Comments on: Where should a first-time vagabonder start? http://www.vagablogging.net/where-should-a-first-time-vagabonder-start.html Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:00:28 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: tarrah http://www.vagablogging.net/where-should-a-first-time-vagabonder-start.html/comment-page-1#comment-9951 tarrah Thu, 14 May 2009 21:04:35 +0000 http://www.vagablogging.net/?p=3334#comment-9951 as you mentioned, thailand is a great place to start! i know some people said that there are "deceiving touts" but this problem can be found anywhere - travelers just have to listen to their intuition and be smart - don't trust everyone who flashes a smile at you! on a whole, thailand is really working on cleaning up their reputation - more police, more regulations, more tourist resources - on many guide-led treks, the guide will now stop at the "tourist police" to leave photocopies of the passports and give a "don't be stupid and embarrass yourself or your country" talk. if you go someplace expecting trouble, you can find it. thanks for your writing and info - love it! as you mentioned, thailand is a great place to start! i know some people said that there are “deceiving touts” but this problem can be found anywhere – travelers just have to listen to their intuition and be smart – don’t trust everyone who flashes a smile at you! on a whole, thailand is really working on cleaning up their reputation – more police, more regulations, more tourist resources – on many guide-led treks, the guide will now stop at the “tourist police” to leave photocopies of the passports and give a “don’t be stupid and embarrass yourself or your country” talk. if you go someplace expecting trouble, you can find it. thanks for your writing and info – love it!

]]> By: Caffeinated Traveller http://www.vagablogging.net/where-should-a-first-time-vagabonder-start.html/comment-page-1#comment-7845 Caffeinated Traveller Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:20:54 +0000 http://www.vagablogging.net/?p=3334#comment-7845 I have to say that I disagree with Rolf about starting in Thailand, yes it is easy and full of smiles but it also comes complete with annoying deceiving touts. For a newcomer this can be intimidating and the last thing you want to do is to throw your money away.Its about easing into the journey right? From my experience I would suggest Malaysia is a better option. Start there and find out about your travel style, become confident then work your way up to Thailand. With Malaysia you have everything there including good prices just less touts with the exception of taxis and foot masseurs. NZ - absolutely the true travel experience if you can make it down that far. Not as cheap as Australia but you don't go to NZ to hide, it's the adventure capital of the world. Good luck,no matter where you go it will be a true learning experience and the beginning of a new addiction. Cate I have to say that I disagree with Rolf about starting in Thailand, yes it is easy and full of smiles but it also comes complete with annoying deceiving touts. For a newcomer this can be intimidating and the last thing you want to do is to throw your money away.Its about easing into the journey right? From my experience I would suggest Malaysia is a better option. Start there and find out about your travel style, become confident then work your way up to Thailand. With Malaysia you have everything there including good prices just less touts with the exception of taxis and foot masseurs.

NZ – absolutely the true travel experience if you can make it down that far. Not as cheap as Australia but you don’t go to NZ to hide, it’s the adventure capital of the world.
Good luck,no matter where you go it will be a true learning experience and the beginning of a new addiction.
Cate

]]> By: MalibuMommy http://www.vagablogging.net/where-should-a-first-time-vagabonder-start.html/comment-page-1#comment-7841 MalibuMommy Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:46:12 +0000 http://www.vagablogging.net/?p=3334#comment-7841 If you're looking for sprawling mountains, gorgeous hiking trails and the most beautiful blue ocean you've ever seen, all in a place that you can take the kids to, check out this awesome vacation home for rent in Malibu. It's family friendly, and it comes with a private beach, tennis courts, all sorts of surfing, kayaking and beach-going equipment and more. It's surrounded by hiking trails and surrounded by gorgeous scenery. Location: Malibu, Los Angeles County & Catalina Island, California, USA (Broad Beach, Zuma Beach, 1 Hour to LAX & Hollywood) Accommodations: House, 3 Bedrooms + Den, 2 Baths (Sleeps 7) Enjoy best private beach club in Malibu in a fantastic neighborhood, perfect for R 'n R with all the amenities. Need to relax? Easy, safe access to swim, surf, boogie board, or stroll beautiful Broad Beach, home to many celebrities. No need to get in the car. It's an easy walk to private tennis courts, Starbucks, supermarket, dry cleaners, postal annex and famous Zuma Beach. You're on vacation! You don't want to have to haul chairs and beach supplies. Here, you don't have to. You will have your own collection of chairs, umbrellas, and beach toys galore: surfboards, boogie boards, wet suits, snorkels, mask and fins -- all waiting for you just steps from the sand! The private beach club also offers full-time lifeguards (this is a must for the children), volleyball, playground, barbecue, and changing rooms with health club-style hot showers. Because it is private, you can watch spectacular sunsets and playful sea lions and dolphins while enjoying a bottle of wine or have a pizza or gourmet meal delivered right to your beach chair. Beach camp-outs and Fourth of July fireworks are the hottest tickets in town. Our home is California ranch-style featuring lots of indoor/outdoor living on one level under shady trees tucked into gorgeous Trancas Canyon. Enjoy unspoiled mountain views from the home's many picture windows and skylights. For photos & the full listing, see http://www.vrbo.com/116274 If you’re looking for sprawling mountains, gorgeous hiking trails and the most beautiful blue ocean you’ve ever seen, all in a place that you can take the kids to, check out this awesome vacation home for rent in Malibu. It’s family friendly, and it comes with a private beach, tennis courts, all sorts of surfing, kayaking and beach-going equipment and more. It’s surrounded by hiking trails and surrounded by gorgeous scenery.

Location: Malibu, Los Angeles County & Catalina Island, California, USA (Broad Beach, Zuma Beach, 1 Hour to LAX & Hollywood)

Accommodations: House, 3 Bedrooms + Den, 2 Baths (Sleeps 7)

Enjoy best private beach club in Malibu in a fantastic neighborhood, perfect for R ‘n R with all the amenities. Need to relax? Easy, safe access to swim, surf, boogie board, or stroll beautiful Broad Beach, home to many celebrities. No need to get in the car. It’s an easy walk to private tennis courts, Starbucks, supermarket, dry cleaners, postal annex and famous Zuma Beach.

You’re on vacation! You don’t want to have to haul chairs and beach supplies. Here, you don’t have to. You will have your own collection of chairs, umbrellas, and beach toys galore: surfboards, boogie boards, wet suits, snorkels, mask and fins — all waiting for you just steps from the sand! The private beach club also offers full-time lifeguards (this is a must for the children), volleyball, playground, barbecue, and changing rooms with health club-style hot showers. Because it is private, you can watch spectacular sunsets and playful sea lions and dolphins while enjoying a bottle of wine or have a pizza or gourmet meal delivered right to your beach chair. Beach camp-outs and Fourth of July fireworks are the hottest tickets in town.

Our home is California ranch-style featuring lots of indoor/outdoor living on one level under shady trees tucked into gorgeous Trancas Canyon. Enjoy unspoiled mountain views from the home’s many picture windows and skylights.

For photos & the full listing, see http://www.vrbo.com/116274

]]> By: Nate @ thewaythatyouwander http://www.vagablogging.net/where-should-a-first-time-vagabonder-start.html/comment-page-1#comment-7806 Nate @ thewaythatyouwander Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:43:18 +0000 http://www.vagablogging.net/?p=3334#comment-7806 Awesome advice about starting off with a sort of "warm up" trip. My warm up will be this summer as I am backbacking in the United States. After this trip I'm planning on going to Peru for an extended amount of time so I definately enjoyed your little part about Cusco. Awesome advice about starting off with a sort of “warm up” trip. My warm up will be this summer as I am backbacking in the United States. After this trip I’m planning on going to Peru for an extended amount of time so I definately enjoyed your little part about Cusco.

]]> By: previously.bitten http://www.vagablogging.net/where-should-a-first-time-vagabonder-start.html/comment-page-1#comment-7800 previously.bitten Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:18:50 +0000 http://www.vagablogging.net/?p=3334#comment-7800 I found this very helpful, as someone who is planning an RTW trip. Ideas for Australia / New Zealand is where I'm currently stuck. With such big countries, getting from place to place really starts to add up. I found this very helpful, as someone who is planning an RTW trip. Ideas for Australia / New Zealand is where I’m currently stuck. With such big countries, getting from place to place really starts to add up.

]]>