July 05, 2009

70% off Eurostar tickets on Rail Europe’s ‘early bird’ sale

February 11th, 2009 by The Backpackers Team

Eurostar early birdOne of the quickest, most convenient ways to get from the UK to Europe is by taking the superspeedy Eurostar.  It can cut into a backpacker’s budget, though, if you don’t book in advance, and if you don’t find special off-peak fares.

But right now Rail Europe is offering earlybirds out there a special discount of up to 70% off Eurostar tickets for travel between now and the 31st of August 2009.

Tickets must be purchased before the 11th of March 2009.

That’s quite a whack of a difference – so if you have some European exploration on your wishlist, get yourself to Rail Europe now and get a hold of some of them cheap tickets!

Handy travel resources for backpackers:
Book hostels – book a hostel at thousands of locations around the world.
RTW flights – book your round-the-world flights at backpacking prices!
Travel Insurance – instant, cheap travel insurance for backpackers

Posted in Destinations, Travel Gear | No Comments »

March Travel Quiz: Win A Student Jetpack!

February 29th, 2008 by Pia Taylor

London Jet PackThis month we’ve teamed up with the guys at Student Jetpacks to give away two of their Jetpack PLUS packages, for the destination of your choice (from currently available destinations).

Every Travel jetPack contains country-specific maps, information and accessories for your trip Plus, with a local SIM card in every jetPack, you can give your friends and family your phone number before you go, and call them as soon as you arrive.

JetpacksThe Jetpack range currently includes the following destinations: Australia, Austria, Germany, New Zealand, Poland, Spain: Barcelona, Spain: Madrid, UK, UK:London and the USA.

Right, so, to enter the quiz to win one of these cool prizes (worth up to £34.99 each), all you need to do is answer the following questions:

  1. How much airtime is already loaded on to a pre-pay Australian SIM card in the Australia Travel jetPack – Plus?
  2. How many new railpasses is RailEurope offering in 2008? (hint)


Use our contact form to send your answers, your preferred destination and your contact details to the “March Travel Quiz” before 20 March 2008 (extended to 25 March 2008). First two correct entries drawn win!

Good luck!

Posted in Competitions & Giveaways, Destinations, Travel Gear, Travel Guides, Travel Tips & Planning, Travel Tools | 1 Comment »

Is There Such A Thing As The Perfect Backpack?

January 28th, 2008 by The Backpackers Team

BackpacksFinding the right pack to take on the road isn’t quite as simple as popping into your local travel store and picking the first one that takes your fancy.

It’s more like choosing a travel buddy… because the pack you choose is going to be up close and personal (and housing all of your belongings) all the way, and you’re going to want one that doesn’t drive you crazy.

Every pack has its pros and cons. This one has too many straps, another too few. Too big, too small, too many pockets, not enough pockets. And every traveller is different, of course, carrying everything from techno-gadgetry (laptops, cellphones, cameras and all the many cables that go with them) to hairdryers and evening wear.

So, how to choose the perfect backpack for you? Well, if you’re not quite sure, Christopher Cook of Vagabondish has some handy advice on what to look for (easy access, suspension systems, the right size) and how to make your final decision (try it on, in-store, filled with weights, grill the shop attendants).

And Jacob Bielanski, on his own personal quest to find the ultimate backpack, should give you an idea of what to avoid (he learnt the hard way) and what to seek out (cheap, tough and practical).

As you’ll see from the comments below Bielanski’s article, there’s no such thing as the perfect backpack for everyone – there are just too many variables – but the ultimate backpack for you?… Well, that’s entirely possible (with a little bit of trial and error along the way).

(Photo: Denni Schnapp/Flickr)

Posted in General Travel, Travel Gear, Travel Tips & Planning | 1 Comment »

Avoiding Travellers’ ‘D’ With The Lifesaver Bottle

January 15th, 2008 by Pia Taylor

Lifesaver BottleHere’s a sure way to avoid the travails of travellers’ diarrhea – get your hands on one of these.

The Lifesaver Bottle uses a highly advanced ultra-filtration system to remove “bacteria, viruses, cysts, parasites, fungi and all other microbiological waterborne pathogens”. And it’s portable!

Pour the creepy crawly water in the one end, and out of the chew-proof teat (they think of everything) comes pure, clear, drinkable water. Brilliant!

But, alas, for backpackers this nifty little water-steriliser-in-a-bottle may be somewhat out of reach – it comes with a price tag of £195.00 (+ VAT).

Ouch.  Guess we’ll all be sticking to something like the Lifestraw for now.

On the other hand, you could always be like vagabond Rolf Potts and treat travellers’ ‘D’ as an initiation, a rite of passage – something to learn from and enhance your travelling experience.  Ahem, water bottle anyone?

Related stories:
‘The Lifestraw: Is This The End Of Travellers’ Diarrhea?’

Posted in Travel Gear | 1 Comment »

The Germ Eliminator Wand: Zap Those Bugs When You’re On The Road

December 13th, 2007 by Pia Taylor

Germ EliminatorHere’s a nifty gadget to take on your travels to places remote and bug-ridden: the ‘Germ-Eliminating Wand’ from Hammacher Schlemmer.

This cool piece of machinery uses UV-C light to eliminate “99% of bacteria, viruses, mold, and dust mites”:

The ultraviolet light eliminates E. coli, salmonella, staphylococcus and germs that cause the flu and the common cold when it is held 3 inches above the contaminated surface for 20 seconds.

The price of this portable bug-zapper might be a little steep for a penny-pinching backpacker (US$100), but it’s probably worth it. And, hey, you could always be enterprising and rent it out at hostels for a nominal fee (or just become everyone’s new best friend).

(Via Gadling)

Related stories:
‘Germ-eliminating wand: an addition to your travel-kit’ (Gadling.com)
Bedbug Lovin’: Close Encounters of the Bloodsucking Kind‘ (Backpackers.com)
Australia’s BedBug Plague‘ (Backpackers.com)

Posted in General Travel, Travel Gear, Travel Tools | No Comments »

Fixing Up Your Backpacking Gear, Cheaply

November 14th, 2007 by Pia Taylor

Backpacks - photo by Ariel H.Backpacking takes its toll on your gear.

When you’re lugging everything you have on your back, it’s only a matter of time before straps start coming loose or falling off, stitching starts to give, boots lose their grip and any number of other things start to fall apart.

But if you’re reluctant to bust your hard-earned cash on new kit (who wouldn’t be), take a look at these ways to breathe new life into your old gear. Some great tips that could help you stretch your budget a little further.

(Photo: Ariel H./Flickr.)

Posted in General Travel, Travel Gear | No Comments »

Travel Gear Review: The Pacsafe Metrosafe

November 7th, 2007 by Pia Taylor

Pacsafe MetrosafeDuring our travels around Europe, we’ve had a chance to try out some travel gadgets and doodads to find out just how useful they really are when you’re on the road. In the spotlight this time around: Pacsafe’s secure shoulder bag, the Metrosafe.

Pacsafe’s Metrosafe 100 is a travel bag with a reassuring number of thief-thwarting safety features. It’s not something you’re likely to have out when you’re lugging your main backpack around, but it’s good for those times when you’re checked in at your hostel and wanting to spend some time exploring at your leisure.

My first impression was that it was quite a bit smaller than it looks on Pacsafe’s product page (though of course they do provide actual measurements – 22 × 15.5 × 8 cm – and have other, larger sizes from which you can choose).

But, despite its seemingly small size, it did hold quite a heap of stuff. I managed to stuff into it a cellphone, a digital camera, one small notebook, pens, my ipod, tissues, a small bottle of sunscreen (traveller’s bottle) – all snuggling fitting into all the well-thought-out internal pockets.

As far as safety goes, the Metrosafe is made of thief-thwarting slashproof material, and the attached strap consists of Pacsafe’s usual doubled up stainless steel cables, with exceptionally strong clips on either end.

Pacsafe MetrosafeA handy feature I quite liked is that you can wear the Metrosafe either as a shoulder bag or a hip bag, depending on your preference, simply by shifting the strap. Nifty.

I used the Metrosafe for several weeks, loading it up with everything I needed, and it did rather well, but then the strap started taking strain (it was quite a bit of weight I inflicted on it) and began to curl annoyingly as the steel cables bent permanently out of shape.

The verdict: I like it – it’s useful, holds a lot, and has some nice security features, but I have to say that I wouldn’t consider it a vital backpacking accessory. It’s good for protecting techno-toys, if you’re carrying them, but in my opinion a cheaply bought local bag will help you blend in better (and make you less of a target for theft). You’d be better off keeping all your non-tech essentials somewhere safer (like a hidden moneybelt).

The Pacsafe Metrosafe retails at around US$39.95. More info available here.

Posted in Reviews, Travel Gear | No Comments »

Travel Gear Review: Pacsafe Coversafe (The Moneybelt With Extras)

September 18th, 2007 by The Backpackers Team

During our travels around Europe, we’ve been trying out some travel gadgets and doodads to find out just how useful they really are when you’re on the road.

We’ll be running a series of travel gear reviews over the next few weeks, letting you know how it all went.

CoversafeFirst up, though, our thoughts on the Coversafe, the Pacsafe version of the much-used-when-travelling hidden-under-clothing money belt.

The Coversafe is a thin, flat money belt designed to hide away under your clothing and conceal from prying thieving eyes your most valuable documents and any cash you don’t need immediately.

There is a wide range of moneybelts out there, but what makes this one different from most is the additional anti-theft safety features built into the thing.

Slashproof material and a double stainless steel cord (length easily adjustable) running from one side to the other around your body, protect you from a slash and grab attack.

There’s a convenient clip to allow you to slip the belt on quickly and easily (no hassling with uncooperative buckles), and a layer of the slashproof material covers the clip itself, making it more difficult to access if you’re a thief.

It has a breathable back, which means your passport et al won’t be drenched in your sweat (we’ve just been in Spain, we know how hot it can get!) and two zipped sections, one of which has a handy inner pocket for keeping smaller items like jewellery (or credit cards) separate from your documents.

Coversafe

Just to make sure no one unzips your pockets, two strips of velchro keep the zips in place (you’re going to hear that there velchro make its crazy noise if anyone manages to get close enough to start fiddling).

Our verdict: we liked the Coversafe very much and think it’s probably one of the most useful travel gear items a backpacker can have. It may cost a little bit more than a regular money belt, but its long-lasting, and the well-thought-out security features surely make that extra expense worthwhile.

Coversafe comes in either tan or black, and retails at just under US$18.

Posted in Reviews, Travel Gear | No Comments »

Don’t Forget To Enter The May Travel Quiz (One Day Left!)

June 14th, 2007 by The Backpackers Team

Pacsafe Travel Safe

There’s only one day left to enter the May Travel Quiz and stand in line to win the fab Travel Safe 100 – the trusty portable safe from Pacsafe.

Recently reviewed right here on Backpackers.com (and given the thumbs up, might we add), the travel safe is is a lightweight, malleable and portable safe for your valuables which can lock closed and lock to a secure fixture.

It’s a brilliant way to keep your precious belongings and hard-earned cash away from people with sticky fingers – so if you’d like to win a free one (shipped to your door!), enter the May Travel Quiz before midnight (GMT) tomorrow!

Pacsafe

Good luck, guys!

The fine print: Competition closes 15 June 2007. Winner will be notified by email. If the winner cannot be contacted within 30 days of the prize draw, another winner will be selected.

Posted in Competitions & Giveaways, Travel Gear | No Comments »

May Travel Quiz 2007: Win A Pacsafe Travelsafe!

May 22nd, 2007 by The Backpackers Team

Pacsafe Travel Safe

So, once again it’s time for us to give away a fantastic travel prize in our monthly backpackers travel quiz.

We ask you a few travel-related questions, based on what’s been happening on the blog over the past month, you send us your answers and go into the draw.

This time we’re giving away a Travel Safe 100, the trusty portable safe from sponsors Pacsafe, leaders in international travel safety.

Recently reviewed right here on Backpackers.com (and given the thumbs up, might we add), the travel safe is is a lightweight, malleable and portable safe for your valuables which can lock closed and lock to a secure fixture.

Pacsafe

Featuring laminated eXomesh® Ultimate technology, the TravelSafe 100 cinches and locks closed using an integrated, high-tensile stainless steel cable with padlock and patented locking device.

It’s a brilliant way to keep your precious belongings and hard-earned cash away from people with sticky fingers – so if you’d like to win one for yourself, simply answer the questions below and send us your answers before 15 June 2007:

  1. Name the global dance festival the Backpackers Team will be visiting this coming July? (here’s a clue
  2. What new budget airline plans to launch services in New Zealand later this year? (here’s a “clue”/articles/2007/05/04/new-budget-airlines-for-new-zealand)
  3. Name two of the anti-theft features built into the Travelsafe (here’s a clue)

A backpackers giveaway!

Good luck, guys!

The fine print: Competition closes 15 June 2007. Winner will be notified by email. If the winner cannot be contacted within 30 days of the prize draw, another winner will be selected.

Posted in Competitions & Giveaways, Travel Gear | No Comments »