Journey "savage. Wild tourism of civilized people
You are an experienced traveler and you say that you have gone through many stages of tourism... As happens with many people, since the age of 15 I have been fond of traveling in the Urals, studying the sights. Later I got a motorcycle and even later - a car. I traveled around the Crimea, Kazakhstan, visited the Caspian world. When opportunities to travel abroad arose, I became one of the first independent tourists. What do you mean by this term - independent tourism? Tourism is always travel with educational, sporting or other purpose. With individual tourism, it is even more correct to call it “independent tourism”, a person travels using active means of transportation, by plane, bus, bicycle, etc., and tries to learn the charms and features of those places - on his own. Thus, tourism differs in its goals and methods of implementation into organized and independent, as well as within Russian and outbound. After independent experiments, having matured, many begin to travel seriously, that is, in an organized manner. Therefore, it is necessary to separate tourism: there is mass tourism (90% of people) and "wild - independent" tourism. This, by the way, is a separate hobby. A person who travels alone, how does he get a visa? in some way". So, each country has its own rules for crossing the border. Usually there are four types of visas: tourist, business, guest and permanent residence. If a person, being a "wild" tourist, crosses the border, then he does it usually on a guest visa, i.e. an invitation to enter is given by a private person, and at the same time, according to the law, he is responsible for the guest, to the extent that he must provide him not only with a roof over his head, but also with food and money. went abroad as a "savage", many problems will have to be solved. For example, where will he spend the night? We are used to it at home: he arranged a halt, set up a tent, lit a fire ... He did the same abroad - and ended up in the police. Therefore , going to Europe, a person must know where he will stop. If in campsites, then it makes sense to still contact tourist agency: we organize individual tours on request on the desired route with hotel reservations. Many do not know about this, and believe that a visa must be obtained "some" way, although there are a lot of legal and low-problem ways.
By the way, I personally began to explore Europe on my own, at a time when the tourism business in the Urals was not yet developed. And so he discovered it for himself in three stages. At first, I did not have enough time to see a lot of interesting things: my thoughts were busy with how to get there, cross the border, etc. My head is filled not at all with seeing historical sights, but with everyday problems. And only for the third time, when I went in an organized manner with organized excursions, this was a real discovery of countries ... As for security: a person, having gone "savage", what should he be afraid of? He must be protected from everything. The first is passport control at the border. "Savage" may not be allowed into the country, because the implementation of immigration rules has not been confirmed (if there is a ticket, there are no questions). Of course, a private invitation can help. But I personally, for example, in London, observed how at the border, having seen a private call, they immediately called the inviter and questioned him without leaving the place. And if he does not know or denies the fact of arrival, or he was not caught, then the person is simply turned around and escorted out of the country by the same plane. There is no need to hope that you are lucky and you will meet someone who will shelter you, this is not accepted there.
The second is the route itself. For example, a person is riding a bicycle. He can get lost even if he has a map. And one more thing: in Europe, not all roads can be traveled by bicycle, violators will face a large fine. As far as hitchhiking is concerned, it is a dangerous activity in Europe, believe me. Possible the same as ours, criminal situations. Although, of course, it is difficult to convince people, it is in this that they see the romance of travel. The third danger is lodging for the night. Where to sleep? This should also be taken care of, because, as I already said about the tent, there may be problems here. And if a person plans to find a hotel, then we come to the question of prices.
How much can everyone afford? On the one hand, it seems that he found himself a hotel, booked a place, bought tickets, and went. But here there are some nuances. The entire tourist industry in the world rests on the fact that there are several price markets: within the country, European for tour operators, Russian for tour operators. When you arrive at a European hotel, the cost of accommodation is 92 euros for a "double". Buying the same room in a hotel, but while still in Russia, will cost half as much. Because the country is interested in the development of tourism business. Various organizations, travel alliances form various offers that are put on the market. And because the prices organized tours below, they are economically viable. And if a person checks into a hotel himself, then he overpays twice. In addition, you still need to eat somewhere ... So I see that for those who are not prone to extreme conditions, you do not advise practicing the "wild" type of travel? Of course, but if you still want to test yourself, then you can rent a bike and move around Turkey yourself (it costs about 150 rubles a day). But he has somewhere to return - to his room with all the amenities. After all, extreme rest, you need to have an inclination for it and you need to prepare for it, and as I said, most people are not inclined to it. But no one bothers to try, of course, but first you need to calculate what it will result in. As for the various situations in which legal assistance is required, what should be done first of all? Contact the consulate of our country. Those who go on a tour are in a better position, because the travel agency - a serious one - deals with legal issues itself if there is some kind of unpleasant situation. She will contact the consulate and advise the tourist on where and whom to contact. In addition, we have. For example, there is a practice: in addition to medical, we issue to all our tourists a legal insurance policy and a traveler's memo.
Thailand
For many years, Thailand has been holding the "palm tree" among tourists who prefer to travel "savage".
Cost of living. From $200 per month for a one-room apartment in a decent area. Searching for hotels and hostels on popular booking services gives you many options for this price for every taste and budget. For the young and inexperienced, options for cheap rooms in hostels are suitable, people who are more picky about the quality of accommodation can find an option from a bungalow to a clean room in a cheap motel. Rent accommodation in private hotel complexes, not presented on Booking, can be even cheaper.
Nutrition. The products are also inexpensive. The food here is simple - fruits, vegetables, meat, which you can find in local markets. If there is no desire to cook, then street cafes are at your service, where you can buy a decent lunch for an average of 1-3 dollars.
Flight. According to search engines, the most cheap ticket Yakutsk - Phuket, which we managed to find on August 1, costs 62 thousand rubles (round trip price). If you plan a vacation in advance or fly out of season (for example, in winter), you can save up to 50%. For example, the cheapest flight in November on the same route will cost 43 thousand rubles.
Visa. Visa-free regime. Russian tourists can stay in the country for up to 30 days by obtaining a simple entry stamp in their passport.
Cambodia
Cambodia, formerly often referred to as Kampuchea, is a small state in southeast Asia, in the southern part of the Indochina peninsula.
Cost of living. Renting decent housing costs about $200. The constant flow of tourists to this country led to a gradual increase in real estate prices. However, you can save a lot by renting a house with someone.
Flight. Search engines show that the flight Moscow - Phnom Penh - Moscow will cost 46 thousand in August. Out of season - cheaper, for example, in November, a search showed a ticket price of 30 thousand rubles.
Visa. You need a visa, the consular fee is $20. If you traveled around Thailand with a visa of this state and decided to visit Cambodia, then you can enter there without a Cambodian visa, since a corresponding agreement has been in force between these powers since November 21, 2012.
Philippines
This exotic country is ready to receive you no less cordially than the aforementioned.
Cost of living. Rent an apartment in major city will cost approximately $360. However, if you settle in Cebu - one of the most developed tourist areas in the Philippines, where there are big shops and golf courses and, of course, sand beach, then the price will immediately drop to $150. The hotel will cost more: Booking offers options in Boracay from $500.
Nutrition. Food will also please with its availability. $200 is enough for food and alcohol and tobacco. So a large glass of beer and a pack of cigarettes in the Philippines costs around $1.
Flight Moscow - Sibu - Moscow will cost 60 thousand rubles in summer (27 thousand rubles in winter).
Visa. Visa-free regime for 30 days.
Costa Rica
Accommodation. Prices in San Jose are among the lowest in the world. For $500-600 a month, you can live comfortably here, especially if you rent a house for two with a friend. And just 75 km from the city, you can rent a house for some $250 a month.
Nutrition. Food will also please with its availability. Exotic cuisine from a restaurant will cost you $ 4, but if you buy products in the markets and cook on your own, you can keep within $ 1.
Flight. But you will have to spend money on tickets. The cheapest ticket found on the route Moscow - San Jose - Moscow with two transfers in August pulled out as much as 100 thousand rubles. In November it is cheaper - 60 thousand rubles.
Visa. Visa free up to 30 days.
Belize
This country has everything for an amazing holiday: unique rich nature, subtropical climate, coastline. The loyalty of visa services to foreigners coming to the country is evidenced by the fact that more than ten thousand of them have already settled here. Tourists are attracted here by the rich plant and animal world and offshore reefs.
Accommodation. You can live here for $500 a month, of which $300 will go to pay for a spacious house in the Cayo region (if you live with friends, then the amount can be divided by 3).
Nutrition. $200 is more than enough for food and entertainment. It is better to buy products at local markets and cook on your own - you can save a lot of money compared to restaurants.
Flight. Tickets, however, will also have to be spent. Moscow - Belize City - Moscow in August will cost 105 thousand rubles, in November you can fly back and forth for 80 thousand rubles.
Visa. Russian citizens need a visa to visit Belize. If the purpose of the trip is tourism, and the stay in the country does not exceed 30 days, a visa can be issued at the border when entering the country or in advance at the British Embassy and Consulates (a visa is also issued there if the stay is more than 30 days).
Are you ready to become a "savage"?
The experience of independent travel (namely independent) means a lot. It is he who often allows you to find the best solution in any situation, of course, and the best prices housing, food, entertainment, etc.
An experienced “savage”, as a rule, has a number of skills - sort of magic wands that “cheaperize” everything: sociability, knowledge of spoken English, lack of laziness, inquisitiveness, mobility, unpretentiousness, flexibility, tolerance, goodwill, knowledge of good sources of information ( buying air tickets, real estate sites, etc.) and the ability to quickly find them, orientation in the area and working with maps, quick learner (for example, to drive a motorbike), lack of fear of the unknown.
And this is only part of the skills that help people live in another country with a different mentality, culture and religion.
Be prepared for the fact that until you have gained enough experience, you will have to constantly overpay for your ignorance and inexperience.
Pros and cons of self-guided tours
Have you decided to travel around the country with your friends, and maybe even around the world, but do not want to tie yourself up with tourism programs? Well, it’s certainly a good thing, you are your own masters, wherever you want, you go there, not caring about someone else’s fictitious schedule. But, of course, there are all sorts of pitfalls. Let's try to compare the advantages and disadvantages of such a holiday.
Freedom to choose your path
The main charm of independent travel is, of course, the choice of any route. This opportunity is simply irreplaceable for those who like to drive around unbeaten tourist trails and admire uncombed and embellished architectural monuments. For people who value naturalness, originality and uniqueness in everything, it is easier to rummage through the entire Internet in search of the most interesting places and go around them with even the most bizarre and winding schemes than trust the choice of professional guides. True, independent formation of the route has its drawbacks. Firstly, information received on the World Wide Web or from friends and acquaintances may not always correspond to reality, because what is beautiful and unique for some is of no interest to others. Secondly, such individualization leads to an increase in transport costs, it is clear, after all, that this is not chartered flight burning tour, in pursuit of beauty, it may be necessary to overcome hard-to-reach areas, devoid of comfortable transport communication. And yet, if your route has a lot of significant stops, you may encounter an unpleasant situation when right now, or even in the coming days, you will not be able to quickly get from point "B" to point "C". In conditions when at least a long segment from “B” to “A” separates you from home, you will not have the most exciting pastime.
Material aspect
In terms of money, independent travel is more likely to have more minuses than pluses. Judge for yourself, by giving a certain amount to a tour operator, you are already purchasing a certain necessary package of services. Even if on organized recreation you will run out of cash, the maximum of which you will lose is visiting local establishments at your own expense, additional entertainment, and buying souvenirs. At the same time, you will still attend paid excursions, a roof over your head, and at least breakfasts under this very roof. But what if the money suddenly runs out during your independent attacks? And it's not such an extreme case. Money during such trips, due to many unforeseen expenses, fly away at the speed of light. Did you think that you have calculated everything to the smallest detail, and you certainly will not get into such a situation? Have you taken into account the possibility of a banal theft? And just imagine: you are without money, in a strange city, the distance from home is more than a thousand kilometers ... It’s time to go crazy. In order not to be in such a situation, you need to make sure in advance. It is better to keep money on a card, and some very common brand, so that in case of loss, you can easily find a bank branch in a foreign city and restore a credit card. Better ahead of time, ensure yourself a constant uninterrupted connection with the house and throw a substantial amount into your mobile phone account. If everything goes really bad, and the phone is at hand, it will be possible to contact relatives and arrange a postal order, which goes within one working day. But pleasant emotions that cannot be transmitted, after such stress, when everything is resolved, are guaranteed to you. Then for a long time you will remember about such an extreme.
Lack of information
When choosing an independent trip, you yourself will also have to decide where to have lunch and dinner, where to spend the night, where to have fun, after all. The information you obtained before your trip in an ever-changing world may not be relevant at the right time. So, for example, the hotel you liked might suddenly close, or not “suddenly”, maybe just the site where you got the information has not been updated for a long time. With cafes and restaurants in an unfamiliar city, everything is also incomprehensible. Perhaps, in order not to spend a lot, you would like to dine in a democratic institution, but how to determine what will suit your parameters. It would also be nice to know what at that time in that locality where you are, entertainment, concerts, exhibitions, performances, local holidays are planned. If you do not have this information, you can easily become a hostage to any enterprising, but not always useful people and services. They take you at exorbitant prices in a taxi around the city, they give you useless certificates for money, you choose suitable cafes solely by trial and error, and in general you spend a lot of time and effort on solving some minor issues. Of course, not everyone is pursuing the goal of deceiving you without fail, but it is still better to rely on yourself. The most economical way to get the information you need is, of course, the Internet. Therefore, in order to ensure a comfortable journey, you must, first of all, provide yourself with access to the World Wide Web. You can take a small laptop on a trip, which can be used not only in a hotel, but also in cafes or large shopping malls with free wireless connection. Do not want to take up extra space in bags and carry equipment? No problem, internet cafes will help you. In any case, the necessary information on the network can be obtained more quickly, economically, and the data will be more meaningful than that of specialized railway station services.
Instead of an afterword
But the most important advantage of independent travel, covering all its shortcomings, is that indescribable feeling of lightness and adrenaline, mixed with adventurism and the risk of getting into trouble. Only in the "wild" sorties is the very romance of the roads, sung by many poets and musicians, so keenly felt. Only such an indescribable extreme is truly capable of shaking up a person who has gone headlong into the gray office days. Probably, each person, in order to feel all the colors of life, must make at least one independent journey in his life. It doesn't matter when: in the years of violent youth or "in the prime of life." And no matter what: a two-week tour of great country or a weekend getaway. Good luck in these endeavors!
Vacation without a ticket, or, as it is called, a savage, is a great opportunity to organize the vacation of your dreams yourself, while saving on the services of a tour operator, travel agency and other expenses. What are the best countries to visit as a savage?
This type of recreation gained great popularity about 20 years ago, when not everyone could get or buy tickets to the south and, as a result, went to the sea with tents or rented housing from private traders. Today's rest as a savage does not mean spending the night in tents, self-cooking food and other "charms" of travel of the Soviet period. No, of course, for those who wish, all these opportunities still remain, but recently the "savages" prefer to relax in a more civilized way, the path of many lies abroad. In order to organize a vacation in another country yourself, you need to make a visa yourself (if the country requires it), buy plane tickets, book a hotel (or choose a hotel on the spot) and think over your transfer.
The benefits of being a savage
The main advantage of resting as a savage is saving money, which is sometimes quite significant. Judge for yourself: in many countries where you can go on your own, there are a huge number of cheap hotels, the cost of living in which will be several times cheaper than in those offered by travel agencies, and the quality with the right choice will be no worse. The fact is that it is unprofitable for tour operators to sell cheap hotels to tourists: they receive little profit from them, and as much work as with more expensive hotels.
There is another important plus in the rest of the savages - this is freedom of movement. You are not tied to a hotel, a city, or even a country, and you can change the hotel and holiday area at any time without losing your money (unless, of course, you have paid everything in advance and you have no way to get your money back).
Cons of a savage holiday
Of the minuses of independent travel is that you will have to fill out all the documents yourself and no one is responsible for your vacation, except for yourself. However, if you are going to a civilized country, there should not be any special problems.
What countries are good to travel as a savage?
Croatia
A huge number of tourists vacation in Croatia as savages - it is not difficult to organize a vacation, living in this country is not expensive, and there are no special problems with food either.
The country is known for its natural beauty and wonderful climate, which is suitable for almost everyone. In Croatia, there is no sweltering heat, and comfort is also achieved through fresh and light air and pleasant sea temperature. Beautiful nature, a lot of greenery, excellent prices for hotel accommodation and food - this is what distinguishes Croatia from other European countries.
In order to visit Croatia, you will need a visa, it is issued at the consular section of the Croatian Embassy in Moscow. You need to take care of this in advance. Note! If you have a valid Schengen visa, you can visit both Croatia and other countries. But if you have a national Schengen visa issued to visit Croatia, then it will not give you the right to travel to other EU countries.
Bulgaria
This is another wonderful country for independent recreation. You also need a visa, which is issued at the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria. You can also get there by train, but the journey is quite long - the journey from Moscow will take more than 2 days, so it is better to choose a plane. Bulgaria has a huge number of private hotels and a lot of offers for renting apartments. There will be no problems with food - there it is the same as with us.
Thailand
If you want exotic, Asian nature, gentle ocean, unusual food and cheap but high-quality massage, go to Thailand! You do not need to apply for a visa in advance, it is given at the entrance to the country. But for cheap flights you will have to hunt! As for hotels, there are a huge number of cheap options in Thailand, and you can decide which one you want to stay in immediately upon arrival. Despite the fact that Thailand is a poor Asian country, if you follow the rules of hygiene, you are unlikely to bring something from your vacation that you don’t want to bring at all.
goa
In Goa, you can enjoy not only the sea and the sun, but also rejuvenate and improve your body. Spa treatments here are based on the principles of Ayurveda. If you want more party life, go upstate. In its southern part, life is more measured, and in the center it is all mixed. To visit Goa you need indian visa. Seasoned Travelers I advise you not to get attached to one place and see the whole state. Depending on this, decide how you will book a hotel or hotels along your route.
Italy
If you want not beach, but more educational rest and you have a Schengen visa (or you are going to apply for one), then visit European countries won't be too difficult. If you want to plunge into the beauty and touch the history, go to Italy. All you need for this is a valid visa, plane tickets and a booked hotel.
If you want to save even more on accommodation, you can stay abroad in campsites. There are many campsites in Europe, it will not be difficult to find them. Choosing this vacation option, you will have to take care of your accommodation on your own, that is, take with you all the necessary things from home for a comfortable stay there. Take care of the tent first. If you go on vacation with children, there is a reason to take a two-room tent with you. Take also sleeping bags, best of all, those that turn into a blanket - in warm or hot weather, you can unzip them and sleep like under a regular home blanket. You will also need mats (it is better to take self-inflating ones) or foams. And to understand what else you might have forgotten, go to the website of the online store, where there is everything for tourism - taking a virtual walk through the boutique, you will find what you need.
As they say, rest is good, and good rest is even better. Take care of your vacation in advance, think over everything to the smallest detail and enjoy a wonderful trip!
Medical travel insurance. Specify the country and dates of the trip, then select the appropriate option and issue a policy.
The word "savage" is immediately associated by many with something like this type of vacation: we arrived somewhere with tents and for several days, or even weeks, we enjoy nature, the sea with minimal comfort. Maybe you are right.
But under " wild vacation” can also be understood as independent, that is, without a tour operator. When a person himself chose and developed a route, he himself booked a hotel, bought air tickets and issued a visa. Yes, a lot of trouble. Not that he gave his data and money to a travel agent, and he himself takes care of you about your trip. And upon arrival, you are already met at the airport, taken to the hotel, and the guides blow off the dust particles so that the vacation is a success. But in any case, no matter what type of vacation you choose, you will have to pack your suitcase. This process usually causes a lot of trouble. Helpful Hints find in the article "What to take with you on a trip?" on the site "Solar Hands" .
Someone likes just such a service and style of relaxation. But there are also people who crave adventure. They do not like it when a crowd of tourists, like small children, are driven along the beaten paths. No! They themselves need to find those unexplored corners of the country that are not in the tourist brochures. They are interested in knowing the country from the inside, and not superficially. After all, who are we kidding by saying that we were, for example, in Greece, resting for only a week, half of which we spent near the pool. Is it really possible to find out which country it is - the real one?
Personally, I happened to travel both through a tour operator and on my own. And I will tell you that the second type of recreation impressed me a hundred, no, even a million times more! This is what it really was unforgettable journey. Only, of course, there is a risk in this, and for this you need self-confidence. If you do not have this character trait, be sure to order Rashid Kirranov's book "How to become self-confident in 3 months" . Details on the site "Solar Hands" .
“Oh, yes, it makes sense to go on vacation like this,” a friend of mine once answered my enthusiastic stories about the trip. – Another thing is when you don’t have to run around looking for housing, a restaurant, where to eat and so on. I pay for comfort and I get it. Also, how much can you save? One hundred dollars?
- Yes? Don't you want exactly half? I retorted then.
And, indeed, independent trip goes much cheaper than booking everything through a tour operator. But! You really need to know which countries are profitable to go to yourself, and where it is better to go to everything ready. This applies primarily to Turkey (I mean the resort part of this country - Antalya), Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Jordan - in general, almost the entire East. The point is that the system all inclusive allows tourists not to spend money on food and drinks, but on seaside vacation when it's hot and thirsty, this is very important. (You can read about the sights of the UAE in the article Oksana Chistyakova, author of the Sunny Hands website, Journey to the Emirates )
However, there are countries where you will not only save money by going on an independent trip, but also get a lot of impressions. The main thing is not to be afraid. Now in the world of the Internet there is plenty of information about anywhere in the world. Yes, and a Russian tourist has already penetrated into such nooks and crannies of the planet that it is simply unrealistic not to meet a compatriot now.
If, being at home, you think through everything to the smallest detail, develop a travel plan, find out as much information about the country as possible, then believe me, there is nothing to be afraid of.
This is where we'll start! So, we decided which country we want to go to, for how many days the visa is valid, that is, how long we can stay in the selected point on the globe.
The first thing we need is, of course, a visa. While it is being done, we will have plenty of time to develop a route. By the way, for citizens of Russia to travel on South-East Asia very convenient, because to countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, as well as to a number of other countries such as Peru, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Morocco, Fiji, Bahamas visa is not required. The Internet indicates in detail which countries citizens of Russia do not need a visa for. If you are going to Thailand, beloved by Russians, a hint for you will be article “Pattaya is a city of freedom. Reviews about Pattaya" on the site "Sunshine Hands" . She will help you plan your itinerary.
For Ukrainians, a visa-free regime has not yet been introduced everywhere. Therefore, in order to obtain a visa, you must submit to the embassy booked ticket and the hotel where you will stay upon arrival. Only one hotel is enough and it is not necessary to indicate the travel plan.
The sites are official, so you should not worry that you will not receive tickets by paying for them.
So, the first step is made - we have tickets. Now, in order to get a visa, the consulate must see that you are not going to an empty place, but to a specific hotel. Booking any hotel online is now easier than ever. By the way, there are sites that do not require advance payment and immediately send a booking confirmation to your email address. This is very convenient, because if you change your mind about going there, you can cancel your reservation without penalty. The main thing is to do it in advance and after you get a visa.
If the consulate is located in another city and it is not convenient for you to travel back and forth, try to negotiate with the representative of the travel agency where the consulate is located. You transfer all documents by special mail, and the representative of the travel agency takes them to the consulate, and then receives them with a visa and sends them back to you. It is clear that you will have to pay for the services, this is about 50-70 dollars. But it will cost you less than contacting visa companies directly. Their services cost $150-200 more. (Some refuse to travel because they consider it an extra waste. But a person needs a change of scenery. On this topic, I recommend article "Rest is a necessary part of human life" on the site "Sunshine Hands" )
Well, the second step has also been made - we have a visa in our hands.
But you didn’t waste your time while it was being designed and studied on the Internet on the topic of your dream country? Yes, you will have to spend a lot of time here. The best help to develop a route for your trip will be the reviews of the same pioneers as you. There are many forums where tourists share their impressions, routes, tips. Focusing on two or three reviews, of course, is not worth it. How many people, so many opinions. But after reading at least a dozen of them, a picture and a clear plan of action are already emerging.
To make it convenient for you to plan your movement around the country, print out a large-scale map of the country you are going to, and outline the movement with a dotted line so that you do not have to make a double and disadvantageous path, returning, for example, back to get to the next place.
Find out from the same forums where local flights are from, and which city you can, for example, get by bus. The road is a very important aspect of travel. Knowing how many hours you will spend moving to the next location will make it easier for you to plan a specific route. Yes, of course, I want to embrace the immensity: to visit, to see this, and this, and that. But, a tourist is very often a hostage of time. So plan your path carefully. Spontaneity is good, but not when you want to see as many of the country's attractions as possible. To be in time everywhere, you need organization.
Advice! Even after carefully distributing and planning everything, have option “B” just in case. Do not ignore force majeure that can happen along the way. This can be a difficult acclimatization and you will have to stay for a day or even two in one place. This may also be weather, not allowing further path. I don’t want, of course, to think about the bad, but carelessness in distant wanderings is also not good.
For example, did we know that in March 2011 an earthquake would occur in Japan? When all the media reported that the tsunami wave would reach the Philippines. (By the way, read the report on the trip to this country in THIS ARTICLE
) And we were just in this country and planned to move in a day to the island of Legazpi, which is washed by Pacific Ocean. And the devil knows, what if the wave really reaches this place. We had to urgently look for an Internet cafe and spend time looking for another point of movement, and we did not have time to study the information in detail. They chose at random - the seaside town of Bays, which turned out to be a disgusting place. We spent another day moving to Sipalai - also not a fountain, but nowhere to go.
Therefore, so that you do not waste precious time looking for a new route, have a fallback option.
Travel forums are well informed about the local currency, where and when you can change money, which hotel to stay in, about the features of local cuisine and traditions. Would we know that taxi drivers at the Jakarta airport charge three times as much to take you to the next terminal?! At a time when between terminals runs free bus. And after reading this information on the forum, we already knew that annoying taxi drivers should immediately be denied.
We also roughly figured out how much which service costs and when they announced the price to us (seeing our pale skin, they say, they just arrived, not yet in the subject of prices), we knew whether it was overpriced or not.
As for housing, there are such options here: either you look at the bungalows, hotels on the website on the eve of the move and book the room you like. Or search on arrival on the spot. Personally, we chose the latter option. Yes, sometimes we had to spend even 40 minutes looking for a decent and not expensive hostel, but sometimes we were lucky and found what we needed quickly. But significantly saved on housing. And we already saw with our own eyes what room we were staying in.
The same goes for attractions. Praises are sung about almost every castle, park, nature reserve on tourist prospectuses. But real tourists write their real comments, as it really happens. So you can, after reading a few reviews, decide for yourself whether it is worth spending time on a particular attraction.
Naturally, everyone has their own vision, their own opinion and impressions - the choice is yours.
Another tip - do not overdo it with the study of forums. The eye can become so blurred that the feeling of intrigue, unpredictability disappears. It will no longer be interesting to go to this country, having studied absolutely everything about it. Leave something for your own discoveries and surprises.
And finally, the path is already on the horizon, it's time to pack your suitcase! Please don't take a bunch of things. Well, why would you want to carry a heavy backpack or suitcase like you're going to a fashion show?
My friend, for example, knew that clothes were very cheap in Asia and he took practically nothing with him. Bought a t-shirt for a couple dollars, did he bust?
Cosmetics weigh a lot. Buy shampoo, conditioner and shower gel in disposable sachets. Do not bring face and body masks. If you want to nourish the skin - use local fruits and other products.
Well, here you are, ready for your independent travel. Do not forget, figuratively speaking, look under your feet, do not be afraid to go where a white-skinned person causes surprise and shock, try local cuisine, albeit nasty in appearance - it can taste divine. Do not carelessly leave things unattended. And most importantly - try to see the real country, without falsehood and tourist gloss. Wander through the labyrinths of local streets, communicate with the local population, be open, do not spend a lot of time on passive recreation, because there is still so much to see - then your trip will become really eventful and memorable!
Sincerely, Mila Alexandrova.