I recently paid a visit to The Old Bridge House Hotel in Looe down in Cornwall – yes believe it or not the UK is part of Europe, despite what sceptics would have us believe. For a budget conscious traveller like myself I’m always on the lookout for good hostel and hotel reviews and a quick search on the net revealed a wonderfully personal review from a couple who stayed at The Old Bridge House whilst they were touring Cornwall and Devon on their bikes and looking for hotels in Looe.

Okay, so I’m not currently married or even have an idea of who I’m going to marry – if anyone! Yet the review of The Old Bridge House Hotel got me hankering to explore my own country during my jaunt across the continent. Considering we always seem to forget what’s on our own doorstep I made the decision to come traipsing back across the channel and into the welcoming bosom of my home – sunny old England.

I have to admit as a kid I never really bothered exploring England or Wales or even Scotland. Having just left Looe in Cornwall I can safely say that we have some of the best countryside and scenery in the world – and considering I’ve been travelling a lot in Europe I think that’s quite something! When I got to Looe I was immediately captured by the natural beauty of the two towns either side of the river. When you enter Looe you can’t help but feel as though you’ve stepped back in time a hundred or so years. The review I read had failed to mention just how lovely the town is!

After ogling the sights for over an hour, I eventually made my way across the bridge into West Looe and there just a few metres away was The Old Bridge House Hotel. I wasn’t sure if they were used to having backpackers turn up on their doorstep, but I received such a warm welcome from Colin and Liz – the couple who run the hotel – that I quickly forgot how bad I must have smelt and promptly made myself at home.

The Old Bridge House Hotel

The Quay, West Looe, Cornwall PL13 2BU

01503 263159 ‎

Being a backpacker you get used to sleeping rough and smelling like old socks gone bad for days on end. The Old Bridge House managed to make me feel like a clean and whole human being again. After I’d been shown to my room – which had a spectacular view of the harbour – I jumped into the shower and revelled in the high pressured water for nearly half an hour. After that I made my way downstairs and bumped into Colin who had helpfully put together a few leaflets and maps for me to use whilst I explored Looe. In addition to that he had even circled places to eat that weren’t expensive and asked me what time I fancied breakfast in the morning. I felt like an imposter in his house considering how I was dressed and what I looked like, but I was never made to feel anything but welcome.

I was sorry to leave, but I assured Colin and Liz that I’d be back and bring some friends next year…maybe even a significant other half! For now I’m delighted to recommend both Looe and The Old Bridge House Hotel as the places to stay if you’re ever down in Cornwall.

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Well, I do not know much about the technical matters but I have noticed a drastic change in the level of optimism shown by people towards money matters. More and more people are complaining about the costs of running their business when hosting and entertaining me. Some persons have simply refused to accept me as a guest because they do not feel confident that I will pay their dues on time.
Of course, I have adequate cash in hand and am confident of meeting all my expenses without any complications. However, the situation has become so bad that people are no longer interested in dealing with anything or anything or anybody remotely resembling a bad debt.

On the other hand, I have visited some individuals and service providers who have shown desperate relief at the fact that I have utilized their services. These individuals are so short of cash that they are desperate to earn money using any and every possible option. In such a scenario, the two extremes clearly indicate that something is drastically wrong with the economy as a whole. A fuel transporter who was not in a position to pay the standard fuel tank hire charges said it well when he complained about the fact that that I was in a position to afford a holiday when others are not in a position to afford their basic expenses.

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Everywhere I’ve been in Europe this year the people have been a worried lot. In Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Greece I’ve seen worry and concern on virtually everyone’s face. The growing financial crisis and the debt worries have scared everyone. However the most interesting conversation I had in recent months happened in a bar I was in when passing through Rome. I was with some friends I’d met up with who live in Rome and we all got talking about the health care systems across the continent. Despite its faults, my friends and many more people have nothing but admiration and envy for the NHS.

I don’t normally like having serious conversations when I’m travelling but you know what it’s like after you’ve had a few glasses of wine in a nice cafe during the summer time. It was my friend Emilio who got us all started on the health care comparisons between countries. We covered topics from Locum GP work in Italy to the poor state of public health care in Greece. Considering what’s been happening in Greece in recent months I find it hardly surprising that their health care is in a bad state. There is virtually no money left in the economy for food let alone medicine.

When we got onto the subject of Britain however everyone around the table began asking me about whether or not it was true that the government was planning on scrapping the NHS altogether. At first I didn’t really know what they were talking about, but thanks to my trusty iPad (picked up for a bargain in Spain) I was able to quickly scan the news and see what could have given them the idea that the NHS was being done away with. Thankfully the BBC were able to give me all the information I needed and I have to admit I was a little shocked at what I read.

The health care bill seems to allow for private companies to tender for services that the NHS usually provides. When I looked at this on face value it doesn’t seem that bad. After all hasn’t everyone in Britain been moaning about the poor quality of some hospitals for years now? I should take a few people to some hospitals in Italy – they wouldn’t complain about the hospitals after spending a night in those! Anyway I was able to explain to Emilio and the others that the NHS wasn’t being done away with. In fact from what I could see more GP jobs then ever are being advertised on the internet everyday.

What I was concerned with was the potential for private companies to enter the NHS and have an interest in it. By allowing companies to compete for providing services usually provided publicly could open up a very large Pandora’s Box that no one would be able to close. I can understand some of the reactions from doctors and nurses I’ve been reading about on the web. That said I was able to assure Emilio and the others that for now at least, the NHS isn’t going anywhere.

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People on a strict budget should consider a trip to the Tratorria district of the city, which hosts a large number of cheap restaurants that still provide top quality Italian cuisine. Unlike the tourist traps near the Coliseum and the Vatican, this area is largely visited by Italians and offers a more authentic experience than other places in Rome. In terms of accommodation, the area near Termini (the largest train station) has a high number of budget hotels. However, this area is also noted for its high crime rate, which many tourists may find discomforting. Some people may prefer to stay in a convent, which will provide a clean room with good service at incredibly low prices. The only problem with sleeping in a convent is that people will need to wake up early to respect the strict schedules that are in place in Roman convents. They are also unlikely to offer any free Internet access of time tracking software, like alarm clocks.

Unlike larger cities like London, Paris or Madrid, it is possible to walk to most of Rome’s sights by foot. The underground systems allows passengers to travel to and from the Termini but is smaller than the underground systems of many other capital cities. This is another way in which tourists can save money on transport costs. Many air carriers also offer budget return flights to the city’s international airport, which is within easy reach of the centre.

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I’ve just arrived for my first day here, and I can already tell you the wrong way to do it. Don’t come to Montreal on a budget. Borrow money, build up credit debt, whatever it takes, but don’t count your dollars if you come to this wonderful place.

First of all, I’ve already learned that Montreal is absolutely chock full of amazing restaurants. You can (and should) spend all of your time eating out. I know this because the place I ate this morning made me fall in love with Montreal immediately. I had Eggs Benedict, and the hollandaise sauce was, I think, made by angels.

Normally, I scrimp by buying bread and Nutella. Don’t do that in Montreal. Suck it up and plan to eat out a lot. A lot. Breakfast can and should start at 11 or 12, then take all day. Tip well, Then, move directly to the nightlife.

Because Montreal is an entertainment paradise, at least during the summer. There are all kinds of street festivals here. Not only that, there is a multitude of clubs and a million different places to shop. Anything you want to do — and plenty of things you don’t, but someone else might — is available to you here. Unfortunately, I spent most of my first day just looking in the windows of these places, a bit overwhelmed. Tomorrow, I’m biting the bullet and diving in. Forget my budget. This place is too great.

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You’re excited. Really excited. So exciting you’ve forgotten what a dollar looks like and all you can see is EUROS…woo! You’re also, and this is best of all, about to get away from that girl at your work who is always saying “ this hr software rocks ” and head off on your own to Europe, backpacking!In other words, things really couldn’t be going any better. They are, amazing…and just as you intended them to be. It’s all working out!

The flight is perfect; you get some time on your own to ponder your thoughts. Then you arrive in Paris, Germany, France.

But within 3 hours you are sitting in a Police station crying your eyes out. Yes, it’s happened, that dreadful of travellers nightmares: your money has been stolen!

You may laugh but trust me, this is nothing to get humorous about. I know someone who lost all their money – every cent of it – in a day.

To avoid this, try and do the following:

1) Don’t carry 100% cash. Take a pre-loaded card with you and keep your money on it. Much safer option.

2) Don’t keep all your money in the same place. Spread it around a bit so that if one rucksack gets nicked, you still have some money on your person.

Never give your money to a fellow traveller; it’s not so much a matter of trust as just being sensible

3) Similar to the above: if you are putting your main rucksack on a plane as luggage, take the money out before you do so! Failing to do so could result in your money ending up in another country…which will not be much fun, I assure you of that.

4) Take some false money with you and keep that in your wallet: this is a wise idea because if you should get mugged, you’ll be able to give them that. Chances are they won’t notice, which means you will have actually won!

5) Another security issue: if you’re sleeping in a hostel – and for many that is a given – keep your money under your pillow at all times. This makes total sense and is something which we all learn about the hard way!

6) Never give your money to a fellow traveller; it’s not so much a matter of trust as just being sensible. Give it to someone else and you’re handing them all the responsibility. And one final note…

7) Travellers cheques are a really good idea. For obvious reason you don’t need me to tell you, surely…

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Mobile roaming charges have often been the bane of my existence as I trudge around the world. I’m always trying to budget for the next month in advance and I’ve always underestimated just how much I end up spending on top up fees for my phone. Fortunately I found a great deal online whilst I was in India recently.

Mumbai is something extraordinary. The rapid rise of industrial growth is staggering to witness and even when I was there, many more skyscrapers were being built in the distance. India may be a second rate power at the moment, but give them another twenty years and they’ll be right up there with China on GDP.

I stayed in Colaba, the backpacker district. It was friendly enough and I was able to get a cheap bed to sleep in. However my phone was out of credit so I set off to find the nearest phone shop or internet cafe to see if I could get a top up. The first place I came to was an internet cafe so I thought I’d update my blog and do some surfing to see if I could find anything useful. As well as loads of adverts for Bollywood I found a great deal that would give me a flatrate fee on my phone for internet and calls no matter where I was in the world. I’m writing this update from my phone!

As I was leaving armed with my new contract I was approached by several scouts from Bollywood asking me if I wanted to work as an extra on a film tomorrow. Recalling an article I’d read back in May on the BBC about a backpacker who’d had this happen to him, I declined. I hate Bollywood films, and I was in no mood to be bossed about and made to sing and dance when I’m bad at both.

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Each one of us desires to go for a holiday far away from our day to day scheduled and busy life and the nitty gritty involved with office politics or the rising prices of red diesel Swansea. Budget holiday packages are the ideal way to satisfy your thirst to travel without straining your pocket. And more often, they turn out as excellent deals.

Budget holiday packages prove to be an ultimate way of planning out a smooth tour, especially for those people who plan out a vacation in a short period of time. Thanks to the different online travel portals which have made this job look much easier, it is affordable and comfortable to go on a lovely holiday tour.

Whether you’re traveling to Europe, Asia or America, there are various tour packages to be offered as per your preferences. Budget traveling is becoming more popular among those people who desire to travel with limited funds. These special offers make your holiday a comfortable and enjoyable one. Each one of us prefers for a quality yet affordable leisure holiday package.

The budget holiday packages turn out to be a good deal. However, it’s important to check out the details of any budget holiday package. The following points which must be kept in mind when choosing the best budget holiday package are given below.

1. Be sure that there’s no hidden cost in the budget holiday packages.
2. Confirmation should be in a written document.
3. Make sure that the suggested place is safe and good. Check out the condition of the transportation offered.
4. Always opt for recognized, reputed travel agencies.
5. Always look for special offers, promotions and discounts.

Overall, when booking online, make sure you’ve chosen an authentic website to get budget holiday packages.

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All around the globe travelers are enjoying the beauty and wonder of creation by visiting different places around the world. The only thing that these travelers are equipped with is a backpack, which contains all the essential things that they need. All that they need to carry with them is just one backpack and the possibilities of their traveling are endless.

This check list will help you backpack better:

1. Backpack: First you need an appropriate type of backpack. Choose one that fits on you well and not one that will be too heavy or uncomfortable for you.

2. Quick towel: There is no reason to bring an extra heavy towel. What good will it do when it gets wet and takes a long time to dry up; are you going to carry around a heavy wet towel in your backpack?

3. Hiking boots: Choose shoes that will be comfortable. No one wants to walk long distances in flip flops.

4. Undergarments and socks: You will want to bring a lot of these, so you have enough clean ones. Wear the proper types of underwear; in the winter or in cold places bring long underwear to stay warm.

5. Cushion: You may want to be comfortable at the many hotels you will stay at. A cushion offers you comfort you need.

6. Sleeping bag: Bring a sleeping bag with you; be sure to bring a light sleeping bag. It may be costlier but the price is worth it when you are in a hotel for backpackers. The light sleeping bag is able to easily compress into your backpack.

7. Passport: Do not travel without this vital identification. If you do not have a passport you will not be able to backpack around the world.

8. Camera: A camera will allow you to take pictures and make memories during your backpacking travels. You also never know what kind of exterior signs you might want to capture in your camera.

9. Flip-Flops: Though you will not use them to walk in you will still need these when you are taking showers in hotels and hostels.

10. Wipes: You never know when these might come in handy.

11. Deodorants: Using deodorants will keep you from having horrible body odor during your travels

12. Personal items such as toothpaste, soap and shampoo: It is again for personal hygienic reasons.

13. Clothing: Before you leave check the clothes you have taken then choose to only take half of them.

These are some important things you will need on your backpacking excursion around the world.

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Now that the William Kate wedding is over, overall prices of travel and lodging has gone down quite a bit, which means that you will not have to spend a bomb. London is still a very expensive city to visit, but the rest of UK is still quite reasonable, in terms of price. Just follow these suggestions while planning your vacation to UK, and you will find it simple to do all the things that you want to do without breaking your budget.

1. Affordable Travel Options

The UK’s capital, London, has very good international connectivity with 6 airports. So book your seats on coach or a low cost airline. Ryan Air is generally acknowledged to be the cheapest, and they offer good early bird discounts as well, so book your seats as soon as you can. From London, you can take a train to whatever location you want to visit at a very reasonable rate, thus avoiding spending too much money on air travel and enjoying the beautiful English countryside scenery in the bargain.

For those of you with a little more money but wanted to stick to a fixed cost, there are some great cruise deals out there where everything is included, bed board and entertainment. These generally will move across the whole of Europe, and if you catch them last minute, you will be surprised at how cheap a good cruise can be once you take into account that it is fixed cost!

2. Affordable Lodging options

Instead of booking yourself into a 5 star hotel, try renting out a self service cottage in the countryside. If you are the outdoorsy type, then you might consider a campsite in the beautiful English or Welsh countryside. The weather at this time of the year is simply unbelievable.

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