How To Discourage Theft When Traveling
To make travel more enjoyable and less stressful (owing to how often things go wrong) it is often a good idea to re-iterate a few simple rules that can help prevent disaster. Often problems encountered during travel leave a bitter taste in the mouth and leave you with an undeserved dislike of the destination and its people. Usually, traveling safely just requires basic common sense. As it often happens, we think we personally do not require it because someone else is responsible for these mistakes!
People often neglect to trust their instincts in a situation which takes them into trouble, and scammers actually rely on your innate sense of trust and a relaxed attitude when on vacation. So, prior to meeting these folks make it easy on yourself.
Take just what you require for your day trip out and nothing more; the rest (extra credit cards, cash) should stay in your hotel safe or another designated holding area. Especially protect cash and try not to have much available at one time.
If traveling as a couple you should each use a separate credit card in case one is stolen. Another simple trick to stop a bag thief is to place the strap over the head and across the chest; a robber looking for an easy grab will likely move on. Try to be aware of how you present yourself when you stroll around; don’t present yourself as an easy target for the snatch thieves on the back of bikes. Criminals love tourists as they are usually considered easy prey and we tourists underestimate how determined criminals are.
If you carry a bag of any kind , get a combination lock or padlock; it will be well worth it as it will deter the majority of bag snatchers who are looking for fast easy scores. A word of warning to those men that always have their wallet in a back pocket ; don’t. It is the first place any thief will look and it is an easy target for them.
The majority of problems could be avoided if people didn’t let their guard down , which is common on vacation; if you can remember to travel safely, it won’t decrease your pleasure but could prevent a lot of problems.
Youth Hostels Guide
Youth Hostels History
The first youth hostel was founded by Richard Schirrmann around 1909. Schirrmann was a German teacher who organized trips and visits with his students. During one of these excursions, a sudden rainstorm forced his group to seek shelter in an empty school.
It was then that Schirrmann had the idea of using schools that were empty during holidays as guest houses for young people that were travelling in groups in the countryside. The idea caught on very quickly, and by the 1930s there were more than two thousand hostels in Germany.
The idea spread out in the rest of Europe, and after an important international conference in 1932, the idea was exported to the United States and many other countries, and the International Youth Hostel Federation was born, with the idea of providing cheap accommodation for young travellers.
With time, the concept of hostel has broadened, and now hostels accept guests of all ages, providing cheap but comfortable accommodation and a unique atmosphere that cannot be found in hotels.
Hostels Equipment
If you are travelling for a long time, buy yourself a good backpack, which fits you comfortably, and do not exceed in loading it – a heavy backpack can be very painful to carry when it’s summer and it’s hot. Choose comfortable shoes, and keep cool shoes for evenings out.
Hostels most often provide you with sheets (often at an extra cost), but you should bring your own, just in case. Some hostels might not allow sleeping bags, for reasons of hygiene (you might have been sleeping anywhere with a sleeping bag, and hostelling is not the same thing as camping).
Some hostels will provide you with a so-called sleep-sheet, which is two sheets sewn together, so they form a sort of sack. This way the bed stays clean. It is not as common as it used to be years ago.
You should also bring your own soap and towels, since only some hostels provide these, usually with an extra charge.
Hostels Social Life
Hostels are definitely the place for socializing. Since the guests in a hostel are mostly younger people, there are plenty of occasions to get to know other travellers. Some hostels organize parties, meetings or competitions, or have a bar within or just outside their premises where people can meet and chat to fellow guests.
Hostellers are generally more interested in meeting other people than your average tourist, so it’s much easier to get in touch with them, share common interests and exchange advice, tips, etc. Many people travel on their own all over a country or continent more than a year long, and rely on chance meetings to make friends.
Remember: you can always meet people who have opinions (on politics, sex, religion, your country) that are very different from your own, so you must be prepared to be tolerant and understanding other people’s positions and views on life. Without a doubt, this will certainly enrich you and broaden your perspective. So if you go to a hostel, expect to meet new friends, (especially if you speak some languages) and put on your best smiling face. Who knows, you might make the best friendships of your life!
Youth Hostels vs Hotels
There are several types of hostels nowadays, and all of them tend to have their special characteristics; some are more like standard hotels, some are a completely different experience. The main difference is that most hostels offer accommodation in dormitories, or shared rooms. Dorms can be bigger or smaller, can be for males/females only or mixed, but anyway this means that you can share your room with strangers.
Although many hostels now provide private rooms with en-suite facilities, the atmosphere is still very different from that of your average hotel. Whereas hotels only tend to just provide their customers a comfortable place where to spend the night, hostels tend to have more of a social atmosphere which often is derived from sharing dining tables, washing machines, dryers, and much more with with other guests.
Many hostels organize parties and excursions for their guests, and many have a bar where people can meet and get to know each other. In a hostel it is much more likely to start a conversation with a fellow traveller or to be asked for advice, tips and information by someone you have never met before.
Basically, hostels are generally a good place to make friends, to meet people from far away countries with ways different than your own, to exchange tips on clubs, museums, shows, shopping and the like.
Different kinds of hostels
Hostels come in all shapes and sizes nowadays.
City hostels tend to lean more towards the social/fun aspect of city life, offering information about pubs, tours of the city, thrift shops and night clubs. They can be much noisier than country hostels, since they often have no curfew and are open 24 hours a day. The bigger the hostel, and the more night-life oriented the city it’s in, the more social life you will find.
Country hostels are a very different thing. They’re mostly frequented by people who are travelling through the country, possibly walking or hiking. This means people wake up earlier, and go to sleep earlier, and usually like it quiet!
How long can I stay in a hostel?
Some hostels won’t allow you to stay longer than a couple of weeks, since the idea of hostelling is that people are travelling across a country, and not staying in the same place all the time. But many others will not mind if you stay longer: after all, you are indeed a customer! Some hostels will require you to prove that you are an international traveller, since it wouldn’t make sense for a hostel to be full of locals, but this is not too common.
Group bookings
Not every hostel is ideal for group bookings, since some can be small. The best idea is to book well in advance, so you can be sure to find room for everyone in your group.
What kind of facilities are available in hostels?
Most (but not all) hostels will offer a laundry room, telephone, Internet connection, lockers for your precious stuff, and a breakfast service. Some will offer more. Every hostel/hotel in our list has an indication of the facilities it has, so you can be sure to get what you need. If you’re travelling with a dog, remember to check whether the accommodation you choose allows them in!
Do I need to book hostels in advance?
Definitely yes, and that’s why we’re here. Especially during peak seasons, and even more in the most famous cities and resorts, hostels can be fully booked and have no room for you, especially if you’re travelling with many people. Booking in advance is a good idea, since you get rid of worries and do not need to walk across a city with a heavy backpack looking for accommodation. It might detract a bit from the sense of adventure, but you’ll definitely have much more time to have fun!
Is breakfast included in hostels? Can I cook in hostels?
Usually, breakfast is not included in the price, but it’s reasonably cheap and abundant in quantity. Some hostels offer cooking facilities, such as a kitchen complete with pots and everything you need. Other hostels will be more than happy to give you advice about the cheapest bars and food outlets in the neighbourhood.
Age limits
Some hostels do have age limits, and might give precedence to younger travellers (especially Youth Hostels in Europe), or exclude them (if they have a bar in the premises), but most hostels will welcome guests of all ages, and will even accommodate small children and provide smaller beds and cribs if asked in advance.
Curfew
Some hostels will have a curfew, some won’t. It largely depends on the type of hostel, on the owners’ policy and on the location of the hostel (there’s not much use in being able to come to the hostel at three in the night if the hostel is in the mountains!). Many hostels in our directory have information on their curfew policy right in their description.
Lockout
Some hostels might have a lockout period. This is usually around lunchtime or in the early afternoon, and is meant to let the hostel’s staff clean the premises, or if the place is owned by a person, to allow her/him to go out and make supplies, etc. It is not so common any more, so check with the hostel’s staff if you want to be sure.
Dormitory vs Private Rooms in hostels
A dormitory is a room with several beds (often of the bunk type), all of which can be booked individually by different guests of a hostel.
It is also called a shared room, since you share the room with other guests. Dorms can vary from 4 to 20 or more beds, and some hostels have separate dorms for males and females, while others do not make a difference and offer mixed dorms.
Dormitories are always cheaper than private rooms in the same structure, and generally require people to be a bit more adaptable, since your room-mates may go to sleep or wake up earlier or later than you do, have different habits than you, or snore…
But dorms are often great fun, since it’s much easier to get to know fellow travellers if you share the room with them! After all, the loss in privacy is counterbalanced by many social advantages.
While dorms were the default option of most hostels years ago, most hostels now also offer private rooms, which usually have 2 to 4 beds, sometimes even with en-suite WC and shower. In this case, staying in a hostel is very similar to staying in a normal hotel, apart from all of the social chances you will have during communal moments (breakfast, evening, etc.).
Europelowcost, worldwide youth hostels price comparison
http://en.europelowcost.com/hostels.aspx
Europelowcost
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/youth-hostels-guide-89224.html
Behind Safari Vests And Pockets
We recommend that you bring one safari vest during your trip. And that’s it.
Leave all your dressy clothes at home unless you are attending a special function in Africa.
Humvee Safari Vest
Early safari travelers were fond of taking with them the unnecessary (a huge wooden chair for example), that were obviously not needed. Those travelers were comfortable with that practice since they had carriers to do the work for them. Most safari guests in early times were from high society.
Today one is never certain that she can get around comfortably (while goofing around!) toting extra (and unneeded) gear while transferring from one vehicle to another, or crossing a remote trek.
Wearing safari vests, while thought of more as a traditional part of all safari trips should be viewed as something practical and important.
The rule of thumb is to apply casual comfort. Carry an average of 3 to 4 shirts for your entire trip. In addition, you need to have a safari jacket or safari vest.
A safari vest is vital for carrying with you small but essential gadgets such as a Swiss knife, extra film or a pocket size camera. In fact, anything will do so long as they fit in the pockets of your vest.
From 8 to 10 pockets, it is unlikely that a safari vest would not hold enough of your stuff.
You may place them in your backpack of course but accessibility makes everything less complicated.
Actually, because of this specific property of safari vests, they are also popular among photographers and other professions that require the use of extra pouches.
Safari vests typically appear in neutral shades, following the idea of not being too loud when on the trek.
This practice can also be observed for your long sleeves, shirts and other safari clothing. Neutral shades lessen the possibilty of attracting animals. They are not as heat absorbent as other darker colors and they help reflect heat away from your body.
Low Jeremy
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/behind-safari-vests-and-pockets-93976.html
