traveling outside the Philippines for the first time? You might be very thrilled but I bet you’re a little anxious, too! There might be a lot of questions brewing in your head best now so here’s a little something to shed light on some of the things you need to know before your trip. (These suggestions are for Filipino travelers only.)

Every country has its own immigration rules. Some require visas from Filipino visitors, others don’t. Some have stricter rules, others don’t. It is essential that you know these guidelines and requirements before your flight.

But here are some frequently asked questions that I thought I could answer. Again, I’m only depending on personal experience and some knowledge that I gained in my years of working in the airline industry. some of these might already be outdated but I’ll try my best to keep them current.

WHAT’S covered IN THIS GUIDE?

What are the processes at the airport?
How early ought to I be at the airport?
What are the things that I ought to bring to the airport?
What are the typical questions that the immigration Officers ask?
What is offloading?
What can I do to make sure I won’t be offloaded by the Immigration?
Should I present all these files at the immigration booth?
Do I need to have a hotel reservation before my flight?
I’m invited by a relative or a friend, do I need an invitation letter?
Is there a show money? how much do I need to have for them to let me through?
Where ought to I exchange currencies? Is it best to exchange in the Philippines before the trip?
Should I bring an ID?
I’m a freelancer so I don’t have a company ID. What is a good alternative?
I’m a fresh graduate but I’m currently unemployed. What can I do?
I’m unemployed and I don’t have funds. What are the requirements?
I’m traveling with my foreigner sweetheart / girlfriend / friend. What are the requirements?
My trip is sponsored by my foreigner sweetheart / girlfriend / friend. What are the requirements?
I’m meeting my sweetheart / girlfriend abroad for the first time. What are the requirements?
What is the weight limit for carry-on baggage (hand-carry)?
Where ought to I store my power bank (mobile charger)?
What ought to I wear?
More suggestions on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️Related Posts:

What are the processes at the airport?

The typical process is this:

Pay the travel Tax. IDEALLY, the travel tax and departure fee are already included when you book your ticket, so please check your ticket. but there are times when it isn’t the case. if not sure, check-in first. The check-in agent will tell you if you still need to work out the tax. At NAIA terminal 3, the travel tax counters ought to be on your far best when you’re facing the check-in counters. It’s P1,620 per person.

Check in! present the departure Card together with the travel tax receipt, printed ticket and passport to the check-in agent. The agent will give you your boarding pass.

Fill out a copy of immigration form (aka departure Card). You will get it at the Check-in Counter. Note that you will need to indicate your address abroad (address of the hotel or the pal you’re visiting).

Proceed to the immigration Booths. They will be asking questions like: how long will you be staying abroad? What are you going to do there? What’s your occupation? Where will you stay? The essential is to convince them that you’re going there to trip and not to find work. When they’re satisfied, they will put a stamp on your passport.

Final safety and security check. Remove all gadgets and metal items (including belts and coins) from your body. remove your shoes only when instructed.

That’s about it. It’s a long process and it involves a lot of queueing so make sure you’re at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight.

How early ought to I be at the airport?

At least 2 hours before your scheduled departure.

I personally like showing up at the airport 3-4 hours earlier just in case something untoward happens. I once lost my old passport and visa at the airport on two different occasions (yeah, I was careless, haha), but good thing I had enough time to search. Also, I like staying at airports. Hehe.

Update: In top season like the weeks before and after Christmas, it’s best to arrive at least 4 hours before your flight.

What are the things that I ought to bring to the airport?

I always have a checklist of items I should NOT forget.

Here are the most essential items.

Passport – Duh.

Visa – When applicable

Return flight Ticket – Make sure you print out the tickets. When I fly domestic, I typically just show the check-in agent the tickets on my phone. They accept it. but for international flights, you will be showing your tickets too numerous times (check-in counter, travel tax counter, departure fee counter, immigration, etc) that it would be impractical and ridiculously bothersome to whip out your phone every step of the way. A printed ticket will make it a lot simpler for you and the people who will check it. Besides, a piece of paper does not need to be charged.

Company ID – immigration Officers in some cases ask for a company ID as a proof that you would return to the Philippines and would not seek employment opportunities in your destination country.

Address and contact number abroad – If you’re traveling as a tourist, get the hotel’s exact address and contact number. If you’re going to a pal or relative and you’re staying with them, get their exact address and contact number. You will need it when filling out immigration forms.

DSWD Clearance – only when traveling with a minor who is not your child and the parents are not joining the trip.

Here are other things that you can bring for good measure.

Hotel reservation – If you’re traveling as a tourist.

Invitation letter – If you’re going to a pal or relative and staying with them.

Money – Of course! Make sure you have enough. My typical budget for a 3-day or 4-day trip abroad is US$600 but I typically just spend less than USD400. having not enough cash is a common reason why travelers are denied entry even when they are already at the airport.

Credit card – Some airports require a copy of the credit report card used when the tickets are booked online. You might also need it as a safety net in case you run short of cash. Some hotels also ask for credit report card for deposit.

Photocopy of the Passport and Visa – just in case you lose your documents, it would be simpler for you to get a replacement if you have a copy. When you’re already in your destination and you’re going out, leave the photocopy in the hotel room if you’re bringing the original with you.

Travel schedule – Make a clear plan of what you want to do and write them down. In case the immigration Officers pick you for a random check, a printed schedule will help convince them that you will really go to your destination to trip and nothing else.

Address and contact number of the Philippine embassy in your destination country – just in case something happens.

A Pen – Yes, the humble pen is important. You will be accomplishing forms.

I typically carry an envelope where I put all these together (except the photocopies and money).

In addition, I have a paper where I write the hotel address, contact number, my passport number, passport expiry date, and flight number. This way, when I’m accomplishing forms, I don’t need to fish out my passport and other documents. I just have one reference page.

What are the typical questions that the immigration Officers ask?

The questions vary from officer to officer. If you’re lucky, the officer will just throw a couple of questions at you and you’re through. but often, here are the questions:

Where are you going?

When will you return to the Philippines?

What will you do there?

Whom are you traveling with?

What is your occupation here in the Philippines?

The essential is to answer confidently, consistently, and truthfully.

Sometimes, they will ask follow up questions. Sometimes, you will be subjected to a secondary inspection, which I will discuss below.

What is offloading?

Offloading is the act of pulling a passenger who is already boarded out of an aircraft.

Technically speaking, the Bureau of immigration does not have an offloading policy. They do not get a boarded passenger out of a plane on a regular basis. What they do is they screen passengers and decide if they will allow them to board the plane or not. This process happens before boarding, not after, so this is not really offloading.

However, here in the Philippines, “offloading” has been used as an umbrella term for blocking someone from leaving the country, even if the passenger has not yet boarded. If an immigration officer rejects you at the inspection, numerous Filipinos refer to it as “offloading.” Hence, for the purpose of this article, let’s just use that Filipinized definition of the term.

What can I do to make sure I won’t be offloaded by the Immigration?

The Bureau of immigration has been implementing stricter guidelines lately. According to the bureau, each day around 40 people are offloaded at NAIA terminal 1 alone. three to four in every 50 of these offloaded passengers actually have genuine reasons to go abroad. You don’t want to be one of them.

If you want to make sure you won’t be offloaded, you need to follow the guidelines released to immigration Officers by the bureau. A 2012 memorandum enumerates what the officers should require from departing passengers:

Passport

Visa (if applicable)

Filled out departure card

Roundtrip ticket

They typically also ask for your company ID. Then, if they deem necessary, you will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Age

Educational attainment

Financial capability to travel

What does the last item mean? Well, in a nutshell, tourists with no stable source of income in the Philippines and no benefactors who appear to have a different reason for traveling other thanfor leisure are much more likely to be offloaded. So if in case you are subjected to a secondary inspection, you would want to have the following with you:

If you’re an employee, Certificate of employment (best if it indicates your salary and how long you have been with the company)

If you’re self-employed, a copy of your company Registration Certificate

If you’re a freelancer, you ought to still have an ITR. If your clients pay it for you, you may ask for a copy from the client. You may also ask your client to produce a file that would certify that they have hired you and the details of the project/contract.

If you’re tax-exempt, you ought to still have an ITR. because 2018, workers earning below P250,000 a year (P21,000 a month) are exempted from paying income taxes. but that doesn’t imply it exempts you from having an ITR. If you’re an employee, you can still get a copy of your ITR from your employer even if you’re tax-exempt.

I always have a copy of both my ITR and a “Certificate of Employment” from my clients to be safe.

For much more info about this, check out: how to avoid getting Offloaded

Should I present all these files at the immigration booth?

No. Again, many of the time, the officer will only ask for the following:

Passport (with visa, if applicable)

Accomplished departure card

Round-trip ticket

Company ID

Don’t present other files when they don’t ask for them. All the other files are much more like safety nets IN case you need to show you’re employed.

Just answer their questions confidently.

Do I need to have a hotel reservation before my flight?

It is best to always book accommodations first before your flight. You will be required to indicate the address of your hotel on your departure and arrival cards, and immigration officers on both sides sometimes ask for hotel documents. Even when I’m backpacking across much more than one country, I typically make sure I have booked accommodations on at least my first night in the next country I’m visiting. Again, you could go there without prior reservations but if you want to avoid the hassle of getting asked too numerous questions and the tension that comes with it, better book in advance.

I’m invited by a relative or a friend, do I need an invitation letter?

In theory, yes, so if you could produce one, go ahead. The immigration Officers DON’T always ask for this, so numerous invited travelers are still able to make it through without it. However, they might just ask for it if they deem necessary. 

The safest thing to do is to produce an Affidavit of support or Guarantee, notarized at the Philippine Embassy. When officers ask for “invitation letter,” this is actually the file they refer to because it’s formal, legal, binding, and hard to fake.

Anyway, you will be asked to indicate your “address abroad” when filling out forms so make sure you have that. To be on the safe side, be sure you have your friend’s contact number, too.

Is there a show money? how much do I need to have for them to let me through?

I have never been asked to show money, but I know people who have been. I have been asked numerous times how much money I have with me, though, but never to show it.

My pocket money depends on the destination country. Some are much more expensive than others. For example, the cost of living in Singapore is certainly higher than in Thailand. In countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, I typically bring USD400 for a 4-day trip, USD500 for a week-long trip. but that’s way much more than I actually spend. In less expensive countries like Cambodia and Thailand, I allot USD50 per day. Again, that has a big allowance.

I also bring a credit report card, just in case.

Where ought to I exchange currencies? Is it best to exchange in the Philippines before the trip?

It depends on the country I’m visiting. In countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, Taiwan, where the PH peso is not widely accepted in banks/money changers, I typically exchange my pesos with us dollars here in

Last Updated: 7/2/20 | July 2nd, 2020

I very first visited Laos when I was living in Bangkok. however I never spent much time there beyond a few visa runs to Vientiane, the former French trading publish as well as funding of the country.

Years later, on a large trip with the region, I altered that as well as lastly explored the country.

It did not disappoint.

I spent three weeks in the country, basking in the land-locked nation’s stunning nature as well as laid-back atmosphere. While I liked my time there, I was really a bit surprised about exactly how costly it was family member to its neighbors.

I had this picture of Laos being super cheap, an assumption stemming from the truth that it’s less established than its neighbors.

But Laos was more costly than I thought.

At first, I believed I was doing something wrong. Was I missing something?

Was I just being oblivious to super affordable Laos?

When I travel, I try to discover as many low-cost methods to experience a destination as possible. however Laos was leaving me stumped.

But after speaking to some regional writers, I realized that I hadn’t missed anything. There’s a reason Laos is somewhat more costly when compared to the rest of Southeast Asia.

Few things right here are locally created and, since the country is landlocked, it has to import almost everything. That increases costs for goods, services, as well as transportation. When integrated with bit domestic food production as well as higher petrol prices, you have the recipe for a country with higher-than-average costs for the region.

However, it’s by no means an costly destination as well as backpackers will be able to handle quickly without having to pinch pennies. To assist you save money as well as enjoy your trip, here’s whatever you requirement to understand about traveling Laos on a budget.
 

How much Does Laos Cost?

If you’re a backpacker on a budget, I believe $30-35 USD (315,000 LAK) each day is a reasonable budget. This budget plan will cover a hostel dorm, eating mainly street food, having a few drinks per night, taking public transit, as well as doing about one paid activity (or a couple of affordable temples) per day.

Here are some example costs to provide you a sense of what things expense in Laos (prices in LAK):

Hostel dorm – 45,000

Private space with ensuite bathroom – 130,000

Overnight bus – 150,000-200,000

Tuk-tuk – 50,000

Bus from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng – 150,000

Shared trip to Kuang Si Waterfalls – 50,000

Entrance charge to attractions – 10,000-25,000

Restaurant (local food) – 28,000

Restaurant (Western food) – 45,000

Street food – 15,000-30,000

Bike rentals – 15,000

Beer – 11,000

Water – 8,000

Tubing in Vang Vieng – 60,000

If you’re looking for a more comfortable trip, a mid-range budget plan of about 564,162 LAK ($65 USD) each day will get you a personal two-star hotel space or a personal hostel dorm, taxis, fancier restaurants (and Western food), as well as more activities per day.

If you are coming right here as a backpacker or moderate budget plan traveler, you’ll be hard-pressed to truly spend a lot!
 

How to save money in Laos

Though costly family member to its neighbors, Laos is still a affordable country to visit. You truly have to try to spend money here.

Besides the typical “stick to the regional food/transportation” typical sense travel wisdom, right here are a few additional tips that will assist you reduce your costs:

1. book Your own activities & Transportation
Most attractions are near cities as well as don’t need you to go with an organized group. You can either lease a motorbike or hire any type of number of tuk-tuk drivers. If you can discover other travelers to join you, you can share a trip as well as lower your costs even more.

For example, when I went to Kuang Si waterfall in Luang Prabang, most hostels desired 80,000 LAK for the trip.

However, taxis from the center of town were only 30,000 LAK if you arranged it yourself. Not only is that cheaper however you get more time at the waterfalls as well as can be on your own schedule.

Another example: my good friends as well as I got a bus to Vientiane from the business our hostel used. It was $5 USD more than the public bus however it was more convenient.

Or, it was supposed to have been more convenient.

We left an hour later as well as there were numerous stops. We would have saved time as well as money if we organized transportation ourselves right from the bus station.

2. utilize Agoda for Accommodation
If you’re booking lodging in advance, utilize Agoda. It’s my go-to website for booking budget plan lodging in Asia. While you can definitely roam around as well as discover lodging on your own, Agoda has a great deal of choices if you want to pre-book.

3. Bring a Water bottle (and Filter)
A water bottle (with a purifier) will are available in handy in Laos since you can’t drink the tap water. save money (and great dealsof single-use plastic bottles) by getting a bottle that can purify the tap water for you. My favored bottle is LifeStraw.

4. prevent Western Food
Western food is always going to be more costly than regional food. as well as while the costs aren’t that high, it will slowly add up over the program of your trip. If you’re truly on a budget, avoid the western food. You can eat burgers when you get home!

***
While Laos will never be discovered on a listing of costly countries, it’s not the bargain you may expect provided the region of the world it is in, particularly if you plan to drink as well as celebration a lot.
But, while it may not be as low-cost as its neighbors, it is still a wonderful as well as affordable budget plan travel destination in the grand plan of things. If you’re traveling around Southeast Asia, don’t miss it!

Book Your trip to Laos: Logistical tips as well as Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to discover a affordable flight. They are my two preferred browse engines since they browse websites as well as airlines around the globe so you always understand no stone is left unturned. begin with Skyscanner very first though since they have the biggest reach!

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest stock as well as finest deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, utilize Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses as well as affordable hotels. My preferred locations to stay are:

Friendly Backpackers Hostel (Luang Prabang)

Sunruse Riverside pool Hostel (Luang Prabang)

Dream house Hostel (Vientiane)

Nana Backpackers Hostel (Vang Vieng)

Don’t fail to remember travel Insurance
Travel insurance coverage will protect you against illness, injury, theft, as well as cancellations. It’s comprehensive security in situation anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to utilize it many times in the past. My preferred business that offer the very best service as well as value are:

Safety Wing (for everybody below 70)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for extra repatriation coverage)

Looking for the very best business to save money With?
Check out my resource page for the very best business to utilize when you travel. I listing all the ones I utilize to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Want more info on Laos?
Be sure to see our robust destination guide on Laos for even more planning tips!

Posted: 8/6/16 | June 8th, 2016

Each month, Kristin Addis from Be My travel Muse writes a guest column featuring suggestions and guidance on solo female travel. It’s an essential topic I can’t adequately cover, so I brought in an expert to share her guidance for other solo female travelers! here she is with another awesome article!

When I think about the ideal getaway spot for outdoorsy types, Patagonia is pretty high on the list. This region has gripped me ever because I first saw photos of it years ago, thanks to those unique, jagged peaks and the amazing color of the glacial waters. It looked beautiful and wild. This year I finally got to live my dream and visit.

I spent two months hiking and hitchhiking around the region. I couldn’t believe how numerous glaciers and tiny, remote villages there are scattered all throughout Patagonia.

When I think about my favorite places, it is pretty hard to narrow it down, but here’s a list of 18 of the very best natural spots (because 17 is simply too few):
 

1. Cerro Tronador

The 18km trek to Cerro Tronador glacier is located on the outskirts of Bariloche, Argentina, the northern gateway to Patagonia. It’s one of few glaciers you can really sleep best next to and view the sunrise over.

Leave early enough in the day to make it up there with plenty of time to walk around the rocks and the glacier. The glacial melt forms pools and tiny lakes all over the surface of the rock, which reflects the sunsets and sunrises over the mountaintop. The panoramic view is the best in the whole area at any time of day.
 

2. The Hike to hotel Refugio Frey

There are two ways to get to Refugio Frey: either you can walk up a forest path or climb over rocks to get there. It’s a full-day hike from the ski resort in Bariloche, and I’d rate its difficulty as moderate.

The view of some of the lakes in the distance from the top is magnificent and it’s so much fun for those who love climbing hand and foot.

Plus, the Refugio Frey has a chilled-out atmosphere, a big lake to hang out around, and nice, cold drinks. even in the summer months, there’s plenty of space for everyone — hikers and rock climbers alike.
 

3. Chaitén’s Haunting Beach 

From Bariloche, many head down Ruta 40, straight south through Argentina. There’s a better way through Chile, however, that goes through the rural Carretera Austral and the heart of Patagonia.

One of the much more northern towns along that road is Chaitén, which was covered in ash and debris after a volcano erupted in the vicinity in 2008. The town was evacuated in time to rescue the residents, but the population is still a fraction of what it used to be.The ash and eery remains of trees still cover the beach. some of the houses nearby are still buried in ash, but they’re slowly rebuilding and it’s a very quiet and peaceful spot for a sunset.
 

4. Puyuhuapi’s Bay

Puyuhuapi, a town in the Chilean fjords along the Carretera Austral, is rural, quiet, and the kind of place I could get stuck in for a while. It’s mostly farms, small campsites, and boats that line the shore. The water is so flat and calm that it reflects the sunsets brilliantly.

You can go fishing there (try to talk a local into taking you on his fishing boat), go on a long walk, or best of all, make it your base to explore the national parks on the outskirts of town.
 

5. Queulat Glacier

Queulat hanging glacier is at the end of a small ice cap that splits into two waterfalls as it spills down a rock face. now there are plenty of hanging glaciers in Patagonia, but many of them are hard to access or not as large and raging as this one — that’s what makes it special.

Queulat national Park is located 22km outside the town of Puyuhuapi and costs 4,000 CLP to enter. To reach the lookout point, you’ll have to trudge through 3km of mud, so bring durable and waterproof shoes. You can also camp in the park overnight to beat the crowds to the lookout point in the morning.
 

6. Cerro Castillo Glacier

Patagonia has so numerous glaciers that eventually I stopped counting or even pointing them out, but this was the first time I’d laid eyes on a glacial lake so blue, and that’s what made Cerro Castillo so special. The black rock, white glacier, and bright blue lake combined in a distinct way compared to other well-known hikes in Patagonia that didn’t have such dark, rocky mountains.

It’s possible to hike there and back in one day, and though steep, the hike offers a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding multicolored hills that would make it worth the energy even without the glacier at the top.
 

7. The Marble Caves

These marble caves over general Carrera Lake (morbidly, the same ones the founder of The North face passed away in earlier this year) are what made the town of Puerto Río Tranquilo famous.

They’ve been carved out by the clear blue lake water, and some of them are big enough to take a boat through, giving you a chance to check out the swirling formations and the marble’s yellow, white, and gray colors. The boat trip lasts about an hour and costs roughly 10,000 CLP per person.
 

8. Exploradores Glacier

When I asked the local guide how long trips of the Exploradores glacier have been going on, he said it has only been a few years. then he told me that, even though he grew up best near it his whole life, he only found out about the glacier five years ago. That’s what makes this glacier such a cool one to explore: it’s still being discovered. each month or so, a new wave or cave forms in the ice as the glacier melts.

The trip departs from Puerto Río Tranquilo (the same town with the aforementioned marble caves), and it takes about two hours to drive to the trailhead. From there, it’s a 2- to 3-hour walk to the glacier moraine and eventually to the ice. The trip only costs 50,000 CLP, about 1/3 of the cost of the much more well-known glaciers down south, though it requires a bit much more fitness due to the long hike in.
 

9. The O’Higgins Glacier

Villa O’Higgins is the last town on the Carretera Austral and where one can take a boat past the O’Higgins Glacier to what is, officially, the most remote border post in Chile.

An attractive feature of this glacier, just like Exploradores, is it’s not nearly as went to as Grey Glacier or Perito Moreno down south, so there is plenty of boat space. The glacier is over 300 meters tall, and the boat provides a chance to get up close while enjoying a whiskey with some glacier ice in it.

From there, your only choice is to return to vacation home O’Higgins by boat or alight on the Chilean border.
 

10. No-Man’s Land

After leaving the boat and the Carretera Austral, it’s a 22km walk into Argentina. So, for many of the day, I was literally in two places at once. Or maybe just in the middle of nowhere. I couldn’t figure that one out. parts of the path are incredibly muddy and if you attempt it, you’ll have to traverse them carrying all of your stuff — unless you can manage to hire a horse, which I couldn’t because they were on a break that day.

The main benefit of doing this, aside from avoiding backtracking to get back into Argentina, is the opportunity to see the well-known Mt. Fitz Roy from behind. It’s a rare view of a pretty well-known mountain!
 

11. Cerro Torre

After walking through no-man’s land, you’ll arrive in El Chaltén, which will have much more tourists — but upon hiking the trails, it will become apparent why. The mountains are very unique-looking, huge, and full of glaciers. Plus, this is a much much more available part of Patagonia, connecting to Argentina’s larger and more-traveled Ruta 40.

The trail from town to the Cerro Torre is pretty flat and easy for many of the trek, but it is long, at 22km total. The whole way there, you’ll encounter various views and photo-ops of the Cerro Torre before reaching the lake just before the well-known mountain. It’s the only one in the area with three continuous peaks, popular with skilled rock climbers.
 

12. Paso Viento

There are five trails in Patagonia that you can see the southern Patagonian Ice field from, and the Huemul Circuit outside of El Chaltén, Argentina, is one of them. It provides one of the much more outstanding 180-degree views of the ice field that you see without having to make an expedition to the glacier itself.

It’s not without its challenges: you have to walk over a rocky glacial moraine for hours to get there, which is code for try not to fall into the cracks and die because nobody is around to save you. Plus, you have to rent a harness and pully to traverse a couple of rivers. You also have to carry absolutely everything with you that you’ll need, including food, tent, sleeping bag, and cooking gear.

It’s a lot of effort, but it’s a way to see one of the most complete views of the southern Patagonian Ice field from a trail.
 

13. The Ruta 40 just outside of El Chaltén 

Take a long walk out of town, about a mile or so, along the well-known Ruta 40, Argentina’s longest road, and you’ll see this view of Monte Fitz Roy (the tallest mountain in the middle), the Cerro Torre, and the mountain chain that is on the Patagonia brand label.

It’s an amazing spot for a photo to make it look as if you’re walking into paradise — and a way to see the entire well-known mountain chain all at once. The view gets better as you continue down the road, so bring along a skateboard if you want to make a day out of it and keep going.
 

14. Condor Lookout

This lookout just above El Chaltén is a great spot to view the sun as it rises and is reflected on Monte Fitz Roy. It’s only about a 15-minute walk from the ranger station in town to the lookout point, which makes it so much much more available for an early-morning hike than trying to reach Fitz Roy or Cerro Torre by sunrise.

Bring along a headlamp and watch, as the mountains turn red when the sun hits them. A true must-do if you find yourself in El Chaltén.
 

15. Refugio DicksonYou can’t go to Patagonia without going to the crown jewel, Torres Del Paine national Park in Chile. It’s a source of national pride for Chile, and those who visit the park rapidly understand why. The rock formations are Chile’s answer to those around El Chaltén, with their own three spires over a glacial lake.

The many well-known trek there can be taken in three ways, as a Q (the longest), as an O (which takes about eight days), or a W (which takes five). The only way to see this beautiful part of the trail is to take the O. I loved it because it’s one of the most tranquil campsites, and the friendly rangers who play soccer there and passed around a box of red wine with me only made it much more fun.
 

16. Paso John Gardner

For those who do the O and Q treks, you have to summit the Paso John Gardner at 1,200 meters, which is the toughest part of the trail (but not as difficult as the Huemul Circuit!). This is another chance to see the southern Patagonian Ice field from a hiking trail, and you’re next to it pretty much all day after the pass. I even got a rainbow to guide my way.

It’s also the only way to see the Grey Glacier from above, so if you want to hike next to a well-known glacier all day, you’ve got to do the O!
 

17. French Valley

The French Valley is part of the W trek, and the best thing is you don’t have to carry all of your gear along with you for this one because it’s a trek up and then back down and out to rejoin the trail.

If you’re tempted to just go partway, count on me, you ain’t seen nothing yet! The very end is the prize. It’s a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and a closer look at numerous of the park’s glaciers and well-known peaks carved out practically like a bowl, with mountains all around you. It’s a challenging and rocky hike, so bring along hiking poles to help your knees out.
 

18. The Torres (of course!)

The Torres are what made the park famous, and when you see them for yourself, it’s apparent why: they’re giant, jagged peaks covered with a glacier and positioned perfectly for the sunrise. The red reflection of the sun on them is amazing, but if you want to get them all to yourself, hike up in the afternoon for sunset. You won’t get the amazing glow on the rock, but there won’t be numerous others around, which is a good benefit. I went up both at sunset and sunrise and was glad to have had a chance to see it both ways.

***
Patagonia is an amazing part of the world, and this list could have easily been double or triple this length. For those who delight in hiking or those who just want to dabble a bit in the great outdoors, there are options there for just about everyone.

Kristin Addis is a solo female travel expert who inspires women to travel the world in an authentic and adventurous way. A former investment banker who sold all of her belongings and left California in 2012, Kristin has solo traveled the world for over eight years, covering every continent (except for Antarctica, but it’s on her list). There’s practically nothing she won’t try and practically nowhere she won’t explore. You can find much more of her musings at Be My travel Muse or on Instagram and Facebook.

Book Your trip to Chile: Logistical suggestions and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to find a cheap flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search sites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. start with Skyscanner first though because they have the most significant reach!

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the most significant inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the most affordable rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

Don’t forget travel Insurance
Travel insurance will safeguard you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s extensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it

Posted: 3/28/16 | March 28th, 2016

One of my all-time preferred travel writers is Don George. He’s not a huge name like Bryson or Pico Iyer, however his influence in travel composing is everywhere as well as goes back decades. He’s been editor of The San Francisco Examiner as well as the San Francisco Chronicle, actually composed the book on travel while composing for Lonely Planet, is an editor-at-large for national Geographic, as well as started the book passage travel Writers conference!

I very first satisfied Don about five years back at a writer’s conference. Don’s capability to be descriptive as well as vivid, as well as communicate a sense of location when composing astounds me. He draws you in in a method extremely few travel writers can. (And he’s a truly nice guy, too!)

If there’s any type of writer I aspire to tell a story like, it’s him. (Sorry, Bryson. You’re #2!)

Last year, Don lastly published into a book called The method of Wanderlust. It’s a collection of his finest short stories. I checked out it earlier this year and, today, we’re right here with the guy himself to talk about his book, travel writing, as well as much more:

NomadicMatt: tell everybody about yourself as well as exactly how you ended up being a travel writer!
Don: In high institution as well as college, I wished to be a poet. I didn’t even understand “travel writer” was a genuine profession. After graduating from Princeton, I went to Europe for a year, interning for the summertime in Paris as well as then mentor in Athens for a year.

A piece I composed in a grad institution nonfiction composing workshop about climbing install Kilimanjaro (which I did on my method back to the us from Athens) got published in Mademoiselle magazine. as well as suddenly I started believing about composing stories based on my travels. I began to compose more travel stories while mentor for two years in Japan.

When I returned to the US, with an incredible series of serendipities, I ended up being hired by the San Francisco Examiner while the travel editor was on a leave of absence. as well as that’s exactly how I ended up being a travel writer.

What made you lastly choose to put your finest work in a book?
I’d been believing of doing this for a while, however I never had the high-end of free time to make this collection happen. In 2012, at the book passage travel Writers as well as professional photographers Conference, I satisfied a incredibly skilled young writer-artist named Candace increased Rardon, who, over two as well as a half years, assisted me discover as well as organize my numerous published stories, select which ones to include, as well as determine the final shape of the book.

And she produced the beautiful, wanderlust-ful cover picture for the book, in addition to transporting maps as well as sketches for the inside pages!

Now that this book has been published, it has come to mean more to me than I might potentially have imagined. It feels tremendously rounding as well as fulfilling. I’m absolutely exhilarated to have my life — my travels, my writings, my philosophy — out in the world in this extremely palpable way, between two covers.

How come you didn’t compose a memoir or novel?
Well, this truly is my memoir. For my whole expert life, I’ve been a travel writer. I go out into the world, have adventures, make connections, as well as restore stories. as well as I always put the very best stories into my writing. So these stories, collectively, are my memoir.

For me, composing about truth — trying to evoke as well as comprehend my own experience as totally as well as deeply as possible — is more attractive as well as satisfying than fiction.

Why do you believe people take in travel books so frequently? a few of the top-selling books always seem to be about travel.
I believe many people like to travel as well as they can’t always travel actually, so the next finest alternate is traveling vicariously, with somebody else’s account of his or her travels. other people like the concept of travel — of experiencing foreign locations as well as cultures — however without the inconveniences as well as hardships of the journey.

For them, too, travel literature is the perfect solution: they get the enjoyment as well as discovering of travel without the mosquitoes as well as secret meals.

So, you’ve been in the composing market for a while. What’s changed?
I might compose a book about that. Actually, I have written a book about it. Lonely Planet’s guide to travel Writing, which I very first composed in 2005 as well as which I updated extensively for its third edition a couple of years ago, goes into excellent detail about modifications in the composing as well as publishing part of the travel market over the past two decades.

As for the larger travel industry, the modifications have been enormous, seismic, however I believe the biggest modification is instantaneous connectivity, which has its great as well as poor aspects. compared with when I began world-wandering 40 years ago, it’s infinitely easier to get info about the world now, as well as to make as well as preserve connections around the globe.

But on the other hand, whether you are at house or on the road, it’s infinitely easier to get distracted by innovation as well as connectivity — tweeting as well as Instagramming every moment — to ensure that you miss the deep essence of the world around you. The type of immersive, lose-yourself-to-a-place travel that I like to method doesn’t lend itself extremely well to non-stop Facebook updates.

Much as I like linking with people at house as well as around the globe on social media, the genuine richness of travel for me is in plumbing the depth of the moment, being completely present, taking the world into me as well as losing myself to the world at the exact same time.

What are a few of the failings you see with on the internet travel composing as well as blogging?
The primary failing I see is the exact same failing I’ve seen for many years in the unsolicited submissions I’ve got as a travel editor: the writer doesn’t understand the point of what he or she is writing. If you as a writer don’t understand your point, there’s no method I as a visitor am going to take away a point.

I believe writers as well as blog writers should always ask themselves why they’re composing what they’re writing, what they want the visitor to take away. as well as I believe they should carefully think about the shape they’ve provided their creation, exactly how they’re interacting their point to the reader.

Are they doing it in as evocative as well as thoughtful a method as possible? Are they honoring the reader, the subject, as well as themselves in their work?

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
Read my books! HA! While that sounds self-serving, I have poured whatever I’ve discovered as a travel writer as well as editor over four decades into the Lonely world travel composing book, as well as embarrassing as it is to say, I believe it’s a truly terrific introduction to the art, craft, as well as business of travel writing.

Beyond those two, I would advise aspiring writers to checked out excellent travel composing anywhere they discover it, in books as well as magazines as well as online, as well as whenever they discover a story they truly love, to checked out that work when for pleasure as well as then a second time for education: to deconstruct the composing to ensure that they comprehend exactly how the writer produced the magic.

And then, of course, I would advise them to compose as well as compose as well as write. go to writing-related conferences, workshops, as well as events. Network. join a writers group. as well as finally: don’t provide up; comply with your dream.

Going back to travel, what was the moment that made you state “this is the career I want?” 
I vividly recall one moment from the beginning of my career. My very first assignment was a one-week windjammer cruise in the Caribbean. I was simultaneously anxious as well as incredulous to the core.

On my very first morning on the ship, I woke up as well as went out on deck. significant white sails were flapping under an intensely blue sky brightened with billowing white clouds. A brisk, salt-tinged breeze was blowing. I stared at the blue-green Caribbean all around as well as at a palmy island ringed with white sand on the horizon, as well as I keep in mind thinking, “Wait a minute. My trip has been paid for, I’m really getting paid a income to stand here, as well as my task is to have the very best experience I can as well as then compose about it. I must be dreaming!”

Astonishingly enough, I’ve experienced this exact same moment time after time over the past 35 years. I can still barely believe that I’ve been able to make a living doing the two things I love: traveling as well as writing.

What are your tips for travelers on exactly how to get the most out of travel?
Learn some key cultural as well as historical facts about a location — as well as some necessary daily phrases — before you arrive. travel with an open mind as well as an open heart. engage with the locals, respectfully as well as enthusiastically, as well as always be prepared for serendipity to take you by the hand as well as lead you down a incredibly unplanned path.

What was the worst thing that ever occurred to you on the road?
Many decades ago, on a three-month roam with Asia with my then-girlfriend as well as now-wife, I got extremely ill in rural India, so ill that I might barely stand up, much less walk. My small other half almost had to bring me with the flight terminal as well as onto our plane, fighting her method with an agitated, shoving crowd of travelers who desired our seats.

What’s your biggest travel regret? Mine is never studying abroad while in college.
I understand it seems a bit absurd, or at finest Pollyanna-ish,however I don’t truly have any type of travel regrets. Well, I assumption I regret that I ate whatever it was that totally incapacitated me on that long-ago trip in rural India.

But then I wouldn’t have discovered that my other half might be Superwoman when needed!

How do you particularly try to travel deep as well as “get to understand a place?” Do you stay with locals, phone call up a tourism board, or leave it to fate? What do you do to get under a place’s skin?
Most of my expert life, I haven’t had the high-end of staying for more than a couple of weeks in a location — commonly it’s even less than that — so I’ve discovered to streamline the getting-under-the-skin process by asking a great deal of questions, sometimes of other travelers, however mainly of locals. I ask them to tell me what they like about their place, as well as that has a tendency to open up doors as well as insights.

I likewise method what I phone call “the fine art of vulnerability,” opening myself as much as a place, taking some dangers (though always listening when my gut tells me not to), as well as making a fool of myself when necessary. I discover that when you pour interest as well as enthusiasm as well as appreciation into the world, it comes back to you a hundredfold.

Some lightning-round questions: window or aisle?
If I’m flying in the daytime over somewhere I’ve never seen, window. Otherwise, aisle.

Favorite airline?
Tie between Singapore as well as Cathay Pacific.

Favorite destination?
The locations that have the deepest roots in me are the locations where I’ve laid the deepest roots in my life: France, Greece, as well as Japan. My life is so inextricably intertwined with Japan — I lived there for two years as well as have been back lots of times, my other half is from there, her household still lives there — that I’d have to state Japan is my preferred destination. however in one more sense, my preferred destination is the one I was just in, where I inevitably experienced or discovered something rich as well as unusual as well as life changing.

How many languages do you speak as well as which ones?
I speak French, Japanese, as well as whatever Greek I keep in mind from the year I lived there four decades ago.

Place you most want to go to however have never been to?
Much to my friends’ astonishment, I’ve never been to Laos or Bhutan. I’d like to go to both of them.

Place you would never go back to?
That restaurant in rural India.

Don is one of my personal heroes as well as his book, The method of Wanderlust, was a truly great read. I particularly liked his story about his long journey with Pakistan.

Since the book is a collection of short stories too, it’s simple to pick up as well as put down without getting lost! For more of Don, you can see his website.

P.S. — If you’re looking for more book suggestions, I have a monthly book club! Each month, you’ll get one email from me with a listing of 3-5 suggested books I’ve checked out that will influence your own wanderlust! If you’re looking to checked out more, this is the perfect listing for you! You can join by clicking here.
 

Book Your Trip: Logistical tips as well as Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a affordable flight by utilizing Skyscanner. It’s my preferred browse engine since it searches websites as well as airlines around the globe so you always understand no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, utilize Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses as well as hotels.

Don’t fail to remember travel Insurance
Travel insurance coverage will protect you against illness, injury, theft, as well as cancellations. It’s comprehensive security in situation anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to utilize it many times in the past. My preferred business that offer the very best service as well as value are:

SafetyWing (best for everyone)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for extra evacuation coverage)

Ready to book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the very best business to utilize when you travel. I listing all the ones I utilize when I travel. They are the very best in class as well as you can’t go wrong utilizing them on your trip.

hey everyone,

Helen Ochyra is a UK travel writer who realized that, in spite of many gos to to Scotland for work, she never truly saw the country. So, she hops in a vehicle as well as heads off to check out the country beyond just weekend work trips.

It’s funny, simple to read, as well as full of insights into Scotland, a country I like immensely. It’s a extremely great book!

— Nomadic Matt

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London is simultaneously one of the most modern cities on earth, while at the same time boasting a rich history that’s clearly visible at every turn.

Contemporary architecture sits seamlessly alongside modern high-rise buildings like the Gherkin and ancient traditions are maintained as it embraces and develops cutting edge technology.

This curious mix makes the capital city of England a fascinating place to visit and is part of the reason why it’s home to almost 9 million people. There is so much to occupy your time here that it can be hard to narrow down the options.

Here’s my guide to travelling London, England.

Table of Contents
Things To See and Do
Where to Stay
What to eat and Drink
When to Visit
How to get around London
Ready to travel to London?

Things To See and Do

Let’s start with the best part: what to see and do in London.

Do you know what’s better than great attractions? great attractions that are free.

Free Attractions in London

Self-guided walking tours featuring seven distinct routes, all mapped out for you. Whether you’d like to stroll through the suburbs, woods and parks, iconic landmarks, or something else, you can download route directions right here.

Catching free museum exhibits is a great way to save some cash. check out the British Museum, national Gallery, national portrait Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, natural history Museum, science Museum, V&A, the two Museums of London, and the British Library.

All major public events in the capital – carnivals, fairs, open theatres, and more – cost nothing to attend! You’ll find an events calendar here.

Big Ben, house of Parliament, Tower of London, Piccadilly Circus, Camden Market, Convent Garden, and small theatre performances are other free/affordable ways to soak in the city’s charms and historical richness. 

Buckingham Palace

This is where the Queen of England actually lives when she’s in London and has been home to the British royal family since 1837.

Though you can’t actually enter the grounds other than for a short period during the summer months, it’s still a spectacular building to look at from the outside.

Watching the changing of the guard at Buckingham palace is another can’t-miss tradition that won’t cost you a penny. So is the changing of the horse guards.

The changing of the horse guards happens at 11 a.m. at Whitehall, and the changing of the guard happens at 11:30 a.m. at Buckingham Palace.

The palace of Westminster & big Ben

Alternatively known as the houses of Parliament thanks to being the meeting place for the Parliament of the United Kingdom, The palace of Westminster is a grand complex overlooking the River Thames.

It’s one of the most recognizable buildings in the capital city and is also home to big Ben.

Though many people believe this to be the name of the clock tower, it actually refers to the enormous bell within it that has chimed out across the city for over 150 years.

The palace of Westminster looks particularly spectacular seen from across the river at night when its illuminated reflection appears in the River Thames.

St Paul’s Cathedral

This vast cathedral dates back to the 17th century, and its giant dome dominated the London skyline for over 200 years throughout which it remained the tallest building in the city.

Even though it has been eclipsed by the many skyscrapers that have been built over the past 40 years, it’s still one of London’s most impressive and recognizable buildings. It’s a working church and services of worship are still held here at various times each day, as well as other significant ceremonies and celebrations.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey, the church where royal coronations and burials have taken place for ages, is normally 20 GBP to visit. If you’re there to worship on Sundays, it’s free.

Visit the Art Galleries

London is home to some of the most famous and prominent art galleries in the world including the Tate Britain and its contemporary art namesake the Tate Modern, the Saatchi Gallery and the national Gallery.

You’ll find the works of virtually every leading artist on display at any one time in London making it the perfect destination for any art buff.

Even if you don’t know your Van Gogh from your Dali, many of the galleries are housed in impressive buildings and are free to enter.

The British museum & natural history Museum

Often referred to as the greatest museum in the world, the British museum has a mind-blowing collection of historical artifacts, treasures from across the globe and artwork covering a two million year period.

The natural history museum also has an impressive collection that spans even further, stretching billions of years. There’s a large collection of virtually complete dinosaur skeletons, huge amounts of information on the history and formation of the planet, as well as the most up to date learnings on the natural world, spread out across 36 galleries.

The London Eye

Constructed to mark the turn of the millennium, the London Eye was at that time the largest Ferris wheel in the world. though it’s since been surpassed in height by various developments, today it still forms a prominent part of the London skyline.

From the large glass capsules, you get a unique, uninterrupted bird’s-eye view out across London.

Tower of London

One of the most historically significant buildings in the city, the Tower of London’s 900-year narrative is as notorious as it is illustrious.

Tours are conducted by enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides who will regale you with tales of betrayal, treachery and deceit.

See the mesmerizing Crown jewels which are on display here, learn about the gruesome events that have taken place within the walls as well as the ghosts that are said to inhabit the building to this day.

Where to Stay

Put simply, London is huge and as such has a wide variety of accommodation options open to you. most of the major attractions are located within a relatively small distance of each other in the centre of the city, making central London the best location to set up base.

Bloomsbury is an ideal starting point to explore the surrounding areas. only a short walk away you’ll find the popular areas of Russell Square, Oxford street and Covent garden as well as the British museum and London’s famous West end theatre district.

There’s also an underground station in the area meaning it’s extremely convenient to get further afield as well.

If a hotel close to the center of London is more your jam, expect to spend around 100 GBP (or more) per night. In the outskirts of the city, however, that will drop to about 40 GBP.

Hostels will cost you 20-40 GBP for a dorm room, with private rooms starting at 55 GBP.

Of course, as with everywhere else, Airbnbs are huge in London. opt for an entire flat to yourself, or get to know your local host and book a room in a shared home. Click here for your Airbnb discount code. 

If you’re really on a budget, you can check out the Couchsurfing hosts in London.

No matter where you decide to stay when travelling in London, make sure it’s in a central location. You don’t want to spend your travel days on transportation when you could be out exploring the city. See more: The complete guide to London’s Neighbourhoods.

What to eat and Drink

The Borough Market and brick Lane both feature lots of food options that fall on the cheap side. Pub fare is always affordable, with fried and homestyle foods on offer. check out these best historic pubs in London.

For a high-end experience, the seven Park place at the St. James’s hotel is recommended. 

It’s described as French-cuisine-meets-the-best-British-ingredients. The food here takes inspiration from the seasons. expect to spend 58 GBP for a three-course lunch paired with wines.

Here are some dishes you won’t want to miss when visiting London.

Sunday Roast and Yorkshire Pudding – Traditionally eaten as a family meal each Sunday, this dish consists of roasted meat, vegetables and Yorkshire Pudding which is a batter cooked in the oven, all covered in a rich gravy.

Chicken Tikka Massala – Though chicken tikka masala is served up in Indian restaurants up and down the country, it was actually invented in the UK. This mildly spiced chicken in a creamy sauce has gone on to become the nation’s favourite dish.

Ale – England has a reputation for serving up warm, flat beer, and to an extent this is accurate. traditional ale is not fizzy but naturally lightly carbonated and has a slightly bitter taste.

Tea – You can’t go to England without drinking a cup of tea, a national obsession amongst Brits. English Breakfast, Earl Grey and Yorkshire Tea are some of the most popular.

Also don’t miss fish & chips, pie & mash, and a full English breakfast!

When to Visit

England has notoriously poor weather for much of the year, and though London is a year-round city, if you’re after warmer, drier weather then it’s best to visit during the summer months.

June, July, and August see warm temperatures and less rain than usual, although showers are still frequent. These months are also brighter with daylight lasting up until 9pm.

Winter between November and January sometimes sees snow, as temperatures get low and daylight hours become much shorter.

SEE ALSO: how to enjoy a cheap night Out in London’s West End

How to get around London

London is an extremely accessible city and there are various methods of getting around — when you can, try to move around by foot to avoid crowds, getting stuck in traffic, and to enjoy all of the sights along the way!

The London Underground or “tube” as it is locally referred to is an underground rail network that covers the majority of the capital and is easy to navigate.

There is also a good bus system, although it can be more tricky to work out the routes.

Within the centre you can hire self-service bicycles at docking stations across the city. There are also black cabs or taxis, but these can work out to be far more expensive than other methods of transport.

Of course, you can always just call a rideshare company, such as Uber, bolt or Ola.

Ready to travel to London?

London is a city full of history, culture, entertainment, and world-class attractions, and it’s no surprise that over 30 million people visit each year from all over the globe.

There is genuinely something here for everyone, from great restaurants, incredible architecture and classic hotels, it’s a place that you can come back to again and again and keep discovering new things.

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