Backpacker Travel Insurance

Archive for July, 2009

Does backpacking across Europe sound like heaven to you? You can backpack through Europe, see everything you want and not break the bank. It doesn’t matter if you’re backpacking through Eastern Europe or Western Europe lets face it we could all be doing with a few basic money saving tips. So here’s a few basic tips to get you on your way. A little money saved here will mean a little more doing the things you want when you’re backpacking around Europe.

One way you can save yourself some cash is to use the regional trains in each European country. For example, in Italy and Scotland you can get from destination to destination by using direct trains. You can also take the regional train which stops at every small town and is used by the locals to get to the big cities and shopping centers. This takes longer, but it will get you to your destination, and it could save you up to 50% on the cost of your ticket. You can always contact the local tourist information center to get an idea of how long the trains will take and how much it’s likely to cost you in total. You can they weigh up the difference you’ll save against the extra time it’ll take you to get from destination to destination. The local tourist office may also be able to advise you on certain routes to take as you may miss out on spectacular scenery otherwise!

To save money on a daily basis, stay at a hostel that is close to public transportation. This rules out having to use taxis which can be expensive as the public transport is so close you can visit the tourist attractions on offer. I haven’t really blogged too much about hostels and what to look for but I do plan to in a later post. Location is obviously one of the most important things to look out for. I’d go as far as to say it could make or make your trip to a certain location! Backpackers hostels is a whole different subject which I will get in to later.

A complimentary breakfast is a good way to save money so make sure you stay in a hostel which offers this. Buying meals in Europe can be very expensive and this will save you from buying one meal per day. Look up sites like tripadvisor before you go and look at the reviews that people have left for each hostel. You will get a good indication of what places are like from other backpackers who have stayed there. If you’re really lucky they might leave a review of what the breakfast was like!

An International Student Identity card (ISIC Card) can be used if you are a student or teacher or between the ages of 12 to 25. ISIC cards give you discounts at various attractions which will save you a ton of money. The ISIC card can be purchased in North America and can also give you discounts on buying train and bus passes in Europe.

If you have a flexible schedule, book a last minute flight to Europe. It can be a bit risky doing this as it doesn’t leave you much time to organize. From my experience you can end up with massive savings by leaving the flight booking as late as possible. Make sure you fly to your cheapest destination first as this can be a good place to start your travels from. If you’re from the U.S and plan to backpack around Europe it makes sense to fly to Britain or Ireland as it is closest and probably the cheapest flight available. Again make sure you start researching flight prices long before you plan to travel as you may spot a few bargains.

Always use the currency of the country you are in when in Europe. For most parts it will be the Euro. You can organize this before you leave as the last thing you want to be doing is exchanging money while you’re in Europe where the exchange rate could be unpredictable. You will often get a poor return for you cash using this method and that’s why I always recommend changing money before you travel. This can be in addition to credit cards or travelers checks as I also don’t recommend carrying lots of cash around with you!

Don’t forget to purchase your backpacker travel insurance!

Backpacking through Europe survival kit seems to be a popular search these days with lots of people looking out for them on the web. I’ve noticed a lot of traffic here from people looking for backpacking survival kits and trying to find out what should be in them. Some of the items listed in the article are more suited for travelers visiting more remote parts or out in the wilderness. Those of you visiting the likes of France, Germany the UK etc might not need everything that’s listed.

Perhaps the most important thing is a first aid kit. At least a very basic first aid kit and supplies should be taken with you which should contain:

Ibuprofen
tweezers
alcohol wipes
antiseptic hand cleaner
medical adhesive tape
sterile gauze (four inch squares are best)
elastic bandages
several sizes of adhesive bandages
insect bite swabs
triple-antibiotic ointment
hydrogen peroxide
bandage scissors
triangular bandages
instant cold packs

These are the basics required for an emergency first aid kit.

A compass is also required or even better a GPS system especially for those of you planning to do any hiking. If you by a GPS system it’s best to stick to one of the named brands such as Garmin as you’ll get excellent product support. Another thing I can’t emphasize enough is making sure you know how to use it before you go! You don’t want to be sitting out in the wilderness somewhere trying to work out where you are or where you’re going! They come with detailed instructions so take the time before you leave to go through it and familiarize yourself with the technology. It’ll pay dividends in the end. I can recommend the Garmin Oregon 400t which is a bit pricey but will cover all your needs.

Insect repellent is well worth the investment especially if you’re visiting somewhere like the Highlands of Scotland. The insects there are awful in the summer and insect repellent is a must! I’ve come across a few people on my travels that swear by homemade insect repellent or use eucalyptus based insect repellent. I myself have never bothered with this and stuck with named brand like Deet Insect Repellent! You can get all natural or even sunscreen insect repellent which brings me on to my next point! Sunscreen! Never leave home without it. You can get the lightweight sprays now which are easy to carry around and do the job perfectly. Just ensure it’s of a have enough SPF for your skin. You know what they say, everybody’s free to wear sunscreen! On a similar train of thought, lip balm is useful to protect your lips from the sun. Once again just insure the lip balm SPF is high enough to provide proper protection.

Make sure you take trash bags and Ziploc for food and other supplies. Ziploc storage bags are fantastic for backpacking there’s just so many uses for them. Trash bags are quite self explanatory! Keep the countryside tidy or wherever you are! Speaking of countryside, if you’re out in the wilderness backpacking there might be a chance you have to start a fire to keep yourself warm. Waterproof matches come in extremely handy for this. Why waterproof? Well, who wants to take the chance of bad weather. Backpackers should be prepared for all types of weather! Emergency tinder should also be packed as this will light even when wet. Don’t take any chances!

A flashlight is also an essential requirement of a backpacker survival kit. No matter if you’re backpacking through Europe or not you should always have a flashlight with you! I’ve always stuck with Surefire flashlights which have never let me down. Just make sure you have spare batteries in your backpack with you. Chem-lights are also extremely useful and can be re-used night after night.

A good quality survival knife is also an important part of your backpacking survival kit. I think you’ll find you use it far more than you’d expect. In fact some would claim it is the most important survival tool that you can carry. Survival knives come in all shapes and sizes but don’t think you need to go straight out and buy yourself a Rambo survival knife. It looks cool I’ll admit but you’ll regret it when it’s weighing down your backpack out in the wilderness! I’ve always found Gerber survival knifes to be excellent. Some of them have been developed by military instructor Frank Heyl and have been tested under military conditions. You could potentially use your survival knife to aid in the construction of a shelter, cut firewood or spear dinner! Most of them come with a safety strap or belt which are useful for carrying it around.

Now if you’re really out in the wilderness and you have to catch your own dinner then please make sure you take a small fishing kit with you. Fishing gear can be fairly expensive and you’re looking to take the basics with you. It’s not like we’re going largemouth bass fishing or peacock bass fishing! Remember at all times respect the fishing regulations. If there’s signs up telling you not to fish then don’t do it. I’m not sure if your backpacker travel insurance covers you for breaking fishing regulations and having to bail yourself out of the local jail!

I’d also recommend taking emergency blankets with you as you never know what kind of weather you’ll get. As I said before, backpackers should be prepared for all types of weather and emergency blankets come in handy. Emergency survival blankets again come in all different types and brands. I’d recommend Coleman Emergency Blanket as they’re lightweight and get the job down. Keep the weight in your mind at all times when you’re packing your backpack as you’re the one who has to carry it around! Make sure you pack a whistle with you for safety as well as a rescue signal mirror.

A saw is also useful for cutting wood and I have heard things about the BCB Commando Saw which will cut through wood, plastic, bone, rubber and soft metal.

For food take some energy bars, water packets and water purification tablets. These are of course essential items for your backpacking survival kit!

In conclusion this is meant as a basic guide to what you need for your backpacking through Europe survival guide. There are lots of resources online for what you need where I feel I have covered a broad range of possible trips ensure you look around to get your specific needs before you travel! Remember don’t take any risks and ensure you’re well prepared.

Another popular destination to visit while backpacking through Europe is Germany. Germany appeals to young backpackers because of the country’s unique mix of modern and traditional culture.

The country also offers one of Europe’s most efficient railway transportation. The Deutsche Bahn is the rail system that travels from city to city within Germany and an added bonus is it is a relatively cheap mode of transportation for backpackers. EuroCity trains also run from Germany to other countries in Europe, which makes planning an itinerary much easier for those planning to backpack across Europe.

Before planning your backpacking trip across Europe try to take into consideration Germany’s two biggest festivals Cologne’s Carnival to Munich’s Oktoberfest. These festivals are definitely to best place to immerse oneself in Germany’s food and drink while interacting with the locals. Backpacking around Germany is wonderful because of festivals such as Oktoberfest.

For those interested in history one of the most beautiful castles to see is definitely Neushwansteir (aka Cinderella’s Castle) located near Füssen. This is actually the castle Walt Disney modelled Cinderella’s Castle after in his theme parks. It is absolutely spectacular, almost as much as the Cinderella Castle in Orlando!

If there is enough time in your trip you may want to book a cruise down the Rhine to view Germany’s gorgeous scenery.

Germany is a backpackers paradise with its romantic forests, picturesque hill and mountain landscapes, and tranquilly embedded seas. If you’re planning to do much walking or hiking there are numerous places you can go to. The Bavarian Forest also known as Europe’s Green Roof is situated between the river Danube, the Bohemian Forest and the Austrian Border. It is widely recognised as Central Europe’s largest closed woodland area. It’s an ideal area to go hiking in with well signposted hiking paths lead through mysterious forests, well-cared-for natural and cultivated landscapes, past small and larger villages or up to the mountain peaks of the Bavarian Forest, such as the Arber Mountain, the region’s highest peak at 1,456 meters. You can also travel along historic trade routes, between the Danube River and Bohemia, you can be transported back to a bygone age and follow the traditional routes of salt and glass traders many centuries ago. For a more challenging hiking journey why not try “Westweg” – the Black Forest’s hiking route from Pforzheim to Basle. More than 23,000 kilometers of well highlighted hiking trails criss-cross the most amazing areas of the Black Forest’s cultural and hiking landscapes. It is such a beautiful place. If hiking is your kind of thing while backpacking through Germany then you have to check out Westweg. Hikers can reach the highest point of the Northern Black Forest, which is Mount Hornisgrinde which gives fantastic views. Beautiful cirque lakes, such as Mummelsee or the secluded Wildsee, line the route. If you continue along this route, you will come past the European watershed, between the rivers Rhine and Danube. This part of the route offers superb views across the deep valleys of the Western Black Forest and the flat high-lying valleys in the east. The bare hilltops of the Feldberg area represent a kind of “subalpine island in the low mountain range”, offering a habitat for many plants of the Ice Age. At “Feldbergerhof”, the route divides into a western and an eastern route. Eventually the route will take you all the way to Basle!

Berlin is a must when backpacking across Europe. Berlin is now a modern city with great food and shopping but still rich with history. If shopping is your thing head for the Ku’Damm (the Kurfürstendammmstrasse) and the Friedrichstrasse. For the history buffs you can travel to Checkpoint Charlie and take a tour of where the Berlin Wall used to stand.

Some of the top rated activities to take part in while backpacking through Germany are:
1. City Segway Tours
2. Fat Tire Bike Tours
3. Mike’s Bike Tours
4. Insider Tours
5. Friedrichsbad Roman-Irish Bath
6. Europa-Park
7. Original Berlin Walks
8. Cologne Cathedral (Dom)
9. Pergamon Museum
10. English Garden (Englischer Garten)

Even though you are visiting a relatively safe country as Germany remember to get your backpacker travel insurance. Segways can be dangerous! Another important item to remember when backpacking around Europe is waterproof jackets for backpacking through Europe. The weather can be somewhat unpredictable so ensure you have suitable clothing. I’m not saying you need a backpackers survival kit but make sure you wrap up warm!