20 signs you're totally addicted to travel

Do you live out of your suitcase, even when at home? Picture: Thinkstock

DO you break out in a cold sweat when you don't have your next holiday planned? Do your relatives barely recognise you anymore?

You may be suffering from dromomania, or "mad travellers' disease" - a medical condition that describes people who are driven to wander long distances due to irresistible impulses.

Or you could just love to travel.

So how do you know if you're developing an addiction to wandering around the world? Take a look at this list:

1. Your suitcase is never fully unpacked.

2. You can swear in different languages.

3. The only reason you work is to save up for your next trip.

4. The flight attendants greet you by name - without looking at your ticket first.

5. You have more friends overseas than at home.

6. You plan your next trip before you finish the current one - or as soon as you get home!

7. Fellow travellers ask you for directions in foreign places, and you know where to point them.

In pictures: Tacky souvenirs

8. When you sit down at your work desk you reach for the seatbelt.

9. You have more miles in the air than you have on your car.

10. You own more of those tiny bottles of toiletries than standard ones.

11. Waking up at home feels strange.

12. You try to curve your pillow around your neck, like a travel pillow.

13. Some people collect books, but your room is filled with souvenirs.

Is your room filled with souvenirs? Picture: Watchsmart/Flickr Source: No Source

14. You're an expert on currency conversions and have a stash of money in different currencies.

15. You panic at the thought of having to stay in one place for too long.

16. You find it hard to sleep without the sound and vibrations from the jet engines.

17. You can pack in under five minutes.

18. Your bucket list is almost entirely travel-related.

19. You wear t-shirts or other items of clothing emblazoned with country names.

 20. You feel sad when you walk through your front door.

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Readers reveal their best travel advice

Pulling out a large paper map can be a mistake. Picture: Thinkstock

• news.com.au readers share some of their top travel tips 
• Suggestions range from health and safety tips to saving money
•  Read more travel tips here

YOU should always carry a power board while travelling, and avoid pulling out a map at all costs.

These are among the top travel tips offered by news.com.au readers who've been there, done that and want to share their tips with you. The advice came flooding in after we published this article on the 52 travel tips you must know.

We've broken down the reader advice into these categories: money, safety and security, health and more handy travel tips.

Money

Do some quick, rough sums on a piece of paper so you have an idea of what things actually cost in Aussie dollars, for example $AUD1 = 10000 INDO Rupiah, $AUD5 = 50000 INDO Rupiah etc. Keep it in your purse. It only needs to be a rough conversion, this has saved me a fortune when my wife couldn't do the sums in her head while bartering with a Balinese wood carver - Bali boy of Darwin.

In Asian countries, take cash. The exchange rate is far better from an exchange shop than a bank and you remove the high withdrawal fees and low daily limits that the banks have in place to gouge you. I even take additional cash and convert to US dollars when I'm in Bali as it works out about 5-6 per cent cheaper. I now have a 'cheap' stash of US dollars for when the Aussie dollar goes south or I travel to the US - Greg of Wollongong.

You need to inform your bank of where you're going and how long you're going for. I've had my card suspended while in Italy as I forgot to inform them and it was flagged as a possible fraudulent transaction. It can take a number of days to get the card re-activated. I've also heard of cards being cancelled, in which case they can't just be re-activated and you'll need to wait for a new card to be mailed out - Mattah of Perth.

Walk a street or two back from the touristy areas and the price drops in half. Also, keep a note of local currency in your sock/shoe in case you lose your wallet. Better yet, don't carry everything in your wallet - do you really need the video store card in Prague? To save money on food, carry a small bowl with lid and plastic cutlery - you'll save on things like breakfast - but try and dine with the locals often. - Mt of Canberra.

Get a local pre-paid SIM card for your phone, store the numbers of your travelling companions local SIM numbers as well as the closest embassy number in your phone. Give your number to family back home. Forget the global roaming charges - Brendan of Canberra.

Ring your mobile phone provider to turn on phone roaming and make sure data roaming is turned off - Anna of Vic.

Get a traveller's credit card - this way you don't have to pay international conversion fees. Also, withdraw ATM money in larger amounts so you don't get charged ATM fees on multiple withdrawals - Sam of Sydney.

Cheaper is not always better. If your hotel is a 45 minute train ride from all the attractions it can pay to spend the extra $5-20 night a stay in a better location. You'll spend that on transport if you stay too far away. You'll also save your self a heap of time - Adam of Adelaide.

Take local currency and small notes, you'd be surprised how many taxis/vendors don't have change - Peter of Phuket.

Safety and security

Take mobile phone photographs of both the metro layout and local maps when you arrive. Tourists with paper maps are targets. Keep cards and additional money inside pants to minimise worry of being robbed of valuables - Matt Macks of Perth.

It may sound silly but take a whistle and carry it on you at all times. It will draw attention to you if you need help and is more effective than shouting. I was glad I had it when my tour guide in Vietnam pointed me in the wrong direction and I got lost. It was the whistle that he heard 1km away, not my shouting - Rob.

Take a whistle with you while travelling. Picture: Thinkstock Source: No Source

Take a rubber door stop/wedge. They cost a couple of dollars from any hardware and they can be used to jam doors/windows shut for added security! I've used it as a female on trains, hotels, youth hostels etc - Karen of Brisbane.

When hiring a car purchase a local newspaper (and keep it current) and place on the back seat where visible - will make it look like you're a local. Obviously don't keep any luggage or travel maps from the hire car company in the car - dead giveaway you're a tourist. Always use the key to manually open and close your hire car, this prevents people with scanners who can then open your car after you walk away. Also, register with the travel warning website to send you SMS updates if one is released in the countries you are visiting - Anna of Vic.

Scan your passport, visa and driver's licence and email it to yourself before you go. You can access webmail anywhere and instantly have a colour printout. Learn basic first aid and CARRY A FIRST AID KIT. You'll probably only use it for cuts, blisters and hangovers, but it's nice to know you're equipped for more - Brendan of Canberra.

Carry a small torch if you go out at night, don't flash your valuables around and take a few combination padlocks that fit your backpack. Don't dress like a tourist - take cues from the locals - Mt of Canberra.

Health

Bring some Travelan. Particularly when travelling in Asia. It's all good and well to have Imodium, and I never leave home without that, but by the time you need Imodium you are already feeling pretty dreadful and it puts a dent in your travel to be stuck on a toilet for a day. Travelan is a preventative, take one 30 mins before each meal. Three weeks in India (eating plenty of street food) and none of us got sick once. I was put on to this stuff by a GP who also never leaves home without it. It's my number one travel tip - Brissie Mel of Brisbane.

Always fill up your water bottle if you see a drinking fountain, Always. I was in transit in Beijing, and not only did the flight attendants get annoyed if we asked for water (on 10 and 8 hour flights), but our lay-over hotel that was provided by the airline seemed awfully unfond of English speakers. There was no drinking water at all and you cannot drink Beijing tap water. We had to boil a kettle and leave it until morning. After so much flying, I've never felt so dehydrated - Jayna.

Beware of tap water in some countries! Picture: Supplied Source: The Courier-Mail

More handy tips

Don't just pack one power adapter conversion plug. Pack a power board too, so that you can use many appliances from the one resource - Lisa Bell of Brisbane.

Take a few clip type clothes pegs. Some curtains never close completely - Nixchik of Edens.

Instead of taking a beach or bath towel, take a small absorbent sports towel (chamois), which doesn't take up much room and dries quickly. Also, I found a sarong or wrap to be very handy when travelling - you can use it to lie on the beach or grass, as a blanket or sheet or just to wear - Tracey of Brisbane.

Take a roll of five centimetre-wide sticky tape with you. It can repair broken luggage, be twisted into a remarkably strong twine to hang things up, seal plastic bags containing souvenirs, can be written on and is very good at protecting blisters without becoming uncomfortable. Also always remove ALL your luggage from the taxi before paying the fare, then they have no bargaining power if there's a dispute. And please read your travel insurance policy, especially the section relating to transport ... many policies don't cover you for a motorbike accident if you don't have an Australian motorcycle licence: that cheap moped in Bali may not be cheap at all - Mark of Sydney.

Dry your clothes fast by laying them flat on bath towel, roll and fold, step on (rolled/folded) to press out dampness, hang and dry with hair dryer from the bottom up - Frances la of Sydney.

Be warned, in some countries saying 'no' then 'thank you' means 'yes' - Jo of Perth.

If you travel with someone, it's a good idea to pack some of your things in their bag, and their things in your bag, just in case your bag gets lost. This happened to me in NYC last year. I had no bag for three days, and was left having to purchase new things, and find out where to buy them, all in daggy two-day old clothes from the plane - Katie.

Read more travel tips here.

Lost luggage can be a nightmare. Picture: AP Source: AP

 

View the original article here

57 travel tips you really should know

Pack light and pack smart. You will be less stressed when travelling.  Source: Supplied

Try hiding valuables in empty Chapstick containers. Picture: Supplied

THERE'S an art to travelling well. Some little secrets you learn on the way, like making sure you find a map at the airport before you leave and always throw spare plastic bags into your suitcase for dirty clothes.

 But we decided to save you time. News.com.au asked our reporters for their best travel tips. Here’s our ultimate travel advice list. There's 57. Have we missed any? Let us know. 

1) Wash clothes in sink / shower. Use the hotel soap. Or take a little traveller sized bottle of laundry detergent with you. It's much easier than finding a Laundromat in a foreign country. And there are only so many times that you can wear undies. 

2) Learn how to use a needle and thread. You've only got space for a few items of clothing. Sewing a broken button back on will save you a lot of hassle. 

3) Carry baby wipes / facewipes. This can be used to feel clean when there are no showers. Yes, sometimes there are NO showers. 

4) Learn how to say "no thank you". Most travel advice columns will tell you to learn how to say "hello",  "yes please, thankyou" and "do you speak English?". Sometimes, in some countries you really want to be saying no- please leave me alone. Think about the crowded market place, the taxi touts in Asia. Knowing how to say no thank you in their language is going to give you a lot more peace. 

5) Grocery stores are a travellers’s best resource. Cheap food, local flavours. Find the nearest one to your hotel and you will save yourself a heap of cash. Have a picnic lunch every day. 

6) Keep an emergency stash of money. If you lose your wallet you will still need to eat. An empty Chapstick is a fantastic secret hiding spot. 

7) Learn how to drive a manual car. Stuck at an airport after your flight has been cancelled? You could drive. You will be smacking your head on the desk if they only have manuals. 

8) Roll your clothes when packing. No creases and more clothes fit into your suitcase. 

9) Always keep a stash of spare plastic bags for dirty clothes/ shoes.  Smelly socks will make your clean clothes stink. Separate.  Always. 

10) Learn how to swim. You never know when you might need to. Plane crash over water? Or just because swimming really is fun. 

11) Learn how to pack light. You do not need to take 20kg for a week of travel. You CAN wear trousers two days in a row or more. The less you have to carry, the happier you will be travelling. And if the French Metro goes on strike on the day you need to get to the airport - you will thank us. 

12) Know how much it should cost in a taxi. Carry a card with the hotel address and a map. Ask for taxi drivers to use the metre. Make sure they are legitimate taxi drivers. 

13) Always carry a hard copy map of the city you're going to. Not only does it save your iPhone and phone charges but is good in case it dies on you.

14) Make sure your bank cards work.

15) Carry tissues that can double up as toilet paper. Carry hand sanitiser. 

16) Pack sandals or thongs for use in showers. Showers can be gross. You don’t want your feet to touch the floor. 

17) Learn how to change a tire. 

18) Learn how to sleep anywhere - particularly in airports or on planes. Ear plugs, a face mask to block out the lights, use your clothes as a pillow. 

Travellers stranded at Narita International Airport snooze. Picture: AP Source: AP

19) Learn how to take a decent photo. Don’t come home with a bunch of Instagram selfies and nothing of the view. Take something that you can frame and put on your wall. Memories fade. 

20) Pack smart. Put necklaces in straws so they don’t get jumbled. Use a button to keep necklaces together and  Take a look at this list to help you pack. 

21) Learn basic first aid. 

22) Get folders for travel documents and itineraries. Keep them organised so you don’t have to mess about digging through pockets in your bag at check in. 

23) Use public transport. It's fast. It's easy, it's cheaper and it will give you a better travel experience. Get a map, learn the different ticket types and if you are heading to London – organise an Oyster Card in advance. 

Pakistani passengers travel on a over loaded mini bus in Karachi. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

24) Use little bottles for everything. It takes up less room. If you use plain bottles make sure you label them with a pen that won’t wash or rub off. Mistakes can and do happy. Moisturising your hair is not a good look.

25) Buy and wear good walking shoes. Blisters are not fun. High heel shoes don’t work well on Europe’s cobblestones. 

26) Ask the locals for advice, tips. The best beach probably isn't the most popular one. The locals can help you find those secret spots you will rave about. 

27) Eat where the locals eat. Just like number 26 - the same goes with restaurants. Ask the locals where they eat. Go there instead. 

28) Use a hairdryer to dry clothes a little bit before you hang them up in your room to dry or peg them to the outside of your backpack as you walk around in the sun. 

29) Know where the embassy is. Seriously. Find it on your map. Don’t think just because you are in a "safe" country you won’t need it.  All it takes is a quick Google search, write down the address and put it in a safe place.

30) Register details with DFAT. OK, this one is obvious but surprisingly so many of us don’t actually do it. In cases like Boston or London, DFAT will be the place your family will turn to. Make sure they know where you are. 

31) Be aware of the local laws. Don’t get drunk on the streets of Dubai or expect to chew and spit gum in Singapore. You’re leaving Australia - don't expect our law system to follow you around the world. 

32) Get your vaccinations if you need them. Yellow fever is not fun. You will kick yourself if you could have prevented it and you did't.

33) Scan your passport and travel documents. Give copies to family/friends. If you lose your passport or travel documents, this backup will save you a lot of heartache. It will also give help your family to find you in the event of a disaster. 

34) Learn a few phrases of the local language.  Speak to the locals. Experience their culture. Don’t just wander through it. 

35) Know the scams of each destination. Thai driver want to show you his best restaurant? It’s probably his mates. Don’t be sucked in by "Australian? Oh I love Ian Thorpe." Get on the internet and work out the scams so you don’t become a sucker. Then refer to number 4. 

36) Learn the art of haggling. Haggling saves you money. Be bold. That extra $4 will buy you a coffee. 

37) Learn the basic geography of the country you are visiting. There’s nothing worse than a traveller who has no idea where they are travelling. 

38) Learn how to use a compass.

39) Learn how to use chopsticks. Don’t look like a tourist asking for a fork. Chopsticks are a must. 

40) Get travel insurance. It's obvious, but probably one of the most important items on this list. The French always go on strike meaning your flight could easily get cancelled, accidents do happen, particularly if you want to ride a scooter in Bali. Get travel insurance. 

41) Build in relaxation time for jet lag and down time. You don't want to be on the go for six weeks straight. It should be a holiday. You should relax at some point. 

42) Keep a change of clothes and basic toiletries in your carry-on. If your luggage gets lost you will be very glad. 

43) Travelling via Singapore? Pack your swimmers in your carry-on and take a break in the outdoor rooftop pool while in transit. You will feel 100 per cent better getting on the next flight. 

44) Research the airports you are travelling through so you can a) find the fastest way through and b) use the facilities. Don't just sit at the boarding gate. 

45) Take earplugs and a mask. Hotels can be noisy and not all of them are dark enough to sleep. 

46) Take a jumper on the plane. It is cold. It has air conditioning. 

47) Take thick socks for the plane. Cold feet will stop you sleeping. 

48) Be creative. If you do forget the socks, put something else on your feet. 

49) If you get off a train and all the tourists go one way - go the other way. 

50) Take Imodium and panadol/neurofen. 

51) Find out if the country you are going to sells tampons. Some countries don’t. Or they are really hard to find. Even places you wouldn’t think of - like Athens. 

52) Check if the drinking water is safe. That includes brushing your teeth, ice in cocktails and drinking water in the shower.

53) Be aware of altitude sickness. Give yourself time to adjust between altitudes, drink a lot more when you are high up.

54) Females- wear a wedding ring, even if you are not married. Pretend he is not far away. Unless of course you are out there to pick up. 

55) Know the local road rules. Even in New Zealand the rules are different. 

56) Pack a small container of moisturiser for the plane ride

57) Pay attention to how local women dress to work out how you should. 

That's our list? Have we missed any? Share your ultimate travel tips below.

ESCAPE Helen Parker explores the alien world of an active submarine volcano, White Island, New Zealand.Additional footage travel.com.au

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New luxury Maldives resort, easier Tibetan travel

China has eased its restrictions on tourism in Tibet, which should make it easier for travellers to visit picture-perfect destinations like Cholo and Kangchung Peak. Source: Supplied

An overwater villa at Maalifushi resort in The Maldives. Source: Supplied

COMO Hotels will open the doors to its newest resort in the Maldives in October, while Tibetan travel will be easier now that the government has eased restrictions.

1. Maldives luxury

A LUXURIOUS resort will open on a private island in the Maldives in October.

COMO Hotels and Resorts will open Maalifushi by COMO on an 8ha island in the southerly Thaa Atoll as a sister property to Cocoa Island by COMO, further north in the South MalI atoll.

The 66-room property will be the first luxury resort in Thaa Atoll, neighboured by a string of uninhabited islands that can be booked for castaway picnics and romantic private dining.

See comohotels.com/maalifushi

2. Tibet's doors open

TRAVELLERS will find it easier to visit Tibet following the easing of travel restrictions by the Chinese government. Under the changes there is no longer a minimum number of travellers required per nationality within a tour group.

There are no longer any restrictions on the size of the group of travellers, but passengers entering Tibet must be travelling with a tour operator recognised by the Tibetan Tourism Administration and be travelling on that operator's official tour.

Helen Wong, founder and managing director of China specialist Helen Wong's Tours, said the timing couldn't have been better as her company has now entered the New Zealand market.

"We will now see Australians able to travel with the Kiwis to Tibet," she said.

3. Dark side

TASMANIA'S controversial Museum of Old and New Art (MoNA) is introducing a new winter festival this year.

Dark Mofo - dubbed the darker sister to MONA's summer MOFO event - will include a large-scale public art program and exhibition in Hobart, a Winter Feast at Princes Wharf No.1, art installations throughout the city, a music program, film program as well as food and wine. Martha Wainwright will perform at the event from June 13 to 23.

See darkmofo.net.au

4. Go with the Flow

SNOW lovers can get their annual pre-season fix of adrenalin when the latest Warren Miller film tours Australia from May 22. Resorts in Colorado, California, Switzerland, Japan, Norway, Alaska and Austria feature in this year's movie, Flow State. The film stars celebrated athletes including Colby West, Chris Davenport, Jess McMillan and David Wise, while Warren Miller regular Chris Anthony tries his luck on some 70-year-old ski equipment.

For dates see warrenmiller.com.au

5. Pulled into shape

PULLMAN Sydney Hyde Park has unveiled a multimillion-dollar refurbishment with a modern lobby and a new-look executive lounge with views over the park and city skyline. The 5-star hotel also has a new Connectivity Lounge offering free Wi-Fi and a range of business services and a sleek new bar.

All 22 floors have been refurbished with new carpet, artistic bed heads, glass work desks, chairs and artistic lighting. Rates start from $279 a room, a night.

See pullmanhotels.com

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Twelve reasons to travel to Bali

Verdant rice terraces cover Bali's hills and mountains. Source: Getty Images

A woman paddles on the still waters near the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple. Source: Getty Images

THE mere mention of Bali evokes thoughts of a paradise. It's more than a place; it's a mood, an aspiration, a tropical state of mind

So for the new edition of their Bali & Lombok guide, Lonely Planet have hunted down the fresh, the revamped, the transformed, the hot and the happening.

WHAT'S NEW

1 UNESCO recognition

Playing a critical role in rural Bali life, the subak is a village association that deals with water, water rights and irrigation. With water passing through many, many cores of rice fields before it drains away for good, there was always the chance that growers near the source would be water-rich while those at the bottom would be selling carved wooden critters at Tanah Lot.

Regulating a system that apportions a fair share to everyone is a model of mutual co-operation and an insight into the Balinese character. (One strategy is to put the last person on the water channel in control.)

After years of waiting, Bali rejoiced when this complex and vital social system was recognised by UNESCO in 2012 and added to the World Heritage List. Specific sites singled out include much of the rice-growing region around Tabanan, Pura Taman Ayun and the Jatiluwih rice terraces.

2 Popular Canggu

More a state of mind than a place, Canggu is the catch-all name given to the villa-filled stretch of land between Kerobokan and Echo Beach. It is getting ever-more trendy cafes, restaurants and places to stay. It includes many beaches such as Berewa and Batu Bolong. If you need time away from the sand, some of Bali's best artists show at Sukyf Arch & Art, an attractive gallery not far from the Canggu Club.

3 Kerobokan's Beach

Kerobokan combines some of Bali's best restaurants, lavish lifestyles and still more beach. Glossy new resorts and clubs are appearing along the beach north of Kerobokan. The W Retreat & Spa, the Mozaic Beach Club and the popular Potato Head are but three examples.

4 Bukit excitement

Hot and arid, the southern peninsula known as Bukit (meaning "hill" in Bahasa Indonesia) is popular with visitors, from the cloistered climes of Nusa Dua to the sybaritic retreats along the south coast. The booming west coast with its string-of-pearls beaches is a real hot spot. Accommodation sits precariously on the sand at Balangan Beach, while the cliffs are dotted with idiosyncratic lodges at Bingin and elsewhere. New places sprout up daily and most have views of the turbulent waters here, which have world-famous surf breaks all the way south to the important temple of Ulu Watu.

5 New airport

Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport will get a huge new terminal, replacing its overcrowded old facility by next year. The big question: will they actually staff the many immigration stations?

6 New toll road

Due for completion before next year, Bali's new toll road is meant to avoid the worst of the traffic in and around Kuta. About 12km in length, it runs from the bypass near Denpasar over the mangroves to a point near Nusa Dua, with a branch to Ngurah Rai Airport. The toll will be 10,000 rupiah ($A1); the time-savings over the current clogged roads is hard to quantify. The road's northern end is at the turn to Benoa off the bypass, already one of the most congested spots in the south.

7 Traffic schemes

As its popularity has grown Ubud has become traffic-clogged and tourist-choked that in many ways reminds locals and visitors of - horrors! - Kuta. And day trippers from that very place, having endured 90 minutes or more of traffic, wonder why they bothered coming to Ubud. In an effort to alleviate the traffic, deal with parked cars and give the wandering masses somewhere to dawdle, the local government announced some big plans last year, including a complex new intersection of the Jl Ngurah Rai Bypass and Sunset Rd east of Kuta.

8 Lombok International

The long-completed, rather gleaming new Lombok International Airport in the south of the island near Praya is finally open for business, with more international and domestic flights.

9 Dive schools galore

Several new dive schools have sprouted on the Gili Islands. Hence, formation of the Gili Island Diving Association last year, an effort by the best of the bunch to safeguard local reefs and guests by setting professional and environmental standards.

10 The Anti-Gilis

OK, technically they're Gili Islands too, but Gili Gede and Gili Asahan have a far more removed and tranquil feel than their famed counterparts. Soothing winds gust, birds flutter and gather just before sunset, muted calls to prayer rumble, stars and moonbeams bathe the night.

11 Way out

Lombok's west Further west from Mawi, and just when you think you've seen the most beautiful beaches Kuta has to offer, you reach Selong Blanak. Park and cross the rickety pedestrian bridge to a wide, sugar-white beach with water streaked a thousand shades of blue, ideal for swimming. There is a fabulous boutique villa property and cafe tucked away on the cliffs and inland from the beach. Sempiak Villas is one of Kuta's most up-market properties. At sea level, Laut Biru Cafe is open to all comers. It's an exquisite Swiss-Indo-owned, thatched-roof construction, with remixed world music tracks floating through the room and patio.

12 Low-rent Trawangan

Today, Trawangan's main drag boasts a glittering roster of lounge bars, hip hotels and cosmopolitan restaurants, mini-marts and dive schools. And yet behind this glitzy facade, a bohemian character endures, with rickety warung and reggae joints between the cocktail tables. But even as massive 200+ room hotels begin to colonise the wild west coast, you can head inland to a village laced with sandy lanes roamed by free-range roosters, kibitzing ibu (mothers) and wild-haired kids playing hopscotch. Here the call of the muezzin, not happy hour, defines the time of day. With the opening of the island's first dedicated hostel, a bohemian crash pad (Woodstock), and an exile outpost (the Exile), Gili T value lives on.

This is an edited extract from Lonely Planet Bali & Lombok (14th Edition) by Ryan Ver Berkmoes and Adam Skolnick, Lonely Planet 2013. Published this month, RRP: $39.99.

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Travel hackers' secret tips revealed

Chris Guillebeau is the king of travel hacking. Picture: Chris Guillebeau / Facebook

THERE'S a secret group of people travelling the world for free. They're called 'travel hackers'. And they're laughing all the way to Timbuktu and back again.

Chris Guillebeau could be called the king of travel hacking. Author of the $100 Startup, his travel hacking blog has 80,000 regular readers.

So what is travel hacking? Essentially, it involves finding ways to earn Frequent Flyer Points to either fly for free or at a heavily reduced price.

Guillebeau stumbled on the idea when he was working as an aid worker in Benin, West Africa and wanted to travel back to America with his wife for Christmas.

The most awesome travel tricks ever

"Economy tickets were about $1,500, but I discovered I could buy Frequent Flyer Miles on eBay. I was able to purchase enough miles to fly Business Class both ways... for only $1,200.After that, I was hooked."

So he began a quest to visit every country. He's made it to 193. At least 50 of them were for free, the rest at heavily reduced prices. He's 35-years-old.

Mr Guillebeau will do anything for frequent flyer miles.

He once rented a shopping cart from a homeless man to help him push $2000 worth of Sacagewea dollar coins to the bank. The United States Mint sold the coins at their face value as part of a marketing push. So Mr Guillebeau bought them with a credit card, deposited them straight into the bank, paid off the credit card later and kept all the miles. He made 30,000 Frequent Flyer Points at no other cost but his time – and the charge for the homeless man.

That's not the only crazy thing he has done for Points. 

I've received a hair loss consultation in exchange for 20,000 Delta SkyMiles - that was certainly strange, since I was 32 at the time with a full head of hair."

So how do you get started?

Guillebeau says travel hacking takes time, but not too much. And for free flights, it's worth it.

"If you can devote 30 minutes a month to earning Points through regular follow-up, you should be able to earn enough Points for several free trips a year no matter where you live."

If you are truly keen to get started he suggests joining websites like his own blog or MilePoint.com community, which is free and welcomes beginners from all over the world.

View the original article here

Travel hackers' secret tips revealed

Chris Guillebeau is the king of travel hacking. Picture: Chris Guillebeau / Facebook

THERE'S a secret group of people travelling the world for free. They're called 'travel hackers'. And they're laughing all the way to Timbuktu and back again.

Chris Guillebeau could be called the king of travel hacking. Author of the $100 Startup, his travel hacking blog has 80,000 regular readers.

So what is travel hacking? Essentially, it involves finding ways to earn Frequent Flyer Points to either fly for free or at a heavily reduced price.

Guillebeau stumbled on the idea when he was working as an aid worker in Benin, West Africa and wanted to travel back to America with his wife for Christmas.

"Economy tickets were about $1,500, but I discovered I could buy Frequent Flyer Miles on eBay. I was able to purchase enough miles to fly Business Class both ways... for only $1,200.After that, I was hooked."

So he began a quest to visit every country. He's made it to 193. At least 50 of them were for free, the rest at heavily reduced prices. He's 35-years-old.

Mr Guillebeau will do anything for frequent flyer miles.

He once rented a shopping cart from a homeless man to help him push $2000 worth of Sacagewea dollar coins to the bank. The United States Mint sold the coins at their face value as part of a marketing push. So Mr Guillebeau bought them with a credit card, deposited them straight into the bank, paid off the credit card later and kept all the miles. He made 30,000 Frequent Flyer Points at no other cost but his time – and the charge for the homeless man.

That's not the only crazy thing he has done for Points. 

I've received a hair loss consultation in exchange for 20,000 Delta SkyMiles - that was certainly strange, since I was 32 at the time with a full head of hair."

So how do you get started?

Guillebeau says travel hacking takes time, but not too much. And for free flights, it's worth it.

"If you can devote 30 minutes a month to earning Points through regular follow-up, you should be able to earn enough Points for several free trips a year no matter where you live."

If you are truly keen to get started he suggests joining websites like his own blog or MilePoint.com community, which is free and welcomes beginners from all over the world.

View the original article here

Space travel to come before fast rail

Take a glimpse at the construction of fast trains in Italy, similar to the government's plan for our own high-speed line. Video: Alstom

Sir Richard Branson plans to take tourists into space well before work on the fast rail get started. Source: News Limited

SELF-DRIVE cars will be the norm, tourists will travel to outer space and refrigerators will automatically order groceries by the time a high-speed rail network is fully operational in Australia.

Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese yesterday unveiled the final feasibility study into the 350km/h rail network on the eastern seaboard of Australia, connecting Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

''I believe high-speed rail will happen in Australia,'' Mr Albanese said.

But the $114 billion project, which is not yet government policy, won't become reality for some time with construction not due to start until at least 2022 - four years after billionaire Richard Branson is expected to take his first tourists into space - and due for completion by 2058.

Computer science expert at the Australian National University, Stephen Gould, said there would be a myriad of futuristic inventions in our everyday lives before the rail network would be finalised.

''We will certainly have more intelligent robots, cars that drive themselves will be the norm, there will be intelligent fridges that can sense if you're running low on something and order it online,'' Dr Gould said.

''Washing machines will be able to tell if you've put whites or colours in the load, there will be less congestion because cars can talk to each other and simply drop people off at work and drive home. We will be a lot more connected.''

Mr Albanese said the final study into the high-speed rail, a 500-page independent report which cost $20 million to complete, would be opened up for public consultation until June 30.

A total of 1750 kilometres of track would be laid as part of its construction to facilitate 84 million trips a year in 50 years time.

Up to 67km of tunnels, equating for 30 per cent of the overall cost of the project, would be required for the fast train in Sydney alone.

The Coalition yesterday said while high-speed rail was in-principle a good idea there were lots of priorities in the budget that needed to be balanced.

Opposition transport spokesman Warren Truss said it would be hard to attract the private sector, with a current less than 1 per cent return on investments.

Ultimately taxpayers would foot the bill under the current plan, he said.

''Most of the people paying will be retired before they can start using the train,'' Mr Truss said.

Greens Leader Christine Milne said she was encouraged by moves to progress high-speed rail.

She suggested ''cashed up'' superannuation funds could be used to prop up the project.

But Financial Services Council chief executive John Brogden said there would be no way super funds would invest in a project which delivered such little returns.  

View the original article here

Space travel to come before fast rail

Take a glimpse at the construction of fast trains in Italy, similar to the government's plan for our own high-speed line. Video: Alstom

Sir Richard Branson plans to take tourists into space well before work on the fast rail get started. Source: News Limited

SELF-DRIVE cars will be the norm, tourists will travel to outer space and refrigerators will automatically order groceries by the time a high-speed rail network is fully operational in Australia.

Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese yesterday unveiled the final feasibility study into the 350km/h rail network on the eastern seaboard of Australia, connecting Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

''I believe high-speed rail will happen in Australia,'' Mr Albanese said.

But the $114 billion project, which is not yet government policy, won't become reality for some time with construction not due to start until at least 2022 - four years after billionaire Richard Branson is expected to take his first tourists into space - and due for completion by 2058.

Computer science expert at the Australian National University, Stephen Gould, said there would be a myriad of futuristic inventions in our everyday lives before the rail network would be finalised.

''We will certainly have more intelligent robots, cars that drive themselves will be the norm, there will be intelligent fridges that can sense if you're running low on something and order it online,'' Dr Gould said.

''Washing machines will be able to tell if you've put whites or colours in the load, there will be less congestion because cars can talk to each other and simply drop people off at work and drive home. We will be a lot more connected.''

Mr Albanese said the final study into the high-speed rail, a 500-page independent report which cost $20 million to complete, would be opened up for public consultation until June 30.

A total of 1750 kilometres of track would be laid as part of its construction to facilitate 84 million trips a year in 50 years time.

Up to 67km of tunnels, equating for 30 per cent of the overall cost of the project, would be required for the fast train in Sydney alone.

The Coalition yesterday said while high-speed rail was in-principle a good idea there were lots of priorities in the budget that needed to be balanced.

Opposition transport spokesman Warren Truss said it would be hard to attract the private sector, with a current less than 1 per cent return on investments.

Ultimately taxpayers would foot the bill under the current plan, he said.

''Most of the people paying will be retired before they can start using the train,'' Mr Truss said.

Greens Leader Christine Milne said she was encouraged by moves to progress high-speed rail.

She suggested ''cashed up'' superannuation funds could be used to prop up the project.

But Financial Services Council chief executive John Brogden said there would be no way super funds would invest in a project which delivered such little returns.  

View the original article here

Things you must know before you travel

Leave the jewellery at home and travel in a group to stay safe. Picture: Thinkstock

RECENT high-profile attacks on tourists in India, Brazil, Turkey and Mexico - including rapes - have raised questions about personal safety for overseas travel, especially for women. But frequent travellers and those who work in the industry say a few common-sense precautions can go a long way to ensuring personal safety.

For example, Fly.com vice president Warren Chang didn't hang a "Do not disturb" sign on his hotel room door on a trip to Jordan, because he didn't want to advertise his presence. Cindy Vanhoutte, who works for the vacation rental site HomeAway.com, always checks Google Street View to see what neighborhoods look like before renting there. And Pauline Frommer, co-publisher of Frommer Guidebooks, leaves her jewellery home and tries to dress according to "local norms" - recently wearing long, loose trousers in Morocco.

It's also prudent to check the Government's Smartraveller website's travel warnings, which track everything from crime to terrorism to natural disasters.

Sometimes travellers simply become careless, forgetting that crime is everywhere. "The cynicisms get left at home," said Alex Puig, a regional security director for International SOS, a medical and security crisis response company.

"I was on a train recently in Geneva, Switzerland. It's like Disney World there but an individual had his bag stolen." Puig himself was robbed by a gang in Rio but gave up his wallet and was unharmed. "Be prepared to lose whatever you're carrying," he advised.

Puig says travellers may be less cautious these days because websites and TV shows have made extreme adventures and off-the-beaten path destinations seem routine. "In the digital world, we can instantaneously show our friends all the cool, weird things we're doing," Puig said. "Our clients are flying to the developing world and going to spots they never would have gone to 10 years ago. In the era of Facebook postings, all the great things you're doing can lead people to bad judgment."

One important tip from Puig: Most crimes occur between 10pm and 5am, so stay indoors or be careful between those hours.

Elizabeth Becker, author of the new book Overbooked: The Exploding Business of Travel and Tourism, said sometimes people "do things abroad they would never consider doing at home. They travel to countries where they don't speak the language, have a superficial knowledge of the culture and do little advance preparations beyond booking hotels and buying a tourist guide.

"My suggestion is to do your homework and spend the money to hire a reputable guide. If possible, make a connection to a local before you visit - either through a trusted friend, family member or colleague. The local can help steer you away from dangerous situations."

Carole Cambata's company Travel Leaders/Greaves Travel in the US, specialises in travel to India. She said her agency got a few calls after several attacks there on women, including from parents whose daughters are heading there as students or volunteers.

Cambata says the safest way for tourists to travel in India is by car and driver rather than public transportation, with the exception of certain trains, and she noted that it's much more affordable to have private cars there than here. She sometimes books female travellers on hotel floors that are female only - both guests and housekeepers.

While nobody is blaming the victims for any of these attacks, Cambata also advises visitors to avoid going out late alone, to dress conservatively and to stay away from isolated areas. "I wouldn't send a tourist to a dodgy area in New York either," she said.

The recent attacks inspired STA Travel, which specialises in student travel, to post "Tips for Safe Travels" on the STA blog. Advice includes staying in a group, never leaving your belongings unattended, and making sure gadgets and other valuables are out of sight. Young travellers are also encouraged to drink and party "responsibly": Don't ever leave a drink unattended where someone can slip something in it.

Chang advises leaving a spare ATM card and credit card in the hotel safe, so you still have access to cash if you're pickpocketed or robbed. He notes that some travellers ask for hotel rooms above ground floor, to prevent street-level break-ins, but below the sixth floor, so they can easily flee a fire. When he flies, he says, he counts rows between his seat and the emergency exit, in case the lights go out or the cabin fills with smoke.

A woman gang-raped last month on a public van in Rio was an American student, and three Boston University students died last year in a minivan accident in New Zealand. A critical incident database for study abroad programs is being launched this year by the US Forum on Education Abroad, in order to see where vulnerabilities exist - whether crimes, accidents or illnesses - and prevent future problems. The first data is expected early next year.

Several companies that organize group tours - including Gate 1 Travel, Abercrombie & Kent, Overseas Adventure Travel, and Road Scholar - said they experienced no cancellations and no changed itineraries as a result of the attacks in India and Brazil. They also noted that safety is one reason people - especially women and solo travellers - choose group tours.

"They tell us that our expert local guides allow them to travel comfortably to places where they hesitate to go on their own due to language and cultural differences," said Pamela Lassers, spokeswoman for the luxury Abercrombie & Kent company.

Peter Greenberg, travel editor of CBS News and author of the Like a Local guidebook series, says immersing yourself in local culture is still the best way to travel, but you must use common sense.

"There are places in Ohio and New Jersey I wouldn't frequent, but that doesn't stop me from going to Cincinnati or the Jersey shore," he said. "A quick review of travel crime statistics will reveal the truth: More Americans are injured or killed in accidents in their own bathtubs than are victims of crime or terrorism overseas. The only real downside to going off the beaten track is when you act like a tourist, not a traveller."

View the original article here

The strangest travel phobias ever

Known as Death Rd, North Yungas Rd, Bolivia is the most dangerous road in the world. It's enough to make any traveller nervous, let alone those with a phobia of road travel. Picture: jimmyharris/Flickr. Source: Supplied

TRAVEL can be challenging enough for most people, but imagine if you had a phobia that could literally stop you in your tracks?

From a fear of escalators and roads to sheer terror at the thought of waiting in line, these are some of the strangest travel phobias ever.

Hodophobia

North Yungus Rd, Bolivia is legendary for its status as the most dangerous road in the world, but for some travellers it's more frightening than it is for most.

Anyone with hodophobia, a fear of travel including planes and road travel, would be a quivering mess at the prospect of the perilous journey to the Amazon rainforest from northern Bolivia.

Nomophobia

Having a fear of losing mobile phone reception - known as nomophobia - would make life hard at some island resorts such as Lizard Island in Queensland.

While most travellers embrace the lack of reception and put their feet up, sufferers of nomophobia would end up returning home more on edge than when they left.

Pebbly Beach on Lizard Island in Queensland is the ideal isolated escape for many travellers, unless you suffer from nomophobia - a fear of losing mobile phone reception. Source: Supplied

Cryophobia

If you suffer from cryophobia, a fear of cold, you should avoid Japan's Ice Village Alpha Resort in Tomamu, Shimukappu. The hotel is open over winter, but closes as its ice melts in February.

Limnophobia

Those with limnophobia would not enjoy a relaxing lake retreat. The calm waters may be an ideal getaway for some, but if you have a fear of lakes there would be little respite.

Escalaphobia

Hong Kong's ingenious solution to the endless hills seems faultless to many: the world's longest series of outdoor escalators. But if you have escalaphobia, your fear of escalators will have you putting in the legwork yourself to get up those slopes.

Hong Kong's escalators are a great way to get around the hilly city, unless you suffer from escalaphobia - a fear of escalators. Picture: Marc van der Clijs/Flickr. Source: Supplied

Macrophobia

Disney's Space Mountain is infamous for its long lines. It's a pain for most visitors, but those with macrophobia should probably avoid the attraction. A fear of waiting will scare you away.

View the original article here

Is it safe to travel to Rio?

Travellers flock to Copacabana Beach. But is it safe to go to Rio? Picture: Angelo Soulas

THE brutal gang-rape of a US student in a Rio bus has revived concern about public safety ahead of the World Cup and the 2016 summer Olympics, despite an overall drop in violence.

Over the weekend a 21-year-old American student was repeatedly sexually assaulted and her French boyfriend was beaten during a six-hour abduction aboard a minibus in the famed beach district of Copacabana.

The case grabbed international headlines and drew comparisons to last December's similar gang-rape of a young Indian woman in New Delhi, which led to a 25 per cent fall in tourist arrivals.

"Nobody expects to be assaulted in Disneyland. Copacabana is our Disneyland. It rings alarm bells," Alfredo Lopes, president of the Rio Hotels Association, said, according to press reports.

The rape came as Rio pressed on with a campaign to shake off a reputation for violent crime, with a succession of police operations to take control of dozens of favelas, slums once under the sway of drug traffickers or militias.

The Marvellous City, as Rio is known, is to host the Confederations Cup, a dry run for next year's World Cup, in June.

And a month later, the city is to welcome Pope Francis and some 2.5 million people for World Youth Day.

View of Copacabana beach. Picture: Angelo Soulas Source: No Source

The female American student and her French boyfriend boarded a minibus at around midnight on Saturday in Copacabana headed to Lapa, a trendy area home to popular bars and dance clubs.

Two men who also boarded the minibus ordered the rest of the passengers to get off and handcuffed their victims.

They then proceeded to beat the young man with a metal bar and rape the young woman as they rode around the city, Rio's tourist police (DEAT) said.

After seeing photographs of two of the detained suspects, a young Brazilian woman who was raped on March 23, also in a minibus, identified them as her assailants, DEAT added.

The driver of the minibus may also have taken part in the rape.

The G1 news website said the Frenchman suffered a severe eye injury and a fractured face while the American's nose was broken during the assault.

Minibuses are part of Rio's transportation network and, in a city of six million inhabitants, are considered a convenient means of getting around.

Although the case sparked deep revulsion in Brazil, officials were quick to insist it was an isolated incident.

"It is horrendous, but this is not a routine occurrence in Rio," Rio state security secretary Jose Mariano Beltrame told AFP. "It is unfair to present it as such."

"Such a brutal rape is very spectacular but is generally quickly forgotten. It is not (as) common in Brazil as it is in India," said Augusto Rodrigues, a crime expert at the State University of Rio de Janeiro.

"It is an isolated incident which must not be used as a parameter to measure violence," said Michel Misse, of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

Asked about a 24 per cent rise in rapes in Rio from 2011 to 2012 (from 4871 to 6029), both experts attributed it to increased reporting by women to special police units set up to assist sex assault victims.

"Before they were ashamed to report such crimes in police stations run by men," Misse said.

The experts insist that, broadly speaking, security has never been better in Rio and in Brazil in general, even though the crime rate remains high compared with European or US norms.

Mugshots showing Jonathan Froudakis de Souza (left), 20, and Wallace Aparecido Silva, 22, who allegedly raped a foreign tourist in a minibus in Rio de Janeiro. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

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Don't just travel, go RelaxSing

The RelaxSing trip will be situated near San Gimignano. Picture: Alaskan Dude/Flickr

Rob Mills and Lucy Durack have embraced singing.
  Source: Herald Sun

THERE'S wine tasting, cooking lessons and guided tours of the spectacular surrounds, but this isn't your ordinary holiday.

The RelaxSing holiday concept is a new option for Australians keen to sing their way around Italy with strangers, or a group of friends. Yep, that's right, you sing every day of the trip.

The inaugural RelaxSing Tuscany 2013 tour will start in September near the medieval town of San Gimignano. Participants will spend a week singing in the mornings and undertaking activities such as sightseeing or wine tastings in the afternoons.

It costs $1750 per person including meals (except when on excursions), choral singing instruction with a musical director, wine tasting and day trips. The accommodation is located nearby the restored Tuscan Estate, which has produced wine and olive oil for centuries.

Alison Kunz from RelaxSing is confident it will become a new travel trend.

"These types of events are hugely popular in the UK and there are large numbers of Australians who would have an interest as they are already members of choirs," Ms Kunz said.

"However, the appeal of RelaxSing is that you don't have to be a 'singer' to enjoy one of our events. Anyone can embrace the fun, fellowship and exhilaration of harmonising together in a group and we believe that RelaxSing will be very popular in the future."

But be prepared to do some homework before you jump on the plane.

"To do justice to yourself and the RelaxSing choir as a whole, we would anticipate that you will learn and practice the songs to the best of your ability prior to the start of the RelaxSing holiday," the website states.

"During the week enjoy singing a wide range of songs which have been carefully selected to include both classical and modern styles, some with an Italian theme. The week will end with a public performance of our repertoire in the town of San Gimignano."

And be warned – your travelling companions should also be into singing and are expected to participate, or go off on their own.

Travellers interesting in taking part have until April 30 to book the tour. You don't have to be able to read music to attend, but you must be over 18 years old.

View the original article here

What's new in the world of travel

Former MasterChef favourite Marion Grasby is leading a culinary tour of Vietnam in October for children's charity Variety. Picture: Andrew Chant Source: Supplied

Tassie's Quamby Estate has revealed a new decadent look after a major restoration. Source: Supplied

QUAMBY Estate, just outside of Launceston, has made over its luxurious homestead, while former MasterChef contestant Marion Grasby will tour Vietnam to raise money for charity

1 Variety in Vietnam

FORMER MasterChef contestant and cookbook author Marion Grasby is leading a culinary tour to Vietnam for the children's charity Variety in October. Highlights of the nine-day tour include cooking classes in Hanoi with the city's top chef, Madam Anh Tuyet, and at the Hoa Sua Vocational Training School, where disadvantaged youth learn hospitality skills.

Guests will also dine at the 400-year-old Dinh Bang Communal House and help build a kitchen for a remote Vietnamese kindergarten. Prices start from $3250 including return airfares from Sydney to Hanoi, airport transfers, meals and accommodation, but participants also have a minimum fundraising goal of $3000.

See varietyadventure.com.au

2 Modern luxury at country mansion

TASMANIAN retreat Quamby Estate - owned by Virgin Australia co-founders Brett Godfrey and Rob Sherrard - has unveiled a new look after a major restoration.

The final touches were put on the 10 guest rooms earlier this year after the homestead, golf club and restaurant were refurbished last year. The estate, near Launceston, combines modern luxuries with an eclectic collection of art and period antiques. The rooms have exposed hardwood Tasmanian oak flooring, airconditioning, marble or stone bathrooms with underfloor heating, flat-screen TVs, DVD players, and iPod and Bose docking stations. Prices start from $162 a night for a standard room.

See quambyestate.com.au

3 Fly in style to Fiji

TRAVELLERS to Fiji will soon have access to more flights when Air Pacific launches its modern new A330 aircraft in Australia. The new plane landed in Nadi this week ahead of its arrival in Brisbane next month. The aircraft - the first of three - is named Taveuni after one of Fiji's islands. The wide-bodied planes have more comfortable seats and a state-of-the art inflight entertainment system. Air Pacific will be renamed Fiji Airways in June.

See fijiairways.com

4 Taste of Italy

EUROPE will come to the Hunter Valley next month with A Little Bit of Italy in Broke weekend. The event, on April 13 and 14, will include live music, Italian cooking demonstrations, and alfresco dining at the region's eateries. Packages are available from $1225 including two nights' accommodation, festival entry, $10 lunch vouchers, Saturday night dinner voucher, a hamper of local produce and bus shuttle to all venues.

See italyinbroke.com.au

5 Touch of Salt in Bali

A NEW Australian-owned luxury surf yoga retreat has launched at Seminyak in Bali.

Guests at Salt Retreats will enjoy meals created by My Kitchen Rules judge Pete Evans and surf lessons with pro surfer Claire Bevilacqua as well as yoga and spa treatments.Optional day trips to volunteer at the local orphanage will also be on offer and part of the company's profits goes towards charities, farmers and community groups. Six-night retreats start from $1795.

See saltretreat.com
 

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Is it still safe to travel to India?

A UK tourist jumped out a window because of fears she was going to be sexually assaulted in India. Source: AP

INCREDIBLE India - or incredibly dangerous?

That's the question on the minds of would-be travellers from countries like Australia, the US and the UK.

It comes as India passed a sweeping new law to protect women against sexual violence in response to a fatal December gang rape and beating of a young woman on a bus in New Delhi.

Official travel warnings are urging holiday-goers to rethink their trips to India, which attracts around 6.6 million tourists annually.

The gem of the third world has becoming increasingly notorious though, especially for female travellers, after numerous reports of sexual assault and threats against domestic and foreign people.

Following last year's heinous rape and murder of a young girl, and the murder of three sisters in Bhandara in February, a British tourist was earlier this week threatened at a hotel in Agra.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) yesterday updated its blanket warnings for tourists to India on its Smart Traveller website.

The latest update reads: "Due to the risk of harassment and assault, women should exercise caution in India even if they are travelling in a group."

"We continue to recommend Australian exercise a high degree of caution in India overall because of the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, crime and vehicle accidents," the advisory adds.

The UK's foreign office issued a nearly identical advisory earlier this week, while the US State Department told female tourists to "avoid travelling alone in hired taxis, especially at night".

A similar warning was given by the Swiss foreign ministry last week.

India has enjoyed a successful tourism campaign with its "Incredible India" ad spot, featuring actress Patricia Malone as a woman travelling alone in the country.

- with AP

View the original article here

Is it still safe to travel to India?

A UK tourist jumped out a window because of fears she was going to be sexually assaulted in India. Source: AP

INCREDIBLE India - or incredibly dangerous?

That's the question on the minds of would-be travellers from countries like Australia, the US and the UK.

It comes as India passed a sweeping new law to protect women against sexual violence in response to a fatal December gang rape and beating of a young woman on a bus in New Delhi.

Official travel warnings are urging holiday-goers to rethink their trips to India, which attracts around 6.6 million tourists annually.

The gem of the third world has becoming increasingly notorious though, especially for female travellers, after numerous reports of sexual assault and threats against domestic and foreign people.

Following last year's heinous rape and murder of a young girl, and the murder of three sisters in Bhandara in February, a British tourist was earlier this week threatened at a hotel in Agra.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) yesterday updated its blanket warnings for tourists to India on its Smart Traveller website.

The latest update reads: "Due to the risk of harassment and assault, women should exercise caution in India even if they are travelling in a group."

"We continue to recommend Australian exercise a high degree of caution in India overall because of the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, crime and vehicle accidents," the advisory adds.

The UK's foreign office issued a nearly identical advisory earlier this week, while the US State Department told female tourists to "avoid travelling alone in hired taxis, especially at night".

A similar warning was given by the Swiss foreign ministry last week.

India has enjoyed a successful tourism campaign with its "Incredible India" ad spot, featuring actress Patricia Malone as a woman travelling alone in the country.

- with AP

View the original article here

Life-changing travel experiences

Visit the temples of Bagan, Myanmar (Burma). Picture: www.sxc.hu Source: news.com.au

The Aurora Borealis is a truly spectacular sight to witness. Picture: supplied Source: Supplied

Swim with whale sharks off the WA coast. Picture: Supplied Source: news.com.au

SOME travel experiences are so amazing and unique they open your mind to a whole new world.

Online travel agency Zuji.com.au has compiled a list of the top 10 life-changing travel experiences to get you excited about your next trip, and we've added in some of our favourites.

Click here for our gallery of life-changing trips

Encounters with wildlife are right up there. There are only 880 mountain gorillas left in Rwanda, Africa, and the experience is made even more special due to the fact that only 50 tourists can see the wonderful creatures at any one time. 

Swimming with the beautiful humpback whale in Tonga is also something your mates are unlikely to have done. The massive mammals were near extinction but now you can swim close to them between August and October.

And on our shores, swimming with the magical whale sharks - the world's largest fish - is a real life-defining moment. The animals can grow up to 18 metres long and over the course of a day, you can swim with five or six of the creatures.

And to see the most inspiring works of man, a visit to the Mayan ruins of Tikal, Guatemala, the temples of Bagan, Myanmar (Burma) as seen in the film Samsara or walking the Great Wall of China are essential trips.

See more life-changing travel trips in our gallery

View the original article here