The Indie Travel Podcast - Enhanced

112 - Review Roundup

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:52:37 +1200

We've had reviews on the site since its inception, but haven't done a review podcast for some time. We have, however, had a lot of review articles going up - at least one every two weeks for the past few months. In this episode, we want to talk about some of the books and gear we've reviewed and why we liked them (or otherwise). We'll also talk about some of the reviews that are coming up soon. * How to find cheap airline tickets by Elizabeth Sanberg *Make money with your travel blog by Matthew Kepnes *Spaceships *The Rough Guide to Ultimate Adventures *The Rough Guide to the World: Make the most of your time on Earth *Wanderlust and lipstick by Beth Whitman To read more or buy these products, please visit http://indietravelpodcast.com/podcast/112-review-roundup/

Starting a roadtrip: Moeraki Boulders edition

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:48:58 +1200

Our New Zealand roadtrip begins with great joy and time in Oamaru, the Moeraki boulders and then into Dunedin. For more, visit http://indietravelpodcast.com.

111 - Travel in Bilbao Spain

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:30:46 +1200

Bilbao is an attractive city set on the Nervión River. It's the capital of the Biscay province and is the largest city in the Basque Country, an autonomous community in northern Spain. Layout Bilbao was built along the Nervión River, with the Casco Viejo (old town) in a bend of the river on the east side and the famous Guggenheim museum on the west bank, but about 3km away northwards. The winding of the river makes navigation by foot a little difficult, but there's a good public transport system to help you get around. On the west side of the river, the Plaza Eliptica roundabout is a focal point for many of the parallel streets, which are mostly filled with shops. Accommodation Finding a hostel in Bilbao is little short of impossible. The major hostel-booking websites mainly list pensions and guesthouses, so it gets a bit expensive if you're travelling alone. There are two Hostelling International (HI) hostels in Bilbao, but you can't book them online - you have to phone or send an email and hope they have availability. That said, if you can get in touch with them, you'll get a bed from €13.50 a night. Budget hotel brands Formule 1 and Etap both have branches about 10km from the centre of Bilbao (in opposite directions). Formule 1 starts at €32 per night for a double, and Etap starts at €42 per night. Both are great choices for the budget if you've got a car, but a little inconvenient when using public transport. in the mid-range there are a variety of character-filled pensions and guesthouses, and the high-end hotels like Carlton, Sheraton and Novotel all have a presence if you want to splurge. For more visit http://indietravelpodcast.com

URGENT - Win a Rough Guide

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:54:00 +1200

Listen to find out how you can win one of three Rough Guides.

Christchurch, New Zealand

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:31:26 +1200

Escape Rangiora and spend an afternoon in inner-city Christchurch -- bagpipes, trams, Cathedral, markets and art galleries await.

110 - Briefcase to backpack

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:18:00 +1200

This week we delve into one of the great travel cultural divides; adult gap years/career breaks/sabbaticals and how they differ between Americans and the rest of the world. The founders of Briefcase to Backpack, Sherry Ott and Michaela Potter, talk about the traveling career break. They interview Barbara Weibel of Hole in The Donut, an American who took a six-month career break and traveled the world. She provides some travel tips and inspiration for those considering taking a traveling career break. Traveling culture Why is there such a large cultural divide between how Americans, Brits, Canadians, and Australians look at travel? Americans think travel is a two-week vacation, as that’s all their time allows away from their jobs; they don’t feel like they can leave their careers behind for any longer, or it may be detrimental to their future. However, other cultures tend to consider long-term travel a ‘rite of passage’. For the few of us (Americans) who are out there doing long-term travel, it’s rewarding and can be life-changing. It’s Michaela and Sherry’s goal to inspire others that a career break isn’t a career-defeating prospect. The social hurdlesIf you do consider taking a traveling career break, then you must be prepared to face a number of social hurdles. These can include family concerns, financial concerns, feeling like your career is at risk -- which all leads to an uncertain future. Michaela and Sherry share the reactions they faced from family and friends when they decided to take a traveling career break. Inspiring other Americans to travel Michaela and Sherry created based on their own career-break experiences. They share their personal experiences and the experiences of others in order to help other adults take the career break leap. The site covers the different stages involved in taking a career break as an adult; including contemplating a career break, preparing for long-term travel, dealing with life on the road and re-entering into the job market again. The site provides stories from a host of other Americans who have successfully taken a break from their jobs and traveled long term. Interview with Barbara Weibel Barbara is an American adult career-breaker who is featured on the site. Barbara’s career break came after a lifetime of working in jobs that didn’t satisfy her. As she describes it, she felt like the proverbial “hole in the donut” – solid on the outside, but empty on the inside. She shares the circumstances that led to her career break, how she decided where to go, and how she handled adapting to life away from the office and out on the road. Share your career break story If you have taken a career break and are interested in inspiring others to do the same then consider providing a ‘testimonial’ to Briefcase to Backpack. It’s a great way to relive your experience and help Americans add ‘career break’ to their vocabulary. Or, if you are one of those many people that are thinking about it, but can’t seem to pull the trigger, then visit Briefcase to Backpack and meet others who will convince you that it will be a rewarding, resume-building experience!

109 - Transport for travellers

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:03:11 +1200

Deciding to travel is easy. Actually working out the practicalities of getting around is a little less easy. One thing to think about when planning for travel is how you're going to get around. Not around your destination (a combination of walking, taxis and public transport will usually sort you out there), but how to get from city to city or country to country. There are a surprisingly large number of options. Walk Bike Motorbike Car Hitch Campervan Boat: ferry, cruise, yacht, canal boat .. Public bus or coach Tour bus Train Plane Other For more visit http://indietravelpodcast.com/podcast/109-transport-travellers/

Travel Talks: Season two begins...

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:00:00 +1200

We launch season two of the Indie Travel Podcast video show - Travel Talks.

108 - Travel in Paris, France

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:30:41 +1200

Paris is one of the most well-known cities in the world. It's the city of love, the city of lights, the city of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Revolution - it's one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, one of the most advertised cities, and sadly (according to Tripadvisor users) the most overrated city in Europe - perhaps because of all the press it gets. There's definitely a lot to see and do, and it isn't just those images you've seen a million times. Sure, visit the Eiffel Tower and the Arc du Triomphe, but then dive into the suburbs, get lost and discover what else Paris has to offer.

107 - A Vantastic Adventure

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:57:39 +1200

WorldNomads is looking for seven teams of Van-Tastic Adventurers to travel across Australia on a 6 week road trip of a lifetime. They'll blog, share photos and create audio and video shows that will be showcased around the world ... including right here on the Indie Travel Podcast. Today, we're speaking with Amanda Byrne from WorldNomads, Peter Burke from Travellers Auto Barn and Amanda Pressner of the Lost Girls about her travels in Australia in the WorldNomads van.

The skinny...

You'll be flown to Australia to explore your favourite piece of the country in a fully loaded camper van, with fuel money, an action packed itinerary and all the gear you’ll need to share your adventure through videos, stories and photos. You can choose where you want to go, what you want to do and, with heaps of adventurous activities thrown in for free, you’ll have lots of stories to make a mini video documentary of your adventure. The team with the most popular video will win $10,000 cash and flights from Virgin Blue.

The long story...

...heaps of laughs and lots of practical information...

Today's podcast is a weaving together of three interviews from people who really enjoy travelling in Australia. Amanda tells us everything we can do on the east coast; Peter fills us in with safety information ... especially regarding Kangaroos at dawn and dusk and Amanda tells us what it's like to crash a van belonging to an insurance company. There's heaps of laughs and lots of practical information for people planning an Aussie adventure or, more specifically, wanting some inside knowledge on their Vantastic Application. To listen to the podcast, hit the orange play button above, click here to get it for free in iTunes or click here if you use a different RSS reader or podcatcher.

To apply...

Create a two minute video about your ultimate Aussie road-trip adventure then visit the site and work your way through the simple application process.

106 - Travel around the world with Gary Arndt

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:40:32 +1200

Gary Arndt runs one of the most popular travelogue-style blogs in the world. He's one of Twitter's top 50 people and generally pretty well known around most of the internet's coolest social networks. This week we talk to him about something more important than geekery: he's on the last leg of a mammoth two year round the world trip. During this interview we discuss his travels in the Pacific, Australasia, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Oh, and his home country -- the United States. He talks about diving with jellyfish in Palau and visiting war zones in Cambodia; how to find accommodation and travel successfully without a guidebook. Gary supplies the monthly travel wallpaper, weekly photos and has also shared the best places to dive in the Pacific. Visit his site, Everything Everywhere and learn how to travel around the world.

And now for something completely different

Honor Dargan, who we told us about travel in Tokyo, Japan, is a regular guest on the Japan Podshow (iTunes) which is a fun show about travel and expat life in Japan. She's also starting a live twitter chat along with Shane Sakata. They will be available to answer all your Japan questions at Japan Discovered. Hostelbookers are celebrating their fifth birthday with five cent hostel beds and a great giveaway. WorldNomads is launching a massive Australia-wide "vantastic" road trip which we'll be talking about next week.

105 - Travel in Auckland, New Zealand

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 22 May 2009 10:28:48 +1200

Auckland, known as the "City of Sails" is New Zealand's largest city. It's surrounded by sea and is studded with volcanic mountains, and is a very pleasant place to live or visit - it ranked fourth equal in the 2009 Worldwide Quality of Living Survey. Auckland is a very spread-out city, with a land area almost equalling that of Los Angeles. It's divided into four main regions, which are autonomous cities: Auckland City, North Shore City (to the north), Waitakere City (to the west), and Manukau City (to the south). The central business district is centred around Queen Street, which runs from the harbour south (up) to Karangahape ("K") Road. Quay Street runs along the waterfront, with Viaduct Harbour at its western end and Britomart Transport Centre a little to the east of Queen Street. At the top of Queen Street, following K Road to the east will take you to to the Auckland Domain, and westwards is trendy Ponsonby. Auckland has the full range of places to stay. High-end options include the Hilton, the Stamford Plaza, and the Skycity Grand Hotel at the base of the Sky Tower. For budget hotels, try Hotel Formule 1, or see what wotif.com has to offer. There are a wide range of hostels to choose from, most of which have both dorm beds and private rooms available. Be aware that you might be charged extra for linen, as many hostels expect you to bring your own sleeping bag. As a vibrant multi-cultural city, Auckland has quality food on offer from all over the world. Takeaway options include sushi, kebabs, pizza, Chinese, Korean and a whole lot more. Make sure you drop into a dairy (convenience store) or bakery and try a hot meat pie - it's traditional. Another great cheap eat is fish and chips - you'll find a fish and chip shop in every suburb, and a feast on the beach is a great way to start the weekend. The meat in New Zealand is second-to-none, so make sure you have a juicy steak or dig into some lamb shanks if you're so inclined - animals in New Zealand have a good life before they hit your plate, so there's no guilt required. Sadly, Auckland's public transport isn't the most comprehensive, since the population density is so low. You'll be fine walking around the city, but if you want to venture further afield you're better off hiring a car. Taxis are generally safe and well-priced, though it's usually easier to call ahead for one than trying to hail one on the street. When you arrive, you'll likely arrive at the Auckland International Airport. Getting away from there is an expensive enterprise unless you get someone to pick you up. The Airbus is probably your best bet - to the city it's $15 one-way, $22 return. If you decide to brave the public transport, you'll probably be catching the bus. The train network has improved recently, but doesn't cover very much of the city. Buy your ticket for the bus from the driver - just state your destination and the driver will tell you the price. If you'll be travelling a bit, a day pass will probably save you some cash. Auckland's a city where a wander around will be rewarded. Explore posh Ponsonby, edgy Kingsland and the always-busy Viaduct, then head further afield to a suburb of your choice. Mission Bay is worth a visit, for a swim in summer or a coffee any time. There are a lot of parks to explore and relax in, or choose a beach you like the look of - Piha being the best-known surf beach. ...for more visit http://indietravelpodcast.com

104 - Travel Accommodation Options

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:25:09 +1200

When heading out on the road, you might be overwhelmed by suggestions of where to go and where to stay. I'm sure you'll have some idea of your dream destination – but once you get there, where do you sleep? There are a multitude of options, and your choice will be influenced by both your budget and your inclination. From super-budget to high-end, let's look at some of the accommodation possibilities. Roughing it As a guest Couchsurfing Take your home with you Hostel – dorm Hostel – private room Budget hotel Motel Guesthouse/pension/bed and breakfast Vacation rental House swap Hotel Wherever you choose to sleep, make sure you take advantage of what your accommodation has to offer – have a spa bath if you've got one in your hotel room, hang out in the hostel lounge or swim in the holiday park's pool. But above all, enjoy yourself!

103 - Oaxaca in the time of swine flu

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:02:47 +1200

The Amateur Traveler, Chris Christensen, usually interviews people for his podcast, but the tables have turned. In this interview, Chris tells us about his travels in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Sights to see

Oaxaca is a family-friendly city, so you'll have a good time just walking around and exploring the centre of town. The zocolo (central square) is the place to be in the evening - just show up and see what's happening. It's also a good place to have a coffee, a beer or a meal, and you might be able to find a local tour guide there, as Chris did. Two churches worth visiting are the cathedral and the Convento de Santo Domingo, and you'll find a good museum nearby as well. The Zapotec ruins just out of town are tourist drawcards, and for good reason. Chris recommends Monte Alban over Mitla, which isn't in as good condition. A good tour guide is worth the investment for the trip to Monte Alban, so that you can learn a bit of history about the Zapotec people. There are some good craft shops in the area as well, so get your guide to take you out and do your souvenir shopping there.

Food

In addition to the traditional Mexican fare of burritos, soft tacos and tamales, you should definitely try mole (mo-lay), a spicy sauce. Oaxaca is known as the "land of the seven moles", and the most popular one is a combination of chocolate and chillies, used over chicken and rice and with other savoury dishes. Moles tend to be named after colours - Rojo and Negro (red and black) both contain chocolate, but there's also Amarillo (yellow) and Verde (green). Make sure you have a cervesa (beer) or two, and try mezcal - an alcoholic drink that's similar to tequila. Coffee in Oaxaca is often drunk spiked with chillies, as is the excellent hot chocolate.

Stay

Chris recommends Hostel dal Mercado and Casa de Don Pablo Hostel, which both provide good accommodation for about US$12 per night, and are centrally located. There's a kitchen and a common room, and linen and towels are provided.

Safety

Although the swine flu is affecting tourism to Mexico at the moment, Chris doesn't advise against travel to Oaxaco. It's an affordable and interesting destination, and with fewer people travelling there, you'll be able to get some good bargains. He doesn't recommend travelling through the towns on the border of the US and Mexico at present, due to higher crime rates. You should be fine in Oaxaca, but if you're travelling through Mexico City, never hail a cab. Either get your hostel to phone for one for you, or take the subway which is cheap and efficient.

Getting there

International flights generally fly into Mexico City, which is worth exploring for a few days. From there, you can fly to Oaxaca, or catch a bus for the budget option. It'll take you about six hours, and you can choose between the plush first-class bus, or the cheaper second-class. All photos on this show are copyright Chris Christensen, used with permission.

102 - 15 essential items for a trip round the world

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 01 May 2009 23:40:50 +1200

So, you're heading off around the world. You've got everything you need - tickets, passport, your parents' approval ... Maybe. But do you have the gear to make your trip as enjoyable as possible? Run an eye down this list and make sure you're sorted.

1. A good backpack.

2. Good shoes.

3. A sleeping bag.

4. A rain jacket.

5. Thermal underwear.

6. A money belt.

7. A camera.

8. Travel adapter.

9. A padlock.

10. Ear plugs.

11. A travel towel.

12. A travel clothes line.

13. A good personalised first-aid kit.

14. A journal.

15. A pack of cards.

How to subscribe to podcasts in iTunes

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:32:43 +1200

This screencast walks you through the easy steps to subscribe to a podcast in iTunes. The example site is the Lonely Planet award-winning Indie Travel Podcast - http://indietravelpodcast.com

101 - To Queensland from the World

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:47:40 +1200

The final sixteen candidates for the best job in the world - a six month stint in the Great Barrier Reef - are about to fly to Hamilton Island for their final interviews. We caught up with Juweon Kim from South Korea, Magali Heuberger from the Netherlands and Clarke Gayford from New Zealand to talk to them about the position and their chances of becoming the island caretaker. In January, Tourism Queensland announced this position: living on Hamilton Island, flying and boating around the Great Barrier Reef, feeding the fish while diving ... all for a cool AUD$150,000 -- around US$100,000. Over 34,000 applicants tried their hand and over the last few months this number was whittled down to 50 then 16. Juweon Kim is one of the short-listed applicants. Born in South Korea, he grew up in the States and currently works as a radio journalist. An avid golfer, he's keen to hit the links as soon as he arrives. Magali Heuberger has travelled through Europe as well as Turkey and Cuba. She's a photographer from the Netherlands that has also worked in PR and Communications. We talk with Magali about the dive stunt she pulled: her first SCUBA dive in the middle of a busy Amsterdam square. Clarke Gayford is a radio and TV presenter from New Zealand. As part of his application he went swimming with sharks ... not a bad effort either! He's been able to fund his travels through his TV work and is looking forward to showcasing the Great Barrier Reef. His girlfriend, Hollie, makes a mean carrot cake too. This episode is sponsored by: BootsnAll.com

100 - Homecoming - Three years of indie travel

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:10:28 +1200

Today, the Indie Travel Podcast celebrates its 100th episode, and Craig and Linda celebrate their homecoming after three years of full-time travel. We decided to mark the occasion with a recap of our travels, and the life so far of ITP. So where have we been in these three and a bit years? 2006 February: South Island road trip (New Zealand) March: Hong Kong, Macau, and England March-August: Malta, and a holiday in Corfu (Greece) August-September: Sicily, Rome and North Italy September: Crazy Eurail trip through Switzerland, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands October-December: St Albans (England) December: Prague (Czech Republic) 2007 January: Scotland with family, Canterbury (England) and Paris (France) February: Italy, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia March: Austria April: Wales, England, Ireland and Austria May: Czesky Krumlov (Czech Republic), Austria, England and Scotland June: Belgium, Italy and Austria July: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland August: Bursa and Istanbul (Turkey), England, West Highland Way (Scotland) September: Italy and Austria October: Austria, Romania and Serbia November: Croatia, Austria and England December: Malta and Germany 2008-2009 January: Seven countries in seven days – but mostly Germany, Austria and England February: Turkey, England and Austria March: Camino de Santiago (Spain) April: Spain, Portugal, England, Bulgaria, Turkey, Switzerland, Germany May: France and England June: Isle of Wight (England) and Spain July-August: Hastings (England) September: Scotland, England, Malaysia and Australia September 2008-March 2009: Perth (Australia) March-April 2009: Aussie trip, home to Auckland (New Zealand) The birth of a podcast During our travels, we realised that we'd learned a fair bit about how to travel well, and decided to share our new knowledge with the world. We started the podcast during our time in St Albans, and introduced articles, videos and the enhanced version during our time on the Isle of Wight. It's grown pretty steadily since then, and last month won the Best Travel Podcast category of the Lonely Planet Travel Blog Awards. We're planning to continue travelling, and of course to continue with the podcast. We hope you'll join us for the rest of the journey!

099 - Mad Tokyo - Travel with an expat

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:33:45 +1200

Tokyo, Japan is a city of teeming millions, high speed rail and higher speed internet access. Years of history and modern development make Tokyo an exciting destination and, dreaming of going ourselves, we wanted to talk with someone who knew it well. This week we talk with Honor Dargan of Tokyotopia.com. Honor is a British ex-pat who has lived in Tokyo since 2001 and has written her own online city guide: Tokyo made simple. Tokyotopia is currently running a Tokyo video competition to which we're contributing a prize pack. We talk about: * Life as an expat * The visa application process for long-term travel * Arriving in Tokyo and getting from airport to city * The mythical communication problem faced by English speakers * Exploring historic and side-street Tokyo * Climbing Mt Fuji * Day trips from Tokyo If exploring Asia is your idea of a good time, check out the Mekong River semester program offered by Where There Be Dragons. SPONSOR: WorldNomads.com

098 - Road trip redux

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:06:15 +1300

In our recent road-trip episode, we mostly talked about planning for car journeys. Since then, we've headed out on the road ourselves (though certainly not for the first time) and have learnt a bit more. Last time, we discussed planning your trip, stocking up on food and drink, and considering on-road factors such as your daily itinerary and who you're travelling with. In this episode we take our recent road-trip as a case study and examine what worked and what could have been better. Our trip Having decided six months was enough time to spend in any city, we headed out of Perth on a Friday afternoon with Craig's dad and stepmother. Packing up a house and leaving on a road trip straight from your last day at work does tend to add a little stress to the equation, but the first destination, Margaret River, was enough of an incentive to make up for it. Our plan was to spend three nights in Margaret River, exploring the region before heading 400km east to Albany on the fourth day. Then we'd have two nights in Albany and drive north again to Perth, perhaps spending a night somewhere along the way. And then we'd be dropped at the airport and Craig's parents could spend a bit more time in Perth while we headed to Adelaide. What went well Quite a lot went well, actually. The pre-trip planning focussed on accommodation and planning a route, but we left the actual daily activities out of the equation altogether. There were four of us on the trip, perhaps the perfect number for a road trip, and the car was a good size - comfortable for the people in the back and with plenty of room in the boot for our bags. We pre-booked most of our accommodation, which meant we knew where we were sleeping and how much we were paying for it - accommodation costs can throw out any budget! Plus since we'd visited the websites of the places we were staying, and had discussed the choices between all travellers before booking, we all had a good idea what to expect. Each morning we discussed what we wanted to do and planned a rough itinerary, with plenty of flexibility for spontaneous stops. We shared the driving pretty evenly among the three drivers, and stopped whenever someone expressed an interest in stopping. Plus we prepared CDs to listen to with a variety of music on them, which eliminated the problem of listening to static while trying to find a local radio station. What could have been better Our sat nav left a lot to be desired in almost all features of its design, and we hadn't provided ourselves with the most useful of maps. Or perhaps the navigators just needed a little more training. Whatever the reason, we got a little lost a couple of times, but it didn't bother us too much. However, not knowing the opening times of local attractions did cause a little hassle - we turned up at one winery well before opening time, and arrived at Jewel Cave 45 minutes before the next tour. And there wasn't a lot to do there to fill time. We also missed out on a couple of things because we were running out of time, but I think that's going to happen on any trip. On the whole, it was a successful trip, made successful by planning routes and accommodation in advance, but not overplanning things to do along the way. Since it was a short trip, this technique worked well, but planning so rigidly might ruin a longer trip.

097 - Best travel iphone apps

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:54:47 +1300

iPhone, iPod touch or laptop? Are iPhones good for travel? And if they are what are the best iphone apps for travellers? Craig, Linda and Kev from Winging it Around the World talk tech in this episode of the Indie Travel Podcast. A laptop is not the best travel companion: it's big, heavy and valuable. You don't want to be worried about damage or theft while you're exploring the forests of South East Asia or the stormy streets of Iceland. You want to be connected but not burdened by the technology you travel with. Kev is about to set off on a round-the-world trip with his partner Lucy and they've decided to downsize to a iPod touch. At first they considered an iPhone, but data rates are expensive to start with and global roaming rates would bankrupt anyone. They've passed up the 3g connection and the GPS satellite navigation for the cheaper iPod Touch and its wifi internet connection. Both have a wide touchscreen and access to the iTunes application store. In his first podcast, Kev talks about his top ten applications for travellers and, here, we talk about the top three. Top iPhone apps for Travellers * Traverter * WorldNomads Language Packs * Rosyn Guides You can find Kev and Lucy at Winging it round the World or their podcast in iTunes. You can get a free subscription there and sign up for the Indie Travel Podcast on iTunes too. http://wingingitroundtheworld.com What do you think about travellers, laptops and smart phones? What iPhone applications would you recommend for Kev and Lucy as they set out on a round the world trip? Let us know in the comments. This episode of the Indie Travel Podcast is sponsored by WorldNomads.com

096 - Planning a road trip

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:00:00 +1300

Going on a road trip is a great way to see a country - you cover a lot of ground and you come across things you'd find on an organised tour. It's an especially good way to see your own country inexpensively. Planning It's worth putting a bit of effort into planning, but don't overdo it. A lot of the fun of road trips is the spontaneity that's possible - if you plan every minute of every day, the holiday can turn into a chore. First choose a general direction and consider some of the places you might like to stop along the way. With a group of people, each nominate one thing you really want to do, and plan your direction around these few things. Travelling with a tent in the car opens up a lot of options when it comes to accommodation - you can pull into a holiday park, camp on a friend's lawn, or camp wild where it's legal. Plus you always have the option of checking into a hostel or motel if the weather is inclement. Have some information with you in the car as well - a map is essential, but a map with campsites or hostels marked on it is gold. We usually have a tourist guide to the region we're touring for some light bedtime reading as well. Tourist hotspots can be booked up if you're there at the wrong time, so having a few numbers to call before you arrive can save a lot of stress. Stocking up Yes, it's important to have snacks in the car, but think carefully about what you want to eat - avoid the big low that comes after a sugar high by eating sweets in moderation. A bag of local fruit is a good alternative to lollies - just make sure you have a rubbish bag handy for peelings and cores. To avoid arguments, it might be worth creating individual snack bags with equal amounts of different snacks in them - this tip is not just for travelling with kids! When choosing drinks, think about the sugar and caffeine content. You might want a pick-me-up, but do you want the several extra toilet breaks? Water and juice are usually good options for any trip - keep the coffee for the coffee break. On the road Who are you going to travel with? Three or four people is an ideal number in terms of budget - you can split on-road costs and it makes it cheaper for everyone. More than four in a regular car is too much of a squeeze - get a van or take two cars. Also be aware that the more people you have with you, the less you're likely to see. Make sure you see what you want to see and leave some space in your itinerary for spontaneous decisions. And most of all, have a good time!

095 - Travel in Vilnius, Lithuania

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:38:32 +1300

While Lithuania might not be the first country one thinks of when travelling to Europe, its capital Vilnius is definitely worth a stop. It's the European capital of culture for 2009, and for good reason - Vilnius is packed with character. A long and turbulent history has resulted in an edgy, engaging city. Vilnius is a river city which can be considered in terms of the old town, Uzupis and the new business developments. Most of the old town was a Jewish ghetto during World War Two and it contains the town square plus many historical buildings and beautiful churches. Cathedral Square is a major landmark as is Gedeminas hill. Uzupis is a break-away republic within the capital itself; sit with a Baltic beer by the little river and watch all the artists and other denizens get together for a quiet drink themselves. Food in Vilnius, at least as we experienced it, was hearty, filling and basic: beef and potatoes feature heavily. Maybe we missed something, but years of war, occupation and want seems to have left Vilnius with a cuisine focussed on enjoying the simple things. Of course, the usual range of European- and Asian-style foods are available at restaurants throughout the city. If you like walking, you'll find the tourist-friendly areas of Vilnius to be quite accessible by foot. Wandering around the streets and squares is a great way to spend your day: you'll run into markets, little churches and strange combinations of modern and soviet-era design almost everywhere. Buses and trolley-buses create a low-cost network that runs through the city. Buying tickets from a newspaper kiosk will save you a little and also save you having to deal with the bus drivers; like everywhere they can be a bit scary if you meet the wrong one. Taxis are reasonably priced; like everywhere in the world, don't get into a taxi with a dodgy driver. At the start and end of the day traffic jams are common, even in such a small city, so walking is definitely advised then. The old town contains most of Vilnius's free attractions, and the Gate of Dawn is a good place to start. It's the last of the original town gates, and while it's plain from the outside, the inside is ornate and beautiful. In the old town, there's the Archcathedral Basilica, which contains a beautiful chapel of St Casimir. In the square outside the Cathedral, see if you can find the lucky wishing tile with the word "miracle" written on it in Lithuanian ("stebuklas"). Apparently if you stand on it, make a wish and turn around three times, your wish will come true. There are a lot of other beautiful churches to see, including St Ann's, and St Peter's and Paul's, and of course a visit to the Frank Zappa statue is a must, but the best free attraction is Uzupis - a breakaway republic within the city. Gediminas castle is a well-restored tower, and provides the best view of Vilnius, situated as it is on a hill behind Cathedral Square. You can walk up or take the funicular. The Lithuanian National Museum is also worth a visit, as is the Museum of Genocide Victims, located in the former KGB headquarters. 25km north of Vilnius is the "centre of Europe", and if you think that's worth the trip you should also see the rather overpriced European Park, which is full of sculptures by more than 70 artists. There's always something happening in Vilnius. There's a book fair in February, the huge Kaisiukas fair in March each year, and the Vilnius arts festival in June. August and September seem filled with celebrations, fireworks, concerts, raves and film festivals, and like most European cities, Vilnius has Christmas markets each year. Plus, basketball is the sport du jour, so if you're in Vilnius during the season, catch a basketball game and soak up the electric atmosphere.

094 - Tread lightly

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:51:00 +1300

Years ago, the concept of eco-tourism was little more than a dream in a hippie's eye. But the movement gained momentum, and has now passed through popularity and out the other side. Now, everyone wants to be seen to be green. But appearance isn't the same as genuinely good for the environment. Tour companies greenwash their tours so they seem eco-friendly when actually they are the same as they were last year, and consumers choose a “green holiday,” because it makes them feel better, not because it's something they believe in. People throw money at schemes promising to “offset your carbon footprint”, but don't investigate where that money is going, and airlines introduce such schemes to improve their image. There are a lot of ways to make your trip a bit more eco-friendly, which will not only help the environment, but will increase your enjoyment and the enjoyment of others with you or following you. It doesn't matter what sort of trip you're taking, there are some things you can do. Camping is a great way to interact with the local environment. It's cheap, it's easy, and there's often some fantastic views to be had just around the next corner. It isn't difficult to minimise your impact on the often unspoiled natural beauty of popular camping spots, just take your rubbish with you and don't light any fires – if you do light fires, use existing fire pits wherever possible and follow fire-safety procedures. Also, use biodegradable soap and go to the toilet away from water sources. If you're backpacking, you're sure to stay in a shared environment occasionally. You can make this environment more pleasant for all concerned by thinking about the others around you – don't just think about what's good for you, consider how others might like to live. Most people don't really enjoy having to wade through other people's belongings, or to see a random stranger's undies in the middle of the room. For hostel-dwellers, please don't spray on your cheap deodorant in the dorm room – some of these “scents” are almost toxic, and can frustrate the efforts of people trying to breathe. On a similar note, be quiet when you come in late at night, so others can enjoy an uninterrupted night's sleep. One of the biggest ways you can tread lightly in a hotel is to reduce the amount of laundry you create in terms of linen and towels requiring washing after you use them. So, stay longer. If you stay for one night, all your linen must be washed. But if you stay a little longer, they don't need to wash everything. Most hotels change the towels daily, but there's a growing movement against this policy. You'll often see a sign in the bathroom giving you the choice – if you want fresh towels, throw your old ones in the bath or shower, and if you're happy to reuse, hang your towel on the rack. It goes without saying that choosing the latter is the greener option. Tourism is often a large part of a nation's income, but with huge tour companies, sometimes as little as 10% of the money you spend stays in the country. Plus, it's cheaper to buy local. Or use Responsibletravel.com – they book the local tours for you. Or you could try a volunteer holiday – donate some of your time into improving the place you're visiting. There are a lot of options to choose from – teach English, work in an orphanage, or do farm work like WWOOF– Willing workers on organic farms. Make sure you buy your souvenirs from local market stalls, and not at the airport where you'll get charged triple the price and the producer will get even less of your money. Of course, feel free to give a donation to a carbon-offset scheme. But you might be better giving your donation to a local forest preservation group, who will keep you informed about the state of your personal source of air.

093 - The twichhiker

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 02:18:04 +1300

Paul Smith hails from Newcastle upon Tyne, England but he's hoping to get as far away from there as possible. He calculates the furthest landmass is tiny Campbell Island, south of New Zealand. It doesn't seem too difficult, but Paul is attempting to do this in 30 days. And he's "hitch-hiking" by only accepting offers of transport and accommodation from users of a social media site called Twitter. The rules are simple: *I can only accept offers of travel and accommodation on Twitter, from users who are following @twitchhiker This means if a Twitterer’s sister’s boyfriend’s father has a spare train ticket, I can’t use it; the help the person has to be a Twitter user, and they have to be able to directly action the offer of help. This may be too restrictive, but I want to draw on the support of the Twitter community, not to use Twitter as a search engine to find third party services. *I can’t make any plans further than three days in advance It’s entirely possible that before I begin this challenge, I could have my entire route pre-determined and that would be no fun at all. So unless an offer of transport or accommodation is made within 72 hours of it being applicable, I can’t accept it. Damn. * I can only spend money on food, drink and anything that might fit in my suitcase All travel and accommodation must be offered to me through Twitter. If I can’t, then I’m sleeping rough. *If there’s more than one offer on the table, I get to choose which I take. If there’s only one, I have to take it within 48 hours. I’m not entirely happy about this bit. If any part of this challenge is going to see me dead in a ditch or under a patio, it’s this part. * If I’m unable to find a way to move on from a location within 48 hours, the challenge is over and I go home. I hope my fellow Twitterers won’t let that happen. SOURCE: Twitchhiker.com Getting past the press We wanted to get past the press and talk with the twitchhiker himself. During the interview we discuss his motivation, the charity he's supporting and the trip itself. Click the play button at the top of this post to hear it, or subscribe in iTunes and download it for free. You can help the Twitchhiker by: Following him on twitter and offering transport and accommodation http://twitter.com/twitchhiker Making a donation to charity:water http://justgiving.com/twitchhiker Reading about his journey on Twichhiker.com http://twitchhiker.com You can also find us on twitter and plenty of other social media sites. http://indietravelpodcast.com/contact NOTE: The chance to speak with Paul came through at the last minute, after we had already recorded this week's show. So next week we'll also talk about some of the same things and, strangely, call it show 93. We know ... thanks in advance.

092 - Travel in Perth, Australia

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:43:28 +1300

Besides its location, Perth has a lot going for it. It's friendly, hot, and has a huge range of events in summer, not to mention the many year-round free attractions. Layout The CBD is spread along the River Swan where you'll also find the Esplanade and Bell Tower complex. Like most cities in Australia, Perth spreads into surrounding suburbs which seem to continue forever. To the north of the CBD, you'll find the party and restaurant suburb Northbridge. Beyond that are the two cafe and fashion regions of Mt Lawley and Leederville. If there are no events happening, these areas are much more lively than the city centre. Accommodation We've been to review a few hostels around the city and those in the city suburbs seem to be nicer than those right in the middle of town. Three that caught our eye were Billabong Resort, Witch's Hat and Emperor's Crown. The word "hotel" on the side of a building is not a guarantee of accommodation. Throughout Australia, but particularly noticeable here, a hotel is actually a pub. There are also a lot of B&Bs to choose from, but make sure you look into transport options before you book one, as it might be far removed from the city centre. Chains like Hilton, Hyatt, Holiday Inn, Mercure all have 4.5 and 5 star hotels in Perth. Food Australia's food is based on its colonial British foundations but then spiced up by its closeness to Asia and the large Italian, Greek and other European communities. Perth is no different and a full variety of food can be found. Once again, the suburbs outdo the CBD with Northbridge, Leederville and, to a lesser extent, Mt Lawley serving great dishes in small, friendly restaurants. Han's cafe is somewhere to look out for: they have dozens of locations and serve good, cheap food from a variety of Asian countries. Or try Siena's for Italian fare. Perth's real glory isn't its food, it's the drink. Two micro-breweries are really top notch: Little Creatures, based in Fremantle, has a cafe that's perfect for Sunday brunch, and Feral Breweries in the Swan Valley is a worthwhile stop during a winery tour. If you are going wine-tasting, we recommend Houghtons for their gardens, Upper Reach for the quality and range of their wines, and Jane Brook for their service and fantastic gold-leaf wine. Transport Transport in Perth is constantly being upgraded, and the current system is mostly efficient and well-priced. The train network especially is great: the trains are clean, they run on time, and the price is fair. If only it was more extensive, it'd be perfect. Attractions - free There's a wealth of free things to do in Perth. Start with Kings Park – have a picnic or explore the gardens, which have plants from all over Australia. Take a walk along the banks of the Swan River and go shopping in the city malls or Harbourtown. Jump on the CAT buses for a free city tour, but jump off to visit the museum, the art gallery, and to hear the Swan Bells ring on the hour down by the jetty. Beachlovers will enjoy Cottesloe and Scarborough, and partygoers will find all they need in Northbridge. Plus you can go wine tasting in the Swan Valley, walking in the Perth Hills, or shopping at the Fremantle markets. Attractions - paid If you didn't find enough to do for free, never fear. The Perth mint should tide you over while you plan your trips slightly further afield. Within an hour, there's AQWA – the aquarium of WA; Penguin Island – a chance to see some cute penguins and lazy sealions; and Caversham Wildlife Park – a really good place to see Australian animals. Rottnest Island is a 90-minute ferry trip from the city, but well worth the journey. Attractions - seasonal Perth is also full of seasonal attractions. Summer is the best time for events and festivals, but there's usually something happening – check out www.perth.wa.gov.au for upcoming events. For further shownotes and other free guides please visit http://indietravelpodcast.com

091 - UK travel-consumer issues

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:52:24 +1300

Travel can be tough. Ever wondered what other people are ranting about? In this inteview Craig speaks with Darren Cronian of Travel Rants to find out what's going on the world of UK travel rights and consumer issues. They discuss: Darren's site and focus Short-term European travel from the UK Single supplements on travel packages Budget airlines and charges Changes to law regarding UK travel insurance Hot locations for UK travellers in 2009 We finish the interview by speaking about UK travel destinations outside of London. Darren suggests Leeds for a weekend city break with excellent shopping options. Nearby York is also popular with its historical elements. Both are just a short train journey from London, but book tickets in advance to avoid extortionate prices. Use either as a gateway city to head further north to Glasgow or Edinburgh. Scotland's largest city and its capital are both excellent places to explore.

090 - Win the best job in the world

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 21:57:12 +1300

The "best job in the world" or the "island reef job" is a position being offered by Tourism Queensland. The successful applicant will be flown to Australia and given the use of a three-bedroom house on the Whitsunday Islands. Over the next six months you will maintain a blog, work with photos, video and audio to share the offerings of the Great Barrier Reef with the world. For your trouble you'll take home AUD$150,000 -- about US$96,000. I think you can see why it's being touted as the best job in the world. Competition is tough though. As we publish this over 10,500 applications have been made by video upload to the official site. There's still sixteen days to go before the cut-off date. In this podcast we speak to Nicole McNaughton, the PR manager for the project. She talks us through the position and we squeeze some advice for potential applicants out of her. We want to wish our interviewees and you, our listeners, all the best with your application for the best job in the world. Good luck...and make sure you let us interview you when you're all big and famous! Visit http://indietravelpodcast.com for links and further notes.

089 - Travel toiletries: slim down in 2009

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:11:06 +1300

Toiletries are one of the heaviest items you'll pack, and most of it is dead weight – you're carrying it, but you're not using it. Don't make the mistake of emptying your bathroom cupboard into your toiletry kit! There are quite a few ways to cut down on your toiletries, but the most important is to be ruthless; don't carry anything you don't use regularly. Buy a smaller toiletry bag to help you cut down and if you have a travel companion, don't double up – have your own toothbrush and disposable razor, but share everything else. Whatever you do, steer clear of electric items – they're bulky and you might have trouble finding an outlet. That means no hair straighteners, girls! Another bulky item is your towel – pick up a mini one at a camping store and you'll suddenly have a lot more space. In terms of actual items, don't bother with mini-sized items, but don't carry more than you'll use. A mini shampoo is great for a weekend away, but if you're planning long-term travel, a 200ml 2-in-1 shampoo is a great investment – it's got enough in it to last a few weeks, but won't take up too much space. Plus, you can use it for everything – hair, body and clothes. And don't forget the deodorant – a roll-on one will probably be smaller and last longer than a spray-on. And you won't smell out the hostel dorm room! So what do you actually pack in that toiletries kit of yours? *Toothbrush *Toothpaste *Dental floss (this is really handy for other uses as well – think minty-fresh string) *Camp Suds (or 2-in-1 shampoo) *Razor *Shaving gel *Comb *Roll-on deodorant *Hair ties (for girls – don't underestimate the value of a hairtie. Even for guys, a few rubber bands might come in handy) *Girls – enough sanitary equipment for your whole next period (but no more) *Any other essentials (contact lens solution, moisturiser) First Aid And what about your medical kit? It's important to have a first-aid kit with you on any sort of travel, but adapt it for the circumstances. A mountain biking expedition in the Andes is going to need different gear than a city-hopping bus trip. A general list then: *Any medicine you personally need – enough for the whole trip if possible. If not, research availability in the places you're going and take enough for the first month *Any medicine necessary for the destination e.g. malaria tablets *A few band-aids *Antiseptic cream *A sewing kit *Thick tape (for larger wounds or wrapping Christmas pressies) *Hand sanitizing gel *A small pack of tissues (to double as toilet paper if necessary) *A few cotton pads for wounds *One blister pack of ibuprofen (painkiller with anti-inflammatory properties) – don't take the extra-strong one with codeine as codeine is illegal in some countries (eg Greece) *Four anti-diarrhea tablets *One other item – we always have a few strepsils and eyedrops – maybe pack three or four of each of these items if they're something you use regularly but not often. *Condoms

088 - Travel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 19:33:24 +1300

Kuala Lumpur is a bustling international city and the capital of Malaysia. Sometimes described as "Asia lite" this is a great place to accustom yourself to the bustle of an Asian city and is a perfect jumping-off point to further explore South East Asia. With quite modern and efficient infrastucture, it's a city for everyone, but a particularly useful gateway for those feeling a little uneasy about haggling in markets and squat toilets. Layout KL is a sprawling mess and no brief description will really help. Pick up a map from the tourist information centres but be aware that the different maps you can get may be aligned differently. Accommodation The full range of accommodation is available in KL, from the Couchsurfing network, to hostels, to high-end hotels. It's worth investing in a room with air-conditioning, since the weather is uniformly hot and muggy. Food A huge range of food is available in KL – from street hawkers to five-star restaurants. Every major Asian cuisine is well represented and American fast-food and Australian coffee chains help give a reminder of home to Western tastebuds. Alcohol is relatively expensive, even in supermarkets, but the supermarkets are great for stocking up on drinks and breakfast foods. Eat out for lunch and dinner though – food courts and street stalls are cheaper than self-catering. Transport Public transport system is quite good, if sometimes a little infrequent. There's a network of buses, trains and a monorail, which all use different tickets – the best idea is to buy a ticket before each journey. If you're going to be there for a month or more you can get an integrated ticket, but there isn't one for daily or weekly use. Attractions – free In the city, the Petronas Towers are worth a visit. The Golden Triangle is the region for high-class shopping, and Chinatown and Little India boast tourist markets and ethnic restaurants. So head to Chow Kit for the local food markets, or the Central Market for high quality Malaysian souvenirs. An hour or so out of the city by bus are the impressive Batu Caves. There's an immense staircase leading to a cavernous cave at the top. Attractions – seasonal The Batu Caves are also the home of Thaipusam in Malaysia -- it's one of KL's best-known seasonal attractions. In January or February each year tens of thousands of tourists come to watch over a million Hindu devotees celebrate this ancient rite in KL. Chinese New Year is another big event for KL happening in late January through to mid-February each year. Unsurprisingly the celebrations centre around Petaling street and Chinatown. There are three massive shopping events each year; people fly in from all over the place in March, May and December. These massive sales were designed by the tourism industry to help KL boost its profile as an international shopping destination. And it sure works! Attractions – paid The Menara KL Tower is the place to go for high views of the city, but the Bukit Bintang forest at its base is also worth a visit; regular tours are given and there's the chance of seeing some amazing Malaysian wildlife right in the centre of town. The Aquaria KLCC is right next to the Petronas towers and is a huge complex with thousands of species of fish. Guidebooks * Lonely Planet Kuala Lumpur Melaka & Penang; * Lonely Planet Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei; * Lonely Planet South East Asia on a Shoestring. * DK Eyewitness Travel Guides Malaysia and Singapore * Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei. Where to next? * Rest of Malaysia * Borneo * Singapore * South East Asia Something to note By law, visitors must carry their passports at all times. Spot checks may be carried out to deal with illegal immigrants. This is *very unlikely to happen to you but there have been some unfortunate instances when people have not been able to produce a passport immediately.

087 - European visas for newbies

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:27:08 +1300

Europe is a great place to visit – there's a lot to see and it's easy to get around. If you travel to the UK, it's only a short hop across the channel to France, which is bordered by Germany. And Spain. And ... well, you get the idea. If you want to explore Europe, but you're not sure which visas you need, you should find all the answers in this episode. When travelling to Europe, you'll first need to check if you need a visa. If you live in the EU, you won't need a visa to travel within the EU or in most other countries in Europe. If you live anywhere else in the world, you might or might not need a visa. Visa waivers There are many places where you can get by without a visa, using the visa waiver programme. If this is the case — and we'll tell you when it is — you don't need anything but your passport. Although visa waivers exist, you may still be asked about your plans and be asked to provide proof of means or a return ticket at any border control. Border guards in Europe are generally friendly and professional, but remember they have the right to search your belongings, refuse you entry or even arrest you if they suspect something untoward. Dual citizenship If you or one of your parents were born in a country other than the one you have citizenship with, you can probably get a passport from that country. There's huge advantages to doing this, since you can choose which passport to travel on. If one country requires a visa for entry and the other doesn't, you can choose to travel on the passport that doesn't need a visa. However, there can be issues surrounding having dual nationality. You might have obligations or responsibilities in the second country that you don't know about - for example, if you're over 18 and a male Greek citizen, you should perform military service. Some countries deem it illegal to have two nationalities. Japan, for example - if you are Japanese and get a passport from a second country, you have effectively renounced your Japanese citizenship. However, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the UK and the US allow dual citizenship. Be aware that if you're American and you have a second passport, you must enter the US on your US passport. Nationals of about half the countries in the world can visit the UK for up to six months without a visa. This includes NZ, Australia, Canada, South Africa and the US, however citizens of some countries require one. Visit www.ukvisas.gov.uk to see if you need a visa and what sort. You cannot work if you enter the UK using the visa waiver programme. Shengen One of the factors that makes travel in Europe more doable is the existence of the Schengen zone – a group of countries that have agreed to share a common border. This means that if you can enter one Schengen country, you can enter them all. The Schengen zone is not the same thing as the European Union. Most countries in the Schengen zone are also in the EU, but the UK and Ireland are EU members but not Schengen, and Iceland and Norway are Schengen but not EU. And Switzerland isn't a member of the EU either, despite its very central location, but has recently joined the Schengen zone – it's implementing changes at the moment. Other countries have expressed an interest in joining the zone, so this list is subject to change. Work and travel visas If you want to explore Europe long-term and don't have the cash to pay for two years of travel, a work and travel (or work and holiday) visa might be what you're after. They're usually valid for one or two years, and you can work for up to half of that time (i.e. six months or a year). There are lots of options around, but make sure you check the small print before you apply. Remember that countries change their immigration policies often, so use this information as a guide only. Check with your embassy for up-to-date visa information. A lot of this information came from Craig's ebook, Travelling Europe, which is available from http://indietravelguides.com.

086 - Plan your 2009 travel

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:17:22 +1300

The credit crunch is causing many people to tighten their belts and cut back on non-essentials. It may seem to follow that we should all be travelling less in 2009. However, an economic downturn can be one of the best times to travel. When the economy is bad at home, living or travelling in a cheaper country might actually be a way to save money. If there aren't as many jobs to go around in your city, find one in a completely different part of the world; have a fantastic experience and escape the moans and groans of the financial analysts. If you don't want to work away, now's a good time to be a tourist too - since more people are cutting back on travel, many tourist hot-spots are experiencing a drop in visitor numbers. There are less tourists around, which means there are bargains to be had if you're brave enough to ignore the nay-sayers. Travel is possible on almost any budget, and in any economic climate, but you need to prepare if it's going to happen; now's the time to start planning your 2009 travel itinerary. Set goals, make a schedule, and sort out a budget to start the ball rolling. Goal setting First, dream. Think about what you'd like to do and where you'd like to go. Write everything down, and don't worry if it isn't realistic. Some of the things you write will have to be scheduled for another year, but many will be possible now. Next, plan a trip away for every month of the year, using the dreams you've just written down as a starting point. Plan at least one longer journey, but in the other months a trip away could be as simple as an overnight at Grandma's or a camping trip with friends. Going home for Christmas counts too. Sleep away at least once every thirty days, and if you're worried about accommodation costs, try couchsurfing. Join the network and you can stay on couches all around the world for free. Not only do you get free accommodation, but you'll be staying with someone who lives in the area you've landed in, and who will probably be more than happy to advise you about what to see and do. These mini-trips are easy to plan, mostly involving pulling out a map or checking a bus timetable. But plan at least one longer trip as well - it could be as short as a week or as long as the whole year. Either way, longer trips require more consideration and planning. You'll need to think about transport, accommodation and budget, as well as smaller details like insurance and vaccinations. Set goals and then create steps for reaching each goal. ....See more at http://indietravelpodcast.com

085 - Internet telephony for travellers

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:48:15 +1300

This week brings in the new year and we're glad to welcome Sasha Zahn from Yankee in New World as our guest podcaster. Sasha tells us all about internet telephone services (VOIP) for travellers. During her sojourn in Hungary she's tried all the major players and here outlines the pros and cons of each one.

Skype.com

Upsides:

Lots of different services.
Subscription payment plans are available outside the US.
A Skype In number allows people to call your computer from any normal phone.

Skype Out allows you to call from your computer to any normal phone.
You can forward calls to the landline, in case you miss it, but not recommended if you aren't staying in your own home/hotel room.

Downsides:

Call quality can be very spotty - you've heard how bad it can be sometimes.
You need to have a microphone and speakers or buy a headset or Skype phone.
You are yoked to the computer.
There's no web-based interface. You must download the programme for each computer you use.

Free Call

Upsides:

Sound quality is better than Skype.
Much cheaper to have longer conversations, say if you were calling home.
Phone2Phone service - Using the program you DL, can type in the landline number of you where you are staying, and the phone # u wish to call, and your landline will ring.

Downsides:

If you let your 90 free days expire, then standard rates apply, not the 5 cent rate.
If the other person isn't there, 5 cents is charged anyway, but it is not a big loss, as getting through to voicemail on a Skype Out phone call is about the same.
My friend said that sometimes she feels like they charged her for more calls, but I have never had that issue. I think they were trying to call UK mobiles, which can use a lot of credit.

Jajah.com

With Jajah, there is no program to download. Simply go to Jajah.com site, and sign up for an account. Upsides:

Two methods of calling: by web interface or on the phone. Available without downloading a program, in case you are on a shared or public computer
You can check rates for the country you are dialing from/ to here: http://www.jajah.com/prices/

Downsides:

Prices tend to be higher than Skype/ Freecall You must check prices individually; calling to or from different places has different rates.

Rebtel.com

My favorite VOIP service. Like Freecall, can use your regular phone; like JaJah, it's all web based -- there's no program to download. Rebtel works like JaJah phone - by assigning local numbers to international ones. Upsides:

You use credit like with the other programs - and it will charge you by the minute
You can call your friend with the local number then have them call you back on the number that displays. You can talk for FREE!
Don't Hang up, though: just let them hang up and call u back. This trick only works for certain countries.
Great sound quality.
One of the cheapest ways to call cell phones.
Automatically how much it will cost per minute.

Downsides:

Um...
No voicemail or extra services.

Conclusion

For anyone with a business, I would recommend Skype. For those who want land lines only and slightly cheaper prices, Free Call. For travelers, JaJah. For expats, and travelers alike, Rebtel.

084 - Travel at Christmas

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:50:34 +1300

A lot of travel goes on around Christmas and New Year's - people head home to spend time with family, or meet friends somewhere in their own country. But Christmas is also a great time to experience the wider world. So, why travel at Christmas? Visit family far far away Most people have family living abroad - what better time to catch up with them than at Christmas? Or perhaps you're the person far far away - you could arrange to meet your family in some random location for a family Christmas you'll never forget. Get away from family By the same token, most of us have spent many, many Christmases at home, having the same arguments and eating the same overcooked turkey (or other, culturally appropriate meal). Give yourself a year off the treadmill and do something completely different. See the Christmas markets and nativity scenes If you're wondering where to head, Europe is a good starting place. Many cities have Christmas markets (I like the ones in Vienna and Prague), and others celebrate by building nativity scenes everywhere (Malta is especially prone to this). Or just choose a location and find out when you get there how Christmas is celebrated. Get some sun You might have noticed, if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, that Christmas is usually quite cold. But it doesn't have to be. Christmas means summer in the Southern Hemisphere, and beach barbecues and picnics are normal Christmas meals. You know you need some Vitamin D - so head to Australia and New Zealand with a suitcase full of shorts. Experience a completely different Christmas If at all possible, join a local family somewhere overseas. They'll know all the Christmas traditions and will probably be more than happy to teach you all about them. One of our most memorable Christmases was Christmas 2007, spent in Wustrow, Germany, with an ex-student and her non-English-speaking family. We were adopted for a week, showered with gifts and plied with traditional German Christmas food. It was amazing. If you can't get in with a family, celebrate with old or new friends - get a group of expats together for a meal or travel with your best mates. Skip Christmas altogether Sometimes Christmas can be a bit much. If you're feeling a bit Scroogey, it's easier to avoid Christmas if you're not constantly surrounded by it. Head to Asia - you can find some celebration if you look for it, but it's a lot more low-key.

083 - What clothes to take

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 21:14:43 +1300

Clothes make up a fair percentage of the things in your backpack. If you take too many clothes, you end up with a heavy bag or no room for other essentials, and if you take too few clothes - well, let's not go there. It's important to consider what clothes you need. You'll be surprised, you don't need as much as you might think, and you certainly don't need to take your whole wardrobe. We took 20-litre daybags for a week in Greece and wondered what other travellers (on the same one-week package) had in their two huge suitcases. This list should cover you for any eventuality. We've been travelling for almost three years carrying basically these items, and we don't need much else. What to bring 1. Five pairs of undies (and a couple of bras, girls). 2. Four or five pairs of socks. Good quality ones, you'll be walking a lot. 3. Sneakers or hiking shoes. 4. Flip-flops. 5. Lightweight nice shoes (optional). 6. Three or four t-shirts. 7. A nicer t-shirt or top. 8. Two pairs of trousers, preferably non-wrinkle, zip-off. Not jeans! 9. Shorts or a skirt for the beach. 10. Thermal underwear if going somewhere cold. Merino wool is good and black is always a good colour – you might be able to use your thermal top as an outer layer. 11. Two thin long-sleeve tops 12. A heavier jumper (but not very heavy or bulky). 13. A rainjacket 14. Hat, gloves and scarf if heading into winter anywhere. 15. A sarong can be handy for girls and guys – as beachwear, for heading to the shower cin or as a spare sheet. 16. A sun hat. EXTRA TIPS 1. Think about where you're going, and when. Investigate temperatures and pack for temperatures more extreme than what you discover. 2. Pack layers. You keep warmer and have more options if you can layer up.. 3. Make sure all your items match – choose a colour scheme and stick to it. 4. Add extras as necessary. Buy country-specific clothes in that country. 5. Remember, you don't need to pack everything in your wardrobe. Pack light and you won't regret it. You can buy things along the road, in fact you'll need to because things wear out quite quickly when you wear it every day or two days. 6. Category pack: have a small bag for undies, one for winter gear (that can be pushed to the bottom of your back in summer), one for summer gear and one for work/party stuff. It'll be easier to find things and the things you're not using will be out of the way. 7. It's quite a good idea to take some old stuff with you when you travel. Wear it a couple of times then chuck it and buy something new. You'll probably want a souvenir of your travels anyway, and clothes can be a great way to do it. Sure it'll wear out, but it'll be in all the photos! 8. Don't take anything that needs ironing! If possible, hand-wash your clothes before you go and see how quickly they dry. If you're thinking about taking jeans, this experiment should dissuade you. 9. Cotton undies tend to breathe well – get thin ones that pack small. GIFT LISTS Christmas is drawing ever closer so let's have a quick roundup of travel gift guides that have surfaced online. - Our own - Travellious has four different guides for: travellers, backpackers, first time travellers and urban travellers - Nerd's eye view - Go green travel PASSPORTS WITH PURPOSE Passports with Purpose is a fund raiser for Heifer Intl, organised by four travel bloggers from Seattle, USA. Buy a US$10 raffle ticket and enter the prize draw.

082 - Travel in Vienna Austria

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 17:56:26 +1300

Vienna, known for its elegance, its opera, and its schnitzel, is the capital of Austria and one of our favourite European cities. It was ranked first equal for quality of life in the Economist's 2005 report; it was the home of Mozart and Freud; and the Hapsburg empire, the Holy Roman Empire and Hitler were all based there at some point. Fact box Name: Vienna Place: Capital of Austria Population: 1.7 million Known for: The Third Man & Before Sunrise Average temperatures: summer 22-25 degrees / winter 0 Airports: Vienna-Schwechat Airport OR: Graz, Linz or Bratislava Price of a pint: €3-4 Price of a dorm bed: €20 Price of a public transport ticket: €1.70 single Layout It's easy to get lost in Vienna, since the street names change often, but then again it's also easy to get around. Most of the main attractions are in or around the multi-named ring roads, including the Rathaus, the Museumsquartier, the Opera and a variety of parks and squares. Mariahilfer Strasse heads west up to the Westbahnhof, the main train station, around which you'll find the backpacker mecca of hostels, supermarkets and cheap eateries. Accommodation There's a huge variety of beds to choose from. We like Hostel Ruthensteiner, near the Westbahnhof, and Wombat's nearby is also popular. Check Hostelbookers for a wider range Food You're spoilt for choice in Vienna. Have a sausage from a street vendor or sample one of the ubiquitous kebabs - they're cheaper near the Westbahnhof than at the other end of Mariahilfer Strasse. Definitely have a coffee in one of the Viennese coffee shops, but be aware that the coffee might taste different to what you expect! While you're at it, sample Sachertorte at Cafe Sacher. Yum. If you're on the cheap, buy rolls at the supermarket or eat at University mensas (eating halls). Making lunch your main meal will save you a packet due to the prevalence of meal deals at lunchtime. And visit a heurige for an authentic local experience, sampling local wines and locally produced food. We love the Naschmarkt for the variety of restaurants, especially the Japanese one where you can get a bento box for €7 even at dinnertime. Transport €1.70 for a single ticket will get you almost anywhere you want to go, but most of the attractions are walkable. The transport network is excellent though if you do use it. Attractions - free Vienna's a great city for just wandering around in. Visit Mariahilfer Strasse for shopping, or the banks of the Danube for a beer in a floating pub. See more at http://indietravelpodcast.com

081 - Preparing to travel

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:37:59 +1300

Many people dream of travelling full-time. Most never fulfill their dream, since it seems too expensive, too difficult, too much work. But it can be easy if you prepare in advance, sort out your finances and start dreaming specifically rather than generally. Money Travel isn't as expensive as you think it is. We love to pamper ourselves on holiday, to make up for having to sit in an office for the other 50 weeks of the year. And the flights are expensive when you're only going for two weeks. But the flights seem cheaper if you're travelling for six months, and you can spread your money more widely if you stay in hostels rather than hotels. Plus, you won't spend as much on food if you don't eat in flash restaurants every night. Finding the money You do need some money though, to pay for the flights and to have a buffer for if things go wrong. But you probably have plenty coming in if you just spend a little less and organise it better. Check out episode 67 on our cash budgeting system to give you some ideas. Start by killing debts and cancelling subscriptions, and cut down to just three bank accounts: a current account, a savings account and one credit card. Remember to never spend more on your credit card than you can pay back at the end of the month. The cash trap Don't fall into the trap of buying heaps of expensive travel gear. Make a list of what you need and budget a certain amount per week to buy it. Keep the money that you would have spent on gear in the bank and buy yourself several meals in Malaysia or a week's accommodation in West Africa. Timeframe Keep dreaming, but set a date for your escape. Give yourself plenty of time for the preparation you need - we gave ourselves four years to pay off debts and save, which took the pressure off our finances and a lot of stress out of planning. Having a rough date set for departure will give you motivation to prepare and should keep the dream alive. Social Research Start researching by subscribing to travel blogs like Almost Fearless, Nomadic Matt, and Ottsworld; and listen to podcasts like the Amateur Traveler, Everything, Everywhere, or of course, the Indie Travel Podcast. Join online travel networking sites like Matador, the Thorn Tree, Couchsurfing or Hospitality Club. The last two give you the opportunity to offer your couch or spare bed to an incoming traveller for a few nights, and in return you can stay with people all over the world when you do start travelling. Training Do some training so you can work on the go. Bartending or teaching English are great jobs for travelling, or investigate if you can use skills you already have. Learning a language can be a great way to get into the travel spirit - you'll want to go so you can use it. Spanish, French or German are useful in Europe, or try Mandarin or Japanese for Asia. Try to find a language exchange group rather than shelling out on a school course. You can travel full time. Start preparing now. Affiliate of the week: HostelBookers Survey: What do you want to hear more of?

080 - Get good travel insurance

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:21:35 +1300

Last week we featured an interview with Graham Kingaby, who is the Insurance Director at World Nomads Travel Insurance. We talked about travel insurance tips, what to look out for and about how World Nomads specifically caters to travellers' needs. This week we want to talk about our approach to travel insurance as well as look at how to find travel insurance and approach making a claim.

Finding insurance

Finding insurance can be hard. There's lots of small print to get through and plenty of traps. Not to mention really strange pricing. The three main types of policy are: Single trip Multi trip, and Backpackers When looking for insurance, if you have any questions AT ALL about your coverage, pick up the phone and ask. The wait times and treatment you experience as a potential customer won't neccessarily show you how good their customer service is, but it'll help. Ask about: Do I need a home address? Must I be in my country of origin when I start and finish? Do they cover each country you're going to? It is more expensive for some countries? If so, can you specify when you'll be in the expensive ones? Do they cover flights home in case of emergencies? What about cancellations or bankruptcy? How do you make a claim and what's the average response time? Chris and Marta from http://atravelaroundtheworld.com have just been pricing insurance for a 11 month trip. They're based in the UK, and you can read their quotes here. http://www.atravelaroundtheworld.com/2008/11/insurance-dilemma.html

Recording Purchases

So how can you make sure you're actually going to get what you claim? This is the big question and one that makes me really sceptical about insurance. Obviously travellers are not going to keep paperwork! We try to: Scan/photograph receipts. Keep them locally and upload them to a website and email them to ourselves. We use flickr.com and their private settings. Try to create believable evidence.

Acting responsibly

Last week Graham's main tip was to act as if you were uninsured. If companies can prove you were acting negligently, it's probably they won't validate your claim. Finally, a tip from twitter.com, where we asked about experiences with travel insurance. Achuka said: "don't let travel insurance expire while you are out of your native country... ask J - she'll know the prob with that :)" We do! That's why we've ended up using World Nomads for our insurance. You can start your policy from any country in the world. Thankfully someone does! Don't forget to check out the competitions on this month at Everything Everywhere and also drop by Irish Fireside if that's your cup of tea. Or shot of baileys. Our poll of the month asks what you'd like to hear more of on the Indie Travel Podcast. Please take a moment to vote or email us - mail@indietravelpodcast.com

079 - MultiTrip Travel Insurance with World Nomads

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:26:25 +1300

Things do go wrong when you travel, and travel insurance lessens the pain. Craig talks to Graham Kingaby of World Nomads Travel Insurance about what sets them apart from the other providers. World Nomads aims to provide travel insurance for travellers, with one of the major differences from traditional providers being that you can insure yourself wherever you are. You don't have to start your insurance package from your home country and you don't have to insure for a round trip. Craig asks Graham those biting questions about what would and wouldn't be covered in a variety of situations, and Graham explains how to go about claiming and discusses the pricing system, which is based on where you're from and where you're going. We use World Nomads ourselves, not that we've ever had to claim. But the flexibility they offer have made them the obvious choice for when we just want cover for a couple of weeks. Don't forget to check out the articles page and read Sasha's article about adapting to the European way of life. Poll of the month: What do you want to hear more of? Affiliate of the week: World Nomads Travel Insurance.

078 - Roo Gully Kangaroo experience

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:09:08 +1300

Linda talks to James Dunbar about his experience volunteering at Roo Gully Wildlife Sanctuary. Sure, it's mostly kangaroos but there was a lot more to it than you might expect. Roo Gully is in a small town in Western Australia, run by founder Carol. A typical day varies according to the season - when there are joeys it seems you spend a lot of time being a surrogate mum, though otherwise you spend your time feeding and cleaning up after the animals. The facility can accommodate up to eight volunteers so if you're interested in working there, get in touch with them. You pay $20 a day to cover food and accommodation and any extras are your responsibility. Roo Gully Wildlife Sanctuary www.roogully.com Roo Gully on youtube - http://au.youtube.com/RooGully The October competition has finished, Ten winners will receive a Global Bag Tag pack, and five others will get a copy of Craig's new ebook Travelling Europe. We'll get in touch with the winners by email this week. Don't forget to sign up for the newsletter so you're in the running for other prizes. There's a new newsletter coming out on Monday. We're launching Travelling Europe next week, which is very exciting - keep an eye out for that and buy a copy on the site if you didn't win one. Check out the most recent article: Jessica Spaulding from ayearinacar.com writes about the My Map function of Google Maps. Also check out Chris and Marta's blog at atravelaroundtheworld.blogspot.com. Poll of the month: What do you want to hear more of? Affiliate of the week: HostelBookers.com

077 - Speed through airport security

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 01:09:03 +1300

Airport security is often one of the major downsides to travelling by air - there's the queues, which often seem to be completely stationary, and there's the demeaning scanning process. But there are a few things you can do to speed things up. We asked our Twitter friends for their tips on getting through security, and had a couple of responses. @NewWrldYankee (Yankeeinanewworld.com) says: Wear flipflops or slip-on shoes and put carry-on liquid in outside pocket. @parkylondon (www.thisweekinlondon.co.uk) says: 1. Check-in as much baggage as you can. 2. Avoid carrying a laptop if possible. 3. Slip-on shoes are easier to remove at security. 4. Don't joke about terrorism in airports. 5. Never get on a plane hungry. 6. It is easier to stay cool or warm up on an aeroplane if you wear thin clothes in layers. 7. Exit rows have more leg room. Our tips look at what you're wearing, what's in your bag, and what to do when you get to the security line. 1. Before you fly, think about what you are wearing. You usually have to take off clothing, often a jacket, belt and shoes. Wear a jacket that's easy to remove, and slip-on shoes. 2. A surprising amount of people have no idea what they can't take on the plane. Don't be one of those people! There's information everywhere at the airport about what can't be taken on, but sharp objects and liquids are the ones to watch for. Pack your knives in the check-in luggage and be aware of the liquids rule - in most places at the moment, you can't take any liquids onto the plane that are in a container larger than 100mls. So don't pack vintage wine in your carry-on luggage - please! 3. At the security line, choose your line carefully. Sometimes there isn't a choice, but in some airports there are a lot of scanner machines and you can choose which one to go through. Choose one that's short and actually moving. 4. Be aware that some airports require all passengers to remove their shoes, while others "randomly select" people to do so (by which I mean, scan the dodgiest characters). Other airports designate one line as the shoe line, and everyone in that line has to take off their shoes - avoid that line if possible. 5. Once you've chosen your queue, you can start to prepare for the scanner itself. Take off your watch and put it in your jacket pocket. Zip up the pocket if you can. Put your wallet and any spare change in there too. 6. As you get closer to the machine, take off your jacket and sling it over one arm. Keep your passport and boarding card out in case the security officers want to see it. If you have a metal belt buckle, take off your belt and put that over your arm with your jacket. 7. If you have a laptop, get it out of your bag before you get to the scanner. Sometimes it needs to be removed from the case, but not always. 8. At the scanner, put everything in your arms in a plastic tray, add your bag to the conveyor belt and go through. Keep an eye on your stuff as much as possible. 9. If you need to repack your laptop or any other belongings into your bag, or if you need to put on your belt or shoes again, move out of the way if possible to allow the other passengers to keep moving through. Don't block the pathway. Don't forget to join the mailing list to enter competitions, check out ITG and find us on twitter. Also, please vote for us on podcastawards.com - vote now and vote daily. And coerce everyoe you know to do so too. indietravelpodcast.com/article/vote-for-us-in-the-podcast-awards-2008/ Anything to add? Know what TSA means? Make up your own answers in the comments. Poll of the month: Most frustrating travel experience? Affiliate of the week: World Nomads Travel Insurance.

076 - Global Bag Tag review

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 20:46:13 +1300

Craig talks with Global Bag Tags founder Chris Truelove about his innovative bag tagging system with an 80%+ success rate for recovering lost bags. You can get a GBP2.00 discount at http://globalbagtags.com with the code ITPC. Global Bag Tags are a simple system for tagging your bags and linking them to a global database. This gives finders a chance to return it and airline agents a sure-fire way of getting it to you. After registering your tag you are able to describe your bag and plot your itinerary online so that your bag can follow you wherever you go. Chris talks about how he came up with the system and its ongoing success. With over 1,000,000 sold and a better-than-80% success rate, it's a traveller's entrepreneurial dream. Set up screenshots are available at http://indietravelpodcast.com Our recommendation: We recommend these for people who fly often, especially through high-density airports. If you are concerned about airlines losing your luggage these are a good investment. For people who are mainly travelling overland, they may be useful but won't protect you against theft.

075 - Bureaucracy and document security

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:13:45 +1300

Ah, how we love bureaucracy. You can't avoid it, but there are a few things you can do it make it go down more easily. Plus we talk about keeping those all-important documents secure when you're on the road. Different countries have different ways of doing things, and at some point you're sure to be surprised at how difficult it is to do something or how long it takes to get that all-important visa or tax number. You'll spend a lot of time filling in forms, or - worse, trying to FIND those forms to fill in in the first place. So what can you do to make your experience with bureaucracy bearable? 1. Be prepared. Before you arrive in your chosen country, find out what you'll need to do when you get there. We failed to do that before we came to Australia, and have spent a lot of time trying to get around the online system for applying for a tax number. Two visits to the office and a phone call later, and we're only 28 days from getting those numbers. 2. Do what you can online, but make sure you use a secure computer - avoid internet cafes. 3. If you're going into an office, take ALL the documents you might POSSIBLY need with you. (My first visit to the tax office was useless because I didn't have Craig's passport). 4. Double-check all forms to avoid error. 5. Speak to a real person if in doubt. 6. Chase. Call after a week to check the progress of whatever you're applying for. 7. Take a deep breath. Bureaucracy is frustrating, but it's going to be okay. When travelling, your documents are possibly your most important possessions. Keep them safe. 1. If you're somewhere even slightly dodgy, or if you're on a short trip, keep your passport and travel documents in your money belt, on your person. 2. When staying for longer, put them in a document wallet and store them in your bag. Lock the bag. 3. Before you leave home, photocopy your documents and get the copies authorised by a notary or justice of the peace. Store one copy separate from your real documents, and leave another copy with a friend back home. 4. Take a photo or scan each item and keep it on your laptop. You can also keep a copy on a USB stick, or store documents on a website like Flickr.com. Make sure it's private though. 5. Keep all your documents on you when travelling, if not in your money belt at least in your carry-on bag. 6. Always lock your bag (or the locker it's in) and password-protect your laptop to keep your data secure. You can also create an encrypted folder or volume for added security for electronically stored documents. 7. Keep your documents in good condition - don't let them get wet or frayed. Poll of the month: Most frustrating travel experience? Affiliate of the week: Lonely Planet

074 - Crossing the road

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:27:45 +1200

Why did the chicken cross the road? That's not the question you need to ask while travelling - think about how you will cross instead. Different places have different traffic systems, and some will hit you with a nasty fine if you do the wrong thing. You don't have to worry about fines in Malta, but you do have to consider the possibility of being hit by a car coming through a red light at speed. Or a bus. In Germany and Austria people tend to keep to the law, rather than risking the 200 euro fine. In Australia and New Zealand the laws are a bit more relaxed and people tend to cross when it's safe, and we've never heard of people being fined, though apparently it happens. There are also different systems that you need to be aware of. In some places the green man comes on at the same time as the green arrow allowing traffic to turn, in others when the man starts flashing cars are allowed to go if the crossing is clear. Which means the engines start revving to encourage pedestrians to hurry up. All this means that you need to be vigilant when crossing the road. Of course, when you're in a country where drivers drive on the opposite side that you're used to, you need to be careful, but there are other factors to consider. So, a few tips on crossing the road when travelling: 1. Be careful. 2. Look both ways before you step out, even if you have a green man. 3. Do what everyone else is doing. 4. If in doubt, check the law and what the maximum fines are. Don't forget to check out the contacts page and see us on a variety of social networking sites. Poll of the month: What luxury can't you travel without? Affiliate of the week: World Nomads Travel Insurance

073 - KL couchsurfers

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:54:02 +1200

If you're looking for a place to stay and want to meet locals while you're at it, couchsurfing is a great way to do it. In this episode, Linda chats to two couchsurfing hosts in Kuala Lumpur - French students Aurelie and Elsa. Couchsurfing is a way to find a bed when you're travelling - you set up a profile of yourself on couchsurfing.com, and can search other people's profiles to find someone who lives where you need to go and is willing to host travellers. You can then communicate by email and work out the details from there. Aurelie and Elsa have been living in KL for seven months and have hosted heaps of travellers from around the world. In this interview, we talk about what makes a good and a bad couchsurfer, and they tell us about some of the people they've met. Craig's looking for some contributors for his ebook "Indie Travel Guides: Travelling Europe". If you've travelled a lot in Europe and can write from experience about one of the following topics, please get in touch. Each article should be 500 to 800 words, full of practical advice about independent travel in Europe. We'll be choosing one author for each piece. Topics are: solo male travel; solo female travel; disabled travel; family travel (both with kids and with older family members); and older people's travel. In return, we'll give you US$15 via paypal; a short bio with picture and links to your site (in the book and in marketing material); and instant access to the top tier of our affiliate programme. Plus you'll get the joy of being published! If you're interested in this please send a detailed email with your pitch to mail@indietravelpodcast.com or using the contact form at indietravelpodcast.com. Make sure you include your perspective, experience and an article outline. Poll of the month: What luxury can't you travel without? Affiliate of the week: Lastminute.com

072 - Finding short term work overseas

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 03:23:19 +1200

Unless you have a trust fund or have saved extensively, you'll need to work as you go to fund your travels. In this episode, we discuss a few ways of finding short-term work overseas, specifically looking at ESOL positions. We got an email from Nathan, asking about how we find short-term work on the road, especially since most of the ESOL jobs out there require a nine or twelve-month commitment. We're not the biggest fans of year-long contracts, and have found several ways to get shorter contracts. 1. Search online - subscribe to RSS feeds and return often to see new jobs. 2. Apply for jobs that advertise a long contract and negotiate for a shorter one. 3. Use the grapevine. Talk to previous employers, colleagues and friends for tips, and use forums to get an idea of good and bad places to work. 4. Send your CV to everyone you can find in the yellow pages. 5. Drop in, in person and leave a CV. 6. Be a bit cheeky. Think of new ways to advertise yourself. 7. Consider joining an agency. 8. Look for organisations which have centres around the country or around the world. Use the network. Some sites we've found useful: TEFL.com Daveseslcafe.com I-to-i: http://www.tkqlhce.com/2l116mu2-u1HLIKPPQKHJILQPOOJ Anyworkanywhere.com Don't forget to investigate all the book deals we have on at the moment: - Lonely Planet is giving away a free book on their site when you make a minimum purchase - it works out to something like buy two, get one free. - Get 10% off the Unconventional Guide to Discount Airfare using the discount code "indietravel". - Rough Guides and hostelbookers are giving away copies of their new guide called "Ultimate Adventures: A Rough Guide to Adventure Travels". Poll of the month: What luxury can't you travel without? Affiliate of the week: STA Travel

071 - Teaching qualifications for travellers

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:43:14 +1200

If you need to work while you're travelling to finance a long-term trip, getting a qualification to teach English to speakers of other languages is a good place to start. In this episode, Craig and Linda talk about the benefits of Celta and TESOL. We get a lot of emails from people asking how we fund our travels, including this one from Conrad: My name is Conrad and I've had my mind set on traveling and backpacking for a long time now. I've been wondering: how do you pay for the travel and accommodation costs? Do you find a job, work for a few months to earn some money, before moving on to your next destination? What kind of job do you usually do? How do you earn money to keep going for an extended period of time? ~conrad At the moment we make more than 95% of our money teaching English as a foreign language (EFL), English as a second language (ESL), English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) or any other strange combination of letters which means teaching people English. An ESOL qualification will allow you to teach in private language schools or in government schools in some countries. If you want to make a serious go of English teaching, we recommend a CELTA or Trinity TESOL. They are the two big names in ESOL qualifications and, when added to a University degree, will pretty much ensure you are qualified for any ESOL job. That said, you don't need a University degree for many of the jobs out there. These qualifications are normally awarded after a full-time four-week course involving lectures, assignments and practical classroom time. Both the CELTA and the Trinity are quite pricey, but well worth the investment in terms of opportunities, especially if you want teaching to be a main income stream or something you can pick up anywhere with few problems in getting a job. There are also good online and short-term courses available (along with lots of cowboy operations). I've heard good things about i-to-i which can also arrange interesting volunteer and paid work opportunities when you've finished your course. If you don't want to get any qualifications, but you want to do some teaching, you could try finding one of the many Summer and Winter Camp opportunities that allow you to "volunteer" as a native English speaker in return for accommodation and food allowances. Some of these opportunities include a short course in English teaching before your contract begins to ensure you have some idea of what to do. Don't forget to use the coupon code "indietravel" to get $5 off Chris Guillebeau's ebook The Unconventional Guide to Discount Airfare if you're heading off on a long trip - we used some of the tips in the book to save money on our flight to Australia next week. Visit www.unconventionalguides.com to buy the ebook. Poll of the month: What luxury can't you travel without? Affiliate of the week: i-to-i: http://www.tkqlhce.com/2l116mu2-u1HLIKPPQKHJILQPOOJ

070 - UCDA review and European flight ideas

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:05:04 +1200

If you're heading off on a long trip and planning to fly at all, the ebook we review in this post might be a good investment. The Unconventional Guide to Discount Airfare by Chris Guillebeau looks at a variety of ways you can save money on airfares. In general, we enjoyed the book, since it's short and snappy and full of good ideas. We didn't find everything useful, since it's very US-centric, and some of the information about lounges and points schemes doesn't really apply to the kind of travel we do. We also found that Chris didn't mention some of the sites we use the most, like skyscanner.net, bahn.de and megabus.com. Some of the things Chris talks about are: - How to get airline lounge access - How to get elite status on several major airlines - How to hitch a ride on an airplane - Alternative routes and free stopovers - Surviving Euroshock in Europe - Discount airlines in Europe, Asia, and North America - Round-the-World and regional travel We think the people who will most benefit from this book are: - Americans who fly nationally or internationally. - Anybody who flies to or in America a lot. - People planning a gap year or multi-flight holiday. - People planning more than one long-haul flight a year. - Experienced travellers, who might find some new ideas. - People who are just starting to travel and want a useful resource. ***Discount*** You can get this ebook from http://unconventionalguides.com, and get US$5 off the price by using the coupon code INDIETRAVEL. We think you'll be able to save at least the price of the book by using the tips Chris outlines in his book. Since Chris's book is mostly centred on US travel, we thought we'd sum up some things we've learnt from travelling in Europe. 1. Be willing to shop around. 2. Use comparison sites to find what you need (e.g. skyscanner.net). 3. Book in advance. 4. Go point-to-point. 5. Be aware that airports aren't necessarily near the city they're named for (or even in the same country as the city they're named for, in the case of Vienna (Bratislava). 6. Take your own food and drink, and be prepared to pay cash if you want to buy food on a plane. 7. Don't take your own booze. 8. Pack as light as possible. Try to downsize to a carry-on if you don't need a pocket knife or razors. We check one bag between us, which means we can keep our sharps and our excess booze in the hold. 9. Sleep at the airport to save transport costs for early flights. 10. If you miss a flight, try to minimise damage and know your rights. Affiliate of the week: hostelbookers.com Poll of the month: How many countries have you visited? Visit www.unconventionalguides.com to buy the ebook we reviewed in this podcast. Use coupon code indietravel to get $5 off.

069 - Travelling with electronics | Power adapter review

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:37:12 +1200

Electronics are a necessity for many travellers these days, but you can lighten your load considerably if you cut down on the electronics you're carrying. One way to do that is to get an all-in-one power adapter like the one we review in this post. After getting an email from Kevin Monaghan asking us to recommend a worldwide power adapter, we considered the solution we use, which is a Swiss Travel MPC-N1 World Power Adaptor and USB Charger. That's a lot of names, but there are a lot of similar products on the market that seem to do the same thing. They're plastic adapters that accept appliances with British, European, US and Australia/New Zealand-style plugs, and which can be plugged into the wall in any of these places. In fact, in over 150 countries. There are four styles of prongs that extend and retract into the adapter, so while it's quite bulky it takes up a lot less space than four separate adapters. Measurements are 4.0 x 2.5 x 2.0 inches. If you're travelling with a lot of appliances, having just one adapter can be enough if you also take a power board with three or four sockets. We had one when we first started travelling, but then we started buying new appliances which don't fit the New Zealand plugs on the power board. So we threw that away and just have two Swiss Travel adapters - or we did until we left one in Paris. You can also get these adapters with a special attachment that has a USB socket, allowing you to charge your iPod or any other device that charges via USB. Very useful. In addition to just having one power adapter, some ways you can cut down on electronics include: 1. Think carefully about what you need. Do you really need that laptop or will an hour in an internet cafe once a week do just as well. 2. Leave one thing behind. Losing one piece of electronics can save you heaps of weight when you think about cables et al. 3. Buy stuff that uses the same connections (mini USB and SD cards are common ways of plugging things in. 4. Consider downsizing. Can a PDA or smartphone replace your laptop? 5. Investigate travel chargers for your phone. If you're travelling with someone, make sure both your phones use the same charger and just take one. Don't forget to enter the Pikeo competition, and to check out the articles at www.indietravelpodcast.com/articles. One of our authors, Sherry Ott, has just updated her site - check it out at ottsworld.com. We've spent the last six weeks in Hastings, England and have had some interesting day-trips out to Dover and London in the last week. The highlight has been catching up with friends from home. Affiliate of the week: hostelbookers.com Poll of the month: How many countries have you visited?

068 - Security and your PAN

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:45:31 +1200

We're still in Hastings and the weather is improving after two weeks of wind and rain. In this episode we look at personal security systems and the personal area network that Craig uses to keep track of his belongings. In management training, a key idea is that the more important something is, the closer you keep it to you. The most important items are on your body, the next most important are on your desk, less important items are somewhere in your office, and the least important things are stored elsewhere. While we don't have a desk or an office with us while travelling, the idea can be translated to the traveller's lifestyle quite simply. You still keep your most valuable possessions on your body - wallet, passport, camera and moneybelt should never leave your person. Keep them out of sight, especially your moneybelt - keep it secret, keep it safe. The desk translates to daybag - important items or items for the day should be stored here or in a hotel safe if you're heading out for the day. And the traveller's office is his main bag - everything else you need should be here. You can organise your personal space as well as your bag to make your valuables more secure and easier to find by using the personal area network system. If you keep the same item in the same pocket of your clothes all the time, it's easy for you to find it when you need it, and also to check that it is secure if you think you might have lost it. For example, Craig keeps his wallet in his left trouser pocket, his keys and camera in his right trouser pocket, and his ipod in his breast pocket. A few haka-like slaps and he's assured that he has his most valuable possessions. This idea can be translated to your main bag as well - keep items that you need to access quickly in the same part of the bag at all times. We keep our torch in an outside pocket so that it's easy to access when we need it.

067 - Cash Budgets for travellers

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:51:19 +1200

Money is an important commodity on the road. You need to save before you go, and you don't want to squander the cash you have. A great way to save and to conserve your money is to use the cash budgeting system. **A question from Conrad We had an email from a listener called Conrad, who wondered how we pay for our travel and accommodation and how we can afford to keep travelling for such an extended time. We've talked a little about this before, but here was our quick response: 1. Six months before you leave, downsize. Sell as much of your stuff as you can. 2. Do you best to become debt free and cancel all regular payments. 3. Then save a little emergency fund. 4. We fund our travels by working. We've got ESOL English teaching qualifications and it's easy to find teaching work in most countries. We also do a little travel writing -- including the Indie Travel Podcast, of course. 5. Use a cash budget system to monitor your spending. (Both to help you save, and on the road.) **Cash Budgeting to save for travel We started cash budgeting when we were poor students, and we've never looked back. Paying for everything in cash means you never pay more than you have with you, and that you're more likely to think twice about a purchase that isn't really neccesary. Plus it's really easy. 1. Work out how much money you've got coming in from wages or salary. Write it down. 2. Work out how much you're spending. Using categories like accommodation, groceries, transport, medical, and other can be really useful. Work out how much you spend on each category each month and write it down. Estimate if you're not sure, especially for medical - work out how much you spend over a year and divide by 12. 3. Medical, transport and accommodation costs tend to be pretty stable, so subtract those amounts from your income. 4. What's left is your flexible income. This needs to pay for your groceries, your savings and everything else you spend money on. 5. Decide how much you want to spend each week or each month. Set a realistic amount to spend on groceries, and a realistic amount for other purchases such as movies, coffee and clothes. Whatever is left over is savings. 6. Every week, withdraw your set amount from the bank. Use this cash to pay for everything - only use your cards once a week to get the money out of the bank. It might help to leave them at home! 7. Whenever there is extra money in your current account, transfer it to the debt or into a savings account that's difficult to get money out of. And you'll be saving in no time. ** Cash Budgeting on the road Cash budgeting is great for saving but is just as useful on the road. The premise is the same - if you can only spend what you have with you, you'll spend less. Another advantage is that cash is accepted everywhere, unlike most debit and credit cards. Of course, you need to be sensible about it - don't carry too much cash on you, and don't carry it all in one place. Divide it up amongst money belt, luggage and wallet. 1. Set a budget for your trip, and work out how much this gives you per week. Check out episode 21 - a simple budget idea - to see how to do this. 2. If you have a lot of cash, pay for accommodation in cash on arrival. Get a receipt. If you don't have cash on you, paying for accommodation by credit card is often a good way to minimise withdrawal costs, and to make sure you're not carrying around a lot of cash. Make sure you adjust your budget to balance this out! 3. Once a week, get money from ATM. This is your spending money for the week. 4. If you're carrying money for the whole trip, put the extra out of sight. This week's in wallet, the rest in your moneybelt. And look after that moneybelt!

URGENT: Lonely Planet prize draw closes August 8

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:55:15 +1200

We're online again! And it's your last chance to win any Lonely Planet book.

066 - Hostel booking sites

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:46:48 +1200

This week we're recording in Hastings, England. Linda's lost her voice, so it's all about Craig. Craig talks about six different hostel booking sites, doing a full review of five of them: gomio, HI hostels, hostelz, hostelworld and hostelbookers. He looks at booking features, hostel listings and other services provided by the sites. GOMIO: Conclusion: Although we've been travelling primarily in Europe — gomio's niche market — they've pretty much fallen off of our radar. They might suit you perfectly, but we're happy without them. *** HI HOSTELS Conclusion: If you can't find accommodation using a more general hostel booking site then check here just in case you find something that isn't available online. *** HOSTELZ Conclusion: We really like their reviews section and refer to it if a place looks at all suspect. A hostel's cost is very important to us, so the inability to see live prices from the start seems to slow down the research process too much. *** ASIDE: TFTHOSTELS Provides a comparison of listings for several major booking sites. Kind of like skyscanner for hostels. *** HOSTELWORLD Conclusion: I love the added value that hostelworld provides in terms of media but as an end user I don't like the booking fee or membership system. I thought Paypal would be great for me, since I use Paypal quite a lot but the double validation is a huge waste of time. Thanks to a free gold card, over the last 12 months we've used hostelworld for about half of our bookings. *** HOSTELBOOKERS Conclusion: Great search results and no booking fee make hostelbookers a site we return to. We've used them for about 50% of our bookings over the last year. *** Last year we announced our favourite site was hostelbookers, but late in 2007 and through the beginning of 2008 we found ourselves using hostelworld more and more. This will probably decrease again when our complementary gold card expires. PLEASE CLICK LINKS ON OUR SITE BEFORE BOOKING HOSTELS. We now offer four 'flavours' of the Indie Travel Podcast. Choose your favourite feed from the site's sidebar. RSS - everything we publish Features: Travel talks video, midweek article and Friday show Video: Only the video episodes Articles: Only the articles iTunes enhanced versions are available for all media feeds. Our hosting fees are about to go up US$20/month. Please consider making a donation or doing your online shopping AFTER clicking through links on our site. Affiliate of the week: hostelbookers.com Poll of the month: How many countries have you been to?

065 - Ten European locations to visit

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:53:15 +1200

Following up on Craig's article, Top 10 European Cities to Stretch Your Dollar this Summer (http://matadortrips.com/top-ten-european-cities-for-a-beach-free-summer), Craig and Linda look through the list and take a personal journey through their favourite lesser-known European cities and towns. All of these places are on the cheaper side, which is good news for most budget travellers. As with most places, there are also plenty of opportunities to splash out. * Bilbao, Spain * Tallinn, Estonia * Riga, Latvia * Vilnius, Lithuania * Krakow, Poland * Brasov, Romania * Istanbul, Turkey * Vienna, Austria * Budapest, Hungary * Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic To get a feel for these places read Craig's article on Matador Trips (http://matadortrips.com/top-ten-european-cities-for-a-beach-free-summer) or subscribe to the podcast (http://indietravelpodcast.com/subscribe). Affililate of the week: Visual Link Spanish Poll of the month: How many countries have you visited? Tell us what you want in an RSS feed: features without reviews? mail@indietravelpodcast.com Please push us into the top 10 podcasts in the Bloggers Choice Awards: http://www.bloggerschoiceawards.com/blogs/show/30292/

064 - What to do when you miss a flight

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 08:00:07 +1200

In this episode of the Indie Travel Podcast, Craig and Linda Martin discuss what to do when you miss a flight. We speak from experience, though we'd prefer not to have to. 1. Stay calm. 2. Find an airline representative and get as much information as you can. Will the airline book you on the next available flight? How much does that cost? 3. Know your rights. Check the small print on your ticket or on the airline's website if you think something isn't quite right. 4. Think about your insurance policy if you have one - what does it cover? 5. Try to get as much information as you can to make an informed decision about what to do next. Send in your stories and advice about missing flights, or leave a comment on the site so we can share your experiences. Don't forget to vote on the Blogger's Choice awards, as well as doing the listener survey for us. Some good sites we've found recently are thesydneyvisitor.com - podcast and advice by Garry Searle, and an article by Christine of "Almost fearless" titled 10 Unexpected Costs of Owning Things, about selling up before you leave on a trip and how liberating that feeling is. http://almostfearless.com/2008/06/02/the-10-unexpected-costs-of-owning-things/#comment-2835 Affiliate of the week: Lastminute.com Poll of the month: Island destination

063 - Berghaus Antaeus review

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:08:34 +1200

In this episode of the Indie Travel Podcast, Craig and Linda Martin review the Berghaus Antaeus 45+8 pack. We discuss the price (70 pounds on sale, not bad), as well as the features, which include: - A roomy central space that isn't too big and isn't too small. We lived out of this bag and a small daypack for six months, so it fits all the essentials. - Two side pockets with zips that lie flat to the bag when not in use and pop out to provide an extra 4 litres of space each when needed. - A large zip-up storage space on the top for easy access to essential items. - Space for hydration systems, with holes to put the hose through. - Biofit back system which lets you adjust the harness in lots of different ways, so that it fits you perfectly. - Attachment points on the front of pack to tie things to. - Raincover in its own little pouch. The only major negative we found with this bag is that there's no way to lock the bag shut since the main compartment closes with a drawstring. You either have to plastic wrap the bag when you travel, or buy a separate pack cover to put it in. Don't buy a Tatonka one like we did - they're expensive and our one hasn't served us well at all. So, the Berghaus Antaeus 45+8 is a great all-round pack, suitable for almost all independent travellers. It comes in men's and women's versions, it's a good size (though you will need to know how to pack light to use it), and it's great if you walk around with your life on your back a lot - if you're a hiker, eurail pass traveller, or general backpacker. ***** We've been introducing new features to the site recently, like iTunes enhanced shows, articles from different authors and "travel talks" the new video podcast. This week we're launching another new site feature: one minute reviews. If you want to submit some one-minute reviews, send Craig an email at mail@indietravelpodcast.com. Affiliate of the week: Rockcreek Poll of the month: Island destination Visit us online at www.indietravelpodcast.com

062 - Choosing a hostel

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:00:00 +1200

In this episode of the Indie Travel Podcast, Craig and Linda Martin share ten things to look for when choosing a hostel from a hostel-booking site. 1. Price. Order the results by price to find the cheapest one in the list easily. 2. Rating. Other people who have stayed in the hostel will have filled in a survey to give an overall rating, given in percentages. Choose a high-rated hostel with a fair price. 3. Atmosphere. The ratings are often broken down into categories such as location, cleanliness and fun. The "fun" rating can give you an idea of atmosphere - a high rating usually means it'll be a bit rowdier, where a low fun rating tends to indicate a quieter hostel. Staff can really make the atmosphere, so check comments on the site or do a google search for the hostel to see other reviews. 4. Location is REALLY important. Is it near the station or airport or easy to get to? Is there a collection service? 5. Is it an independent hostel or a member of an organisation like HI or YHA? We find independent hostels tend to be better. Also, you might need to be a member of the organisation, or pay an extra charge, if you want to stay at an affiliated hostel. 6. How big are the dorms? Usually, the smaller the better. Shy away from hostels with 100-bed dorms - you won't get any sleep if they are full. If they have different-sized dorms, how much extra is a smaller one? Would a private room be worthwhile? 7. Are the dorms segregated or mixed gender? A female-only dorm might be a good option for a solo female traveller, but hostels that keep men and women separate aren't so great for couples. Make sure they have the choice you want. 8. What extras are included in the hostel price? Breakfast, wifi, sheets, towel, dinner, station pick-up, a beer on arrival - these are all things we've got from some hostels but not others. 9. What facilities does the hostel have? A kitchen is a must on our mental list, but it might also have a book exchange, a bar, or a swimming pool. 10. What isn't included in the cost? Some hostels charge you for sheets but won't let you use a sleeping bag, or provide breakfast for an extra cost. Sometimes showers are extra as well. You know which of these factors are most important to you, so weigh them up against each other to find the best hostel for you. Send us any tips you have on travel writing or travelling through the North Island of New Zealand for our Claire listeners. Don't forget to download a free language guide or two courtesy of World Nomads Travel insurance, which is also our affiliate of the week.

061 - Travelling in Austria

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 02:36:55 +1200

In this episode of the Indie Travel Podcast, Craig and Linda Martin share some tips about travelling around Austria by train. It's a good time to talk about it, since the Euro 2008 football competition is just about to kick off. Oebb.at is the website of the Austrian rail system, and it's great for finding the information you need about getting around. Be aware that it might change your chosen travel date back to today's date if you're not careful. If you don't like it, use bahn.de, the German site. Both have an English-language version. You can buy tickets online, but it's much easier to go into a station. Talk to a ticket clerk or buy from the automated kiosk, which also has an English version. If you're at a really tiny station, there might not be a clerk or a kiosk, but you can buy your tickets on the train from an onboard kiosk or the conductor. Cash is usually your best bet. You can save money by travelling with a group and buying all your tickets together, booking some trips in advance by looking for special offers on oebb.at, or by buying a Vorteilscard. This costs about 20 euros for under 26's or about 100 euros for people who are 26 or over, and gives 50% discounts on almost all journeys. It's definitely worthwhile - we recouped almost the total cost of the card on our first trip with it. You can also use Eurail and Interrail passes in Austria, which are a great idea if Austria is part of a bigger European trip. If you're travelling for an extended period in Austria though, the Vorteilscard will probably be a better investment. In Austria, look out for the red and white railway station signs - they're called "bahnhofs" in German. A main railway station in the city is a hauptbahnhof. If you can't find the station, ask "Wo ist der bahnhof?" (Where is the station?), or switch the conversation to English with "Sprechen sie English?" (Do you speak English?). Don't forget to visit some of the best cities in Austria: Graz for its architecture and jazz, Linz for the Postlingberg and the ARS Electronica Centre, Innsbruck for winter sport and gorgeous mountain views, and Vienna for museums, art galleries and even more architecture. Affiliate of the week: Railpass Poll of the month: Island destination Visit us online at www.indietravelpodcast.com

060 - Packing a backpack

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 31 May 2008 01:29:31 +1200

Craig and Linda look into best practises for packing a backpack in this, the 60th Indie Travel Podcast. They look at packing well for space, comfort and health as well as a walk-through as Craig fills his pack before finishing with an email from Chris who shares some gear which could soon be in your pack. We've spent the last week with friends in Ventnor, Isle of Wight, England -- look out for Monday's Travel Talk video to find out more about the nearby towns. Internet access is a little difficult to get to, so we apologise in advance for missing release schedules over the coming weeks. When packing a backpack it's important to think about weight distribution and the shape of items going in there. Weight should be balanced between the left and right sides and, where possible, be against the back. It's also good to have weightier items near the bottom of the pack which aids in gaining a good centre of balance. Here's a list of steps to go through before packing: Lay out everything you want to pack on a floor or bed Are you packing light? What can you remove? What are you going to use daily? Make these easy to access Find regular places for things that need quick access Can you use compression sacks to organise your things? Consider the weight of each item and pack accordingly We finish with an email from Chris in England who talks about the following products: 1) Buffs 2) A nylon broad rimmed hat 3) An LED headtorch (he likes the Petzl Tikka XP) 4) Smartwool socks 5) Icebreaker thermal layers 6) A down jacket 7) Rohan make great underwear (pants if you are "english"). 8) An old ipod -- they are a great way to copy pictures off your digital camera onto their hardrive as a backup device and viewer (as well as being a music, video, games, audiobooks and podcast player!!). You need a little usb dongle which attaches to it ("ipod camera connector") which are beginning to become rare. Unfortunately this doesnt work with the latest ipods but then the older 60gb ipod "video" is perfect and will be cheaper on ebay than the newer ones. I dont know why apple have stopped letting you do this on newer ipods, very dissappointing! Thanks Chris. If you have something to share, contact us -- mail@indietravelpodcast.com Affiliate of the week: Lastminute.com Please visit http://indietravelpodcast.com/shop and support the show. Poll of the month: The poll of the month is almost over. Come by the site and have your say!

059 - Running late for a connection

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 24 May 2008 03:38:00 +1200

Craig and Linda talk about what to do when you're going to miss a connection: whether it's a plane, train or automobile it's horrible to find yourself running late for it! This week, we met Chris from the Amateur Traveler podcast. It was great to finally meet a podcast-voice in real life! We had coffee opposite Harrods before he headed off to enjoy the rest of his holiday and we spent a frantic time gardening, recording, coding and playing Wii tennis. About two months ago we missed a flight from Vienna to London. In this episode we tell the story and give you our advice on what to do when you're running late. Ideas include

Be flexible
Make a plan
Don't beat yourself up -- keep it in perspective
Call ahead if it's possible
Accept what you can't change
Find a human to help
Gather as much information about your situation as possible

We hope this helps you next time you're running late for a flight or any other connection. At the start of this episode we mentioned Helen's email on train travel in Britain. She tells us that it's sometimes cheaper to buy first class tickets than standard ones! We'll never understand British public transport, but this is a great tip. It follows on from the budget travel in Britain episode (and the redux). Our listener link this week goes out to traveldodo.com -- travel dos and don'ts for locations around the world. It's an interesting idea. If you're booking a hostel in the near future, why don't you book through us. It's just a little booking site, but it has access to the entire hostelworld network and we get a small commission. Stay tuned to the feed for our new video show, Travel talks, which will be released on Monday. Along with the new homepage look, it makes for exciting times!

058 - Eating well in Europe

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 17 May 2008 05:21:37 +1200

In this episode of the Indie Travel Podcast, Craig and Linda Martin talk about how to eat well in Europe. We’ve discussed this topic before, but it wasn’t enough for listener Jeff to win his argument with his friend about whether or not to eat out for every meal - so we go into a bit more detail this time.

057 - Do I need a hydration system?

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 10 May 2008 05:20:37 +1200

In episode 57 of the Indie Travel Podcast, Craig and Linda talk about their Platypus hydration systems. Discussing the advantages and disadvantages of water “systems” in general they also compare the system they’ve adopted against the big player in the industry: camelbak.

NOTE - Enhanced files begin here

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 09 May 2008 05:18:55 +1200

Thanks to the donations of several listeners, we now have an iTunes enhanced version of the show. Enjoy.

056 - On sleeping bags

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 02 May 2008 20:54:22 +1200

This week the Indie Travel Podcast takes a look at the world of sleeping bags. This week we're in Selcuk, Turkey and are about to leave for Champagne, France. Jealous yet? We'd like to thank everyone that's donated through chip-in and paypal. We still need US$10 to buy the software for enhanced podcasts, so if you'd like your Indie Travel Podcast in enhanced mode then please donate. Over the last five years we've bought four sleeping bags: two high quality, high performance; two low price, low quality. Guess which we're carrying around with us? It's the cheap ones! In a 25 special (from millets, UK) we bought two bed-rolls, two sleeping bags and a two person tent for 25: and we're still using those sleeping bags today. We speak about what led up to buy the expensive ones, why we choose cheap ones, and why we plan to buy more expensive ones in the future. Our list of ideas for what to think about before buying a sleeping bag Weight Price Temperature rating Function Shape You may also wish to invest in a sleeping bag liner. We're so pleased to announce the launch of articles on the Indie Travel Podcast. Over the next month we're going to introduce you to several authors who are going to be bringing us monthly columns...So stay tuned. Please take the time to fill in our listener survey. It'll take 5 - 10 minutes and help us make this show better. Poll of the month: Last month's poll was: which continent will you stand on next? And the results were... Europe 28 Asia 17 North America 8 Australasia 7 South America 6 Africa 3 Antartica 0 This month's poll is asking... {democracy:4}

055 - Studying in Europe? How about Vienna

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 01:29:35 +1200

Sitting in a Sofia hostel, Craig chats with three international students studying in Vienna. What are they doing in Sofia? Making the most of their time in Europe of course. Anna and Christie from North America and Takeru from Japan discuss what it's like to study abroad for a semester: the problems they faced getting here, the atmosphere in Vienna and the support for international students at their universities. They also talk of their travels around the continent, favourite places in Vienna and out, and some of their favourite European locations. To read more on international study options check out Study Abroad or the Study Abroad Directory. Unfortunately this show picked up a little static somewhere in the process and we can't get rid of it: sorry. Looking for those British train tips? Thanks Helene.

054 - Packing list for walking trips

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 03:23:04 +1200

We just came off of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela and wanted to share our packing list. A few listeners, Christopher and Kyotokat in particular, have recently asked us about packing lists, brands and models and details on precisely what we carry. This is a beginning! As well as listing the equipment we comment on their uses, strengths and weaknesses. It should be noted that the things discussed in this show and listed below is our walking list: for hiking, not general travel. There's a focus on lightweight over style or comfort -- the whole kit weighs in at 14kg including water and some food. When packing to walk we recommend a target weight of 10-15% of your body weight. We are always aiming for the 10% mark which makes hiking much more enjoyable. You can also download this Packing List for Walking as a pdf file. Packing list for walking Craig's kit: Pack: 50lt + Berghaus Anteus 45+8lt. Packcover for flights Undies - Boxer shorts x 3 Polypropylene trousers and long-sleeved top Cotton t-shirts x2 Mamut walking trousers (zip off to shorts) Swimming trunks Meindl walking shoes Smartwool hiking socks - medium cushion x2 (buy on Amazon.com) Vibram FiveFingers Sunglasses Waterproof over-trousers from Millets Jacket inner shell - Mountain Hardwear Xenon (buy on Amazon.com) Jacket outer shell - Windproof from Kathmandu Beanie Gloves Fizan Trekking pole (buy on Amazon.com) Linda's kit: Pack: Katmandu 20Lt daypack Undies - plain thin cotton x 5 Bras - my most comfortable at the time. One sports bra, one normal. Socks - 3x thin ones from CA with reinforced soles and heels. Socks - 2x walking socks from Millets. T-shirts from sports shops x2 - 1x Kathmandu and 1x Craghopper. Walking trousers x1 Waterproof trousers x1 Rain coat x1 Lowa boots from Intersport with new insoles. Jandals. Cheap and nasty Thermal underwear longjohns Thermal tops x2 - 1x polypropylene, 1x merino wool with turtleneck Fleece top A thin scarf from turkey Sun hat Gloves Fine Dining Sporks x2 - Light my fire (buy on Amazon.com) Orikaso Flatworld dinnerware (buy on Amazon.com) Victrinox Picnicker pocket knife (buy on Amazon.com) Platypus x2 - 2Lt capacity + piping (buy on Amazon.com) Tea towel Daily food plus emergency snacks First aid and toiletries Plasters Bandage Paracetamol Ibuprofen Diarhorrea tablets Water purification tablets Needle and thread Antiseptic cream Cleaning wipes Scissors Nail clippers Eye drops Medical tape Hand sanitiser Moisturiser Mini soap x2 Shampoo - Head and shoulders 2in1 Comb Lip balm Toothpaste and toothbrushes Dental floss Deodorant Glasses, cases, contacts and solution Sanitary pads Sleeping Sleeping bags x2 - cheap deal from Millets Earplugs Entertainment Playing cards Magnetic chess set Notebook, pens x2 Camera - Pentax Optio W30 (buy on Amazon.com) Spare battery and charger (buy on Amazon.com) Joby gorillapod (buy on Amazon.com) Usb stick/SD card reader Sundry Towels x2 - Kathmandu and Lifeventure Emergency blankets - silver foil sheets Cell phone but no charger Lots of plastic zip-lock bags Torch - Maglight AA (buy on Amazon.com) Passports Credit cards and cash Security belt Guidebook - Confraternity of St James Phrasebook - Lonely Planet Fast Talk Spanish (buy on Amazon.com) Other notes We'd like to thank listener Christopher for recommending Smartwool socks and for pointing us towards Kiva: a micro-enterprise foundation/charity. If you'd like to have an enhanced version of the Indie Travel Podcast or help us meet the costs of running the show, please consider making a small donation using the form in the sidebar. {democracy:3}

053 - The Camino de Santiago de Compostela

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:51:33 +1200

It's been some time, we know! It all started when we missed our first flight and had to spend an extra night in Vienna. Yeah, life can be tough sometimes. Then the microphone we ordered didn't arrive in time ... and we were planning on doing some serious walking: 900+ kilometres across northern Spain. The laptop just wasn't coming with us. That walk is what we talk about in this episode: the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. The Camino is an ancient track: from at least the middle ages pilgrims were making their way to the Spanish city renowned as housing the bones of St James, one of Jesus' apostles. In contemporary life it is the first European Cultural Itinerary and is walked by tens of thousands each year. Listen to learn more about the Camino and our experiences on the way. We also update our travel plans for the next few months and promise you a regular show this Friday. We're following up with our pack list for walking -- as requested by a couple of you. If you'd like iTunes enhanced Indie Travel Podcasts then drop some money in the donation box in the sidebar. So far we have $5 of the $30 we need for new software. And if you're feeling generous you can put something towards the $300 we just spent on our new mic. It sounds good doesn't it :)

052 - Home and Away with Sherry Ott

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 09:11:19 +1300

In this episode of the Indie Travel Podcast, Craig talks to Sherry Ott from Ottsworld about travel, arriving back home and life in general. She writes: I really, really tried to remember specifics about my old job ndash; what software we used, what vendors I worked with, what projects I worked on for 3 years ndash; and I could come up with nothing but faint memories of bad florescent lighting and eating at my desk. All of the specific memories have moved into the deep depths of my brain waiting to flash before my eyes at the time of my death. Instead ndash; my brain is now filled with pictureshellip;pictures of the world, of dramatic landscapes, kids, families, big smiles, and desperate poverty. It is filled with knowledgehellip;knowledge of the world, cultures, and joy. In sixteen months of full-time travel Sherry visited 23 countries in Europe, Africa, Australasia and Asia; which took the bulk of her time. They talk about eating rat, fish with the value of Sherry's first car and how to avoid being sick on Moroccan busses. They focus on coming home -- what's it like to re-enter the familiar and some strategies for dealing with the shock. You can find Sherry's writing and photography through her site, Ottsworld. Craig and Linda also talk about their travel life at the moment. We've just had a lovely week in small-town Austria - the last week of work in a while. Next week, it's back to the UK so Craig can do ICC and CEVNI tests - yep, he's learning to drive a canal boat. Watch out on the waterways of Central Europe! Then we'll hit the Camino de Santiago for five weeks' or so of walking. Our birthday month is almost over, so thanks again to Joby, Lonely Planet, Orikaso and Bed Bug Central for giving us stuff so we can give them to you. This week's winners of the Bed Bug Central Bed Bug Travel Guide are: mesoinvisible and Claire. Congratulations! We drew the prize from the subscribers to our bi-monthly newsletter. Congratulations also to our winner of the mattress and spring box enclosure from Bed Bug Central: Graeme. We hope it comes in handy! Great news about downloads - we have completely surpassed our goal of 50,000 by the end of the month. We're currently at 51,500, which is fantastic. Thanks to everyone who helped us get there by spreading the word: feel free to keep it up!

051 - Being a great guest from before you arrive

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 09:14:38 +1300

In this edition of the Indie Travel Podcast, Craig and Linda talk about being a guest - an important part of world travel. If you manage to do a RTW trip without staying in someone's house, something is very wrong; experience the people as well as the places! In this show we talk about approaching friends and acquaintances to ask if you can stay with them; preparing to get there; arriving (both expectedly and unexpectedly!); courtesy and helping in the home; leaving gifts; and following up after you've left. If you don't have any friends in the areas you are travelling to, sign up to Couchsurfing or the Hospitality Club and meet some new people. You can also network with fellow travellers on sites like Matador Travel. Craig writes for a site called The Traveler's Notebook. There's a post on spending special events with foreign families which is a good follow-up to this episode where he talks more about their German Christmas. If you're in the mood for a visitor horror story check out listener-post 'About travelling'. Congratulations to our prize winners!. It's our birthday this month and some companies have been really generous. This week we have a Bed Bug Central Bud Bug Travel Guide to give to Sinclair and Travoholic. We drew the prize from the subscribers to our bi-monthly newsletter. We have two more ebooks to give away next week, so join now: Email goes here: We also had a Joby Gorillapod to give away thanks to the lovely people at Joby.com. Congratulations to Jeff who picked that up. We have two more competitions running, so check out the competitions page for more information. Listener links for this week go out to Gary who is in Melbourne at the moment and to Jessica who is spending a year in a car. Really. She lives in the back of a van and is travelling around America. We also want to thank Fadly for her kind review. Things are going well in our quest for 50,000 downloads before the end of the month. As of tonight we have 49,200! We're certain that we'll hit 50,000 well before the 29th: thanks so much to everyone who has supported us by spreading the word. After next week we're going to back off on talking about stats and "meta" so much (thank God!). We have added a stat counter to the sidebar though: this shows how many people retrieve the feed each day. You can see it's at 667 today and it tends to fluctuate up and down by about 20 a day. Why don't you help us to push it up above 700? Photo thanks to the Futuristics. Poll of the month It's your last chance to vote! {democracy:2}

050 - EFL/ESOL/ESL teaching for long-term travel

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 11:57:52 +1300

Craig and Linda have been teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) since 2003. In this episode they celebrate being 50 shows old and talk about getting qualifications and finding work in order to travel. Photo thanks to Peiqianlong They talk about different qualification options including in-house training, pay for training and placement, and the big two qualifications: CELTA and Trinity TESOL. They mention EF (a huge multinational) and i to i which will handle training and a job placement, especially for gap years. They mention their favourite sites for finding ESOL jobs: Tefl.com Dave's ESL cafe If you have some to share, let us know in the comments. We recommend using RSS to subscribe to the job feeds. If you have no idea how to do that, email us. It's still February and we're still giving things away! Thanks to bed bug central and Orikaso for the prizes we announced in this episode. This week we're giving away an original Gorillapod from Joby. To win, simply listen to the audio clip we'll put on the feed this Monday and email us the password there. It's free to subscribe in iTunes or another feed reader and that's the only way you can be in to win. Read more about our competitions here. Poll of the month: {democracy:2} We have three listener links from one listener this week! Jaci writes at Sex and the Nomadic Traveler, Diary of a Nomadic Traveler and Traveling on my stomach.

049 - Travel, hard-drives and the LaCie Rugged All-Terrain hard disk

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 01:51:09 +1300

This week Craig and Linda talk about taking hard-drives on the road with you. Who on earth wants to carry that extra weight? Listen to find out! We admit to being that person and follow up with a review of the LaCie Rugged All-Terrain hard disk. For more information on the LaCie Rugged visit the manufacturer's website. Obviously, a travel hard-drive is only something that laptop-carriers will want. If you do have a laptop, why carry a second hard-drive? Because you should be doing some sort of backup -- you don't want to lose years of travel photos! Most people can use either a USB drive or DVDs to do their backing up. People that go through a lot of data -- writers, photographers, itinerant travel podcasters -- should consider a hard-disk backup. We spend quite a lot of time talking about the competitions that we are running during February. We have two winners of the Bed Bug Travel Guide this week: we draw two names from our newsletter subscribers each week in February. This week they go to Jesse and M Hutt - Congratulations! Can you finish this sentence? The most interesting hostel/hotel I've ever stayed in was ... Click here to finish and win! Add "The Indie Travel Podcast might give me Lonely Planet books for writing this" to your travel blog posts this month and be in to win three of five Lonely Planet books. Read more. And tell us what you think about our show! Please! We want to know how long you think we should run for. It used to be five minutes, but most people want a longer show. Add your two cents on the poll below then contact us and tell us what you want to hear. {democracy:2} Win and Orikaso Flatworld Dinner Set this week Tomorrow we're putting out a password on the feed. In order to win an Orikaso Flatworld dinner set all you have to do is email us that password. Subscribe in iTunes now or read more about subscribing. It is free and easy to do.

048 - Start backpacking and pack light with Greg Rodgers

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 08:04:47 +1300

Exciting news this week! It's our first podcasting birthday and we have competitions starting today! In fact we already have two winners: A Hutton and Josh H. They have each won a copy of the Bed Bug Travel Guide from Bed Bug Central! We'll be getting in touch with you both soon. This week we talk to Greg Rodgers of Start Backpacking and Vagabonding Begins, one of BootsnAll's top travel blogs. Greg and Craig talk about his discontent with life in a cubical and how he started dreaming and planning his current "vagabonding" lifestyle: breaking the spending habits and re-aligning your life towards travel. Using first hand experience they outline several tenets of packing light -- let's all brush over Greg arriving with a 25kg pack on his first trip! Listening to the show is easy. Hit the play button above to listen on-site or the download button to take it with you. If iTunes is your thing you can have a free subscription by clicking here or the orange "iTunes" button in the sidebar. We really recommend subscribing, because later this month we're giving away a Joby Gorillapod and Flatworld dinner set for free! The competitions are only open to subscribers, so click into it. Bed Bug Central has generously donated several copies of their newly revised e-book, the Bed Bug Travel Guide. Two winners a week are drawn from subscribers to the no-spam twice-monthly newsletter. Bed Bug Central, your Bed Bug Experts, brings you this ground breaking publication to help you remain bed bug free when you travel. If you travel frequently for business, stay in hotels on vacation, travel internationally, or just want to learn how to stay bed bug free, this guide is for you! There are tips on preparing for travel, what to do if you find bed bugs in your hotel, how to unpack upon arriving back home, and much more. Click here to find out more about the competitions we're running all through February.

047 - Malta and art with Caroline Navarro

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:57:08 +1300

In this interview Craig talks to Caroline Navarro -- a Maltese artist and incessant traveller. She discusses her art and the country that formed it. Along with a verbal picture of the landscape and its people she provides some alternative travel goals and talks about her upcoming trips. Visit Caroline Navarro's website: a showcase of her work and international career. Breaking news: We've just announced that there are some competitions in the air! To celebrate our birthday in February we're teaming up with some sponsors to bring you some great prizes. So far Lonely Planet and Joby are on board and talks are happening with other sponsors. Stay tuned to find out more...In fact, join the newsletter or subscribe and make sure you don't miss out! {democracy:2}

046 - What is the Indie Travel Podcast 2.0

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:46:35 +1300

You've arrived! Glad to have you here on the Indie Travel Podcast! But... What is this Indie Travel Podcast? Click the grey "play" icon below the title to find out. Or read on... The Indie Travel Podcast is run by Craig and Linda -- full-time travellers -- and aims to bring you some tips and topics from the world of independent travel. We normally give some travel advice, but on the second Friday of each month we review a product or service that wersquo;ve found useful. On the last week of the month we bring you an interview from someone wersquo;ve met along the way. We try to release an original 5 minute show every Friday. Think of it like internet radio, but unlike radio we answer your emails! And we're on-demand too. Wersquo;re constantly ldquo;on the roadrdquo; and donrsquo;t have a regular internet connection; our apologies if we miss our deadline! So, now you know what we're about, find out how to subscribe (it's free!) or read what people have said about the show and more about Craig and Linda. We also talk about our most popular posts for 2007. Here are the links: Most popular interview: Kate McCarter Most popular review: Vibram Five Fingers Most popular tip: Tips for eating out cheaply These are based on the download numbers, rather than feedback or links. Links: Download transcript (pdf, 269kb) {democracy:2}

045 - New Year’s thoughts

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 02:01:26 +1300

What do you do over the New Year? Make resolutions? Craig and Linda of the Indie Travel Podcast are a little suspicious of big changes, but always spend some time rejigging their philosophy for the year and look to make small consistent changes. In this episode we talk about our vision for travel in 2008. It'll have more people, more events and a slower pace. We think. Help share the love by sharing your thoughts or goals for travel in 2008 in the comments below. Links: Transcript (pdf, 269kb) http://www.personaltravelblogs.com/ is a new site showcasing...personal travel blogs.

044 - Chris takes us to Istanbul

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 02:14:19 +1300

During the holiday season Craig and Linda are taking a short break and handing the reins over to some fellow podcasters. This week Chris Christensen from the Amateur Traveler talks about Istanbul: where to stay, what to do and what to eat whilst there. A fitting topic since St Nicholas is himself a native of Turkey; not sure when he moved north. Chris mentions some previous episodes from his show, here are the links: Istanbul featuring the carpet-seller soundscape An older episode; an interview about Turkey He also has several video podcasts featuring Turkey. Spending a fortnight in Turkey -- Bursa and Istanbul -- was a refreshing time for regular hosts Craig and Linda during 2007 and we plan to head back again twice in 2008; once in February and once for the great ANZAC pilgrimage to Gallipoli in April. We're sure to be taking some of Chris's not-in-the-guidebook suggestions this time around! The Amateur Traveler is spelt with one L and features commentary and interviews about worldwide destinations. Each episode comprises of travel news, a feature piece, internet resources and a community section. Informative, interesting and personal, the Amateur Traveler is made with the love of travel in mind. We're all members of the Travel Podcast Network.

043 - Betty flies with Indie Travel

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:58:07 +1300

During the holiday season Craig and Linda are taking a short break and handing the reins over to some fellow podcasters. In this Christmas gift Betty, from Betty in the Sky with a Suitcase, flies with the Indie Travel Podcast and offers her thoughts and some great stories to us. Stories of cultural difference intersperse Betty's great travel tips on packing light, wardrobe choices and how to keep your head whilst sleeping on a plane! Sounds like a tip we should add to our advice on sleeping in vehicles. There is more than joy in the podcast -- trust us on that one.

042 - Joby Gorillapod review

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 05:23:32 +1300

This week Craig and Linda at the Indie Travel Podcast turn their attention to the Joby Gorillapod; an innovative camera tripod. The gorillapod differs from normal tripods by having legs made out of interconnected spheres which can be manipulated to wrap around all sorts of things: tree branches, backs of chairs and even swimming pool rungs. Not fish though. They discuss the pros and cons of the gorillapod before offering their advice on who it would best suit and whether to add it to your pack. Thanks to listeners Mark and Kelli for suggesting the review and Joby for supplying one for review. Links: Transcript (pdf, 281kb) Joby website (including store) Gorillapods on amazon.com Gorillapod love - a flickr group Photo courtesy of Dive-angel. Thanks! Check out our flickr group and we also mentioned the indie travel podcast facebook group.

041 - Dealing with Money before leaving home

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 04:56:16 +1300

This week the Indie Travel Podcast tackles one of the toughest travel issues: money. The real problem is most of this has to be done before leaving home, which can be a good excuse to postpone travelling as well as a source of frustration. In three sections Craig and Linda advise on how to deal with money before leaving home on an extended trip. Part one: deal with debt. Part two: save enough to keep you safe. Part three: sort out your bank. Links: Transcript (pdf, 265kb)

040 - The Big OE with Deborah and Chris Clark

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 01:31:37 +1300

The Big OE -- Overseas Experience -- is ingrained into both the New Zealand and Australian psyche. Taking a year or two to live and work abroad, travelling as much as one can and (hopefully) taking a few bucks home to start 'life' again. This week Linda talks with Deborah and Chris Clark, a Kiwi couple who are in the midst of their OE. They have moved to the British Midlands and from there travelled around Britain and to Jersey, France, Germany, Singapore and, recently, turbulent Pakistan. (Does a Dubai stop-over count too?) They talk about setting up in the UK and the trips they've done. They pass on some first hand experience and give some tips to help people avoid common mistakes -- like packing too much and not organising a UK bank account before leaving home. The Indie Travel Podcast is a free weekly audio show that can be downloaded automatically through iTunes. Click here for more information on subscribing. Links: There are no transcripts for interviews. See Chris and Deborah's photos on picasa. Chris and Deborah mentioned a few resources for keeping in touch with home. Facebook (Join the Indie Travel Podcast group.) Picasa desktop and web album for photo organising and sharing A few links to help with work and travel in the United Kingdom. What is an OE - according to Wikipedia. STA (Student Travel Association) with OE options/deals/advice. Varsity.co.nz on how to plan your OE (good links). Breaking News: Podcast scholarship with World Nomads

039 - 7 tips for eating out cheaply

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 06:03:35 +1300

Travel's biggest expenses are accommodation, travel and food. This week the Indie Travel Podcast looks at ways to save money when eating out. Of course if you want to eat cheap it's best to head to the supermarket or -- even better -- a local market, but there are also ways to eat at restaurants without breaking the bank. 1. Locate a cheap place. Look for something you want at a price you're happy to pay. If menus aren't displayed outside ask to see one before sitting down. Feel free to walk out. 2. Look for specials. Consider making lunch your main meal; there are often daily specials. Sometimes they continue into the evening (like they did for us tonight) so ask. 3. Drink less. Drinks make up a lot of the bill. Asking for tap water is usually acceptable and just give booze a miss for the evening if it's too much. If you're travelling as a couple consider sharing a drink. (And sometimes beer is cheaper than soft drinks.) 4. Ask for small portions if you're not too hungry. You'll probably get a discount, not to mention it can save your digestion where servings are enormous. 5. Be wary of extra charges. Don't assume anything is free. It's best to ask. If you are unhappy with things leave before ordering. Venice LINK 6. Tip when you can. Rounding up the bill to the nearest euro or five euros is often acceptable (you don't have to leave 15%!). Read more here. LINK 7. Set a budget before you go out. First get an idea of the prices of food in the area then if you find a cheap meal, you might have some extra for dessert. Bad with money? Consider only taking the money you plan to spend (plus a card for emergencies. No, that cocktail isn't an emergency). We don't advice constantly being miserly; that's just as stupid as constantly being decadent, but when you do want to save I trust these tips will help you out. LINKS: Transcript (pdf, 264kb) Our post, Avoid Being Ripped Off in Venice and other places, has some helpful advice on extra charges. What to tip in 77 countries according to USA Today. (We've found local's customs to be different in some of these countries!) Enter the Vagabonding competition before December 1st. Details on the Indie Travel Podcast homepage.

038 - Learning Languages on the Road with Tim Patterson

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 03:47:53 +1300

Dropped by from BNT? Welcome. You can subscribe for free in iTunes or any feed reader. In this episode, Craig talks with Tim Patterson about learning languages on the road. Amongst humourous anecdotes Tim points out some of the points he made in his article, "7 Tips for Learning a Foreign Language on On The Road". 1. Speak With Your Stomach 2. Make People Laugh 3. Make Your Own Phrasebook 4. Avoid Tourist Hangouts 5. Indulge Your Inner Four-Year Old 6. Go Shopping 7. Reciprocate (read more) So, if you want to pick up a little language when you are travelling, this is the show for you. Who is this guy? Tim Patterson travels with a sleeping bag and pup tent strapped to the back of his folding bicycle. He is a contributing editor at BraveNewTraveler.com and his articles and travel guides have appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, Get Lost Magazine, Tales Of Asia and Traverse Magazine. Visit him at www.rucksackwanderer.com Links: There are no transcripts for interviews www.bravenewtraveler.com - on which Tim is an editor www.matadortravel.com - which pays for travel stories sleepinginthemountains.blogspot.com - Tim's first travel blog, and www.rucksackwanderer.com - which is Tim's current homepage The Indie Travel Podcast specialises in those trips without tour guides: Sweet travel advice for independent travellers. Consider subscribing for free.

037 - Vagabonding by Rolf Potts Review

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 10:49:14 +1300

This review brings Craig and Linda of the indie travel podcast to Vagabonding: An uncommon guide to the art of long-term world travel by Rolf Potts. That subtitle is one heck of a mouthful, huh? It sums the book up well though. In short, it wasn't our type of book. The layout was frustratingly fragmented, with quotes, profiles and tips scattered throughout the pages. Linda moans while Craig points out it's how motivational books are published these days. We'd recommend this book to people that are sitting on the fence when it comes to a lifestyle of travel. If you're sitting at home or at work, dreaming of travelling then this book is for you. To hear more about the pros and cons of Vagabonding (the book, not the lifestyle) click the play button above or subscribe for free in iTunes. Links: Transcript (pdf, 275kb) Rolf Potts's Vagabonding (official website) Buy Vagabonding through Amazon.com (and we get a small commission)

036 - Budget Travel in Britain Redux

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 07:29:02 +1300

Remember Episode 33: Budget Travel in Britain? Well, this is the redux! One month ago we looked at transport options from London, England to Glasgow, Scotland. Back then, this is what we found: By plane - Easyjet will cost pound;16.99 and take 1 hour 15 minutes (plus check-in/security time). By train - Virgin trains will cost pound;17.50 and take 5 hours 40 minutes By coach - Megabus will cost pound;3.50 and take 10 hours. And now, booking on the 30th for the 31st? The cheapest flight was Ryanair at 52.47, and the cheapest train journey we could find was with GNER and First Scotrail at 97.90! 97.90?! Talk about Halloween horrors. Once again, the best (read: cheapest) option is Megabus at 14.50. Coach travel certainly isn't the most comfortable option. Here are our three tips for coach travel... Look at National Express funfares. You can't change the date or time; so don't miss it! Bring food and drink with you. Stay sober. Listen to Episode 004: Sleeping in Vehicles. Daniel Perez -- the Gamer Traveller -- is posting again. If gaming and travel are both your thing you can visit his site or look for him in the Travel Podcast Network page on iTunes. Links: Transcript (pdf, 265kb) Episode 33: Budget Travel in Britain skyscanner.net -- Searches cheap flights in Europe. thetrainline.com -- Searches British trains for times and prices megabus.com -- Cheapest British coach company nationalexpress.com -- Check for funfare coach tickets; can be cheaper than megabus. Look back in time: Indie Travel Podcast 004: Sleeping in Vehicles The Gamer Traveler The Travel Podcast Network on iTunes

035 - Interview with Kate McCarter

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 02:56:24 +1300

Linda talks to Kate McCarter about life, the universe and travel. Kate is a South African travelling Europe, known amongst friends for her good luck along the way. Kate's been travelling Europe for the last five months and, before that travelled around Africa and spent a year in the Pacific. She mentions her favourite countries, travel dreams and -- of course -- passes on some of her stories and travel advice for all of us independent travellers. And yes, we did find sturm. There are no transcripts for interviews. If you'd like to join the mailing list, go to indietravelpodcast.com and add your bank account details email address in the grey box. Remember to check out the flickr and facebook groups -- and the new Indie Travel Podcast facebook app.

034 - Maglite AA Torch Review

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 05:55:55 +1300

Craig and Linda bring light to the travel community with their review of the Maglite two AA battery torch. The torch is not cheap or overly light, but it lends itself to travel for three main reasons. 1. It's very strong - it won't be damaged by rough handling or the pressure inside a pack or suitcase. 2. It's high quality. 3. It's easy to find replacement parts like batteries and bulbs. Then again, do you really need a maglite - or any - torch? Think about how to pack light - take what you will use, not what you might use. We're going to follow this episode up with a video post showing where to find, and how to replace, a maglight bulb. It's so easy you'll wonder how we didn't know about it. Links: Transcript (pdf, 274kb) Official maglite website We just bought iPod nano. And yes, we really did the West Highland Way.

033 - Budget travel in Britain

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:27:18 +1300

This week the Indie Travel Podcast looks at budget travel in Britain. "Budget travel in Britain?" we hear you cry. It does seem a contradiction in terms, but if you plan ahead and are willing to put up with some discomfort it is possible. Honestly. We've decided to make this a case study in travelling from London, England to Glasgow, Scotland by plane, train and coach. We are looking for the cheapest option for leaving and arriving anytime on the 31st of October 2007. This week we look at prices as of the 1st of October and we'll look at prices at the end of the month in a later travel podcast. Here are our findings: By plane - Easyjet will cost pound;16.99 and take 1 hour 15 minutes (plus check-in/security time). By train - Virgin trains will cost pound;17.50 and take 5 hours 40 minutes By coach - Megabus will cost pound;3.50 and take 10 hours. These are good prices for the relatively fast and comfortable flight and train journey, but coach is the only real budget option for inter-city travel in Britain. Links: Transcript (pdf, 260kb) skyscanner.net thetrainline.com megabus.com nationalexpress.com Recent comments on: 032 - Doing things local 018 - Online hostel-booking engines review If you love us, vote for us: Indie Travel Podcast as best travel blog in the blogger's choice awards.

032 - Doing things local

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 23:10:24 +1200

Craig and Linda delight in local life this week and encourage you to do the same on the "Indie Travel Podcast: Doing things local". We talk about what a great time we've had eating local food and drinking local beverages, including pumpkin beer from Austria's oldest brewery, and Linda relives childhood trauma in Malaysia. Our first newsletter's coming out on October first, so sign up on the homepage. We encourage you to leave your favourite local dishes or drinks in the comments... Links: Download transcript (260kb, pdf) Join our facebook and flickr groups. Listen to episode 57 of TravelCommons where Craig comments. We'd also like to introduce to you Explorer Pod which, along with other things, syndicates the Indie Travel Podcast. See more travel podcasters on our resources page. Now you've reached this far, tell us your favourite local food or drink...

031 - Travel Photography for Beginners part one

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 06:50:19 +1200

Every traveller brings a camera along with them. Don't they? We're presenting our favourite four tips for photographing on the road. We're starting simple ... nothing earth-shattering, but some good practical advice that might ensure your world-wide travels get recorded with the love they deserve. We also play devil's advocate in a little perspective piece considering the type of traveller you want to be - take what you will from it. Want to get involved with the site? We've got a flickr group for your (now excellent!) photos, a facebook group for those that need to feed their addiction and also a newsletter which you can sign up for on the homepage. Links: Transcript (pdf, 267kb)

030 - Review: Eagle Creek Pack-it System

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 23:55:10 +1200

The Indie Travel Podcast brings you a rather specialist review: the Eagle Creek Pack-it System. This isn't an essential piece of travel equipment for most backpackers, but if you have to change between work or special occaisions and bed-bugs and beads it might come in handy. The packing system aims to eliminate the need for an iron by keeping things folded and seperate from the rest of your luggage. It fits well against the back of a pack or into a suitcase, but it is probably heavier than it needs to be. Unfortunately Linda had to record the whole show herself this week, since Craig has lost his voice - an occupational hazzard of teachers and podcasters, I fear! LINKS: Transcript (pdf, 259kb) Craig and Linda talk about New Zealand on the Amateur Traveler, Craig's articles on Amateur Traveler and Chris's latest episodes. Also, the Indie Travel Podcast on Independent Travel in New Zealand. Check out the listener comments on hostels, vibram five fingers and budget airlines and add your two cents! You might want to visit the Budacast Budapest podcast too. A request: Let us know your couch-surfing stories (couchsurfing.com) and whether you'd like an e-mail newsletter. Contact us.

029 - Advice for using budget airlines

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 22:37:17 +1200

Never taken a budget airline flight? Or did it once and didn't enjoy it? In this episode, the Indie Travel Podcast gives several pieces of budget airline advice to give some pre-flight tips and points of difference between budget and traditional airlines. In brief, when travelling by budget airline consider when you book and the hidden costs inherent in the system. These include taxes, baggage costs, credit card fees and booking extras like a dedicated seat. Also pay close attention to baggage allowances throughout your entire journey. Different carriers have different guidelines and all of them charge the earth for excess baggage fees. This is especially important if you're connecting with another flight. On arrival at the airport you should have your confirmation number handy even though you will seldom be asked for it. Of course, your passport or similar ID is essential! Your boarding card won't have a seat number, but some airlines have different boarding groups depending on how early you check in. We recommend relaxing and boarding later rather than joining the scrum. In the end you get what you pay for -- budget airlines are heavily mediated spaces with audio and visual advertising making up the profit margins: expect to be advertised at. A lot. Want to know more? Click the play button above to hear these ideas fleshed out then click here to subscribe in iTunes for free independent travel advice, reviews and interviews from the Indie Travel Podcast. Links: Download transcript (pdf, 262kb). Recommended price comparison site: Sky Scanner. Other recommendations: Bezurk Air Ninja - only shows routes, not prices or availability (If you have another favourite, let us know and we'll add it.)

028 - Interview: Along the West Highland Way

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 08:37:34 +1200

The Indie Travel Podcast recently took a little hiatus while Linda and Craig walked Scotland's longest walking track: the West Highland Way. For your listening pleasure, this month's interview segment gives you some 'on the road' thoughts from some of the people we met. What is the West Highland Way? The West Highland Way was Scotland's first official long distance route. Originally conceived in the 1960s, it was completed in October 1980. The Way links Milngavie to Fort William ndash; a distance of 152km (95 miles) - from the outskirts of Scotland's largest city to the foot of its highest mountain, following the shores of its largest freshwater loch. It passes from the lowlands, across the Highland Boundary Fault and on into the Scottish Highlands. Source. And would we recommend it? Absolutely! Craig walked about 50 kilometers in his Vibram FiveFingers, talked about a few shows ago. Listen to hear what he thought about them and the WHW. There are no transcripts for interviews. LINKS: West Highland Way Resources: We used Lonely Planet's Walking in Scotland and this West Highland Way map. We also read the West Highland Way official guide book. Official Sites useful links: West Highland Way Useful suggested packing list Ramblers on the WHW On avoiding midges - which is important Our links: Our blog post is coming... Our West Highland Way flickr gallery

027 - Guard your enthusiasm

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 01:31:39 +1200

This week the Indie Travel Podcast looks at three ideas to help you keep your spirit high as you travel around the world. There really is little point going if you're feeling blaseacute; or jaded. We suggest: Guard your passion: look after yourself. Do something spontaneous or new. Do the things you love. Linda also talks about culture shock: what it is and what it isn't and how to deal with it. To finish things off we ramble on about the things we and mention our review in the Sacremento Bee and the comments on our review of Vibram FiveFingers. Subscribe to the Indie Travel Podcast in iTunes or read more about subscribing. It's free and painless. Links: Download transcript (pdf, 265kb). Read a precise of our mention in the SacBee. Read the whole thing. Check the comments on our Vibram FiveFingers review.

026 - Review: Vibram Five Fingers

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 06:26:25 +1200

Welcome to the Indie Travel Podcast - thanks for clicking through! After having a listen, click here to subscribe to our show, for free. It'll open iTunes and download the latest episode of the Indie Travel Podcast every week. Craig and Linda talk about their experiences travelling with a pair of Vibram Five Fingers. They're a type of sole or shoe with a thin, hard rubber sole and wetsuit type material to cover the foot. Craig bought them as flip-flop/jandal replacements a few months ago and talk about what we find them good for...and not so good for. In brief, we don't recommend them for a lot of city walking, but they're great for off-road walking, beaches and the occasional jog. Listen to the show for more... We also ask your advice for walking the West Highland Way in Scotland. Have advice? Email us. LINKS: Download transcript (pdf, 267kb). Vibram product page (American site). Another official Vibram site (European and Asian site). FiveFingers on Flickr.

025 - The Day-trip Dilemma

mail@indietravelpodcast.com (Craig and Linda Martin) — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 06:20:39 +1200

Even indie travellers end up in tour groups sometimes. Almost everyone will agree that a more authentic experience can be found by doing it yourself, but sometimes time or transport options leave you with little choice. We suggest three reasons you might choose a package day-trip: 1. Somewhere you want to go, but can't get there easily. 2. It goes to several places, some of which you might not make if relying on public transport. 3. It's run by people you like and who understand your interests. We balance these against reasons you might choose to go it alone and give you some thoughts aimed at helping you decide the day-trip dilemma: to tour or not to tour. LINKS: Download transcript (pdf, 256kb). Tallinn Backpacker's day-trip in Lahemaa national park. Day Trips from Krakow on Amateur Traveler. The Travel Podcast Network (iTunes link)