Essential Safety Supplies To Pack On Your Backpacking Trip

BY  Mashum Feb 26, 2019

The cost-of-living caps the fantastic landscape and culture that Australia has to offer and explore.  For many tourists and Australians, it is much cheaper to travel abroad and explore other countries. However, traveling around Australia is incredible and can cost you minimal amounts if you are aware of the budget-friendly travel ideas in Australia.  So, before you plan a trip to Australia, learn the art of sticking to a budget. Budget-Friendly Travel Ideas in Australia The cost of traveling should never be a constraint if you want to explore the beautiful land of Australia. Let’s head straight to the most practical and budget-friendly travel ideas in Australia. 1. Stay In Hostels This tip is more relevant to Australia even though it applies to all parts of the world. Most hotels in Australia are costly, mainly if you are operating on a budget. If you wish to have a less luxurious sleep, you will save a lot of money.  2. Camp You can even try camping if you want to be more adventurous. It will help you save a lot of money. The cheapest way to explore Australia is by getting around and camping at different campsites.  There are several free camping spots around Australia, although there will be areas where you will need to pay for your campsite. Even then, the fees may be as little as $5 per person. You will get access to showers and toilets, which aren’t always available on the open road. 3. Prepare Your Meals Even if you decide to eat in a fast-food joint in Australia, it will not give you much change from $10. Besides, you can bring havoc to your body by substituting main meals with fries and burgers.  Make sure that you are getting food that will support healthy living. You can achieve this objective by preparing your food. It is much cheaper than relying on ready-made food.  Most parks in Australia provide public BBQ facilities free of charge. All you need to do is buy some veggies or meat from the local supermarket and get some grilling.  If grilling every day is not your thing, make good use of the available kitchens in the hostels. Use them to prepare your meals. You will realize a significant difference in your bank account.  4. Purchase Your Booze Bottle-O Bottle-O refers to the liquor shop or bottle shop. This store sells alcohol at a lower price than the ordinary bars. You will get affordable liquor deals in this place. Most budget drinkers like to go for the Goon, which is a cheap boxed wine.  5. Use A Private Vehicle to Commute  In Australia, you must get around by car if you want to explore the country. You can do it either by purchasing a vehicle temporarily or hiring a car for your travels. However, these two options can be slightly expensive.  You can use comparison sites such as Car Rental Buddy or Car Hire Choice to find and compare vehicles. Alternatively, you can opt for campervan hire from Camper Champ. You will not fail to get a cheap deal when it comes to commuting in Australia. 6. Travel On Greyhound Bus Most backpackers like to use this option as their preferred means of transport. It is among the cheapest modes of transportation in Australia.  You can get a travel pass for approximately $500. It will allow you to hop off and on as many times as you would like. It is an excellent way to view the fantastic scenery of Australia. The good news is that you will not spend so much on these journeys.  7. Participate In Homestays or Couch Surfing Accommodation in Australia is expensive, even for backpackers. So, if you want to explore Australia cheaply, take advantage of staying at homestays or even Couch-surfing in people’s homes. It will help you get free accommodation in exchange for cultural learning and community interaction. 8. Purchase A Campervan This option is best if you are traveling as a group. It will help you to spit the gas among yourselves. Driving via Australia is exciting, but you can still make your trip more enjoyable.  One way is to purchase a campervan in Cairns and then drive down to Melbourne or the other way around. Even though driving is more expensive than flying, you will stop anywhere you wish. Besides, if you have a big campervan, you can still use it for accommodation.  9. Have Fun by Participating in Active Hobbies Australians (particularly in the north) are known for their outdoor lifestyle. Therefore, you can join them and have a lot of fun outdoors. You will not spend lots of money when you pursue your hobby.  You can try scuba diving, snorkeling, skiing, bungy jumping, and a lot more, thanks to its vivid landscape and coexistence of various geologies. 10. Spend Most of Your Time with Nature Australia has so much when it comes to natural beauty, and this offers a free experience. You can get into the botanical gardens in Melbourne for free. Also, you will not pay anything to visit the beach.  You can also hike via the Royal National Park or Sydney’s Blue Mountains. You will not spend even a single cent when interacting with nature.  11. Hiking  There are several scenic walking trails in Australia that you can explore. Do you want to hike along the Australian coastline and admire the beaches? Or do you want to hike up mountains to get a view of the Australian landscape? You will be able to find an abundance of exciting hiking trails for your adventure. You will get excellent hiking opportunities at no cost in Australia.  12. Check out the Galleries and Museums Unlike the rest of the world, the galleries and museums of Australia are free to get in. Therefore, if you are tired of the outdoor experience and want to get a feel for the culture, museums are your best bet.  The best place to start is the National Gallery of Victoria. You can also try out the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Both locations will give you fantastic opportunities to tour Australia at budget-friendly rates.  13. Cycling In some cities, there are cycling initiatives that you can take advantage of while visiting Australia. In Brisbane, it is possible to cycle for up to half an hour for free using their city hire bike scheme. There are several cycling trails that you can also explore around the city. 14. Swimming At the Beach  Australia boasts thousands of kilometers of coastline where you can go swimming and enjoy yourself at the beach. Whether you decide to stop in a major city like the Gold Coast or head to a quieter town such as Airlie Beach, there will be an option for you. 15. Fishing  If you can get yourself some fishing rods, you can go fishing at a local creek, dam, river, or beach. 16. Barbecues One thing that is unanimous with all Australians is their love for an excellent outdoor grill. Having a barbecue meal with your travel group is also one of the most budget-friendly travel ideas in Australia. You can head to the supermarket and buy a loaf of bread and sausages for a tonner. You will enjoy a barbecue in the company of friends. Conclusion  These are just a few of the budget-friendly travel ideas in Australia. You don’t have to break the bank to have a good time. There are plenty of things to see and do in Australia. You must be open to the different experiences the region has to offer. From Kangaroo Island to the Barossa Valley, Australia has scenic beauty that you can soak in without burning a hole in your pocket. So, make a budget and stick to it to have a happy and hearty journey! Read Also : Travel Tips to Help You Out In Asia 4 Tips for First-time Travelers to Bali

BY  Mashum Mar 3, 2019

We all love traveling and exploring places that are known and unknown all over the world. Besides, all of us are aware of the hassles of carrying heavy bags throughout the trip. It is one of the things that will make your trip look complex.  Therefore, you have to put a few things into consideration while planning for your trip. This article will make sure that you have a good time when carrying your luggage. It is one of the essential things when planning for a tour.    Every tourist tries to deal with the luggage issue in one way or the other. Some carry only small bags so that they can end up with a small and light package. Some don’t carry travel bags at all and buy what they require while on the trip!   A few others even go as far as to plan trips only to tropical places. Such a choice allows them to take only small and light stuff like swimwear, shirts and cargo pants. The decision that you make depends on your interests.   However, letting your bag issues dictate where you should be going and for how long, is unacceptable for travel addicts. You need the freedom to go wherever you wish without the limitation of packaging.   So how do we pack expertly, without running the risk of carrying a heavy bag everywhere? Some tricks can help you through this journey.   A lot of travel experts share their stories and the techniques they use to travel light. The secret is to prevent over-packing and yet be able to carry all essential items.  You need to carry all that you will need during your trips. So here are some of the tips from former tourists that we can all benefit from:  1. Choose Your Clothes Wisely  Materials like cotton and wool are quite heavy, and they take a long time to dry. If you are traveling to places where you can expect the climate to be cold, you can always wear something like a Polartec quarter-zip instead of cotton sweaters.   The secret is trying to look for a light thing that will serve you well. Synthetic clothes will also dry up faster after a quick wash. The fact that you can carry synthetic garments with a lot of ease, and they dry fast will motivate you to take them along with you.  Select your clothes wisely, and you will not have a hard time during your trip. The most important thing is to make sure that whatever you choose will give you maximum comfort during travel.   2. Choose a suitable luggage It is extremely important to select the right luggage type for your trip. If you plan on going for a travel vacation with family for a long stay, you would better opt for spacious luggage. In case you plan to go for a short trip, then small carry-ons, backpacks, and light bags can be a suitable option. If you don’t want to carry your luggage, consider suitcases that you can easily move with you wherever you go. For example, opt for options like a softshell suitcase with wheels to be able to effortlessly move your suitcase. In any case, don’t forget to pick a durable option, with secure locks and a telescopic handle. 3. Choose wearable items that are versatile If you are carrying shoes, you might want to pack something that you can wear anywhere. Shoes take up quite a lot of space in your travel bag. Therefore, you have to be as you make the choices of the wearable items to carry.   You can buy functional boots that are not only perfect for hiking but can also be worn to dinner somewhere. It means that you will be using one stone to kill two birds.   If you still insist on carrying more than one pair of shoes, make sure you stick them in the side pouches of your backpack. The worst thing would be to dump them inside with all your clothes. You need some form of organization when packing shoes for your next trip.   4. Pack clothes for seven days, even if your trip lasts longer  We all try to minimize the hassle of washing and drying our clothes while we are traveling. Who wants to waste time doing such abysmal chores while they could be touring a new city?   While it is an excellent idea to want to have as much fun as possible during the trip, packing for seven days will mean that you won’t end up carrying too many clothes. You will not fail to get someone to wash your clothes even if you dint have enough time for such a task.   And if you pack clothes that are easy to wash, you won’t have to spend a lot of time to clean them up. You can also wear merino wool shirts, which can be worn for a couple of days before they require washing. The only thing that you need to do is learn how you can make smart decisions when it comes to laundry work.   5. Packing cubes  One of the reasons why we end up with heavy bags is because we often throw our things into them pell-mell. You should not try to stuff everything inside without organizing or folding them well.   Packing cubes are the perfect solution in such a case. The reason is that you can make your compartments in your bag. This option allows you to sort out your things by categories hence bringing a lot of order.  Packing cubes can keep your clothes separated from toiletries. These bags also protect your possessions if your shampoo or soap bottle spills. It is the best way to make sure that all your luggage is safe and secure.   Amazon has some of the best packing cubes you can find in the market. The most expensive ones are quite durable and will last for several years. It is advisable to invest in a durable bag that will serve you on several trips and for an extended period.   Also, once you sort everything into packing cubes, you can easily find them when you need them. There is no need to take everything out of your bag in a hurry looking for things. It will help you when you want to use something while in transit.   6. Place your clothes vertically  One of the mistakes we make while packing is that we place clothes on top of each other. This way, it can become a bit time-consuming to take out all the clothes lying on top only to get to the bottom of the pile.  It is advisable to pack your clothes vertically if you want to have an easy time while on travel. It is a tip that most people who are going for a vacation don’t know.   Think of your packing bag as a filing cabinet. You need to place all your folded clothes vertically so you can see them easily. It will help you to pull out what you need with a lot of ease.   7. Don’t pack things you can easily buy  If you are not very picky about the toiletry products you use, you can always buy shampoo, soap, and other necessary items in the place you are going to. Depending on the area you are visiting, you can decide to leave some things out of your carry bag.   If you are going on an adventure trip, you won’t find a lot of toiletry products, so it is better to pack them separately. However, you should not burden yourself with the things that you can purchase from the destination.   These tips are quite handy to use when the time comes to pack up your bags and go traveling. You can always find some smart way to reduce bag weight so that your vacation becomes more comfortable and more fun!  Read More: 5 Must Visit Offbeat Destinations Near Delhi. 5 Immensely Popular Travel Applications that India Loves. Expert Tips for Earning Frequent Flyer Points for Travelling in Business Class Flights.

BY  Abdul Aziz Dec 26, 2023

With good reason, Mexico is one of the most sought-after travel destinations worldwide. However, not every area of Mexico is secure for tourists. Today, we will talk about the most dangerous cities in Mexico. According to the World of Statistics, nine Mexican cities are among the world's ten deadliest in 2022. There have been 512 homicides reported through the first seven months of the year, or an average of 73.1 per month. The murders are steadily on track to match or marginally exceed those numbers in 2023. The previous year saw 887 murders or an average of 73.91 homicides per month. Most Dangerous Cities In Mexico A recent study on wisevoter.com found that there were 36,579 murders in Mexico. This corresponded to the 4th-highest murder rate in the world, 28.37 per 100,000 people. The study found that men are eight times more likely than women to become murder victims. Here are some of the most dangerous cities in Mexico that you could wisely avoid if you are planning to visit: Acapulco Despite being one of the most dangerous cities in Mexico, Acapulco continues to draw large numbers of tourists due to its beaches. The rate of homicide in the city is 111 per 100,000 residents. Drug-related violence in Acapulco has increased dramatically as different cartels compete for control of the lucrative drug trade in the city. This city is located in Guerrero, a notorious state well-known for its high rates of violence. It witnesses regular chaos brought on by gang turf wars and heroin production. Tijuana Tijuana's high murder rate and drug-related violence make it the most dangerous city in Mexico. There are 138 homicides for every 100,000 people. Tijuana is the main gateway for drugs originating in South America, making it a hub for cartel activity. Due to its proximity to the US border, it is also a significant hub for organized crime and human trafficking. Based on data on homicide rates, Tijuana is the world's most dangerous city. Ciudad Victoria Ciudad Victoria, one of the most violent cities in Mexico, is situated in the state of Tamaulipas. This area is another hotbed of drug-related violence, with a homicide rate of 86 per 100,000 residents. Located just beyond the U.S. border, Tamaulipas makes it an entryway city as well. In Ciudad Victoria, members of the Northeast Cartel actively manage their businesses. Irapuato Irapuato, in the central state of Guanajuato, has witnessed a surge in drug-related homicides over the last three years. With a homicide rate of 81 per 100,000 residents, the city is among the least safe places for visitors. Even regrettably so for the residents who live there. Turf wars between the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel and the Jalisco Cartel New Generation are primarily to blame for the murders that occur here. Cancun A spate of shootings, robberies, and attacks on tourists in Cancun were linked to cartels. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has recently issued a warning to travelers about the travel risks. This city is notorious for its high levels of violence. Yet it is far less deadly than other Mexican cities, with a homicide rate of 64 per 100,000 people. Uruapan For a mountainside city in Michoacan, Uruapan has seen a steady rise in violence; sadly, it appears that this violence will only get worse. This once peaceful town is now home to rival cartels that frequently switch names and hands. Killings take place in the most inconspicuous places, like bars and arcades. The current homicide rate in Uruapan is 55 per 100,000 residents. Culiacan Formerly regarded as a moderately dangerous city, Culiacan is currently the scene of a fatal conflict.  It happened after the apprehension of Ovidio Guzman, the son of cartel leader El Chapo. The city is Sinaloa's central city and has a homicide rate of 61 per 100,000 residents. Because of the Sinaloa Cartel's stronghold over the city and its populace, visiting tourists face extreme danger. Cuidad Obregon Sonora's second-biggest city, Cuidad Obregon, has gained notoriety recently. It ranks as the world's fourth most dangerous city in 2022. Not only has there been an increase in violence in Ciudad Obregon but also in the neighborhood of Cajame, which is the southernmost part of the state. It will take time to determine whether this sharp rise in crime will hold. There are currently 52 homicides for every 100,000 residents. Celaya According to the accounts, more than a thousand people were killed brutally every year. Theft, drug sales, and human trafficking have all increased, so the story is far from over. Taking a vacation in Celaya is risky. Celaya has 109.38 killings per 100,000 residents, making it one of the world's most dangerous cities right now. Coatzacoalcos Once a bustling tourist destination in Veracruz, Coatzacoalcos has a homicide rate of 48 per 100,000 residents. Perpetrators left nine bodies on the street. Among the top ten most dangerous cities in Mexico is this one because of murder, violent crime, and robbery. Ensenada The only other regions of Mexico with official travel advisories or restrictions are those located 1,400 miles away. Reports from the press and locals indicate a rise in violence. Locals and tourists, however, have not been impacted by this unrest. Violent killings have increased in Ensenada and Tijuana over the past few months, primarily occurring outside of the city center and at night. Although there are some risks in the unguarded neighborhoods further out, the city center is still very safe. Travel through the Vine Valley or on day trips are usually safe. Reynosa Reynosa is a prominent urban center located directly across the Rio Grande from the US border. Unfortunately, because of ongoing conflicts between criminal gangs, it has gained a reputation as one of Mexico's most dangerous cities. Traveling to this area due to the ongoing security concerns is high risk. However, it's crucial to understand that Reynosa, despite its unflattering reputation, is an important industrial center for the Rio Grande Valley and Northern Tamaulipas. The city drives a number of industrial activities and acts as a vital link in cross-border trade and commerce, significantly impacting the region's economic landscape. Reynosa continues to play an important role in connecting and promoting economic development in this region of Mexico, even with the ongoing security concerns. Chihuahua Due to concerns about crime and kidnapping, the U.S. State Department advises travelers to "Reconsider Travel" to Chihuahua. There is a lot of violent crime and gang activity in the area. Travelers should exercise caution even though the majority of criminal organizations commit murders that are targeted assassinations. Drug-related violence has escalated dramatically in northern Mexico over the last twelve years, especially in Chihuahua. Despite being relatively safer than other cities in the area, cartel violence is still a problem in Chihuahua. It's crucial to remember that most killings target drug dealers and their families; violent crimes rarely target tourists. There are military checkpoints throughout the city and its environs, and adherence to them is required. Wrapping Up It's critical to keep in mind that even though the state has a high rate of crime, not all of it is dangerous. For example, Illinois is not always a crime hotspot just because Chicago is. When it comes to organized crime and corruption, Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Victoria, Reynosa, and Culiacan are typically the worst cartel cities in Mexico. While you're organizing your next vacation, we hope this article will be helpful to you in determining which areas of Mexico are dangerous. If the location you're interested in doesn't appear on this list, it's probably not in one of Mexico's most dangerous regions. And as long as you exercise common sense caution, you should be alright. If you have thoughts to share or questions to ask about the most dangerous cities in Mexico, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you! Read Also: Navigating The Unseen: Exploring The Most Dangerous Country In The World Heatwaves And Adventure: Traveling To The World’s Hottest Destination Crime And Caution: Navigating The Dark Side Of California’s Cities Is Costa Rica Safe For Visit For Travelling?