Crowded Passport .com
For Those Who Want To Go EVERYWHERE
Around the World
Travel Around the World
Let your budget determine your itinerary. Every continent has cheap countries and expensive countries. Turkey is cheaper than England. Thailand is cheaper than Japan. If you don't have much to spend then consider fewer stops and go to cheaper countries.
Buy an around the world airline ticket. There are many airlines and travel agencies offering flight packages around the world. They combine flights from several different airlines and are much cheaper than buying separate tickets. You can usually take up to a year to use all the tickets as long as you arrange the itinerary before you leave and only travel in one direction.
Travel light. Limit yourself to one bag that you can carry on the plane. Many airlines charge extra to check luggage. If you have more than you can carry yourself you will have to pay someone to lug it around at every stop around the world. Take two days worth of clothes and do laundry in your hotel sink every night. If your clothes wear out buy something where you are. It will be fun.
Get around on public transportation. Most cities have trains and buses that will take you from the airport to tourist areas. Figure out the public transportation system immediately upon arrival. It will be a cultural experience and a lot cheaper than taxis.
Make plans for lodging. Other than airfare, lodging will be your greatest expense. There are always less expensive options than chain hotels that are clean and safe. You can often arrange inexpensive hotels or hostels on the Internet. You can also find lodging upon arrival using a good budget travel book as a guide. Try Lonely Planet or Let's Go. If you are looking for lodging as you go, be sure to start looking early in the day. Always seek recommendations from other travelers.
Eat cheap. You don't need to go to sit down restaurants to dine well and enjoy the local cuisine. In fact, the most authentic food is found at take away food stands. Watch where the locals go and give it a try. If it looks clean and it isn't making them sick it probably wont make you sick either. You can stuff yourself for a few bucks.
Tour the free stuff. Just being in a foreign city is a cultural experience in itself. Go to a city's main square or a park and watch the people. Walk around and window shop. Ride around on public transportation. For a minimal cost you can soak up the culture. Forget the expensive museums and tourist traps. You wont remember those things when you get home anyway.
Take pictures as souvenirs. Resist the temptation to buy every shiny trinket that catches your eye. Buying things will eat a hole in your budget and weigh down your luggage. If you buy a souvenir in the first country you visit you will have to carry it the rest of the way around the world or mail it home. Either way it will be inconvenient and expensive. Pictures are the best souvenirs and they are cheap.
Always check with the State Department and embassies of all countries you plan to visit. Some places may be dangerous. Others may require you to get visas or shots before you arrive.
Let your budget determine your itinerary. Every continent has cheap countries and expensive countries. Turkey is cheaper than England. Thailand is cheaper than Japan. If you don't have much to spend then consider fewer stops and go to cheaper countries.
Buy an around the world airline ticket. There are many airlines and travel agencies offering flight packages around the world. They combine flights from several different airlines and are much cheaper than buying separate tickets. You can usually take up to a year to use all the tickets as long as you arrange the itinerary before you leave and only travel in one direction.
Travel light. Limit yourself to one bag that you can carry on the plane. Many airlines charge extra to check luggage. If you have more than you can carry yourself you will have to pay someone to lug it around at every stop around the world. Take two days worth of clothes and do laundry in your hotel sink every night. If your clothes wear out buy something where you are. It will be fun.
Get around on public transportation. Most cities have trains and buses that will take you from the airport to tourist areas. Figure out the public transportation system immediately upon arrival. It will be a cultural experience and a lot cheaper than taxis.
Make plans for lodging. Other than airfare, lodging will be your greatest expense. There are always less expensive options than chain hotels that are clean and safe. You can often arrange inexpensive hotels or hostels on the Internet. You can also find lodging upon arrival using a good budget travel book as a guide. Try Lonely Planet or Let's Go. If you are looking for lodging as you go, be sure to start looking early in the day. Always seek recommendations from other travelers.
Eat cheap. You don't need to go to sit down restaurants to dine well and enjoy the local cuisine. In fact, the most authentic food is found at take away food stands. Watch where the locals go and give it a try. If it looks clean and it isn't making them sick it probably wont make you sick either. You can stuff yourself for a few bucks.
Tour the free stuff. Just being in a foreign city is a cultural experience in itself. Go to a city's main square or a park and watch the people. Walk around and window shop. Ride around on public transportation. For a minimal cost you can soak up the culture. Forget the expensive museums and tourist traps. You wont remember those things when you get home anyway.
Take pictures as souvenirs. Resist the temptation to buy every shiny trinket that catches your eye. Buying things will eat a hole in your budget and weigh down your luggage. If you buy a souvenir in the first country you visit you will have to carry it the rest of the way around the world or mail it home. Either way it will be inconvenient and expensive. Pictures are the best souvenirs and they are cheap.
Always check with the State Department and embassies of all countries you plan to visit. Some places may be dangerous. Others may require you to get visas or shots before you arrive.
Cruise Antarctica
Antarctica is the last frontier on Earth. It is at the bottom of the planet with no indigenous human population, no government and very little life. It is essentially penguins, seals and ice. However, there is no way you can imagine how spectacular endless ice flows are until you see them for yourself. Antarctica has a dramatic landscape unlike any other. You will get a chill when you feel a giant chunk of ice break off an ice shelf and crash into the sea. You will get a thrill as you dodge icebergs that dwarf your ship.
Understand what you will see in Antarctica. At the bottom of the Earth there is lots and lots of ice. This is much more fascinating than it sounds. As far as the eye can see there are glaciers and ice shelves. Some of it is blue. Some of it is the whitest white you will ever see. All around your cruise ship there is floating ice. Some of the icebergs are the size of mountains. Some chunks of ice hold penguins and seals basking in the sun. It is a relatively unspoiled wilderness virtually untouched by man. When you see an occasional scientific hut or another ship, it looks bizarre against the backdrop of the vast wilderness. Antarctica is also disappearing. Global warming is shrinking the Antarctic ice cap. You can see first hand what is happening.
Consider the cost. It will be expensive. Only about 35,000 people visit Antarctica every year. 5000 of them are scientists. The only way for tourists to get to Antarctica is on a cruise ship and it is no ordinary cruise. First you need to get to South America, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand then you must board a specially outfitted ship that will protect you on the long journey to Antarctica and back. Only about 25 ships make the trip. As a result there is little competition to bring prices down.
Make your plans for the Antarctic summer. That is when it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Cruises to Antarctica happen from November to March. That's it. There is too much ice to go any other time of year. The good thing about going at that time of year is that it is dark for just a few hours per night. Be sure to book an Antarctic cruise for at least 2-3 weeks. Any less and you will waste most of your time traveling to and from Antarctica with little time to enjoy being there.
Decide what kind of cruise you want. Is it more important to have comfort or adventure? There are large cruise ships from major cruise lines that sail to Antarctica. They usually include several other Southern Hemisphere ports with the itinerary. You will enjoy all the comforts you would expect from a luxury cruise on these ships including fine dining, entertainment and spa treatments. However, large ships are not allowed to disembark passengers in Antarctica. The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators limits tourists at any single landing site to 100. If you actually want to walk on Antarctica you must take a small cruise ship. These tend to be converted scientific vessels. They will not have the comforts of a luxury cruise but allow you a much more intimate visit to Antarctica. The experience will be drastically different depending on your choice, so choose carefully.
Book your cruise. If you want a luxury cruise that will sail to Antarctica but not disembark, then find a travel agent who specializes in cruises. They handle all the major cruise lines who would send a luxury ship to Antarctica. If you prefer an expedition on a smaller ship, then search the Internet for an adventure vacation company. Some of them specialize in high end cruises with small groups. Others specialize in adventure travel all over the world. Either way they can set you up with a cruise with less than 100 passengers. That way you can disembark on the Antarctic continent. Some of the best known are polarcruises.com and expeditiontrips.com.
Pack for cold weather. Even though it is summer in Antarctica, it is still Antarctica. It is always cold at the bottom of the Earth. Bring your heaviest winter jacket, thick gloves, good snow boots and waterproof gear. Good sunglasses are also a must since light reflecting off the ice can be blinding. Also don't forget your camera and binoculars. There are not very many souvenir shops in Antarctica. Your souvenirs will be photographs and memories.
Antarctica is the last frontier on Earth. It is at the bottom of the planet with no indigenous human population, no government and very little life. It is essentially penguins, seals and ice. However, there is no way you can imagine how spectacular endless ice flows are until you see them for yourself. Antarctica has a dramatic landscape unlike any other. You will get a chill when you feel a giant chunk of ice break off an ice shelf and crash into the sea. You will get a thrill as you dodge icebergs that dwarf your ship.
Understand what you will see in Antarctica. At the bottom of the Earth there is lots and lots of ice. This is much more fascinating than it sounds. As far as the eye can see there are glaciers and ice shelves. Some of it is blue. Some of it is the whitest white you will ever see. All around your cruise ship there is floating ice. Some of the icebergs are the size of mountains. Some chunks of ice hold penguins and seals basking in the sun. It is a relatively unspoiled wilderness virtually untouched by man. When you see an occasional scientific hut or another ship, it looks bizarre against the backdrop of the vast wilderness. Antarctica is also disappearing. Global warming is shrinking the Antarctic ice cap. You can see first hand what is happening.
Consider the cost. It will be expensive. Only about 35,000 people visit Antarctica every year. 5000 of them are scientists. The only way for tourists to get to Antarctica is on a cruise ship and it is no ordinary cruise. First you need to get to South America, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand then you must board a specially outfitted ship that will protect you on the long journey to Antarctica and back. Only about 25 ships make the trip. As a result there is little competition to bring prices down.
Make your plans for the Antarctic summer. That is when it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Cruises to Antarctica happen from November to March. That's it. There is too much ice to go any other time of year. The good thing about going at that time of year is that it is dark for just a few hours per night. Be sure to book an Antarctic cruise for at least 2-3 weeks. Any less and you will waste most of your time traveling to and from Antarctica with little time to enjoy being there.
Decide what kind of cruise you want. Is it more important to have comfort or adventure? There are large cruise ships from major cruise lines that sail to Antarctica. They usually include several other Southern Hemisphere ports with the itinerary. You will enjoy all the comforts you would expect from a luxury cruise on these ships including fine dining, entertainment and spa treatments. However, large ships are not allowed to disembark passengers in Antarctica. The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators limits tourists at any single landing site to 100. If you actually want to walk on Antarctica you must take a small cruise ship. These tend to be converted scientific vessels. They will not have the comforts of a luxury cruise but allow you a much more intimate visit to Antarctica. The experience will be drastically different depending on your choice, so choose carefully.
Book your cruise. If you want a luxury cruise that will sail to Antarctica but not disembark, then find a travel agent who specializes in cruises. They handle all the major cruise lines who would send a luxury ship to Antarctica. If you prefer an expedition on a smaller ship, then search the Internet for an adventure vacation company. Some of them specialize in high end cruises with small groups. Others specialize in adventure travel all over the world. Either way they can set you up with a cruise with less than 100 passengers. That way you can disembark on the Antarctic continent. Some of the best known are polarcruises.com and expeditiontrips.com.
Pack for cold weather. Even though it is summer in Antarctica, it is still Antarctica. It is always cold at the bottom of the Earth. Bring your heaviest winter jacket, thick gloves, good snow boots and waterproof gear. Good sunglasses are also a must since light reflecting off the ice can be blinding. Also don't forget your camera and binoculars. There are not very many souvenir shops in Antarctica. Your souvenirs will be photographs and memories.
Egypt
Egypt is a mystical land of Pharaohs and pyramids. There is simply no place like it on the planet. You can walk from a bustling metropolis to 6000 year old ancient structures in a matter or minutes. It is the land of the Nile River and all its treasures. Visiting Egypt does not have to be expensive. Follow these steps to book a cheap holiday to Egypt.
Look only at package tours of Egypt. Even experienced independent travelers will find it difficult to get around Egypt by themselves. Just about all the tourists visiting Egypt come on package tours. Because of this, there isn't much infrastructure set up to help independent tourists get around to the major sites. Besides, a tour comes with an English speaking guide who will explain the significance of all the Egyptian sights. The thriving tourism industry in Egypt has produced healthy competition. You can find cheap tours if you look for them.
Find a reputable travel agent. Egypt is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. As a result, just about every travel agent has access to tours they can book to Egypt. Shop around aggressively with local travel agencies and reputable travel agents online. Since there are so many tour companies doing business in Egypt, you can find some amazing deals. Choose the itinerary of your holiday in Egypt carefully. There are ways to make your holiday cheaper.
Decide when you want your holiday in Egypt. Peak travel season in Egypt is from mid October to May. The weather is the most pleasant at this time, but it is also the most expensive time to visit Egypt. Prices can get outrageously high, and accommodations may be hard to find. Summer and Fall are much cheaper but also much hotter.
Start your Holiday to Egypt in Cairo. It is the primary entry point into Egypt and it is where you find the Great Pyramids at Giza, the Sphinx and the Egyptian Museum. The Step Pyramid of Sakkara, the Citadel and the Old Islamic area are also in Cairo. Spend at least three days in the Egyptian capital. The absolute cheapest holiday in Egypt would be restricted to the Cairo area.
Cruise down the Nile River if you have another week for your holiday in Egypt. A cruise down the Nile evokes images of Pharaohs and pyramid builders traveling that very same river thousands of years ago. Cruise ships sail to Luxor and Aswan with stops at the valleys of the Kings and Queens. It is impossible to describe the majesty of giant stone structures covered with hieroglyphics. You have to see it for yourself. A Nile cruise is usually one direction combined with a flight between Cairo and Aswan. A Nile cruise will significantly increase the cost of your holiday in Egypt but you will see most of big sights.
Fly down to Abu Simbel if you have an extra day and extra cash. Abu Simbel is a giant temple to Ramses II that was moved brick by brick to higher ground when the Aswan Dam raised the level of the Nile. It is legendary. Four giant statues of Ramses sit at the entrance. You feel very small standing beside them. Abu Simbel is reached by a short flight from Aswan. It will cost you several hundred dollars to fly down there for an hour or two. It is an amazing sight but you must decide whether the additional cost is worth it.
Book your tour with your travel agent. Once you decide when and where you want to go on your holiday to Egypt, all the hard work is over.
There is a real risk of terrorism in Egypt. Tourists have been targeted in the past and the rumblings of discontent have not faded. Travelers should remain aware of local unrest and stay away from demonstrations. Egypt works hard to protect its tourism industry but terrorists strike occasionally anyway.
Egypt is a mystical land of Pharaohs and pyramids. There is simply no place like it on the planet. You can walk from a bustling metropolis to 6000 year old ancient structures in a matter or minutes. It is the land of the Nile River and all its treasures. Visiting Egypt does not have to be expensive. Follow these steps to book a cheap holiday to Egypt.
Look only at package tours of Egypt. Even experienced independent travelers will find it difficult to get around Egypt by themselves. Just about all the tourists visiting Egypt come on package tours. Because of this, there isn't much infrastructure set up to help independent tourists get around to the major sites. Besides, a tour comes with an English speaking guide who will explain the significance of all the Egyptian sights. The thriving tourism industry in Egypt has produced healthy competition. You can find cheap tours if you look for them.
Find a reputable travel agent. Egypt is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. As a result, just about every travel agent has access to tours they can book to Egypt. Shop around aggressively with local travel agencies and reputable travel agents online. Since there are so many tour companies doing business in Egypt, you can find some amazing deals. Choose the itinerary of your holiday in Egypt carefully. There are ways to make your holiday cheaper.
Decide when you want your holiday in Egypt. Peak travel season in Egypt is from mid October to May. The weather is the most pleasant at this time, but it is also the most expensive time to visit Egypt. Prices can get outrageously high, and accommodations may be hard to find. Summer and Fall are much cheaper but also much hotter.
Start your Holiday to Egypt in Cairo. It is the primary entry point into Egypt and it is where you find the Great Pyramids at Giza, the Sphinx and the Egyptian Museum. The Step Pyramid of Sakkara, the Citadel and the Old Islamic area are also in Cairo. Spend at least three days in the Egyptian capital. The absolute cheapest holiday in Egypt would be restricted to the Cairo area.
Cruise down the Nile River if you have another week for your holiday in Egypt. A cruise down the Nile evokes images of Pharaohs and pyramid builders traveling that very same river thousands of years ago. Cruise ships sail to Luxor and Aswan with stops at the valleys of the Kings and Queens. It is impossible to describe the majesty of giant stone structures covered with hieroglyphics. You have to see it for yourself. A Nile cruise is usually one direction combined with a flight between Cairo and Aswan. A Nile cruise will significantly increase the cost of your holiday in Egypt but you will see most of big sights.
Fly down to Abu Simbel if you have an extra day and extra cash. Abu Simbel is a giant temple to Ramses II that was moved brick by brick to higher ground when the Aswan Dam raised the level of the Nile. It is legendary. Four giant statues of Ramses sit at the entrance. You feel very small standing beside them. Abu Simbel is reached by a short flight from Aswan. It will cost you several hundred dollars to fly down there for an hour or two. It is an amazing sight but you must decide whether the additional cost is worth it.
Book your tour with your travel agent. Once you decide when and where you want to go on your holiday to Egypt, all the hard work is over.
There is a real risk of terrorism in Egypt. Tourists have been targeted in the past and the rumblings of discontent have not faded. Travelers should remain aware of local unrest and stay away from demonstrations. Egypt works hard to protect its tourism industry but terrorists strike occasionally anyway.
