Answers

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Q: Where should we go in Belize? We have two weeks.- Brianne, MA (Feb 2008)
A: Belize is a good place for couples and families. It’s not really geared towards independent travel. It’s a pretty small country and lots of it can be done in a short time if you push yourself. I’d rather see more of less though. In two weeks, I’d head out to San Ignacio to see the Mayan Ruins and to give you an idea of the jungles and forest out there. If you have the time and inclination, I’d take an overnight trip into Guatemala to see Tikal. It is one of the highlights of Central America and a must see. I’d then spend the other week on the beach. Here you a few options. You can always head to Placencia, which though it’s a little far south, has a great beach. It’s a laid back place with not much to do at night. Or head out to the reef islands. The two big ones are Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. Ambergris is more upscale and family oriented. There are a lot of upscale hotels and dive places here. Caye Caulker is like its younger brother- a bit more lively, a bit more of a party place. It’s filled with more young people. Try this company: Belize Trips

Q: My fiancee and I are going to Costa Rica. We want lots of nature and not a lot of tourists. -Matt C., MA (March 2008)
A: Costa Rica is a good place for all types of travelers. There is a lot to do there from relaxing on a beach to mountian climbing, to spas to ziplinging around a forest. If your looking for a nature heavy holiday, I’d go to Aernal to see the volcano, La fortuna waterfall, and relax in the spa. As a major site in Costa Rica, there are some tourists there but it is worth it. To get off the beaten path, I’d head south towards Panama. On the west coast, there is an area called Corcavado. It’s not easy to get there (or wasn’t when I went) and it is far off the beaten path as most tourists stay north. Here you can see wildlife, dolphins, scuba dive, relax on a beach. It’s a great place to go to see all the country has to offer without seeing all the tourists it has too. Additionally, touristy Manuel Antonio is a great place to see monkeys!

Q: I’m going on my first trip to Thailand in April and I have three weeks. Where should I go? It’s a big country! -Madeline, CA (March 2008)
A: Thailand is a big country and takes about two months to really do (maybe even longer!). In three weeks, I’d stick to the major places. A few days in Bangkok, especially during Songkran, which happens in April. Head north to Chang Mai for a taste of jungle and the amazingly cheap night market. Do an overnight or 3 day trip into the jungle and try to head off the beaten path to Chang Rai or Pia if you have time. If you are more of a beach person, head to Kho Phan Gnang for the infamous full moon party and a week of beer filled sun soaked fun. Learn to dive in Ko Tao. (Or spend a week on the other coast climbing rocks on Krabi and relaxing on peaceful Ko Lanta or (touristy) Ko Phi Phi.) Do a week on those two islands. With the remaining few days, try to head to Kanchanaburi and see the Tiger temple as well as the infamous River Kwai. Keep in mind travel can be slow if your not flying. No matter what you can fill three weeks in Thailand very easily. I could give an endless list but I feel those are the main places to go on a quick trip. It gives you a good cross section of the country. If you decide to stay longer, head east to Ko Chang or up into Isaan to see how the rural Thais live or head really far south to Ko Taruato National Park for idyllic tropical peace.

Q:My tourism class is thinking about going to Thailand around October for a week this year. I just want tips like on things to do, places to see, etc. on a relatively low budget.-Charlotte, New Zealand (April 2008)
A: Well, I think a week is a very short period of time for a place like Thailand. If you must go, try 2-3 days in Bangkok and then a few days in Kanacaburi (jungles) or Ko Samet (beaches). That way you can still experience something!

Q: We want to go to Europe in October but only have two weeks. We have free flights and we get two destinations so we want to see two warm destinations. Any recommendations?- Jaime, VA (March 2008)
A: I don’t like recommending 2 countries in two weeks. I mean Europe is so big and there is so much to say. I think seeing one place longer is worth it. But you are set on semi-warm places that have different cultures, I’d recommend southern Spain and southern Italy. You could do Malaga/Granada/Seville in a week and then get a cheap flight to Rome and see the surrounding area there. I was in both locales in October and the weather was pretty nice. The closer you get to November the more you are going to want to stay south. Cities like Venice were very cold when I went! This way you get to see two counties and still stay warm. Greece is nice too but the islands are not that great during this time of the year and why go when you can’t enjoy them fully!?

Q: I have 8 days in Greece what do you recommend that I see?- Kushan (April 2008)
A: I’d spend about 3 days in Athens and then go to another ancient city like Thebes or Metoria. If you are more of a beach person, spend 3 days in Athens then hit the beach for the other 5. Any island will do.

Q: Hi Matt, Where do you think one can go for a family vacation as a first time in Italy? We have three weeks. -Mahasen (April 2008)
A: In three weeks, you can do a lot: I’d spend 3 days in Rome, 3 days in Florence, head down south to Sorrento, do some bike tours in Tuscany, visit Asissi in Tuscany (great little city), and if you are going during the summer months, spend a week in Cinque Terra. It’s 5 beautiful hillside towns that offer amazing beaches, historic buildings, and excellent walks through wine vineyards that overlook the ocean. You can always take a train or fly to Venice too. Either way, there is no shortage of things to do and sights to see.

Q: Hi I’m planning to backpack Europe hopefully by the beginning of next year, Jan-Mar. What is the average budget for these places?- Joey, US (April 2008)
A: Wow! Europe in the winter…….brrrrrrrrrrrrrr…. I’m a heat junkie so I migrate to the tropics at the first sign of cold but good for you! I’d plan on spending a lot. All those countries are pretty expensive. Spain is cheaper than the rest so you can save some money going there but France will hit your wallet hard and depending on what you do in Amsterdam, you can spend a lot of money there too. In terms of Euros, you could get by on about 40 a day if you don’t party much (there won’t be much going on in the dead of winter anyways!). In France, you will need about 50 Euros per day. None of that includes transportation costs. You could also cut costs down by couchsurfing.

Q: I want to go to Europe for three months but would rather rent a place temporarily than stay at a hotel the whole time. Plus I want a “home” to go back to after taking side trips. I have no idea of the first place to look into that? Could you help? ? -Jen, USA (May 2008)
A: There’s a few things you could do: Look up apartment listings, Google house sharing or couchsurf! Keep in mind that flats are really expensive and you won’t be finding anything cheap, unless you don’t mind living in a closet….and even then it might be a bit costly. If you are looking for just a few nights, then try Couchsurfing. There’s a million people there who would let you stay for a free.

Q: Hi! I want to know how much a trip to Europe in December/January will cost me?- Lucia, Argentina (June 2008)
A: If you are planning to go to Western Europe, it will cost around 50 Euros a day if you backpack and around 120 euros a day if you travel without a real tight budget. After that it really depends on how you travel and what you buy. However, I would not budget less than 50 euros a day.

Q: We are traveling Australia in October. Do you have any advice on the best way to get from Alice Springs to Cairns? Also are there any must see things in Perth?- Jess (July 2008)
A: Perth is one of the best places to see in all of Australia. Make sure you have a Sunday session at Cottesloe beach. Flying is the best way to get from Alice Springs to Cairns. There’s no direct bus that goes there and, trust me, when i say you’re not missing much by flying.

Q: My sister and myself are traveling from Sydney to LA and NY. We are then going to travel to Boston and other parts of the US. Can u tell me some cheap places to stay? - Liz, Australia (May 2008)
A: Hostels are pretty cheap but they are not that abundant outside of the cities. Hotels will be the cheapest option you have outside the bigger cities but you can always try Couchsurfing. There’s a million people there who would let you stay for a free. It is also a great way to meet the locals.

Q: Have you noticed a particular set of skills that come in handy abroad? What should I learn to best prepare myself for living and making money while traveling? - Christy, USA (May 2008)
A: I find that the best ability to have on the road is versatility. If you can’t adapt to new situations or unexpected events, you’ll never make it on the road. If you are versatile and can adapt to new cultures easily, you’ll succeed anywhere.

Q: How much would I need to for a 1 or 2 year trip around the name cost world?- Kyle, CA (April 2008)
A: That’s a hard question to answer because it really depends on how much of a spender you are and where you are going. If you stick the western countries, you’re going to spend a lot more, especially in places like Europe or Australia. If your going to Latin America or Asia, then you can do it pretty cheaply. I can’t really say how much you need as everyone spends differently but for perspective: Flights around the world cost me about 2500 USD (including intra-continent flights), I spent about 80 USD in Australia, about 65 USD in Europe, 45 USD in the US, and about 15 USD in Asia (all per day).
Q: How did you afford your travels? Did you save up a tons the years prior, take out loans, or got small jobs overseas? If you took jobs abroad, how did you find those? -Kat (April 2008)
A: I just love to travel! I work and I save! I’ve gotten a lot of questions like this, so for more detail, see my blog.

Q: I am right now in training to become an English teacher and I took a couple of ESL classes. Teaching abroad seems like my ticket to experience the world but, I don’t know anything about what it really entails. Do you know what other resources might help? -Valarie, USA (May 2008)
A: My blogs on teaching will give you the most information: Teaching part 1, Teaching Part 2, and Teaching Part 3. Additionally, Dave’s ESL Cafe is also a great resource for information.

Q: I read that you were able to save money in Bangkok working for about 10 months or so. From everything I’ve read it said that people generally cannot save money in Thailand. What did you do differently that allowed you to save money working in Thailand?- James, America (August 2008)
A: People who say you can’t save in Thailand don’t work often, party a lot, and live a western lifestyle(which is expensive to do in Bangkok), and pay for their girlfriends. If you live a semi-Thai lifestyle at 15-20,000 baht a month and earn 50,000 a month, you’ll be able to save a thousand dollars a month.There are teaching jobs in Thailand that pay 70,000+ a month. Though if you teach in the real rural places, it will be harder to save because your salary won’t be that high.