These are tips passed to me by friends and online travellers, as well as some I'll probably have to learn about the hard way...
- Don't bring cards. Nearly traveller has a pack of cards with them. Instead, I'll be bringing a travel chess set. (Andy Katz, geekeasy.com) Update: No one plays chess. Bring a deck of cards and learn some games. :)
- Bring pictures of friends and family. Plenty of online sites will print out a little photo book for a small fee that you can turn to when lonely or to start a conversation with someone. (Rick Steves) Update: Better to print out pictures as you go along of places you've been. People in Lithuania are more interested in what New Zealand looks like than you drinking a beer with a friend.
- Remember, if you are going to take one bag you need to be happy with wearing the same clothes for months at a time. Make sure the clothes you plan on taking are comfortable and easy to wash. You know how sometimes you wish you could just wear your favorite shirt, pants, etc? Well, this is the time to do it.
- Try your gear before you go - that money belt you have can feel awfully weird for the first few days. Rather then add this to the list of things you'll have to deal with abroad, try it out at home for a few days. After a while, you forget you are wearing it. Update: Money belts are fine - until you hit humid areas. Then they turn into a little sweaty mess. Opt for cargo pants or pockets with zippers on them.
- Most hostels charge for linens and more and more of them are not allowing "travel sacks", which are basically sheets sewn into a large bag. Decline the linens for short stays - they won't find out about the sack - but if you stay longer, be aware there's a greater chance the hostel will find out and penalize you, so shell out for them then.
- Traveller's checks are a thing of the past. Money changers charge too much, so you are better off using your ATM card. You'll withdraw in the currency of the country you are in.
- When arriving late into a city, do yourself the favor of having booked a private room to yourself. There is noting worse than being tired and having to get settled in a dark, stinky room where you were left the last, worst bed to bunk in. When arriving early, make sure you check in as soon as they allow and claim the bed of your choice.
- Speaking of which, the only time you really need to book ahead of time for a good hostel is weekends in a large city. Otherwise, you can leave it to the day prior or even day of. (at least in the off season).
- More and more hostels - even cities - provide free wifi. Take advantage of this, with a wifi detector - a small key chain that detects open wireless signals at the push of a button. Look for free wifi in train stations, at hostels, or coffee houses.
- My favorite gadget this trip has been my Nokia N800. Its small, lasts up to 7 hours on a single charge, and has both wifi and skype built right in. This means phonecalls overseas for as little as .02 cents a minute. You can type out your blog or email on trains or stations while you wait and then send them out for free once you find an open network.
- Go shopping before you leave, not during the trip - the most expensive part of your trip should be the preparation. Your current sweaters are bulky and soak up stink. A new odor resistent travel sweater (with silver ions or calcium woven into the threads) extends time between laundry machines and usually pack thin. Update: Nevermind. Makes no sense to stock up at home when clothes in say, Thailand cost a quarter as much. Bring less than you need and get the rest as you go along.
