Why the World is my Bottle Opener

Recently, I wrote an article on Swiss Army Knives and Leatherman tools, and how I felt they were highly overrated. I backed up this boldly irreverent claim with a few examples of how obstacles encountered on the road can be overcome without the trusty tool. All we need is a little creativity and ingenuity. Read more

Haggling Abroad

“Why can they not just put a price tag on the sodding thing? They tell us how much it is, and we pay it. What could be easier than that?”

We’ve all said it and, if we haven’t said it, we’ve all thought it at some point during the convoluted dance that is buying goods abroad. Yet, whilst we travel we must all, from time to time, have to take part in this most ancient of traditions. Love it or hate it, it’s an undeniable necessity for those wishing to avoid ‘getting their head shaved’ upon foreign soil. Read more

5 Cheap Ways to Safeguard Travel Gear

It’s difficult to deny that backpackers tend to be thrifty creatures. From the moment you hit the road, your bank balance goes into flat spin, each day plummeting closer toward harsh letters from the bank manager. In effect, the size of your bank balance will have a direct affect on the time you have experience wonders that life on the road can bring, so budgeting usually begins the moment you step from your front door and into the unknown. But why not start this trend a little earlier? Surely if you can save a few dollars in the preparation stage then there will be more in the pot for your forthcoming adventure.

And with that in mind, here are 5 ways to ensure you start that journey with both a healthier road fund and greater peace of mind. Read more

How to Avoid Getting Overcharged Abroad – Part 1

 

It’s a fact of life that in some countries overcharging visitors is commonplace. Dual pricing is sometimes the norm though, and is just something we have to take on the chin – but let’s face it, it’s normally such a small difference that it’s hardly worth worrying about anyway. If we make it an issue then the chances are it’ll only detract from our own experience – so why get het up about it? Read more

How to Avoid Getting Overcharged Abroad – Part 2

The previous post in this series dealt with outward appearance and how it can influence a sale price, and also touched upon the other ways in which it can affect us whilst backpacking such as by drawing unwanted attention from touts and hustlers.

This next post gets down to the nitty-gritty and focuses on tips that may help when it comes to actually making a purchase. I feel they’re worthy of a separate post as they can clearly influence the initial stated price of something and consequently affect our remaining road fund. Read more

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