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Survival tips

Synthetic clothing (nylon etc.) will melt either before or while it burns, and fuse with your skin making it very difficult to remove. Avoiding synthetic clothing where possible increases your chances of coming out if any fire unscathed. Natural fibres such as cotton / linen etc. may get very hot while you're in a fire but won't melt onto you and cause you additional burns.

Survival tips seen on CNN in 2009

Wet towel along bottom of door if smoke and / or fire getting in
Be ready for any emergency with basic important things ready to grab at any time, INCLUDING ROOM KEY! Small torch advisable too.
Smoke inhalation most common cause of death in fires: cloth/shirt or similar tightly over nose and mouth to minimise.

All to plan?

Someone told a 20-year-old traveller that if everything always goes to plan and you never get lost, you'll lose out on some great experiences. So true!! Beware though of actively encouraging negative experiences through carelessness or arrogance.

Useful general equipment:

Waterproof torch
Underwater case for cameras (now generally available to fit wide range and sizes of cameras)
Folding bowl (tarpaulin-like material - light, waterproof and fairly hardwearing): extremely useful for washing clothes etc. where no basin or container, and in countries with no basin-plugs such as Mexico and Chile. Try Ortlieb as manufacturer, sold by places such as Globetrotter (German)
When buy hiking trousers, make sure tops of front pockets don't slant too far otherwise it can be difficult to keep things in them without keeping your hand on them (eg wallet, map, papers etc.)
Minimise total luggage: if backpacking, consider small rucksack (eg daypack) to fit inside top of larger on top of main belongings

Cultural differences

There can be significant cultural differences even in countries which look very similar to each other - eg tipping even for lousy service in the USA, free coffee as apology for broken china in salad but still having to pay for meal in Netherlands, etc. Dirty / overly casual clothing and appearance can be almost an insult to people in Chile, even if backpacking and staying in someone's home that you know quite well or are very friendly with - easycare shirts look presentable without ironing (but see note about surviving fires).

Budget airlines

Easyjet
Flybe
BMI Baby
Ryanair
German Wings
Air Berlin
Jet2

www.ebookers.com

www.dialaflight.co.uk

www.opodo.co.uk

www.statravel.co.uk

www.lastminute.com

www.travelocity.co.uk

www.flightcentre.com

www.expedia.co.uk

www.trailfinders.co.uk

www.travelbag.co.uk

www.responsibletravel.com

www.travelhealth.co.uk

www.virtualtourist.com

Train times, fares, how to buy your ticket etc:
www.seat61.com
This is a great site on how to go by train in other countries
and between other countries...

Rail Europe Travel Centre:
1 Regent Street, London SW1

Piccadilly Circus
Weekdays 10am - 6pm

Saturdays 10am - 4pm

Phone 08708 371371
Weekdays 8am - 9pm
Saturdays 9am - 6pm
Sundays 10am - 5pm

www.raileurope.co.uk
www.sncf.co.uk

Deutsche Bahn in the UK:
No public office
Tel. 08702 435363
www.deutsche-bahn.co.uk

Useful travel phone numbers (some may need updating):

Sweden
Swebus - 0200 218 218
Silverlinj - 0485 26111 / 26150
Eurolines - 020 987377
TT-Lines (Trelleborg) - 0410 56200
Scandlines - 0410 65100 (0410 65000 if with car)
SJ (Sweden railways) - 0771 757757(+12% booking fee?)
STA Sweden - 0771 474850
Arlanda Airport - 08 797 6000
Local buses Oland - www.klt.se
Public transport timetables - www.resplus.se

UK
Dial-a-flight - 0870 333 4488
Stenaline - 08705 707070

France
SNCF - 0033 892 353539 (or possibly 0033 892 353639)

Spain
RENFE - 902 240202 (reservations inland)
or 902 243402 (international reservations)

Disclaimer - While efforts have been made to provide accurate information on this website,

no guarantees or endorsements of its content or links are given or implied.