below and don’t forget to like and share my website.

A Portable Hot Tub??? Hydro Hammock is actually amazing