Travelling
London offers a great opportunity for the traveller to explore the world and, as many people see it:
“Travelling is the essence of life”
The last thing you want to do when travelling is to be restrained by rules. What rules can there be? “When you travel you can never get lost, because every new place is a place where you have never been before!” This certainly is true, but you don't want to get shot at as you get off a bus, or get thrown in jail because you did bird watching with a pair of binoculars near a military camp, or for unknowingly carrying drugs through customs, because somebody asked you to carry his bag! Travelling is not about rules, but if you don't keep certain things in mind, your trip can turn into a nightmare. If you do take certain precautions – the world is your oyster!
The Backpacker’s Ten Commandments
•Thou shalt not expect to find things as they are at home, for thou has left home to find different things.
•Thou shalt not take things too seriously, for a carefree mind is the beginning of a carefree holiday.
•Thou shalt not let other tourists get on thy nerves as we are all here for the same reason and thou art all paying good money to enjoy thyselves.
•Thou must at all times know where thou passport lies for a man without a passport is a man without a country.
•Thou shalt not worry for he that worrieth hath no pleasure – few things are fatal!
•Remember that thou are a guest in another land and that he that treats his host with respect shall in turn be respected. Learning to say “please” and “thank you” in thy host’s tongue will make thee thy host's friend.
•Thou shalt not judge the entire people of a country by one person who was a poor host.
•Thou shalt remember that to err is human but to forgive is divine.
•Thou shalt keep in mind that when in Rome, thou shalt be prepared to do as the Romans do.
•Thou shouldst remember that if thou was expected to stay in one place, thou would have been created with roots.
Five Golden Rules
•Have good travel insurance that covers everything from health and money to baggage and tickets.
•Get good information about the places you are going to visit (weather, violence, etc.).
•Never take other people's baggage, trolleys or vehicles through customs (e.g. it might contain drugs).
•Obey the law in other countries.
•Keep personal belongings safe.
Other Travelling Advice
•Make sure you are in a financial position to tour. Being broke in a foreign country might make your trip unpleasant (your Embassy won't help you!)
•There is also no point in touring if you can't see and do everything you really want to. Remember in life only mercy is free of charge!
•Take a padlock and chain to secure baggage at airports.
•Take a credit card with you.
•Make sure you take a money belt with you.
•Get yourself a good guidebook.
•Take a doctor's note and prescriptions with if you are on medication.
•Never get involved with drugs. (You could even get the death sentence in some countries.)
•Don't drink alcohol in a country that forbids it!
•It's safer not to hitchhike.
•Always let people know where you are.
•Exchange traveller's cheques only at authorised exchange offices or banks.
•Respect local customs and protocol.
•Carry minimum money on you at all times and keep cheque numbers safe.
Make sure that you get vaccinated if you are travelling to health-risk countries.
Remember that you will always spend more money than you anticipated when you tour. Be sure that you can afford touring the way you want to tour and that you have enough money to carry you when you return to London. No matter what your perception of adventure is - IT'S NOT FUN TO BE IN LONDON WITHOUT MONEY!
An 11th commandment
Remember to take half as many clothes and twice as much money.
It is important to keep track of the time still left on your passport. You may not be allowed back into the country, if there is very little time left on your passport. If you want to apply for an extension, make sure that you apply, and that it is granted, before you go touring. To be sure tour at least 4-6 months before your permission to stay expires. Applications for extensions can be made at the Home Office. Requirements are the same as for a visitor and, if granted, it will be for a period of 6 months, but you will not be allowed to work. (see here)
Tour Operators
•Topdeck Countries in Central Europe, Tel: 020 7244 8000
•Rabbies Trail Burners Scotland, Tel: 0131 226 3133
•Contiki Central and Eastern Europe, Tel: 020 8290 6777
•En Route Europe National Winners of Coach Tour Programme of the Year, Tel: 01303 261605
•Road Trip Overland Tours England & Wales, Tel: 0845 200 6791
•Go Blue Banana From London north to Scotland, Tel: 0131 473 3838
•Tracks Travel Central Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, Greece, Tel: 0845 1300 936
•Eurolines 300 Destinations across Europe, Tel: 01582 400694
•Backpackers Tour of Eng. Southern & Northern Ireland, Tel: 020 7792 4444
•Stray Travel Europe, Ireland, Britain. By backpackers for backpackers; amazing guides, Tel: 020 7373 7737
•PP Travel Festivals and sporting events, Tel: 020 7792 4444
•BusAbout Europe Travel network for Europe, Tel: 020 7950 1661
•Paddywagon Ireland Backpacking tours, Tel: 0800 783 4191
•Eurotours Short break specialists, Tel: 0870 333 0889
•Haggis Scotland, Tel: 0131 557 9393
•Shaggy Sheap Wales, by people who LIVE there, Tel: 01267 281202
•The Shamrocker Ireland, Tel: +353 (0)1 672 7651
•Celtic Connections Combination of Ireland and Scotland, Tel: 0131 225 3330
•Tir na Nog Tours Northern and Southern Ireland, Tel: +353 (0)1 836 4684 ¡MacBackpackers Scotland, Tel: 0131 558 9900
•Going Forth Scotland, Tel: 0131 558 8523
•European Encounters Europe, Tel: 020 7370 4554
•Hallam Anderson Daytrips, Tel: 020 7234 0505
•The Imaginative Traveller Worldwide, Tel: 020 8742 8612
Contact numbers for Travel Agents in Directory