Category Archive Continent Tips

    Asia. India's king of the jungle.

    Asia

    Asia

    Asia houses a multitude of cultures, each distinctive from its neighbour. The two largest populations in the world are China and India, each with its own amazing sub cultures. From the Taj Mahal to the Great Wall of China to the Himalayas, to Ankor Wat and Pagan and the beautiful beaches and islands of the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia there is so much to see and do.

    Asia's iconic Taj Mahal

    World’s most expensive funeral plot!

    Asia Transport Options

    In some places there are very fast trains such as China and Japan. In others the way to go is by bus. In others it is much better value to take the plane. India for example has good coverage for long distances with Jet Airways and Air India as well as budget carriers such as Indigo. In China, airfares can often be booked once you arrive through a hotel at a rate less that full fare.

    Travel can be very cheap in this part of the world and is also relatively safe.

    North America t Rushmore

    North America

    North America

    North America Icon

    A gift from France

    North America is relatively easy to travel. With USA, Canada and Mexico making up the bulk of the North American land mass. North America possesses some of the best developed ski resorts in the world and the USA’s Grand Canyon, the world’s largest hole in the ground. USA is famous for the Statue or Liberty, a gift from France as well as Disneyland, a world of make-believe.

    The easiest way to travel these countries is with a combination of bus, train and air passes. Greyhound by far has the largest network of buses that traverse these countries. There is an excellent long distance train system in Canada that runs basically one track system from Halifax to Vancouver. However, as the distances are so great here, you will need to consider which legs should be done by air. To this effect, Delta, United and others have air passes for the USA and there are also a number of budget airlines that cover the routes.

    In areas south of the US border, it is necessary to have some knowledge of Spanish or at least a phrase book. In some areas north of the USA, Spanish can be an advantage. For instance in Little Havana in Miami and the south of the USA in all parts Spanish can be often heard spoken in the streets.

    The Countries of North America

    North America also covers more exciting areas such as the jungles and beaches of Guatemala, Belize and Cost Rica as well as the almighty Panama Canal. These areas can be easily traversed on local buses. In these countries, easiest transport is by local bus. In these countries; food, accommodation and transportation is relatively cheap.

    This is the place to put information that relates to North America

    South America guanacos

    South America

    South America

    South America is a wonderful continent to travel for the adventurous. It can be very cheap but also dangerous for the unaware.

    Macchu Picchu, South America

    Travel to Macchu Picchu

    This continent is one of the lesser travelled continents in the world. It offers the traveller natural beauty, history at Macchu Picchu and Trujillo that pre-dates Europe’s, waterfalls that make Niagara look like a dripping tap and its fiestas are parties on steroids. It is home to amazing wildlife, with The Galapagos, Amazon and Pantanal amongst the most impressive areas. These offer some of the most amazing diversities of animal life on the planet.

    The continent is best explored by bus and air passes. Food and accommodation is relatively cheap. In the south of the continent, transport may be by luxury coaches. In the remote areas in the north it may mean sharing the back of a 4WD taxi with passengers and their live chickens.

    Dangers of South America

    Whilst tourists can encounter problems throughout the continent, the north of the continent, houses more danger than the south. The Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama is run by terrorists, drug lords and others attempting to escape from the rest of the world. It is mainly dense jungle with alligators and large snakes. Venezuela, French Guinea, Guyana and Suriname still hold no go zones for all but the most adventurous of travellers.

    Countries of the Southern Continent

    The following countries are in South America

    argentinaArgentina

    boliviaBolivia

    brazilBrazil

    colombiaColombia

    chile flag Chile

    ecuadorEcuador

    french guinea French Guinea

    guyanaGuyana

    peru, South AmericaPeru

    paraguay, South AmericaParaguay

    suriname, South AmericaSuriname

    uruguay flagUruguay

    venezuelaVenezuela

     

     

    Comments and Tips about South America Travel are welcome below.

    europe

    Europe

    Europe

    Europe is a fascinating continent steeped in history. Its buildings on average, are older than anywhere else in the world. It has diversity, where languages, culture and cuisine change from one country to the next. Some of the world’s most famous festivals, buildings and museums exist in Europe.

    Travel Europe

    A sunken city!

    It can easily be traversed by either train or bus. In the north of Western Europe, most people speak at least a smattering of English and school children are taught to speak English. In other parts, English is well spoken by many in tourist areas.

    Some of the most famous icons include The Eiffel Tower in France, The Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Vatican and canals of Venice in Italy, Buckingham Palace in England, the mountains and lakes in Switzerland and many more.

    Europe stretches from Greenland and Iceland in the north west to Russia in the east and Turkey in the south east. It spans a number of vastly different cultures and linguistic groups. Even within a country, the accents and language may vary greatly. Customs vary immensely from one country to the next. It is an area where almost all countries have been at war with their neighbours at some time.

    Europe is very easy to travel. However, it can also be very expensive. Food is usually of good quality. Quite often in Southern Mediterranean countries, it is cheaper to eat a large lunch than a large dinner, especially when having a fixed price menu. This is because lunch is the customary large meal of the day in these countries.

    If you have travel tips for Europe, this is the place to explain them.

    Africa Travel

    Africa

    Africa

    Travel in Africa is not only possible, it can be quite cost effective. Africa is a vast continent with vastly different cultures. Here, two cultures share the same desert space. One will completely cover their body to deal with the heat whilst the other will wear nothing but a loin cloth.

    Some areas offer everything you can find in the rest of the modern world. Others areas are purely subsistent where people sleep on the floor of mud huts and eat from the land. The ethnicities vary more than any other continent. The peoples have immigrated from Europe, India and Arab countries and have a rainbow of skin colours.

    Africa Travel - In Africa, even a zebra crossing can mean something else

    In Africa, even a zebra crossing can mean something else

    Incredibly unstable governments change hands overnight and wars can escalate to genocide in the blink of an eye. The continent has some of the most amazing wildlife sanctuaries in the world. It houses the amazing pyramids, the Sahara and Namib deserts, and impenetrable dense jungles. However, it is tainted by wars and crime throughout.

    It can be a challenge to travel to some parts as major highways become so bad that road graders become bogged. In other parts, trees block the roads and the same road bridge triples as a highway, railway and pedestrian bridge.

    Africa Travel – How to save money in Africa

    The six most dangerous countries in the world lie in Africa. It is a continent where life is cheap and safety is a concern that overrides low cost at times. The cost of living in most countries in the continent is reasonably cheap. However, one must be on constant vigil for your own protection.

    Depending on where you are in Africa, cheap hotels can cost as little as a few dollars and some very good hotels can be significantly cheaper than elsewhere. Countries such as Mauritius, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, South Africa, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt can be travelled with caution.

    That being said, local transport whilst cheap; may be limited and difficult at times. So you need to work our a route before you arrive. In some countries it is possible to hire cars. However, support for them is limited and sometimes parts can take a long time to arrive, severely hampering your trip. In many countries, such as Namibia, coverage for mobile phones is limited.

    In Africa, the capital cities can be dangerous. Even the locals ensure that they are not wearing jewellery.

    This is the place to put travel tips for Africa.

    Australia kangaroo

    Australia

    The Professional Traveler’s Guide to Exploring Australia

    Australia is one of the world’s most accessible and rewarding destinations. Sharing a single official language and boasting a highly developed tourism infrastructure—including an extensive network of boutique hostels, budget accommodations, and transit options—it is an exceptionally easy continent to navigate. However, travelers should budget carefully, as major metropolitan hubs like Sydney carry a premium price tag.

    1. Geography, Scale, and Key Destinations

    The Vast Australian Landscape

    Australia is immense, and its geography is defined by vast distances. While the coastal fringes are highly developed, the interior is incredibly sparse. Regions such as the Northern Territory and the northern reaches of Western Australia contain some of the lowest population densities on Earth. When planning an itinerary, it is crucial to account for significant transit times between major destinations.

    World Heritage Sites and Natural Wonders

    The country is home to globally renowned, World Heritage-listed landmarks alongside pristine natural beauty:

    • Iconic Landmarks: Explore the ancient monolith of Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock), the biodiversity of the Great Barrier Reef, and the dramatic coastal vistas along the Great Ocean Road.
    • World-Class Coastlines: As an island continent, Australia is ringed by spectacular coastlines, offering some of the finest beach and surfing destinations in the world.
    • Sydney Harbour: Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful natural harbors on Earth, it features a stunning metropolitan skyline framed by the architectural marvels of the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

    2. Wildlife Safety: Myths vs. Reality

    While Australia has a reputation for hosting some of the world’s most venomous and predatory species—including sharks, snakes, spiders, crocodiles, and marine life like box jellyfish and blue-ringed octopuses—the actual risk to travelers is exceptionally low.

    Key Safety Guidelines

    • Exercise Common Sense: Standard safety precautions prevent almost all negative wildlife encounters. Do not provoke, handle, or corner native wildlife.
    • Heed Warning Signs: Local authorities place clear signage near hazardous areas (such as active crocodile habitats in northern estuaries or beaches with seasonal marine stingers). Always observe these boundaries.
    • Regional Variations: In Northern Queensland, estuarine crocodiles are the dominant apex predators in local waterways. Visitors should remain vigilant and swim only in designated, netted beach areas.

    3. The Great Australian Campervan Road Trip

    One of the most authentic and flexible ways to experience the diverse landscapes of Australia is by campervan. Self-drive holidays allow you to set your own pace through the vast outback and stunning coastal routes.

    Booking Note: When renting a campervan, please be aware that many operators require a minimum rental period (often up to 28 days) during peak travel seasons.

    antarctica

    Antarctica

    Antarctica

    Antarctica where even the icebergs grow icicles.

    Antarctica where even the icebergs grow icicles.

    Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth. For this reason all tourism takes place in summer. It is a remarkable experience that one has to experience to believe. Normally anyone wishing to reach Antarctica will either catch a ship from Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina or from New Zealand. The vessels departing from Ushuaia will be the cheaper of the two.

    How to save money on an Antarctica experience

    Standby Fare

    Antarctica is not a budget experience. However, people have been known to arrange standby passage on a ship simply by asking every ship that arrives at port if they have any spare capacity. Occasionally someone will cancel at the last moment and a spot will become available.

    Shared Room

    Some ships offer shared rooms without single supplements. If you are travelling by yourself, this is a great way to save money.

    Advance Purchase

    Advance purchase with regard to Antarctica can mean booking a whole year in advance. Normally it is possible to obtain a reasonable discount on tickets booked this far in advance.

    Buying Gear

    To travel to Antarctica, you will need specialist gear. Make your gear list and then buy at the specialist shops when they have their seasonal sales. Then bargain with the places you need to buy them. Also, many outdoor gear shops also have loyalty discounts that you can take advantage of. Even better, buy online from Travel Ideology

    Smaller Ships

    Smaller ships (normally about 50 passengers) mean that it will take less time for everyone to get on and off. This means more time exploring, especially when the weather conditions are such that people need to be back on the boat quickly. They also sometimes have options such as camping, kayaking and scuba diving that are not available on larger vessels.

    Other Comments

    This is the section where tips for visiting a continent can be placed.

     

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