Photo by Fábio Pinheiro

Brazil is different from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia and its other neighbors. Besides the language differences between Spanish-speaking South America and Portuguese-speaking Brazil, a noticeable cultural divide exists.

Brazil, a place where batucada and jazz, beach and jungle, and bikinis and Jesus coexist peacefully, seems to lie on a planet of its own.

Here are some tips for every traveler who intends to spend any amount of time in this, the largest country in South America. In fact, let’s start with that simple fact…

It’s a big country!

It’s easy to forget that Brazil occupies a large chunk of real estate, with the majority of the population and the tourist hotspots concentrated along the coast.

You won’t be able to “do” Brazil in just a few weeks (though it’s certainly possible to “do” some Brazilians in that time span).

Unless you have a lifetime to travel the country, you’ll always miss somewhere interesting. It’s always a challenge to decide which places to visit and which to skip, no matter where you travel, but in a country as large as Brazil you must think about distances. Assume that you’ll visit, at most, two places per week.

Keep in mind, though, that…

Photo by de Paula FJ

Bus travel isn’t perfect.

Don’t assume that buses will take you everywhere you want to go and don’t assume they’ll be on time. Be open-minded towards alternatives like vans (usually called “kombi”), private cars (called “lotação”, a sort of long distance taxi), and motorcycle taxis.

In places where rivers are more common than asphalt, you’ll need to consider boats of all shapes and sizes. Keep in mind that long distance buses often skip over the most interesting places you could visit, while overnight buses are often the target of crime, giving you two good reasons to avoid these long, overnight trips. Opt for shorter legs.

In spite of these long distances, you should definitely…

Leave the southeast.

Visiting the Iguaçu Falls, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro is the equivalent of going to Niagara Falls, New York City, and Miami: everyone and their mother visits these places.

Don’t get me wrong; all these locales are worthy of a visit. But it’s logical that large cities and popular tourist attractions are not the place to meet the “natives”, since locals are usually too busy to concern themselves with you, one in a long line of foreign visitors.

The “heart” of the country lies elsewhere; strive to find it.

Start by trying to…

Photo by babasteve

Skip the hostels.

Though this piece of advice could apply to anyone who wants to get away from the hordes of backpackers in any country, there is another reason to avoid hostels in Brazil.

This appealing option is called a “pousada”, cozy and affordable accommodations usually run by families. Pousadas give you a real chance to connect with the locals, while avoiding loud hostels and expensive hotels.

Don’t pay attention to fancy things like signs, though. I have stayed in some great family-run pousadas that depended exclusively on word of mouth. I’d wake up the next morning to a clean load of laundry, a fantastic breakfast, and a tab smaller than the price of a hostel bed.

Wherever you choose to stay, you must…

Protect yourself.

And no, I’m not just talking about condoms, though I am talking about sex.

The advice here is quite simple: don’t take new love interests to your hotel, hostel or pousada. Brazilians don’t take them home; they go to motels, and so should you. Even if it means an extra expense, at least your belongings will be safe, and he/she/they won’t be able to track you down the next day.

Think of it as part of the Brazilian cultural experience: pay for the three hours and enjoy the motel room sex. And though a casual sexual experience is relatively easy to find in Brazil, a more meaningful relationship with the locals requires that you…

Photo by bossa67

Learn some Portuguese.

Don’t assume that the average Brazilian knows English.

Only two types of Brazilians do: those who have attended the best schools due to their privileged financial situation, and those who work in the tourist industry. Of course, that second category includes all types of people, including some who are earning a decent living (like waiters and tour guides) and some shady characters you’ll want to avoid (like prostitutes and scammers).

In addition, don’t think that your high school or college-level Spanish will be enough.

Portuguese, though relatively similar to Spanish, sounds very different when uttered from the mouth of a Brazilian. Unless you are a native speaker of one of the romance languages, the recommendation is clear: try to learn some Portuguese. It will be the most valuable tool in your arsenal, more so than a guidebook, especially if you wish to interact with the locals (in ways that do not involve you getting ripped off).

Another way to avoid the touts, the thieves and the hookers is to…

Avoid urban beaches.

Except for Copacabana and Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro and, perhaps, Barra in Salvador, you shouldn’t budget time in your itinerary for city beaches. After all, the urbanized coastlines of Natal and Fortaleza and Recife pale in comparison to the charming, nearby towns of Praia da Pipa and Canoa Quebrada and Porto de Galinhas, respectively.

And these are but three examples; the same applies to every coastal capital between Uruguay and the mouth of the Amazon River. Unless you consider gawking at prostitutes an interesting cultural experience… unless you enjoy being the target of hawkers… you don’t have much to gain from metropolitan beaches.

Of course, to visit any beach you need to…

Get some sandals.

But don’t assume that flip flops belong exclusively on the sand.

Brazilians have made wearing flip flops an everyday routine, even though it might seem excessively casual in the eyes of other cultures. The mere variety of sandals for sale in Brazil speaks to this fact.

Wearing tennis shoes with shorts will immediately make you stand out as a foreigner. Men especially should try to avoid shoes unless planning a hike or a fancy evening out on the town. Flip flops are the norm, so head into any store and grab a pair of the local havaianas.

Of course, wearing sandals with socks is a stereotypical gringo ritual. But there is another common fashion faux pas that will teach foreigners that…

Photo by O Pirata

Futebol is king.

Travelers should not wear the replica shirts of local clubs unless they are able to hold their own in a conversation.

It’s a simple fact: though Brazil is the largest Catholic country in the world, church takes a back seat to futebol on Sundays (and, in fact, all week). Brazilians love to talk about futebol, and any related paraphernalia is a lure for meeting strangers. It’s a fun way to get to know the locals, but they’ll quickly know to move on if you can’t converse about the nation’s favorite topic.

Naturally, once you’re done “making friends”, you’ll need to…

Stay in touch.

No gringo should travel in Brazil without an MSN Messenger account and/or an Orkut profile. Though you may be used to Facebook and MySpace, Brazilians have fallen in love with a different networking website.

Most Brazilians you meet age 35 and younger will probably have one or the other… or both. If you want to stay in touch with the people you meet, you’ll want to have accounts as well.

Simply e-mailing the people you meet is not a good strategy. I have learned, through almost two years of experience, that Brazilians are notoriously bad at keeping in touch via email.

These tips by no means cover every situation you encounter, but with these in mind you’ll be better prepared to handle yourself when Brazil presents you with a challenge. And, believe me, it will.

Community Connection:
Headed to Brazil? Beyond these tips, you might also want to check out the 10 Best Venues and Shows in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

After all, your journal travels with you.. When you get soaked in that surprise downpour… it does too.

And it’ll be there a year later when you’re working your new job, aching for a travel fix. You’ll pull out your old journal and there you’ll be—the you you’ve come to miss—staring back at you.

So gussy it up a little. Here’s how:

1. Collages

Armed with nothing but a cheap glue stick, you can make collage pages in your travel journal by ripping images out of glossy brochures you find in hostels, tour offices, airports, bus depots, and train stations.

Things to use: tour brochures, post cards, photos, fliers, maps, shopping bags, postage stamps, beer labels, magazine pages, and anything else you can get your hands on for free.

Idea: Each time you get to a new country, leave a blank page in your journal where you can make a country-themed collage to mark the beginning of that section.

2. Fold-out maps

Mark where you’re going and where you’ve been on a map and glue the back of it into your journal. This is a great journaling tool for travel writers. If you need to reference something later, it’s right there in the maps you glued into your journal.

3. Quote pages

One fun thing to do with your journal is keep a running quotes page, where you write down funny things your travel companions say, foreign language phrases, or things you hear around you.

Another thing you can do is write large, travel-wise quotes in the front of your journal, so you’ll always see them when you open it.

4. Pop-up destinations

This one takes a little more work, but if you have time to spare on the bus or in your hostel, the end result is worth the extra effort.

Using images from brochures, magazines, sketches, photos, post cards, or whatever else you find on the road, create pop-up pages in your journal for a 3-D image of where you’ve been.

5. Stolen story illustrations

Making prints of your trip photos can be expensive, time-consuming, or even be impossible, depending on where you’re traveling. So find a few brochures with photos of the places you’ve been and rip images out to illustrate your journal. Finding good images can help inspire you to keep writing, too.

6. Sketches

Each time you meet someone new, you ask him to make a sketch of himself or something you did together.

Or, pick only one theme and sketch it everywhere you go. Like different means of transportation, for example… a tuk-tuk in Bangkok, a grass canoe on Lake Titicaca, a camel in the Sahara…

7. Rubbings

If you’re still not sure about your art skills, you can forgo the sketching altogether and make rubbings of objects instead. Just hold a page of your journal against a sculpted tile, a plaque, a relief, or anything else you’d like to capture, and lightly rub the page with a pencil or crayon.

Be sure not to make rubbings at ancient temples like Angkor Wat, where the rule is always look but don’t touch.

8. Found objects

Glue into your journal all of the things you’d otherwise lose, like foreign candy wrappers, tickets, receipts, currency, things written in different languages, beer and wine labels, wrappers with misspelled English words on them, things your friends write on a napkin, and everything in between.

If it means something to you, include it and write a story about it. You might forget you glued it in there and surprise yourself with it later.

I’ve got shells hanging off the outside of my journal, collected from beaches in Mexico, Ecuador, and Thailand.

9. Stamps/stickers

Passport stamps in your journal make a nice transition from one place to another, though some border guards might not be too thrilled about the idea. But you’ll likely find stickers and other kinds of stamps to embellish your journal pages, too.

10. Tie one on

If you’ve got a spiral-bound journal, you can tie things to the binding with ribbons or thread. Mine is leather-bound, so I tie things to the inside thread binding. I have a feather from Crucita, Ecuador hanging in one page, and a flower from Cambodia on another.

One year after returning from a trip around the world, I think back on the things I saw and did and they feel unreal. But when I flip through my journal and see and touch remnants of the trip glued into its pages, the memories are clearer. And that helps jumpstart plans for the next trip.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Check out another Notebook post, 10 Reasons To Keep A Journal or Travel Blog. Not blogging yet? Join the Matador community and start your online travel journal today!

GOODS:

Of course, you can use any old blank notebook to keep your journal in. But there are some tempting products on the market if you’d like something a little fancier.

Lonely Planet puts out a specialized journal complete with time zone wheel and glossy travel photos, while the always-popular Moleskine also offers a notebook designed especially for travelers.

WordPress’s new theme directory doesn’t yet give good results when searching for “travel,” so here are 20 great WordPress themes for travel blogs.

Polaroid

Hit them right between the eyes with a massive, Polaroid style photo of your eternal holiday. It’s easy to change and randomize what images appear so you can keep things fresh.

Get this theme

Fontella

While great for featuring your latest posts with big, glossy pics, Fontella does make you dig into the site for more updates and information.

Get this theme

Discovery

Call me modern, but a handheld GPS says a lot more about travel than a 17th century compass. You, however, can unleash your inner Indiana Jones with the discovery theme.

Get this theme

Victoria

I love the way Victoria breaks up “blog” and “feature” posts straight out of the box. This is a great theme for someone looking to do narrative travelogue as well as write informational or magazine style features.

Get this theme

Cutline 3c

The three column cutline theme is simple and SEO friendly. It doesn’t take a lot of work to maintain and, although a little basic, does a good job of keeping everything in fine order.

Get this theme

I feel dirty

Covered with paint splashes and scribbles, this theme allows your inner artist to hack away on the WordPress page. Its design is clear and easy to navigate… if you can stop the pages from peeling away.

Get this theme

Oriental

Oriental’s bright red and yellows with lovely cherry blossom line art make this a graceful theme for your Asian adventure. Mosaic-style blocks give lift and texture to a simple layout.

Get this theme

Foliage Mod

This green and grungy template introduces a little play into your theme with a cool pull-down menu and grassy effects.
Get this theme

Best Travel

It’s a little cliche, but nothing says “I’m on a beautiful, tropical beach and you’re not” quite like Best Travel. Bright orange highlights give life to a potentially dull theme.

Get this theme

Open Air

Light and spry, the Open Air theme allows you to showcase a stunning landscape photo with semi-transparent information panes hovering above it.

Get this theme

Travelog

Great design: selotaped photos, hand-scribbled RSS button. I like its raw and cluttered effect. So will your visitors.

Get this theme

Adventure

I’m a sucker for passport stamps…and now I can have one on my blog! Get your very own border control-vetted travel theme.

Get this theme

Dilectio

Colourful yet stylish, Dilectio gives a clean, uncluttered feel and smooth relaxing lines.

Get this theme

Bluebird

Minimalistic, straight-forward and blue. This light and airy theme features a stylish, singing bluebird: perfect for forest lovers and addicted tweeters.

Get this theme

Travelogue

It’s been through a few transitions, but the Travelogue theme is still a great way to showcase your trip. With stamped cardboard effects, it gives a Get Smart-era feel to your travels.

Get this theme

Nature Nouveau

A vine creeps up the side of the page to explode in a floral display at the top. With relaxing colours, this theme captures a carefree, work-less lifestyle like few others.

Get this theme

Photo and video themes:

Nautilus

Let your images do all the talking. Nautilus is a sharp, clean design with some clever touches.

Get this theme

Nishita

Nishita’s logical layout and photocentric force makes for another great photo theme. If a picture’s worth a thousand words, this baby’s going to serve you well.

Get this theme

Photo WP

An “on-black” photo theme which will reward vibrant colours. It’s built from the ground up to make it easy for photographers to become bloggers! Thanks to Flickr integration, it shouldn’t take too long to get things firing from the world’s internet cafes.

Get this theme

Revolution TV

Going to vlog your way around the world? The hottest new theme for WordPress video blogs is undoubtedly Revolution TV, which puts your video content right at the front of what’s happening.

Get this theme

Community Connection

Want to start your own WordPress travel blog? Check out Craig’s instructions on setting up a WordPress Travel Blog account or wait for the upcoming instructions on creating your own self-hosted WordPress install.

Photo above and feature photo by sharkbait.

I could have flown to Europe.I could have hopped a budget long-haul and touched down in Cyprus a day or two after leaving Australia.

Instead I found myself diving the Maldives, dodging pirates off Yemen and sailing up the Suez Canal. Some extreme cruise ship? Nope, this was a yacht delivery.

Sailing the seas beats being crushed into cattle-class airline seats every time, especially if you’ve got some time up your sleeve and an eye for adventure.

But hold on, I hear you say – sailboats, not to mention yachts are freaking expensive.

So here’s a little tip: the best yachts are other people’s yachts. Most private yacht owners prefer to spend their downtime anchored up in the company of wives, husbands, partners or good buddies, or day-hopping along the coast.

But for those grueling trips between continents that make up a large part of circumnavigation, more help is required.

Photo by zeandroid.

Smaller private yachts in the 25-70ft range regularly engage delivery crew for longer passages to help share the workload and for the savvy traveler, this same voyages represent a fantastic way to put some miles under your belt.

Often you’ll be asked to contribute nothing more than a keen attitude and a willingness to learn.Other captains ask for a donation toward food or fuel, but even this is pretty reasonable when compared to the cost of an airline ticket.

Some more prosperous yacht owners will even fly you to where the yacht is located and home again afterward.

The trick to picking up a trip across the ocean is to locate yourself where yachties embark from. Several destinations around the world are established jumping off points for cruising sailors, such as Panama, Phuket, Gibraltar, Fremantle, St Maarten, San Diego, Cape Town, Auckland and Darwin.

If you find yourself in such a location, head down to the local yacht club office. Each spot has established seasons each year when sailors depart, depending on the weather and they can often put you in contact with boats seeking crew.

The key to landing a successful delivery position is to make yourself a desirable crew member.
Don’t know how to sail? Yacht clubs around the world offer introductory classes and are often thrilled to have new members join their weekend races.

There’s no quicker way to learn sailing than having a captain screaming at you from the cockpit while you slip about on the bow. A couple months of racing will have you jibing the spinnaker pole like an old salt.

Photo by freefall alpha.

At the very least, learn the basics of boating online or at the library, including how to tie real knots.
Yep, your life will occasionally depend on the quality of your knots. Learn‘em.

Alternatively, offer your new crew a unique skill. Mechanics, chefs, electricians, dive instructors, masseuses, carpenters, heck, even hairdressers, will always find themselves welcome on board.

As delivery crew you’ll almost certainly be expected to knock up some meals in the galley too, so learn a few specialties.

On board, crew can expect to help out with day-to-day sailing tasks such as maintenance, navigation, cleaning, cooking and sooner or later, unblocking toilets.

Sailing’s not always pretty and those anticipating daiquiris in the cockpit at sundown everyday might be disappointed.

But what a way to travel. Riding the wind into bays you could never access overland.Diving hidden reefs, catching your dinner, navigating across entire oceans. Watching the sunrise after a night-watch with the best tea you’ve ever tasted warming your hands.

To ensure a good time is had by all, it’s important to check out your crew, because they’ll certainly be wondering about you.

Crew harmony comes above everything else on board, particularly on smaller boats. There aren’t many spots to hide on 15m of yacht when folks don’t get along.

Almost every captain would gladly hire an inexperienced sailor with a positive attitude over a know-it-all whom no one can stand to be around.

Photo by sharkbait.

The best piece of advice I have for anyone considering a yacht delivery is just learn how to get on with people.

Throw in a handful of herbal seasickness remedies and you’re away.

Get on board.

Community Connection

For available crew positions, check:

www.findacrew.net

www.crewseekers.net

www.crewfile.com

Photo by Gytis

“Well,” I tell them, “I am Bill Wilson.”

Here are 11 suggestions for travelers trying to stay sober while traveling.

Photo by Kevin

1. Find and Attend local meetings.

Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide organization with local chapters in cities across the world.

Before traveling, check to see which of your destinations have chapters and then contact the chapter for information about locations and meeting times.

Meetings provide a space to discover locals who can open the doors to other social events that do not include alcohol. Your new friends will help strengthen your commitment to sobriety while far away from home.

2. Travel with a confidant.

Friends and family are invaluable in the battle against addiction. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to travel with loved ones. Solo travelers should keep an eye out for other members and travelers sympathetic and understanding of their cause.

3. Ready contact information.

Keep the phone numbers of your sponsor and other helpful friends close at hand. If you are traveling to a country where your mobile device doesn’t work, consider purchasing a local phone with enough minutes to get in touch with your support network back home.

4. Choose friendly hotels.

In places with an established tourist infrastructure, keep a lookout for hostels or hotels that do not have bars and are not keen on alcohol. If you know you will be staying in a room with a mini-bar, ask the hotel in advance to remove the alcoholic beverages from your fridge.

Photo by Ewan-M

5. Stick to schedule.

Try to maintain the same meal schedule and exercise routine from home while on the road and keep busy.

The more activities you have planned throughout the day, the less time you will have to think about where to get a drink.

6. Learn a couple of key phrases.

There are many potential situations where custom will dictate that locals or fellow travelers offer you a drink. A few simple phrases in the local tongue are sure to come in handy.

Learn how to say, “No thank you, I am an alcoholic.” Or even, “I am allergic to alcohol.” This should satisfy a friendly stranger.

7. Pack self-help books.

Living Sober is a classic from AA filled with helpful advice for maintaining a sober and healthy lifestyle. Any number of self help books for recovering alcoholics may suffice, provided they have reasonable suggestions presented in a readable fashion.

8. Pack sweets.

Many recovering alcoholics suggest traveling with a pocket full of candy. When the urge for a drink arises, reach for a shot of sugar instead.

Photo by ragz1138

9. Imagine the pitfalls.

Before you travel, visualize the scenarios where you may be tempted when offered a drink. Imagine, for example, the clinking of all those little bottles in the beverage cart as it creeps up the aisle on the airplane.

Practice how you might respond to your server when offered a drink with dinner. Conquer temptation by keeping one step ahead of potential surprises.

10. Make a reminder list.

Write down a list of all the positive things that have happened in your life because you have stopped drinking. In a time of temptation you’ll be able to review your positive reinforcements for sobriety.

11. Turn off the television.

The last thing a person in recovery needs to see is his drug of choice glamorized by a product placement or advertisement right before bedtime. If you must watch the tube, keep your thumb on the mute button. Advertisements are much less engaging without the sound.

Community Connection

Interested in furthering the discussion about addictions and travel? Please post a new thread in our forums, or leave comments below.

Feature photo by ky_olsen. Photo above by Steffe.

What is Busking?

Busking is the time-honored practice of performing for spare change in public – generally on the street or in a park. Most buskers are musicians, but if you have any sort of talent, you can generally make some good money by putting on an honest performance in a high traffic and relatively affluent area.

If you’re looking to get a sense of the local culture, street performance is a great way to do it. Your status as a foreigner adds to the exoticism of your act, so it can help give you a leg up on the locals.

1. Washington Square Park, New York City, USA

During the warmer months, Washington Square Park is one of the most highly trafficked areas of the city – mostly by students and relatively well-to-do creative types. Music, magic and dance crews often pull in some significant change – and even if you’re not looking for that much money, you’re sure to at least find an appreciative audience.

2. Alexanderplatz, Berlin, Germany

The Berlin Lacht International Street Theatre Festival is held a few times every year, showcasing talent from around the world on the streets of Berlin. This great city has a long, proud history of bohemian performance art.

Germans love American music – get out there and play some of your favorite hits. Don’t worry too much about keeping a tune – your accent sounds exotic enough that it doesn’t matter.

Photo by Cormac Mulhall.

3. Dublin, Ireland

Yes, the Irish may have a long-standing reputation for being dour – but at least once a year, during the summer Street Performance World Championship, Dublin becomes an absolute busking extravaganza.

Whether you want to go and perform yourself – and hopefully rake in some coin – or merely learn things from some of the best performers on the face of the earth, it’s worth checking out. The competition can get fierce. Magicians, mimes, daredevils, jugglers and musicians turn the street into an open circus.

4. Montmartre, Paris, France

The artistic center of Paris, Montmartre is where you are likely to find some of the finest mimes in the world. If you’re interested in getting more into miming – or just want to busk in an area where locals and tourists alike are accustomed to giving money to street performers – it’s certainly worth a visit.

Living statues are also popular there – if you’re planning on taking that route, make sure that you wear a colorful, unique costume to set yourself apart from the rest.

5. Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom

Covent Garden happens to be one of the most happening street performance centers in the world, with one of the longest standing histories of providing an outlet for public performance.

Unfortunately, it’s not entirely open to outsiders – the performers negotiate with one another to set schedules, and you need to pass an audition to get through. However, that should not be a significant hurdle for you to get over if you plan ahead of time, are confident in your artistic merit, and know how to charm artists.

Photo by house.

6. Marrakesh, Morocco

Marrakesh is a city that is arguably still largely in the Middle Ages, from the architecture to the culture. It’s a prime site for beggars, street vendors and performers – mostly locals.

If you think you can pull it off and mesh well with your surroundings, the street traffic in the market squares can be totally overwhelming. If you can make it here in the old markets, you can make it anywhere.

7. The Old City, Jerusalem, Israel

The Old City is one of the most fascinating places on the planet. It’s sacred ground for three major religions, making it a year-round tourist destination.

The relatively warm weather – at least, when it’s not raining – also makes it a good place to get out some street performance, so long as it’s sufficiently respectful to pilgrims filing in and out of the various synagogues, temples and churches.

Photo by steph.

8. New Delhi, India

Indians are always moving from one place to another, either on the helter-skelter roads or the marginally unsafe train system. There’s a long-established tradition of buskers playing music and dancing near transportation hubs.

Get out your instruments at a high traffic train station and start playing – you might be surprised at how much change you’ll bring in from rushing commuters.

Community Connection:

Need some cash to keep you on the road? Give 25 Ways to Earn Money When You’re Broke on the Road a read, or check out the archive of Travel and Adventure Jobs at the Traveler’s Notebook.

Feature photo by Route79. Photo above by litlnemo.

Strands of red lanterns crisscross the narrow alleys of Chinatown. Neon lights proclaim the latest offerings of historic West End theatres. Camden Market stalls overflow with exotic foods and fashions.

Alas, you don’t see any of this. You’re buried deep underground in the tube.

A better world waits on the surface! Those iconic double-deckers plying the picturesque avenues aren’t there simply to spice up your vacation photos. Becoming familiar with these functional and accessible vehicles is a must for the savvy London visitor.

Save Some Quid

Taking the bus is tip #1 on Eva Holland’s list of tips to enjoy London on $100 a day…and with good reason.

You could pay as much as £4 for a tube ride in Central London. Opting for a bus will cut this by half, if not more.

Though operated by multiple private firms, all of London’s 8,000 buses sport the fire-red color scheme and follow the same flat-fare system. Paying cash for a single journey costs £2, regardless of distance traveled.

Think that’s still pretty steep? £3.50 lands you an all-day ticket, and Bus Saver packs of 6 tickets (available at street-side newsstands) sell for just £6.

Photo by Mirka23.

Go Oyster

To further expand the savings, pick up an Oyster card. Introduced in 2004, these electronic stored-value passes work on all manner of London transport and provide hefty discounts. Flat bus fare for Oyster users is £0.90.

What’s more, with the Oyster daily price capping system, you’ll never pay more than £3 per 24 hours.

Cards are available online, at most tube stations, and at dedicated shops throughout the city. A refundable £3 deposit is collected for all pay-as-you-go cards.

To avoid the deposit, long-term users may choose to purchase weekly, monthly, or yearly plans for their cards. No topping up is required, as all travel within the specified period is covered.

Photo by *Muhammad*.

Single Out Your Route

Thousands of buses, hundreds of routes…a pain to navigate? No. Most routes zigzag through popular areas, meaning there’s often a single bus that can take you from A to B.

Download a simplified map showing major routes here, or grab a copy of the real thing at a tube station. They may not be displayed as prominently as those for the underground, so don’t be afraid to ask.

Some routes are more scenic than others. The 24 will whisk you from Victoria Station, past Parliament and Trafalgar Square, through the Camden High Street markets, all the way to Hampstead Heath.

The 14 connects ritzy Chelsea with Hyde Park, Piccadilly Circus, and the Theatre District, while you can ride the 118 all the way from the British Museum to Greenwich.

Two routes cutting through the center of town (9 and 15) still employ the old Routemaster double-deckers. Though much more cramped than their modern counterparts, they make for an authentic London experience.

London’s transport system is constantly evolving; routes can change suddenly due to maintenance work. Before you head out, browse the “Live travel news” section of the Transport for London website for the latest updates.

Photo by suburbanslice.

Decipher the Signs

You’ve picked your pony and are raring to go, but don’t get too cocky! There are still some rules of the road to absorb.

On the street, bus stops are marked by a red and white sign featuring a circle with a line through it. If the background is white, the bus will stop automatically. A red background, on the other hand, signifies a “request stop;” you’ll have to flag the driver.

Beneath this is the name of the stop and the route numbers that service it. A detailed timetable for each is also provided.

For route numbers set against a yellow background, purchase a ticket prior to boarding the bus. Machines at the stop dispense single-ride and one-day tickets—exact change required. If you have an Oyster card, no worries; simply swipe as you board.

Pre-pay buses are common in Central London. Elsewhere, you can buy your ticket from the driver.

Photo by donjuanna.

Ride Like a Pro

The model of the bus will determine how you board. Chances are you’ll be hopping on a modern, low-floor (wheelchair-accessible) double-decker. For these vehicles, you enter through the front door and exit by the rear.

Also in service, though not for much longer, are articulated or “bendy” buses. Board these through any door.

During rush hours, buses on well-used routes may be crowded, but more often than not you’ll be able to sit. On double-deckers, passengers seeking a cheap thrill head for the forward-most seats of the upper level. Depending on your susceptibility to vertigo, viewing oncoming traffic from this angle is either mundane or terrifying.

If unfamiliar with the city, check the bus’s progress against a road map, as it’s easy to become engrossed in the scenery and lose track of your position. Either way, you’ll learn the layout of the area much faster on a bus than in the tube.

As your destination approaches, press the button on the handrail to request a stop, and cautiously make your way to the exit door. Take special care when descending the staircase of a double-decker; it’s an embarrassing (and bruising) fall should you lose your balance.

Photo by Cheddarcheez.

Burn the Midnight Oil

Unlike the tube, which shuts down around midnight, London’s buses can get you home after a wild night at the club.

Some popular routes operate 24 hours, while a host of new ones swing into action at the stroke of twelve, giving you around 100 nighttime route options in Greater London. Many begin at Trafalgar Square and trace the paths of tube lines.

Night routes are marked with an “N” before the route number. Service is less frequent than during the day, and flagging is essential if you want the driver to stop. Similarly, make sure to push the “stop” button when you’re ready to disembark.

Happy riding!

Community Connection:

While you’re at it, why not learn to ride the bus in NYC, too?

Feature photo by Shek Graham. Photo above by bugeaters.

A dog is an indispensable companion on a camping trip. It will smell and hear things before you do, can help guide you through sticky underbrush, and, if well trained, find lost members of your camping crew.

A dog can warm you up, devour scraps around the fire, and just be there when the full moon rises.

I’ve slept next to dogs on several trips. Here is a short list of things I’ve learned about camping with a dog:

1. Pack extra stuff for your dog.

Bring a chew toy and some doggie snacks to keep your hound happy during the trip. There should be more than enough stuff to chew on in the woods, but just to make sure the dog doesn’t grab your hiking shoes or some other valuable piece of gear, bring a bone. If you have a bigger dog, it might be useful to strap a bag around his torso.

Photo by D G Brown.

2. Bring a whistle or leash or whatever it is you use to keep your dog under control.

I always like to let hounds run loose through the woods and chase some voodoo, but most dogs I have had will return when I call or whistle.

3. Bring a first aid kit for your dog.

He might end up finding a porcupine or, even worse, a badger or bobcat. If you’re camping, say, along the Appalachian Trail, beware of boar; in Alaska, watch out for bears.

4. Learn to recognize potentials dangers.

In addition to wild animals that might hurt your dog, remember all the weird and wonderful flora and fauna that your dog might ingest in his quest for knowledge.

A dog’s mouth and stomach are pretty tough and they can vomit up all sorts of things, but it’s good practice for you and your dog to get acquainted with the poisonous fungus and/or toads lurking in your neck of the woods and what the various treatments are. You might need antidotes; you might need to induce vomiting.

Photo by bugeaters.

5. Keep the human stuff locked down or tied to a tree.

This is good practice regardless of what kind of camping you are doing, but be sure to keep your dog away from the food supply. It doesn’t do to have your supplies torn into in the middle of a trek.

This goes for important gear as well: waterproof shoes and bags, flashlights and your compass, good woolen shirts, and the like. Dogs will tear into stuff when they’re excited and nothing is more exciting for a dog than a camping trip with Master.

6. Tie up your dog at night.

A lot of critters are about at night and your dog might be tempted to chase them; this could be fatal. Not only are you protecting your dog when you tie him up, but he is protecting you: nothing can come near your camp without your dog knowing.

Photo by Northern Xander.

7. Utilize your dog as a scout.

It is wise to sometimes send your dog first into caves, groves, gulleys, and other areas that you cannot see into. You might think this is cruel, but this is what dogs have been doing for millennia and they are good at it. In fact, they love it.

8. Form an ideal team with your canine.

A dog that listens to you, can anticipate your movements and is smart enough to balance out your blundering is a best friend indeed. Dogs operate in packs and you are the pack leader.

You might notice that in time you can just look at your hound, or make a small noise, and he will know exactly what it is you want. They like to circle around your path and come back to check in on you; they like to lead the way, and sometimes they like to have you lead the way.

Ten thousand years ago, men and dogs hunted together and were successful enough to build great civilizations. Put yourself in the shoes of prehistoric man and you will have a blast with your dog.

Community Connection

Going on a flight with your dog? Check out our article, Ten Tips for Traveling with Pets.

Goods: Need more advice? Check out Camping & RVing with Dogs

Photo by Betsssssy

During a brief stint in Thailand, I had the opportunity to meet up with various people from different backgrounds: an Australian who divided his time between home and Phuket province, a couple from Ireland doing a backpacking tour of Asia, a middle-aged German woman who owned a house near Chalong Beach.

Together we chartered a long boat and set out to snorkel in some of the bluest waters and relax on powdery sand beaches.

One of the best days of my life.

Oh, and the people? Couchsurfers.

I came across Stefanie’s profile while looking for a place to stay in Phuket Town over the weekend. What I’d stumbled upon, however, was more than just a couch to crash on, but a guided tour of Thailand’s best islands, some great conversation from a diverse group, and a delicious lunch (my stomach still not quite used to spicy chicken and rice).

Couchsurfing, a website that links travelers looking for convenient and free places to stay with willing locals, is one of the better resources on the web. If you’ve done any major traveling you’re probably familiar with Couchsurfing, but have you set up your own profile, offered to host international guests, or slept on floors half the world over?

Although the number of surfers seems to be growing exponentially, hosts have to be particular when choosing who to allow in their homes. If you wanted to arrange for a guest to stay at your home, where would your attention lie? What information would concern you the most? Shared language? Interests? Age?

How can you best present your Couchsurfing profile, as both surfer and host?

Photo by blmurch

10. Get Verified

Yes, Couchsurfing does require you to pay $25 to get level three verification, but this is a small price to pay; you’re donating to an excellent cause and ensuring people know you’re genuine.

9. Post Plenty of Pictures

It’s always suspicious when your CSing (CouchSurfing) profile lacks any kind of personal touch; where are the pictures of you smiling with friends, family, coworkers? Let other travelers know you’re social, and capable of having fun when the occasion calls for it.

8. Couchsurf with Friends if you have no References

Plenty of people on Couchsurfing won’t take anyone who doesn’t have at least one glowing reference. Granted, we all have to start somewhere, so get your friends to show the world you are capable of crashing in unfamiliar surroundings without incident.

Ask people you know to sign up with CSing and add you to their friends list. An even better choice might be to try surfing locally. Although you certainly have a place to stay in your hometown, there’s no reason you cannot learn from the perspectives of other locals, and since you don’t live thousands of miles away, they might be more inclined to let you stay and build your reference list.

7. Allude to Exciting Travels Abroad

Sharing at least one preview of your travels on a CSing profile can go over well in finding a place to stay. Those offering to host may want to hear how the story goes.

Have you traveled where others have only dreamed of going? If not, do you know someone who has been there, or could share a story for you to tell in your first contact emails?

Photo by re-ality

6. Offer Your Couch at Home

Even if you don’t have a place for a fellow wanderer to stay the night, it’s important to make the offer; say you’re willing to meet someone for coffee and travel talk. Offer to connect them with your local CSing friends who do have decent floor space.

5. Don’t Use Couchsurfing to Hook Up

Maybe I’m off base here, but I just assumed that Couchsurfing was better than your average Match.com. Don’t post that you’re only willing to host members of the opposite sex and have only your single bed to share.

If you meet someone great by circumstance, that’s wonderful, but don’t actively seek it on a site like this.

4. Join and Follow Groups

True, you can just search for couches doing randomized searches under “Couchsurf!”, but another useful method to find or offer lodging is located in the local group listings. Each city should have its own official Couchsurfing group, assuming it doesn’t have ten.

Photo by blmurch

3. Don’t Lie

Don’t want smokers to stay at your place? Say as much. Not gay-friendly? Be honest. Uncomfortable with people staying more than one night? You’d better tell them straight-away, or you could be stuck with The Man Who Came To Dinner.

Couchsurfing is about expanding your horizons, but, when you’re staying with someone, it’s also about compatibility. Don’t put someone out by saying you’re a morning person and then party till 3 AM. Be honest as to who you are and what you want in a CSing experience.

2. Tell People When You Leave the Country

I cannot count the number of CSers I’ve emailed who haven’t gotten back to me; although their profiles mention the possibility of leaving in the near future, they forget to update that they have already been gone six weeks and are unable to host.

And the number one tip…

1. Don’t be Afraid

Couchsurfing is about goodwill, bettering the lives of travelers, and international understanding; the people are not out to beat and rob you. I can understand some people being hesitant about staying in a stranger’s house in a foreign country (especially single ladies), but CSing is not the “Casual Encounters” section of Craigslist.

These people are real, and others will attest to them. Don’t let any fears you might have show through your profile words.