Rookie Vagabonders

Alrighty VBs, so you’ve been sightseeing for a couple days and it’s time to move on. How do you go about getting to your next fabulous destination? Why, by train of course! But before you start hopping aboard and playing the quintessential stowaway, might I suggest a EURAIL PASS instead? There are a ton of passes to choose from, but here are some of the most popular options: 1.) Eurail Select Pass, 2.) Eurail Regional Pass, 3.) Eurail Global Pass,    4.) BritRail Pass

Eurail Select Pass Still Life by Robyn Mitchell

The Eurail Pass is a fairly complicated and pricey investment, so I advise doing some research to find the exact one that fits your needs. Check out STA’s Travel Tips and Railpass FAQ for more information. From personal experience, here are some of the most important things you need to know:

• Each time you take a train between countries, it counts as one travel day. The more travel days you want, the higher the pass price, so know ahead of time how many travel days you’ll need.
• Remember to get your passes validated before you get on your first train! You can do this by going to the train’s ticket counter and having them stamp it with the date.
• Make sure you fill out the date of when you are traveling otherwise you could be fined (this almost happened to me, it wasn’t fun)!
• Night trains are a great option if you want to save money on accommodation and they will get you there early in the morning for a whole day of sightseeing!
• Take advantage of the bonus features that come with each pass, including travel discounts on ferries, buses and more
  

According to my muse travel blog, Travel Cuts, there are three things you must do when backpacking through Europe: (1) stay at a famous hostel like the Pink Palace or St. Christopher’s Village in London, (2) have a whirlwind romance with someone who only speaks a few words of English, and lastly (3) ride the rails with some version of the Eurail Pass! So get yourself one of these passes and book a night at the Pink Palace like I suggested and you’ll already have two of these under your belt. And who knows, maybe you’ll meet that special someone on the way!

Vagabonding is all about making the most of your travels, from the sights you see to the people you meet, and even the places you stay. So why limit yourself to white-washed walls and a bunk bed, when you could stay in a CASTLE? Or better yet, a TREE HOUSE? There are so many opportunities to stay in unique and interesting places that will make for some wild nighttime escapades. Here are some of the best places I found:

• Carbisdale Castle – Sutherland, Scotland: Beyond the usual bunk beds and cafeteria-style dining room, Carbisdale Castle also has a collection of fine art, a statue gallery and is even said to be haunted! Ask to stay in the Spook Room if you’re especially adventurous. It’s not the cheapest place to stay, but playing king or queen for a night (and the possibility of rubbing shoulders with past inhabitants) seems worthy of a few extra Scottish Pounds!

• Hostel in the Forest – Brunswick, Georgia: Located across 120 acres of forest and wetlands, this hostel is renowned for their geometric domes and 9 tree houses. And you might even be able to learn a little bit about environmental sustainability during your stay! If you’re into camping and want the chance to wake up at eye level with the singing birds (or to the crowing of their roosters), definitely book a night at this serene Georgian retreat. Check out their photo album!

• The Pink Palace – Corfu, Greece: structurally, The Pink Palace isn’t particularly different, but it is a legend among vagabonders. Overlooking a gorgeous beach, travelers have been flocking to this island getaway for years, drawn mostly by its reputation for putting on some of the best toga parties in all of Greece. While you’re waiting to dawn that pink sheet, you can fill your days with four-wheeling, cliff diving and of course, booze cruising. So if you’re looking to party in paradise, the Palace is definitely worth the trip!
  

With just a little research, you will find hundreds of new and remarkable places to rest your head for the night. From lighthouses to former prisons, hostels are quickly becoming an experience in themselves. So give your travels a little boost with one of these unique opportunities and you’re bound to leave with some great stories and maybe even some new friends…

For most people, the month of March marks the beginning of a new season, bringing with it the sunny faces of daffodils as they emerge from the soil and the sweet serenades of returning little birdies refreshed from their southern vacation.

One way to spend your spring break (MTVU)

But for the average overworked, sleep-deprived college student, March means oh so much more. You know what I’m talking about kids, say it with me now: SPRING BREAK! WoOoO! That’s right, time to get CrAzY with thousands of other twenty-somethings looking to get into some good old-fashioned shenanigans. What was that? You think I should dance on the bar with my posse of female friends? SURE, WHY NOT?!

But wait…didn’t I mention in my first post that we Generation Y-ers are more civil-minded and enjoy volunteering? Why, yes I did, and it looks like this trend might actually be true of our spring break choices as well. According to the Student and Youth Travel Association, college students are beginning to forgo their traditional part-ay trips to embark on a number of alternative, socially responsible spring break excursions.

What makes these trips so attractive to college students is the fact that they create a vacation experience out of volunteering. So, for those still looking to get a killer tan and enjoy beautiful beaches, why not go work with sea turtles in Costa Rica or teach kids how to surf in South Africa? If you want to stay more local, there’s always the possibility of working on a Native American reservation or helping with the relief efforts in New Orleans (and you can still let loose on Bourbon Street after you’ve put in a good days’ work!)

There are a ton of organizations out there that are jumping on this trend, but here are some of the best I found:

i-to-i logo

1.) i-to-i Volunteer Vacations: these guys offer a huge variety of international volunteer excursions that range from building homes in Vietnam to animal wildlife rescue in Ecuador. As an added bonus, a lot of these trips allow you to work in your perspective field and you may even be able to receive college credit! The only drawback is that these trips don’t come cheap, but the experience alone may well be worth the cost. To learn more about what i-to-i is all about, check out what Crislip has to say, or you can browse all their righteous trips for yourself.

2.) MTV: yup, the same MTV that promotes wearing whip cream bikinis and singing horrible karaoke in the name of public humiliation (and cash prizes). MTVU, their college channel, has teamed up with United Way in recent years to bring students to New Orleans. If you want to learn more about how to volunteer and possibly live out your dreams of being on MTV, check out here for all the deats.

And of course, there’s always Habitat for Humanity. It’s an oldie but goodie and they are constantly expanding their building destinations to include more international locations. Also, you might want to check out what your college offers in terms of alternative spring break options, because this is a great way to volunteer and make new friends at your school. As I say, people who volunteer together, stay together!

So vagabonders, before you book that all inclusive resort package in Panama City next year, why not try an equally awesome experience that you can also feel good about? And the best part is, you can still bring that sunscreen, new bathing suit and six pack with you, but just make sure you leave room for your passport, bug spray and of course, the knowledge that you’re lending a hand to those who need it most.

Have a great spring break everyone! I’ll be reacquainting myself with winter back home in the burbs of Boston.

One of my fave hostels in Lucerne, Switz (3/07)

Howdy vagabonders and top of the morning to you. I just wanted to let you know that I’ve posted my Hostel FAQ, so check it out in all its hostel-y goodness.

And if there is anything I didn’t answer that you would like me to add, just let me know and I’ll get that up before you can say LEAP YEAR (there’s one tomorrow in case you were confused by the reference.)

Also, if you would like to share any of your hostel stories (good or bad) and tips for finding the best places to crash, feel free to post them here! Remember, mi casa es su casa…I’m rolling with the hostel theme here…I might have gone too far.

Anyways, hope this helps, and I can’t wait to share a dorm with some of you in the near future (writing this blog is making me yearrrrrn to be on the road again!)

Alrighty vagabonders, so now that you know how to legally travel abroad with those passports and visas of yours, how about some quality info on where to stay when you get there hmm? Let me introduce you to my pal (and soon to be yours), the HOSTEL.

Photo from a rooftop deck in Istanbul 4/07

A hostel is essentially like a dorm room for travelers, equipped with bunk beds and communal bathrooms, all for an affordable price (if you’re into minimalism, you can get them for as cheap as $8-$10 a night!).

Hostels usually offer private or shared accommodation, and you can choose to bunk it in single-sex rooms or go co-ed. Private rooms are usually a bit more expensive, but if you’re looking for a more hotel-y environment (i.e. peace and quiet), these are really nice. For those looking to make fast friends and save a buck, definitely book the dorm style – but be warned, these can hold as many as 20 bunks in one room!

A lot of hostels have their own restaurants and bars, so if cheap fare and great company is what you want, make sure you book one with this feature. It’s a fantastic way to meet people from all over the world, gain a travel buddy and swap stories over a local specialty dish or beverage (side note: if you’re ever in Athens, try Mythos beer…it’s amazing, and I don’t even like beer!). If you’re lucky, some hostels might even have rooftop decks, which is a unique place to rest your feet after a long day of sightseeing and provides a great setting for some killer photos!

Example of Hostelworld User Rating

Finding a hostel is as easy as pie and your best resource is of course, the World Wide Web. While there are ton of websites to choose from, my all-time, hands-down favorite is hostelworld. It’s pretty much like a one-stop shopping destination, offering a huge database of hostels located all over the world. The format is really user-friendly, showing you what rooms are still available for the dates you want and what the hostel has to offer in terms of facilities (Tip: book a hostel that provides breakfast – it saves you mucho dinero and you can stock up on food for the rest of the day). Despite all these amazing features, the best part of hostelworld has got to be their “Overall Rating” system. This is a HUGE help because it lets you know what your fellow vagabonders thought of the place, so definitely look at this before you make a reservation.

Within the next week, I’ll post a Hostel FAQ with even more righteous tips on what you should bring, what to expect and my thoughts on bed bugs (ewww). Next on the menu: unique places to stay, for those who just aren’t satisfied with four walls and a mattress.

My beautiful passport

As much as I’m all for spinning a globe and jetting off to wherever my finger lands, the reality is, being a vagabonder actually takes a lot of work. So, before you can climb all 1,710 steps of the Eiffel Tower or trek through the Sahara on camel back, you need a plan.

First things first: THE PASSPORT. If you go overseas, you’re absolutely going to need to get one of these, but it’s also a handy little thing to have even if you’re staying local. Passports are those magical things that allow you to get into countries and probably more importantly, allow you to get back into the ole’ U.S of A. Be warned, these puppies don’t come cheap: $97 if you’re over 18 and $82 if you’re under 16. They last for 10 years though, which is plenty of time to raise your vagabonder status from rookie to expert.

Speaking from personal experience, give yourself plenty of time to get your passports, because the process takes a while (it’s bureaucracy after all!). According to our friends at the U.S State Department, here’s a little check list of things you’re going to need in order to obtain a passport:

• A Passport application form: try the passport application wizard (!) if you’re not sure which type of passport you need (chances are it will be the DS-11 Form)
• Proof of your U.S citizenship
• Two current photographs
• Proof of your identity: a birth certificate would work
• Your Social Security number
• Your fee payment, of course!

A great source for all things passports is Kathleen Crislip’s Student Travel blog (make sure you check out the tips at the bottoms, they’re really useful!)

In addition to a passport, some countries also require that you obtain a visa, so do a little investigating, gumshoes, to see if this might pertain to your destination. I recently came across this fantastic resource, which basically lays out every last document you’ll need, categorized by country.

Now work visas are a whole other sack of potatoes, and one for another time kiddies. But now that you have a better idea of the proper documentation you’ll need, start putting those ambitious travel dreams into action! And I can sleep at night knowing you won’t be tasered by crazy custom agents when you start traversing the globe…everybody wins! More juicy travel tips to come so check back soon, same bat time, same bat channel…

Conversations generally require two or more participants.

A profound statement right? Well no, but it is important, especially when it comes to blogging. So this is where you guys come in. As much as I would love to do all the talking here, I really need your help to make this space what I know it can become: visually stimulating, chock full of diversified, useful information and of course, totally rad! (I’m trying to bring this back, work with me here.)

Please send me any and all of your pictures, videos and more from your travels, be it while volunteering, studying abroad or really anything you’d like to see me post about! Visuals always make things better (see: textbooks) so feel free to share whatever you’d like!

Shoot me an email at rmitch3@email.unc.edu, or leave a comment for all to see (free advertising!). And if you have personal sites with pictures I can use – or at least link to – send me those as well.

To quote my latest favorite movie, “Juno,” you guys are the “cheese to my macaroni,” so please help me to add a little extra flavor by making this space as much yours as it is mine.

My friend & I in Athens (3/07)

According to my latest world map (and the STA Travel slogan), there are 193 countries in the world. 193. Just think of what all that simple number encompasses: the people, the food, the culture, the sights! A little overwhelming right? Enter Rookie Vagabonders. Think of this space as a student travel guide for dummies, an insider source of tips and tricks to seeing the world on a budget from one (fairly) inexperienced traveler to another. Because, let’s face it; with the high price of a college education these days, who can afford to fly first class…or stay in a hotel for that matter!

As young people, we might as well take the opportunity to see the world while we still lack those abstract responsibilities we don’t quite understand yet like mortgages, insurance payments and family (eek). Plus, in order to really make a difference as a generation, don’t you think we ought to make connections with the incredible cultures around us? If your answer is yes, then you’re in the right place.

Seeing as this is a travel blog and well, 2008, it seems a little funny to think that a 19th century author would hold any relevance here. But author Paul Richard proved me wrong and I believe he perfectly sums up the purpose of this space when he said:

“The vagabond, when rich, is called a tourist”

Who says you have to be flushed with cash to see the world? In fact, some of my most memorable experiences abroad were the times when I spent no money at all! The best way to experience a place is to become a part of it, to live and experience it the way locals do, and as young people, we’re lucky enough to be able to do this. Not to mention, students don’t have high expectations, so we can easily deal with the occasional bedbug or less-than-pristine bathroom, especially if the hostel offers free food (first tip: definitely take advantage of this).

Just to clarify: This royal “WE” I’m talking about is Generation Y, a population of close to 70 million in the United States who are beginning to make a serious impact as they finish college and enter into the professional world. Although Gen Y-ers, also known as millennials or echo-boomers, generally encompass a wide range of ages, for the purpose of this blog, I’m going to narrow the focus to18 to 25 year olds. Some of the key characteristics of Generation Y are:

• They are very tech-savvy and are master multitaskers
• They are more civil-minded, socially responsible and enjoy volunteer work
• They want to advance in their careers but they don’t want work to be their life
• They don’t like to stay in one place too long, changing jobs, careers and locations often
• They have confidence in themselves and their abilities, but need constant feedback
• Generation Y is the most ethnically diverse generation to date

So what does this mean for travel? Well, Gen-Yers are increasingly looking to travel as a means to both engage in volunteer work and also to escape the confines of the workforce after a few years on the job. Plus, in an emerging trend related to ‘not making work their life,’ a lot of students are choosing to turn what they love to do into a career, whether that means becoming a travel writer or a mountain-climbing guide.

Now that we have a snapshot of who we are and why we’re traversing the globe, stay tuned for how to put those ambitious travel plans into action. So fellow vagabonders, I leave you with this thought: As J.R.R Tolkien once said, “Not all those who wander are lost.” Are you ready to test out that theory?