(Part 2) Top products from r/travel

http://www.international.gc.ca/experience/intro_incoming-intro_entrant.aspx?lang=eng

Get yourself a working holiday here in Canada. Not many Canadians go the other way, but as I hear it told the quota for coming TO Canada fills up pretty fast so apply as soon as you know you want to come here (only 5300-ish spots were available for UK citizens for 2014 and the quota for rounds 1 and 2 were filled the day they were opened and within 3 days for the 3rd round). If you miss it there's always the next year etc until you turn 30.

There's similar programs for you to go to Australia.

I don't know about the USA though. That being said once you get into Canada, you can easily drive or take the bus/train across the border into the US. You wont be able to work there though.

Take advantage of the working holiday visa prgrams while you have the chance. I didn't learn about them until I was about to turn 30 and I wish I had known sooner. Once that time is gone you'll never get it back. However, University will always be there and employers love international and life experience. I've landed several jobs when recruiters were impressed by my ability to travel and live solo in other countries.

They seem to like that independance and ability to manage in strange and stressful environments apparently.

If you need someone to help you set it up, there's lots of organizations that will do it, for a fee. But they're rarely mandatory and, in the end, it's more satisfying to accomplish these things on your own. Many people on this board can help you if you get stuck on some details.

Also, Lonely Planet (http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/world/the-big-trip/) and Rough Guides (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rough-Guide-First-Time-Around-World/dp/1848365101) publish books intended to guide you through the process of planning your first gap year. Pick up one of those and give it a read for a lot of useful tips and destination ideas.

Just a week???

Oh that should be easy to pack lightly for. Last summer my wife and I did a 3 week tour through Europe. Like everyone we packed to much but I think I have a better grasp on what I would take on my next summer trip. First take stuff that dries quickly if you want to pack light. My plan for our next trip is to take essentially two pairs of clothes. One to wear while the other dries. From the items below you can see that I would lean on the side of casual and comfortable but I think that it versatile enough to wear out for most occasions.

Backpack: Northface Alteo 50 50l bag should be way more than you need. For our 3week trip I took the 50 and my wife took the Alteo 35. Great bags. Just make sure to try a backpack on before you but it though, each pack fits people differently.

Sandals: Slipons rugged ones I would recommend Teva or Reef

Quick drying shoes: I would take something like the Merrell Barefoot Shoes that pack up small and are light weight. I would also include some socks to wear with these as well sometimes.

2 pair pants: I actually like zip off pants for the versatility. I would get these from Columbia.

2 boxers: ExOfficio

1 quick dry swimsuit: I actually used something similar to these since they could double as boxers, fit under a wet suit, and fit in around Europe

2 t-shirts : SeV from Scottvest. Or maybe make one a polo shirt or button down shirt.

1 long sleeve shirt: Columbia

1 good hat that covers the neck

I think I could travel summer time nearly indefinitely with this gear.

• Pack light. It makes everything so much easier when you are not burdened by a huge backpack.
  
• Clothes that dry quickly. You'd be amazed how much of a difference this makes. When on the road the last thing you want to do is pack clothes back into your bag that are still a bit wet. Personally I like hiking kit for this property.
  
• Travel towel - They pack down much smaller than regular towels and dry much quicker, well worth the money.
  
• A pair of spare shoelaces/length of string - instant washing line as well as just being handy!
  
• Penknife. Nothing fancy needed, but a blade and bottle opener can be very helpful and having a bottle opener when others don't will sometimes get you a free beer! :-D
  
• A Drysack. These are what I am referring to. Have your most important documents in one, just in case you get drenched. A spare one can be good for keeping wet clothes/smelly socks quarantined off from stinking up a backpack!
  *A list of basic phrases for each language you expect to encounter. Even if people are likely to know some English in the areas you are going to, just being able to say 'please' and 'thank you' in the local language will be much appreciated! Also, if stuck remember that younger people are more likely to know English than older people.
  
• 1x AC adapter to local plugs and 1x 3-way adapter for US plugs to plug into it. You can charge more and plugs can be at a premium. I did this with UK/Irish plugs and it worked great, but check about voltages etc first.
  
• Split the load. Some things you will not all need to take (ie Shaving foam) so for these things just share and save space/weight. It might sound obvious, but you'd be amazed how many people don't do this!

It's hard to say because prices will have changed a lot since I did it. SE Asia was ballpark about $1000 a month. Australia is significantly more expensive, but work pays really well there. If you're under 30 and from the right country you can get a visa for there and it's super easy to travel between there and SE Asia.

See if you can get your hands on some up to date copies of books like this or this - download them or just go to a bookstore and leaf through - they'll have sections on budgets for each country that will give you an idea of how much you need. As a rule of thumb, add about 15-20% to what they say as by the time you get there they'll be out of date.

Like I said, I budgeted $30 a day for Laos but in a lot of places I lived on $10 a day. In Thailand you can spend $50 a day in Bangkok or the islands, but if you go out into the country you can easily do $20 a day.

It's all about research - but that's easy because research makes you more and more excited about where you're going.

Let me know if I can do anything to help!

Finding camping in the parks will be very, very difficult. Some parks are full months in advance. They may have a first-come, first-serve area but you will ABSOLUTELY need to be there at 8am. If you sleep in the car, you will get a hefty fine. Plan ahead. Even camping outside the park in a private campground will be difficult to find and frequently fully booked. Realize that "outside" the park can be more than two hour's drive easy. Can really put a dent in your in-park time. Get a National Parks of the West book. Super, super helpful. Will outline all the campsites and outside park camping and hotel/hostel options and everything you need to know like hours, etc. I used Fodor's but they're all probably pretty similar.

http://www.amazon.com/Fodors-Complete-National-Full-color-Travel/dp/0307928462

I've been to all the national parks. Yes, all of them. Have fun!

I was just in Oahu not that long ago! I highly recommend getting a car! Uber was difficult for us to get around and the bus system is slow. Plus, car rentals are surprisingly cheap - I got one for $15 a day (including taxes and fees) from Enterprise at the airport. There's so much to see and it's such a beautiful driving island that a car will serve you well. Some of my best memories were driving around the island on the outermost roads.

I really enjoyed the east part of the island, particularly around Kailua. I rented a very affordable house just a block from the beach. Lots of good food, a bit more of a local feel. Spending a day to drive up to the North Shore, Waimea, hanging out around Turtle Bay, and eating at shrimp trucks along the way was fantastic. If you don't have one already, I recommend getting an ENO (or ENO-esque) hammock to carry with you and toss between trees as needed. Lots of terribly beautiful hammocking spots. I really enjoyed the hike up to Manoa Falls. The Diamondhead Market and Grill in Honolulu was so good, I ate there 3 times in one day.

Finally, this is the absolute best guide book for Oahu in my opinion.

Hey! So I found my scrappy little pack list I had before I left. Hope this helps at all :)

• Bring strapless bra
  
• Underwater camera!!!!!!
  
• Download Hola (hola.org) this one!!! This is GREAT for watching shows abroad
  
• Health Insurance - World Nomads
  
• Power of attorney
  
  
• Berry Plus Laundry Detergent
  
• 4x (2 boxes)
  
• Contact Solution
  
• Tampons (lots)
  
• Lancome Mascara
  
• MAC powder
  
• Revlon Eyeliner 2x
  
• Eye drops
  
• Watch (you don't want to be pulling out your phone to tell the time)
  
• Electrolyte packets
  
• Tennis shoes
  
• New sandals
  
• Gear Ties
  
• Clothing line
  
• Universal Sink Stopper
  
• Deck of cards
  
• Journal
  
• Packing Cubes
  
• Kindle
  
• Adapters
  
• Quick dry towel
  
• Memory cards
  
• Ear plugs
  
• Sleep Mask
  
• SF refrigerator magnets for hosts
  
• Alarm clock (Don't use your phone - not good to leave out)
  
• Headlamp
  
• Bamboo utensils
  
• Carabiner
  
• iPad with Logitech keyboard case
  
• Good head phones
  
• Anti-malaria pills
  
• Pepto bismol
  
• Cipro
  
• Advil
  
• Pink eye eye drops (you never know!)
  
• Sleeping pills
  
• Small brush
  
• Toilettry Bag
  
• Rain jacket
  
• Fleece
  
• kleen canteen
  
• Combo padlocks (combo better than key - if you lose the key you're screwed)
  
• Sun dress
  
• New Tivas? - Take old tivas to cobbler
  
• Bottle opener
  
• Scarf
  
• Combo+wire cord to tie the backpack to a bed
  
• Sea to Summit Mini Backpack
  
• Manicuring scissors/file/tweezers
  
• Steripod Toothbrush cover
  
• Toothbrush
  
• Mini First Aid Kit
  
• Razors (gotta stay fresh!)
  
• Shampoo & Conditioner
  
• Flats
  
• Mini Sewing Kit
  
• Hand sanitizer
  
• Epipen
  
• Neosporin
  
• Ziplock baggies (big and small)
  
• Face lotion (x3)
  
• New Bra/undies
  
• Flip flops for showers (old navy)
  
• Super glue
  
• Cliff bars
  
• New Jeans
  
• Backpack - Osprey Waypoint 85
  
• Backpack rain cover
  
• Mini umbrella
  
• Dry Bag
  
• Stuff sack for laundry
  
• Shoe bags
  
• Grocery Bag
  
• Leather strap over purse
  
• Kleenex
  
• Q-tips
  
• Deoderant
  
• Hair ties
  
• Shower gel
  
• Pajamas
  
• Travel Pillow
  
• Sleep sack
  
• tent?
  
  
• Check contact prescription
  
• New glasses
  
• Check up
  
• Get immunizations - yellow immunizations card!
  
• Get a youth card through STA (see 13 ways link above)
  
  
• India
  
• Vietnam
  
• (Dual citizen to Spain - don't need visa for Brazil)
  

I would add this one item. I LOVE it, tiny, super lightweight and works great with a hotel or hostel sink to do easy laundry. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Y0CL8K/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 VERY worth it!

Not OP, but I have two different sets: one from TravelWise and one from eBags. I like the versatility of having the different options depending on what I'm doing, but I think the Slim ones are my favorite. I've never used the large one from TravelWise, but the medium and small have been great too!

go for it! I used this map; it's 24"x36" but they have larger sizes too. And if you're only interested in Europe, they have a Europe specific map. I would watch a few videos about modge podge if you haven't done it before because it can get messy, especially when dealing with larger prints. Also, make sure your cork board isn't too thick for the frame; I think I used 1/4" thick cork board. This was the original inspiration for my map

Regardless of where you decide to go i'd suggest this book. It has a lot of good info on where to go, where to stay, what sort of budgets you can expect in different parts of the world. it's quite inspirational. Who knows you may just want to turn that 12 day trip into a longer one :)

http://www.amazon.com/Rough-Guide-First-Time-Around-Edition/dp/1848365101/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341340852&sr=8-1&keywords=first+time+around+the+world

BTW, I traveled alone for the first time last year through S.E Asia for 6 weeks and was horrified. That fear lasted about 1 day, after arriving at my first hostel I met so many people and just went with the flow and ended up having traveling partners for a few weeks of my trip.

Good luck and have fun!

Seven days in Heidelberg will probably be quite a lot, unless you have specific reasons for staying there for a week. I would consider switching up the days in Berlin versus Heidelberg, or even checking out some nearby cities between the two.

As far as what you need - it's always nice to have a dictionary so you can read signs. I always try to learn a few key phrases that I can say (or recognize) to locals. These are things like 'thank you,' 'excuse me,' 'please,' etc. If you have a smart phone, there are apps you can download that have offline dictionaries/translators so you don't have to carry around and flip through a book.

I can't remember exactly what mine is called, but you can do a search for "offline german-english translator." Along those lines, you can also download offline metro maps and city maps for your phone.

Along the same lines, you can get a sim card for your phone that works only in Germany, and not worry about an international roaming plan through your U.S. carrier. You may also be able to contact your carrier about giving you a certain number of international text messages for a set fee. That way you can text your travel partner if you get separated.

You will need an adapter if you are going to use any of your electronics. Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/International-Travel-Grounded-Adapter-Plug/dp/B001ISR9B6 (although I'm skeptical as to why this one is only $3....)

Random point - You might want to check you can still get from Morocco to Algeria, or the other way around. Last time I looked all the border points were closed, not sure why or whether that's still the case...!

I can't really provide you with any useful information myself, but you should check out...

Horizons Unlimited and their Forums The Hubb

ADVRider

Adventure Motorcycling Handbook - The Adventure Motorcycling Bible (Well, pretty much...)

You're going to want an America the Beautiful Pass. $80 for unlimited national park admissions for one car for one year. Most parks are around $20. I also recommend getting one of the National Parks of the West guidebooks so you can link them all together and what-not. I've been to all the parks in a previous version of this book http://www.amazon.com/Fodors-Complete-National-Full-color-Travel/dp/0307928462/ref=dp_ob_image_bk

Linking national parks is the classic, American way to road trip. Enjoy yourself. I've been all over the world but my favorite trip was spending a few months living in my pickup in the parks.

Yep! Just went back to my Amazon history, here is the link to the map: World Executive Poster Sized Wall Map (Tubed, World Map). I absolutely love it. I paired it up a rustic, smooth grain frame, similar to this one (but in a 3x4).

We've been very happy with the Kikkerland UL03-A, and it's affordable at about $10.

https://www.amazon.com/Kikkerland-UL03-A-Universal-Travel-Adapter/dp/B00210MRGC


We're r/Onebag travelers so volume (4.3 x 7.9 x 0.8 inches) and weight (3.2 ounces) is very important to us.

We've plugged/unplugged it ~75 times over the last 10 months and it's as good as new.

Buy these books. Trust me, they are the best for planning anything on the islands of Hawaii.

Be hyper-vigilant regarding your personal possessions. Don't hang your purse / backpack over the back of your chair when eating in a restaurant. Carry a cheapo wallet (front trouser pocket, never a rear pocket) with only enough cash in it to get you through the day -- and maybe a credit card (if you think you'll need it that day), but nothing else. Keep all your spare cash, passport, credit and debit cards, etc., in a hidden travel wallet, like this one that you loop your belt through and then tuck down inside your trousers, or this one that loops around your neck and rests inside your shirt and against your chest.

> I know many restaurants in Italy may not accept credit cards

When we were in Italy (Venice, Rome, Florence, Naples) couple of years ago, we paid in Credit Card (Visa) in almost all restaurants; only paid in Cash when amount was small (less than 10 Euro or so). I think using CC was easier, secure and cheaper (no foreign transaction fee). So, not sure where you got that information.

> money-belts

I used this small purse for holding small amount of cash and credit cards and this for holding passports.

For charging things, you need both a converter and adapter if your electronics aren't dual voltage, one for dealing with the different shapes of the outlets in Europe, and one for dealing with the different voltage. Rick Steves talks about it here. Usually they're now in one piece. I got mine at Bed Bath & Beyond for pretty cheap. Here's an example. I have this, which is only a plug adapter because my electronics are marked dual voltage.

As for overhead room, I've never had trouble, especially if you aren't bringing anything bigger than a standard backpack or duffel bag. Even if it does get crowded, the flight attendants usually go around playing tetris so everyone can find space.

All flights I've been on had front door loading only, boarding by 'zones,' where 1/2/3 are first/business/priority passengers. Your zone will be marked on your ticket. Coach zones (like 3/4/5) have always boarded last. You won't be able to get on first unless you pay extra for the better front seats.

-Travel surge protector with USB port: http://www.amazon.com/Outlets-To-Power-Strip-USB/dp/B0018MEBNG/

-Outlet converters

-Combination lock

-Make sure to turn data roaming off on your smartphone. Also download Skype to make long distance calls, and Viber to text.

-Microfiber travel towel

-Laundry soap sheets (http://www.amazon.com/Travelon-Laundry-Soap-Sheets-50-Count/dp/B000Y0CL8K/) if you're planning on doing any of your own washing in a sink/shower. I generally only use them for socks/underwear. On that note, I highly recommend Icebreaker brand socks/underwear. Expensive, but very comfortable, and made out of Merino wool. It sounds gross, but you can wear comfortably for 48 hours without washing without any odor whatsoever - read up on them. FWIW, I brought two pairs of boxer briefs for a 2.5 week trip in SE Asia, and washed in the sink... they also dry very quickly (within a few hours of being hung up).
-A few doses of each advil, cold medicine, Imodium... and any other meds you may need.

I have a 2 small drysacks, which I can just stuff things into, which is pretty nice. and a specific case for my phone or ipod

Edit: Also, I have a raincover for my backpack. keeps the water out. and you dont have to worry about anyone unzipping your backpack in a busy place.

• http://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Products-3-Pack-Ultimate-Sack/dp/B001AZNATC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369243924&sr=8-1&keywords=drysack
  
• http://www.amazon.com/Osprey-UL-Raincover-Titanium-Medium/dp/B000MNLDP6/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1369243977&sr=1-1&keywords=osprey+rain+cover

This is what I use and I have never had a problem. It works in the recessed outlets that Europe seems to favor better than the large bricks that others have recommended on this thread.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00210MRGC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

When I mentioned 80k that was for a RTW trip and being gone for a year. It won't be as much for you as you are not having to take into account the $1k it costs to ship bikes between continents and then your airfare. Also, this is purely a rough estimate and a reserve fund. Your trip will probably cost about $10-15k depending on how fast you travel and where you stay. Camping isn't normally done unless you are out in the severe outback, as most of where you are going will have fairly inexpensive hotel lodging. Always have double the money you think it might take as a reserve. So if you think it would cost you 15k have 30k at your disposal in case of injury, bike breaking down, the grand or so for tires you will need, accidentally killing some farmers goat, ransom, bribes... all have a chance of happening.

You keep saying "we".. how many people? Another bike? Or Two up with your significant other? Even the best friendships will get strained just being with one person for months. I have been there... hell even in LWR they couldn't stand each other for the last legs of the trip. It happens and if you say it won't, you are being VERY NAIVE. Also, what is your nationality? This makes a huge difference too. Americans can't travel into some countries that you have planned. Well, at least not with a ton of red tape and finding people that will help you.

What gear do you own? Plan on buying quality gear as it will make your life so much easier. Don't worry about spending $500 on those riding pants or $900 on your jacket as you will be in them EVERY DAY for a couple months and they could save your life. You must be safe. Read this thread. Clayton became a quadriplegic after hitting a burro in mexico on his way to South America. After a while of living in this state, he killed himself. Shit happens.

You need to read, and read a lot. Buy these and use them as your bibles:

Adventure Motorcycling Handbook

Jupiters Travells

Two Wheels Through Terror

Or Glen's other book One More Day Everywhere

Get them and read. Can you ride offroad? There is a reason nearly everyone does a RTW trip on a dual sport. This is why I said 3 years. Gear costs money...

It is basically said:

PLan on a 6 month planning time frame for a trip in between countries, 1-2 years of planning for multiple continents. Also remember, that bike you buy has to be paid off. No leans. this means you have to come up with the cash for this upfront.

My last trip across North America was 28k km, lasted 3 months and cost 10k after I already had my gear. This is also camping everywhere in the US and Canada and hoteling it in Cental America. My trip to South America will be about 14k for a similar timeframe. Remember everything cost money. You want to go to Machu Piccu... that is 150 bucks. MMMMM.. wanna see the Nazca Lines from a plane, that will be 200. There will be tons of things you will want to see as well on your trip. And you can't say FUCK I dont have the cash to see it. That defeats the complete
purpose of the trip.

Having the will is great and so is optimism. But Blind optimism gets you injured or killed. Where have you ridden before? What is your longest ride? Honestly you sound like every other person that has seen LWR and made their way to the net with grandiose plans only to realize that it is A GREAT DEAL harder than you thought. Even if you had the funds.. which you don't as you balked at having 80k in the bank... a multiple continent motorcycle ride is difficult. But the benefits are AMAZING!!!

All That being said, it is the problems you overcome that will be in your memories and stories forever. Nobody ever remembers that day where you rode and stopped at a little restaurant for coffee then pulled up into a hotel. No, they remember the time you ran out of gas and blew a tire 200km from anywhere and you had to put your bike in the back of a military truck to get to help. That story you will tell FOREVER!!! The adventure begins with the adversity.

For me and my three-month solo trip, I would say:

• unlocked smartphone
  
• portable battery
  
• packing cubes (saved me valuable space in my 44L backpack)
  
• plenty of underwear and a pair of long johns
  
• travel wipes in case you find a toilet that doesn't provide toilet paper -shudders-
  
  If I did it again, I would definitely bring a selfie stick and gopro camera. And although my iPhone did everything from navigation to booking, I would also bring a kindle/tablet for those long plane and bus rides.

great work, as others have said. i think you underestimate its value. this is one of my favorite travel books and while it doesn’t have tons of “where to go” information, it served as a great reminder of the feel of tokyo (and your work reminded me of):

https://www.amazon.com/Tokyo-Foot-Travels-Colorful-Neighborhoods/dp/4805311371

that said, there are numbnuts who gave it lower ratings because of the lack of it being a true guide book, but they need to understand that is not what it is about, not to mention there are more than enough of those out there.

I travel with this. Its simple. I just clip it on the waist of my pants with the wallet touching my skin. Easy access and secure.

Is it this book?

Great book - sitting on my shelf right now...

My thought is, why take a guided tour of Spain? It's much more fun and cheaper to do it yourself.

Read this if you haven't already. It will change your life.

This might be a little more offbeat than what you're looking for but Tokyo On Foot is really cool.

Thanks. I'm thinking of getting this one but I also want to get each of his books for each place i'll be visiting, although id feel real silly carrying around 4-5 different guide books.

Personally, I just go with a hidden wallet like this one that I throw on my belt loop. Then I can just use it with any pair of pants I already own.

If you have this kind, you should be able to use it, as long as you can plug the two skinny prongs into it. The grounded (round) part doesn't really do anything, it doesn't have to plug.

I have a few of these, they work fine in both the UK and Europe, although they are bulky. This is another of the same.

If you are not going to the UK, just Europe, these are nice.

I recently was intrigued by the trtl pillow, although I haven't tried it yet. linky

Currently I have this one and I like it because it's super compact, but I'm not sure how effective it is for sleeping on coach.

I suggest getting a universal adapter like this that you can use on future travels, unless you specifically need a heavy-duty one.

I couldn't live without my power adapter converter with USB charging built-in:

http://www.amazon.com/elago-Tripshell-TRAVEL-ADAPTER-Built/dp/B005AF0C2G

ExOfficio boxer briefs.

http://www.amazon.com/Lewis-Clark-Hidden-Travel-Wallet/dp/B003IMV380

I found it for $2 on clearance at a local sports store

What our dear friend seems to misunderstand is what you use a flatiron for. its not for shirt wrinkles, its for your hair, and I will travel with nothing but a pair of panties and a tshirt only before giving that up. No chance!

For one thing, if your flatiron is 110, unless you carry a GIANT power converter, it won't work, you'll burn your plates off and cry that you ruined your hair straightener. Buy a 220V straightiron from amazon, they'll be $25 or so and use that. You will still need an adaptor to be able to plug your electrical items into the wall since the plugs are different. Buy something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/elago-Tripshell-TRAVEL-ADAPTER-Built-/dp/B005AF0C2G/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1405355352&sr=8-6&keywords=travel+adapter

You can charge your computer/camera and 2 phones at the same time.

I recommend this book - How to Shit Around the World.

Cook it, boil it, peel it, or forget it.

ALWAYS drink bottled water. Make sure the water is from a reputable source (seal is intact, for example) and that the bottle hasn't been sitting in questionable water.

Regardless of what you do, prepare for GI problems no matter how careful or lucky you think you will be. The only thing worse than being sick is being unprepared and sick.

I would highly recommend the book How to Shit Around the World by Dr. Jane Wilson-Howarth. The author goes into tips about the types of illness you could run into while travelling, how to avoid them, and what to do if you get them. The book is filled with some humorous cautionary tales and useful tips.