Budget Travel | Backpackingmatt.com

backpackingmatt December 21, 2010

4 Reasons You Should Buy Travel Insurance for Your RTW Trip

Planning a big RTW (Round The World) trip?

Considering dabbling in long term travel?

Spending a couple months backpacking around Thailand?

Congratulations on making the decision to escape your comfort zone and travel the world.

Chances are you have heaps of things on your mind: What kind of backpack to choose? How to get the cheapest airfare? Will you survive long term travel?

One big decision you’ll also have before setting off on your backpacking or round-the-wold trip is whether or not to invest in travel insurance.

Many backpackers choose to not take out a travel insurance policy as they feel it is highly unlikely they will make a claim and therefore it’s a waste of money. While it may hurt initially to put down the money for an insurance policy, it’s foolish to backpack without travel insurance.

There are heaps of benefits to taking out a travel insurance policy, and here are four great reasons you should invest in travel insurance before setting off on your trip of a lifetime:

1) No-Fault Cancellations

Most travel insurance policies will cover you in the event that your transport has been canceled. The cost of flights are often the most expensive costs of your backpacking trip, and in the event you need to purchase alternative tickets this feature is essentially priceless.

Cancellations cover can also cover losses due to bad weather, illness and failures in service where the transportation provider is at fault.

2) Emergency Medication

For backpackers who require prescription medication to be taken frequently while abroad, travel insurance is a must. In the instance where your bag has been lost or stolen with your medication inside, a comprehensive travel insurance policy will cover the costs of having an emergency prescription filled in a foreign country.

In many cases this can be a huge expense, and if not covered by an insurance policy this could spell disaster – and possibly cut your backpacking trip short.

3) Cash and Passport Cover

Any backpacker’s nightmare is to have their cash and passport lost or stolen while overseas. Not only can it take weeks to get a replacement, the cost involved will very easily break your budget. Travel insurance can provide peace of mind while visiting another country.

If you find yourself without your passport or cash, insurance cover will provide emergency travel funds as well as a replacement passport, meaning you can continue your backpacking trip hassle-free.

4) Accident Liability Cover

Accident liability cover is a feature provided under most travel insurance policies. This feature covers you in the event that you have been involved in an accident that has caused damage or harmed a third-party where you are liable. For example, if you are exploring Bali on a motorbike, crash into someone, and a third property has been damaged or injured, this feature of travel insurance will cover any legal expenditures resulting from the accident.

Along with a range of additional benefits and features of travel insurance, the four reasons mentioned are great reasons to purchase a travel insurance policy before departing on your long term backpacking trip.

What’s your take? Any tips on choosing a travel insurance policy? Leave any benefits to purchasing a travel insurance policy or your experiences in the comments section below.

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Allianz.

backpackingmatt November 16, 2010

Experiencing a Bali Cockfight

Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Travel Photos 37 Replies

When you think of Bali, chances are you envision clear blue skies, white sand beaches, thundering surf and beach-side massages. You might picture thick jungle, vivid green rice paddies, and towering volcanoes. These scenes very much exist in Bali and are the reason I was terribly excited to spend a week in this island paradise.

I expected outstanding seafood, friendly locals, budget friendly accommodation, and a pumping nightlife scene in Kuta.

One thing I didn’t expect was an afternoon spent at a traditional cock fight in the middle of the dense, muggy, and intensely green jungle.

One evening in Lovina, a series of seaside villages in the north of Bali, I met a local who was working at a beach-side bar and restaurant. I was enjoying a few Bintangs (Bali’s beer) along with some Canadian backpackers I had recently met when Putu invited me to a cockfight the next afternoon.

Needless to say, this isn’t an invitation I often get.

Cockfighting plays a very important role in the life of many Balinese men. A cockfight, in the simplest sense, is a fight between two roosters in a caged ring. To many men in Bali, it’s much more than this – it’s an obsession that has been passed down through the generations.

Cockfightinging is illegal in Bali and has been since 1981. The only exception is when a cockfight takes place for religious purposes. Bali is an intensely spiritual island made up of almost all Hindus; in Balinese Hinduism, the spilled blood in a cockfight is believed to expel evil spirits.

Although it is illegal, cockfighting takes place throughout Bali. Men will spend anywhere from six months to two years preparing roosters for a cockfight. They are fed high quality food so they develop muscle – the stronger the rooster, the better its chances of winning the cockfight. Cockfighting is so pervasive in Bali culture that you’ll often see men of all ages sitting around, grooming their roosters, comparing weights and sizes, and showing them off to other men in the community.

It’s a very big part of the local culture – and although inhumane by most standards – I couldn’t bring myself to turn down the invitation.

I met Putu the next day and he took me twenty minutes outside of Lovina to his home. Outside this traditional, one-room house, Putu had bamboo cages of roosters of different ages. Though their was a significant language barrier between us, the pride he had in his roosters was overwhelmingly apparent. He pulled out one of the roosters who he assured me was strong, well-fed, and could win in the cockfight.

75,000 Indonesian Rupiahs later (about $8 USD) and I was the proud owner of a two year old Balinese rooster.

We took our scooters higher up the mountain before turning off the small, single tracked road and onto a muddy dirt trail. We went deeper into the muggy jungle before arriving to the cockpit. There were already dozens of men preparing for the fights; as many of them chain smoked sweet-smelling clove cigarettes, they were preening their roosters and seeking out opponents.

The roosters have a natural aggression towards other males. The first step in the process is seeing which roosters want to fight. After finding a suitable opponent, a third man attaches the taji to each rooster’s leg. The taji is a razor sharp dagger of about four inches – it’s a sacred weapon and the fights are won or lost based on the use of the taji, not necessarily by the pecking that takes place between the roosters.

Before the fight begins, there is a chaotic couple minutes while the men around the cockpit place their bets. They shout out the color of the cock they want to win and were placing bets between 50,000 and 1,000,000 Rupiah. The two birds are released in the center of the ring and jump at each other, peck at each other, before one finally slashes the other rooster with the taji.

It was a quick, somewhat anticlimactic finish to all of the pre-fight negotiations. Those who lost their bets gave their cash to the organizer of the cockfight before another round started.

And what about the loosing cock? The owner of the winning cock gets the body of the looser. Unfortunately, my rooster lost and would have likely then been used to prepare Ayam Pelalah – a spicy, Balinese chicken soup.

After the cockfight I was invited to Pulu’s traditional home. He introduced me to his wife and his young daughter before serving me an outstanding lunch.

Their kitchen was outside in a bamboo enclosed room and their stove was a coal fire. As I’ve found many times in Southeast Asia, it’s amazing how those who seemingly have nothing are so giving. They made sure I had seconds, offered me tea, and gave me a gift of a polished seashell.

It was certainly an interesting afternoon – one I’m very glad I was able to experience.

What is your take? Have you been to a cockfight? Would you go? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

backpackingmatt November 6, 2010

Experiencing Bali on a Scooter

Southeast Asia, Travel Advice 55 Replies

Bali – one of the many islands in the Indonesian Archipelago – is a shockingly beautiful and diverse place. This is no secret as many parts of the island are overrun with five star hotels and resorts. Lovers and honeymooners alike flock here in droves to relax on the beach, soak up the sun, and treat themselves to luxury spas, Balinese hospitality, and excellent food.

Bali is clearly more than honeymooners, spas, and tourist resorts – it’s an intensely spiritual island with temples, devout Hindus, and a spectacular array of landscapes. Add to this world class surfing and diving, beautiful beaches, and excellent museums and galleries and Bali is a pretty amazing place to travel.

Yet is Bali ideal for the backpacker, budget traveler, or solo-traveler?

I’m not sure. I’ll have a better feeling by the time I leave next week. I am sure of one thing:

Bali is best seen and experienced from behind the handlebars of your very own scooter or motorbike.

The first thing you’ll notice after leaving Bali’s airport is the shocking number of scooters on Bali’s roads. They weave in out and of traffic, buzz by you as you’re stuck in traffic jams, and somehow make order out of the chaos of Bali’s traffic patterns. From children in school uniforms heading to class, to entire families of four or five, to ladies in miniskirts and high heels, everyone it seems in Bali has a scooter – and so should you.

Hiring a scooter in Bali will allow you to get out of the tourist centers, it will reduce your reliability on relatively expensive or unreliable public transport, and if everything goes in your favor it will save you money.

Here is what you should know if you’re thinking about traveling Bali on a scooter:

Scooter rentals can be found almost everywhere. Even in the smallest villages I’ve had hawkers offer me ‘motorbike? – motorbike?’ Outside of the bigger towns of Kuta or Ubud, chances are it will be a local just trying to make a couple thousand Rupiah off their own bike.
How much? This depends mostly on where you’re hiring the scooter. In Kuta where there is heaps of competition, you can expect to pay about 50,000 Rupiah / day ($5.60USD). If you commit to a couple days, make sure you talk the price down. You can get a manual transmission with four gears for slightly cheaper.
Shop around. All you have to do is walk down the street or alleyway in Kuta and you’ll be offered scooter rentals. They are literally everywhere. Spend an hour walking around seeing what your options are – compare prices and quality of the scooters as they both vary greatly.
Be careful. Before taking off on my scooter yesterday, I made sure my travel medical insurance was up to date. Even in areas where there is little traffic, the traffic you do encounter seems chaotic through Western eyes. Somehow it all works, and before long you’ll be feeling pretty comfortable.
Stay on the left. They drive on the left side of the road in Bali – but also make sure you stay to the left hand side of the lane. Unless of course you’re buzzing through a congested traffic jam.
In order to legally drive a scooter in Bali you’re required to have an international drivers license. They didn’t tell me this when I hired my scooter which caused a minor problem but made for one hell of a story.

Shortly after leaving Kuta, I was over the moon and taking in the rush of cruising along the beach. The combination of the hot wind in my hair, exhaust from traffic in my face, and stunning views of the beach and surrounding mountains was making for an absolutely epic experience.

Everything changed as I came upon a police check point. Ten or so uniformed police officers were randomly stopping traffic as they passed checking for registrations and licenses. I assumed I would be fine as the rental agency didn’t mention anything about my Iowa license.

“Problem,” the officer said as he looked at my license. He pointed at a piece of paper and said, “For you, 1,000,000 Rupiah ($100 USD) fine or we take your license.” I then made the mistake of opening my wallet to show him my rental agreement. “Ah, unless you pay now,” he said, “Problem okay.”

Knowing now what was coming, I began pulling notes out of my wallet. He kept shaking his head until every last note was gone. Luckily this was only about 300,000 Rupiah ($30 USD). “Okay,” he said. “You go. Problem fixed.”

If you’re traveling Bali in a scooter and don’t have an international license, make sure you keep your notes in separate places. From what I’ve picked up now talking with other locals, typically a foreigner can get away with a 50,000 Rupiah pay off – have a couple 50,000 notes handy and when pulled over play up that you speak little English; act confused, hand them money, and you should get sent on your way.

The whole experience rubbed me the wrong way; especially after finding out I should have been able to get away for significantly less. Nonetheless, I should have done a bit more research and planned accordingly.

Cruising around Bali yesterday on my well-used Honda was exhilarating, it was terrifying, it was freeing – and it’s something you must experience while you’re here.

Have you traveled anywhere in SE Asia on a scooter? Have you dealt with a corrupt police officer while backpacking? Leave your experiences in the comments section below.

backpackingmatt November 1, 2010

A Day in Sydney: Travel Tips

Australia, Travel Advice 17 Replies

Situated on a stunning (Sorry, Ant) emerald-blue harbor, Sydney is a city filled with buzzing street side cafes, eclectic museums and galleries celebrating Aboriginal culture, great outdoor activities, and excellent bars, pubs, and restaurants.

Sydney is a cosmopolitan city that is great for a foodie, a city-breaker, a beach bum, a backpacker, and if done right – a budget traveler. It’s far from the cheapest city in Australia, however there are plenty of free things to do to occupy your time. If you’re in Sydney on a quick 24 hour visit as I was, these are some travel ideas for your visit to Australia’s largest and most historic city.

Take in the Sydney Harbour

Much of Sydney is built around this epic harbour lined with beaches and hidden coves and dotted with islands. Stretching 20 kms from the sea to the mouth of the Parramatta River, ferries, sailboats, and multi-million dollar yachts cross the harbour throughout the day.

Simply take in the Sydney Harbour from various spots around the city, or consider hopping on a ferry for a ride to one of Sydney’s neighboring world-class surf beaches.

Check out the Sydney Opera House

Arguably one of Australasia’s most iconic sites, the Sydney Opera House will certainly stand out on your visit to Sydney. Designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzen and finished over 10 years late in 1973, this architectural masterpiece is undoubtedly the centerpiece of many Sydney photos and postcards.

Sydney Opera House from the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Inside you’ll find six auditoriums showing various dance, opera, and theater performances throughout the year. If you’d like to get inside and take a tour, you’ll have to shell out a relatively steep $35 for the one hour guided tour. Save yourself $7 by booking a day in advance online.

Walk Across the Sydney Harbour Bridge

If there is one thing that Sydney’s residents love more than their Harbour or their Opera House, it’s the Harbour Bridge. The “Old Coathanger” crosses the harbour at its narrowest point and is a photographer’s dream. Stretching 502 meters across the harbor and made with an astonishing 53,000 tons of steel, this Australian icon connects the Central Business District with North Sydney.

Similar to the Opera House, you can appreciate its grandeur by simply viewing it from around the harbour or walking across the pedestrianized side of the bridge.

If you have some dollars burning a hole in your pocket, consider the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. With a group of 14 people and a guide, you’ll walk up the bridge and be greeted with what must be an epic view of the Sydney. This isn’t for those with a fear of heights (or those on a strict budget), as you’ll pay $198 for the privilege of checking out Sydney from 134 meters above the harbour.

Where to stay?

If you only have a short time to visit Sydney, consider staying at the Sydney Harbour YHA. It’s centrally located in the historic The Rocks neighborhood which is home to excellent weekend markets and Sydney’s oldest pubs. Spend some time wandering the narrow alleyways of Sydney’s oldest neighborhood. Come nightfall, check out the Glenmore Hotel. Built in 1920, it predates the Sydney Harbour Bridge and offers up a terrific rooftop terrace where you can get some twilight views of Sydney’s Opera House and skyline.

I didn’t have long in Sydney and know there was heaps more I should have experienced. It was a lovely city where I could easily have spent a week or more.

Have you traveled to Sydney? Leave your budget travel tips in the comments section below.

This post has been sponsored by HotelClub.com.

backpackingmatt October 23, 2010

Friday Travel Photo: Crickets À la Carte

Southeast Asia, Thailand 18 Replies

A highlight of a visit to Bangkok is undoubtedly the wide variety of food on offer from street cart vendors.

From the quintessential Pad Thai Noodles, to banana pancakes, to barbecued chicken, to dishes you’ll not know what you’re eating unless you speak fluent Thai – you can get it all from the street carts. And you should. Put any food hygiene concerns behind you and spend a day wandering from street cart to street cart sampling their specialties.

The best part? You’ll be hard pressed to spend over $2 on a dish.

Yesterday evening, Adventurous Kate (@AdventurousKate) and Pamela (@Spunkygirllogue) hit the streets of Bangkok looking for another Bangkok specialty – bugs.

It took a bit of exploring, but near the Bangkok street famous the world over – Khao San Road – we found them. A cart full of bugs; ants, worms, crickets – you name it.

20 Baht ($0.67) got Kate and myself an assorted bag full of bugs. Some were salty, some slightly sour, some were gooey, while others (namely, the crickets) were crispy – surprisingly, they weren’t that bad.

Stay tuned to AdventurousKate.com and SpunkyGirlMonologues.com for more photos and a Bangkok travel video.

Do you have a picture you’d like to share here? Email me at matt <at> backpackingmatt <dot> com and I’ll gladly feature it with a link back to your blog.

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