Crowds Don't Gather Without A Reason

I've spent today reading "To do" and "Not to do" lists for cities that I plan to visit, and I've found almost all of the latter repeatedly advises not to follow the most popular sight-seeing routes, and do not go where the herds of tourists go. While there are some practical justifications for this -- it's crowded, line-ups are long, and food is expensive -- I have to rebut with "the crowds are there for a reason".

How many times have you walked by a restaurant with a patient crowd milling out front, that turns out to serve great food or offer terrific value? Or there's a circle formed on the street because of a particularly captivating street performer putting on a show? I'm not saying crowds don't gather for silly or negative reasons, but don't be so quick to dismiss the masses.

In Singapore there are many markets with endless food hawkers, the way to figure out what's good is to observe and see where the locals go. The most popular places are the ones with the longest lines. I also found my favourite sandwich and wine lunch spot in Florence that way. I was heading towards the Uffizi art museum from the Duomo one day, looking for a quick bite before an afternoon at the gallery when I saw all these people standing/sitting on the curb on a side street, from students to suits, all of them chatting, eating, and drinking wine. After the line that seemed to stem from a hole in the wall thinned out, I realized it was a sandwich stand and that was the day I fell in love with I Due Fratellini

Even in situations of more questionable enjoyment, sometimes you want to see sights/monuments just for the sake of saying you've seen them. The Mona Lisa in the Lourve for example. She's small, roped off, and that room is always packed and full of cameras being waved in the air. You would think it was Brad Pitt there instead of da Vinci's iconic face, which you can't even photograph properly because there's a pane of glass that causes a glare if you try to use a flash. However would many of you consider going to the Lourve and purposely shying away from the Mona Lisa? Probably not.

Each visitor to a foreign place has a different purpose in mind, sometimes it's a little cheesey or a bit of a guilty pleasure, but no sight/event/monument should be avoided just because it's choke full of tourists. The majority of folks probably want to see it for a reason - probably because it's worth seeing! But what's most important is that you identify the most popular attractions, then research them to see if, in fact, you want to wade into the crowds, or if there is an off peak time when the hordes are thinner. When it comes to eating in tourist areas, look at the menu and prices before you sit down, and google some nearby alternatives just in case. A little research and thinking ahead helps you know what you're getting into.

Sleeping with the French...

Ok, this is not nearly as provocative as the title suggests, but helpful to know all the same.

When booking accommodations in Europe (especially at B&B's) you may come across the description "French Double Bed", a term most of us North Americans aren't so familiar with.  A quick search pulled up this description:

Commonly called "un grand lit" in French, the French double bed is another characteristically French item.  A French bed is smaller than a double bed, measuring 115 cm to 140 cm. It is larger than a twin bed, so a person may fit more comfortably in a french bed. The French bed is meant for a single person, since it may be rather small to fit two people. It is meant to provide a better sleeping experience for the single person, or a cozy experience for a couple.

So, something to keep in mind when you're booking a room on the cheap overseas and you and your buddy aren't prepared to do some serious spooning... ;)

Terrific Tips from a Travel Pro

No, not from me although Christine Estima is every bit as fabulous as I am ;)  She's an accomplished writer, blogger, playwright, reality show star and world traveller several times over.  And now she's gone and written a concise and informative article entitled "Stree-Free Ways to Vacation on a Tight Budget" full of pointers and recos that I abide by religiously when I travel.

This is the link to the original article.  I've also pasted the text below (with my own two cents after that!)

Traveling might be the only incurable virus that I’m happy to have; it’s infected my brain, and I’ll never stop longing for more! Most of us want to travel and see the world, but not all of us have the bank notes to support our habit (I mean: treat our virus). Luckily, travel doesn’t have to be a wallet-emptying experience. There are lots of ways to cut costs without cheapening the experience. If your travel agent hasn’t filled you in on the cost-effective goods, fire her arse and consider this list your bible:

Discount Airlines: Made popular in Europe, discount airlines are popping up in North America too, and even major airlines are offering sweet deals on some of their carriers. WestJet offers discounted flights and vacation packages to Mexico, the Caribbean, and even Cuba (you’ll have to fly through Canada first and then to Cuba, but trust me, Havana is worth it). Porter Airlines offers discounted flights to New York, Montreal, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, Myrtle Beach and most major Canadian destinations. If you want to compare discount prices, websites like CheapoAir aggregates all the lowest prices available to online purchases, and offers discount codes at check-out to drop the price even further. If you’re heading to Europe, keep in mind that London is the cheapest city in the entire continent to fly into. Air Transat offers flights for as low as $99 before taxes to London. If you’re willing to forego the direct flight to your European destination, make London your stopover spot, and then hop on one of their discount airlines (Easy Jet, Ryan Air) which can take you to almost any European city for the cost of a cup of Joe (I once flew from London to Seville for one pence, which is maybe equivalent to two cents).

Discount Accommodation: When we were teenagers and in our twenties, we were more than willing to sleep in university dorm rooms or hostel bunk beds. As we mature, there is the tendency to outgrow those ‘slumming it’ ways, and want to actually enjoy a soft comfy bed. Hotels need not be a major cash drain. Websites like Hot Wire keep track of hotel rooms that have become available at the last minute, and offers them at discounted rates, so you can stay in major cities for up to 50% less. If hotels are still too rich for your blood, guesthouses and B&B’s are also great ways to save some coinage.

Rail Passes and Buses: You don’t need to rent a car to get around. Europe has perhaps the best rail network of any continent, and offer a variety of rail passes that will save you money on individual tickets. Overnight trains offer comfy couchettes, and some tickets include the price of a meal. South America offers extensive coach bus services, as does North America. Check out MegaBus, a European bus company that recently launched in North America, for coach bus seats selling as low as $1.

Gear: When it comes to packing, you want to pack as light as possible, especially when lugging a suitcase up a flight of stairs, or a really steep road. Packing gear that is multi-functional will save you space and migraines. A Swiss Army Knife is a vital tool (but make sure you pack it in your checked luggage, not your carry-on!). It can act as scissors, a can opener, a knife to cut food, a bottle opener, and even a nail file. Garbage bags or plastic bags are good to have, as you can throw your dirty laundry in them to keep separate from your clean clothes. They can also go over your luggage if it rains, and they’re handy for packing muddy boots. You don’t want to carry heavy shampoo bottles or moisturizers that will just take up space and weigh you down. Hold on to those free samples you get in the mail, or at the mall, as they are perfect single-serving toiletries, and there’s no bottle to carry around after you use them. A money belt is great to keep your passport and valuables safe, but there’s the risk that thieves will target you, as fanny-packs=tourist. Make sure you always wear it under your clothes.

Money: You don’t need travelers cheques, they’re not accepted everywhere, contrary to popular belief, so don’t waste your money on them. No matter where you travel, you’ll find an automated bank machine, especially at airports and train stations. The only extra fees for using them normally are determined by your bank (some will waive them entirely), and you won’t have to carry around any more money than what you’ll use.

Food: Of course you should sample the local cuisine, no matter where you go, but you don’t have to eat out every night. Hit the local farmer’s market or grocery store, and make your own meals. Make it an excuse to pack a picnic and eat at the National Parks or summery beaches.

Tours: Who says you have to pay for a tour? Most guidebooks, like Lonely Planet, offer detailed maps and backstories on major city sights, so follow along on foot, and see the attractions while dropping some extra weight. Hope on a bike, and cruise along rivers, boardwalks, and city landmarks. What’s more, there are even free walking tours now. Sandeman’s New Europe offers free walking tours in 13 cities across the continent. I’ve taken three of them, and I highly recommend. They are at least two hours, they are detailed, and they are really a great way to meet other travelers, learn a bit, and enjoy the city (Psst. The guides only make money from tips, so show your appreciation with a few Euros).

In addition to Christine's great advice:

-Aside from London, cities in Scotland and Paris are also very cheap cities to fly into.  Depending on your subsequent destinations, you can check whether Ryan Air or EasyJet operates flights from these airports, as they may be more geographically convenient for your itinerary.  Transat is currently offering a crazy deal from Toronto to Hamburg for the end of June, that's another city that Transat often offers deals to - which is a short train ride to Northern Europe compared to London/Paris/etc.

-Rail Europe's Canadian website is a great one-stop shop for passes and tickets, especially if it's your first time in Europe.  However they don't actually always offer the best prices and the passes may have restrictions when it comes to some local trains.  If you're super thrifty and brave, give the destination country's rail/bus company site a search and you may come up with much better deals.  Like Megabus a lot of these companies use confirmation numbers instead of hard tickets, so all you need to do is print the email and bring it with you (or even just show it to them off your phone).  You can also book along the way from internet cafes.

-Let me repeat:  The Swiss Army Knife is vital!  And packing it checked luggage even more so.  I use a Swiss Army Card myself, a souvenir from Switzerland, and it's gotten me out of every kind of bind including the time I got overzealous at a Singapore fruit market and bought a papaya the size of my head with no concept of how to eat it (wait, I guess that's not the best example...)  I've also nearly had to part with it a couple times because I forgot to pack it, but the beauty of a card tool versus the regular 'knife' is that I was able to dash into the post office and mail the card home to myself for very cheap.

If there's anything Douglas Adams taught us, it was to always bring your towel.  In addition to that I would throw in a spork and some hand sanitizer and bon voyage!