Budget Accommodation in Brazil

It should be possible to get yourself a bed for around the US$10 mark, even in the main tourist areas. There are youth hostels in Brazil, run by the Federação Brasileira de Albergues da Juventude, who have a list. Pousadas are guest houses, hotel familia means sharing meals with the family and possibly the bath too, and hotels are categorised according to quality. They usually always include breakfast in the price.

A Traveller’s Budget for Brazil

Because Brazil is reasonably large, fifth biggest in the world in fact, interior air travel is often the most practical way to go, but definitely not the cheapest. There are some airpasses available which might offer a bit of a saving, worth looking into. Bus services run long distance and the buses fall into three categories from comum, slow local transport which stops frequently, executivo, which are safer and faster as they don’t stop to pick up on the way, they’re also more comfortable and of course slightly more expensive, and leito or semi leito which are overnight services. Expect to pay more for these.

To eat cheaply take advantage of your accommodations breakfast, ask for the prato feito in restaurants, eat in lanchonetes where you pay first, or try to find a pay by weight place where you can also get thin according to how tight your budget is.

If you travel to Brasil then ensure you have taken out decent travel insurance for backpackers in case of any issues.

Activities for the Budget Traveller

Spending time in Rio de Janeiro, at the Carnival or otherwise

Drinking cocktails on Copacabana beach to a mental soundtrack of Wham!

Trekking, in national parks, outside Rio, Sau Paulo and various other places

Surfing anywhere along the 7000+km coastline

Hang gliding and Paragliding, there are a few spots, the most well known is Pedro Bonita at Rio

White Water Rafting – in various rivers in San Paulo state.

Accommodation

Similar to the rest of SE Asia, budget accommodation in Vietnam is mainly in the form of guesthouses and homestays. It’s usually possible to bargain for a discount if you stay for a few nights. The price is often reduced on the upper floors of a building.

Traveller’s Budget for Vietnam

Around US$25 should be enough for a day here including accommodation, transport and food. You can travel around Vietnam by bus (the local services are cheaper but overcrowded and rickety), by boat in the far south, or by bicycle, which is a great way to travel as the terrain is mainly flat or undulating, with only some mountainous parts in the north. Bring a bike with you. One of the best ways to go though is to hire a motorbike and driver, who’ll act as your guide as well for about $10 a day. A train line runs from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, slower and more expensive than a bus but a great experience.

It’s incredibly easy to eat well and cheaply in Vietnam, there are street vendors everywhere selling noodle soups, spring rolls and about a hundred other different delicacies. It’s heaven for vegetarians too, thanks to the buddhist monks.
Activities

Cycling though the Mekong Delta

Climbing Fansipan, Vietnam’s highest mountain

Eating and drinking superbly and cheaply

Kayak around Halong Bay

Diving and Snorkelling are popular and well worth it, there are sites at Nha Trang and Phu Quoc Island.

Don’t forget to take out travel insurance over 75 if you are heading to Vietnam.

For the most part the industry is focused around gap yearers between 18-24, new to travel, wanting to go abroad, but unsure how to do so and a little apprehensive at the uncertainly and perceived danger of independent travel, and of course who want to help out and ‘give something to the world’. One such company to pick up on these unsuspecting would be volunteers and a major player is ‘i-to-i’.

Just to illustrate how much of a business this industry has become it’s worth knowing that ‘i-to-i’ is owned by ‘First Choice Holidays’, one of the major package holiday operates in Europe (the parent group is TUI which owns other brands such as Thomson). Take a look at theirs and other glossy sites with promise of ‘learning a skill’, ‘life changing travel’, ‘meaningful train tours’ and prices topping several thousand Euros/Dollars.

‘I want to help out, I want to make a contribution, I want to travel in a way that is worthwhile’. is all well and good but think carefully; What are your motivations? Why are you paying large sums to volunteer? Where is the money going? How come the company is spending a lot on advertising? Should I not take this same money and donate to a specific project or at least fund raise at home? The slicker the website, brochure, whatever, the more glossy the opportunity (collecting turtle eggs anyone?), the more you need to be aware. Volunteering was never meant to be comfy and it’s certainly not a holiday.

On a Positive Note…

There are loads of worthwhile opportunities available and tonnes for free or with non-profit making organisations which you can contact directly – of which there are some links to on this site in the links section and can easily be found with some savvy web searching and questions. Organisations like VSO and Peace Corp fpr example function in a totally different manner and your time, if you’re qualified enough, will be well spent with them.

The more conservative a country the more harassment a female traveler can expect. Budget Travel would never want to put you off visting any country but we would like to make you aware of some of the risks and safety measures that can be employed.

1. Make sure you dress appropriately

It is a sad fact that guys in many countries view Western women as promiscuous. This impression is largely due to how tourists dress.

The simple fact is that if you dress appropriately and cover up you will invite far less attention than you would otherwise.

If you are heading to a conservative Muslim nation then cover your shoulders and even your head.

2. Try to hook up with another traveler.

If you are heading somewhere alone where there is an increased chance of harassment then try and hang out with other travelers. This again will greatly reduce any hassle you might get.

Check out our section on meeting other travelers for more ideas.

3. Wearing a ring on your wedding finger

This might seem a bit extreme but it can really work in your favour at times.

4. Change your behaviour for the situation

If you are acting drunk and a bit wild you are bound to create the sort of interest you are trying to avoid. This is the case in any country in the world. It will only add to the local’s theory that women who behave like this are loose!

Try and avoid eye contact particularly when you are alone and feel vulnerable. Making eye contact may give many men the green light. Check out what local women do when they are getting attention from strange men. They will often look down and this is usually enough to get your point across.

5. Finally…

Do enjoy yourself and try and make an effort with the locals. Choose situations like cafes to make conversation and be friendly. Being wary of men coming up to you is sensible but don’t let it entirely put you off making contact with anyone.

Be safe and try and hook up with people as you go along.

Reading resources for women traveling on their own

> A Journey of One’s Own: Uncommon Advice for the Independent Woman Traveler

> A Woman’s Passion for Travel: More True Stories from a Woman’s World (Travelers’ Tales)

> No Place for a Lady: Tales of Adventurous Women Travelers

Buy the best you can afford, and let’s face it you can get a lot for your money in this fabulous new digital age, honey.

What kind of camera?

A full on SLR or a compact? Do you fancy yourself as (or are you already) the next big Travel Photography Thing? Or do you just want snapshots of everything you see. Something in between? Many compacts now have a lot of extra features making them a realistic option for more than just the casual snapshot photographer.

Backup or Bust

Whatever you choose, it makes sense to go digital. This gives you the option of backing up your photos regularly as you go. Save them on CD or save them online, or both. You might want to submit them to a mag online and try to get published and become famous. Then you wouldn’t have to be a budget traveller any more. Nice.

Or you might want to upload them onto a blog page and let your family and friends see what you’re doing, letting them avoid yawning embarrassingly when you no longer have to subject them to hours upon hours of slideshow on your return. Plus you then get a backup backup, incase you get your CD’s nicked or leave them on a bus in the middle of Africa. Bummer.

Making it work for you

It’s always possible to generate a little income from your photos. Even if you don’t make it into the top ranks of the world’s finest and end up with a comission from Michael Palin himself for his next jaunt, using them as part of a blog online or publishing them on a website will give others inspiration, or they might like your photo of somewhere they’ve been more than the one they took with that bald blokes head in it. They might even order a print from you. Money in the bank. Why not?