MANALI + TERRY | Newlyweds Backpack Round The World » Reviews

M & T’s Top 11 of 2011 | Beaches & Islands of Thailand

Terry — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:38:47 +0000

Thailand beaches are really relaxing and although similar, there are a few things that stand out in each that could make or break your beach time.

Ko Samui :: The east coast of Samui has the busiest and most developed beaches, lined with resorts and bungalows. The party beach is Chaweng, lined with restaurants and shopping. However, if you’re looking for a quieter time, check out Lamai beach which still has a decent amount of activity, but slows down close to midnight rather than 3am. Some really nice upscale resorts, including the Four Seasons, are on the west side of the island but are rather secluded if you are looking to meet people and bar hop.
Recommendations :: If you get a motorcycle, drive around the island, see some of the local villages and check out the vast coconut fields in the middle of the island, over 2 million coconuts are exported to Bangkok each month!

Also check out Canary Wharf apartments in London when you’re there next!

Ko Tao :: A small clean island hugely filled with divers, surrounded by stunning waters and colorful corals and tropical fish. Lodging can tend to be expensive if you are not diving, but the diving is some of the best quality and cheapest in the world due to the competition. It’s easy to walk the entire island and if you are not diving, the beaches are all yours during the day!
Recommendation :: Ban’s Diving Resort www.amazingkohtao.com

Ko Phangnan :: This is the true party island and is bumping every night with raves until dawn. Although the full moon party is the most popular, the locals have every excuse to throw a celebration and take your money, so have promoted Half Moon parties, Black Moon parties, Pre full Moon parties etc. Be prepared to be pushed, spilled on and shoved by drunk 18 year old Europeans.

Phuket :: Very commercial island and one of the most popular, with entire beach strips covered with restaurants, bars and ‘ladyboy’ / transvestite shows. Largely populated with tourists from all countries and a throng of US military soldiers passing through. Patong beach is the most popular and very common looking, compared to some of the smaller Thai islands. Lots of activites available from diving in the nearby Similan islands to jetskiing and eating delicious fresh seafood.
Recommendation :: “Recommendation :: Visit Simon’s Cabaret with world famous dancing ladyboys who look spectacular! For a top notch but inexpensive place to stay, check out Marriott’s Phuket Beach Club. Each suite is loaded with fantastic comforts like balconies, kitchens, laundry rooms and large living spaces.

Ko Phi Phi :: One of the more famous islands due to the movie “The Beach” being filmed there with Leo diCaprio. The island itself is dirty, crowded and touristy, with young Brits promoting the party of the night and happy hours of buckets of potent punch well into the night, so sleep is not a priority here. However, you can find some awesome snorkeling on neighboring islands (Maya Bay, Long Beach and Monkey Beach) and gorgeous white sand beaches on Bamboo Island, a short boat ride away. The limestone cliffs are also a sight to be seen.
Recommendation :: Check out the food stalls near the local market, serving up hot and fresh Thai dishes each night. Mr. Sammy’s restaurant was delish and some of the proceeds go to the Tsunami relief fund.

Ko Lanta :: This chilled out, quiet, slowly developed island was one of our favorites. Great, low crowd beaches and slow paced life really allowed us to relax and have no worries in the abundance of beach front bungalows. Long Beach is one of the more popular beaches with beach front restaurants and reggae bars. Sala Dan, the port area has cheap souvenir and clothes shopping as well as activity sign ups.
Recommendation :: Check out the national park at the tip of the island for amazing water and sunset views, also Ao Mai Phai has a great bay and spectacular cliffs.

Ao Nang, Krabi :: A resort town filled with souvenir shops, western chain restaurants and Swedish families. We truly felt as if we were in Europe! An extremely clean and well equipped town for a quick rest, you can also find ample with organized tours of mangroves, limestone cliff jumping, windsurfing, fishing and diving.
Recommendation :: Take a short motorbike or taxi ride to the National Park area where you can swim through caves and grottos and beaches are spotless, backed by lush forests.

Rai Lei, Krabi :: Tiny beach peninsula, a short boat ride away from Ao Nang, is a mecca for adventurous rock climbing. The water on the east and west sides was dirty and polluated from the dozens of boats alongside the beach and was definitely not fit for swimming. Phra Nang beach (Cave beach) was by far the sweetest spot with pristine beaches, hidden caves and swim through cliffs.
Recommendation :: Watch the sunset from Sunset Beach. Duh.

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M & T’s Top 11 of 2011 | GBR Pro Dive Live Aboard

Manali — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:10:04 +0000

We have nothing but great things to say about Pro Dive in Cairns! The three day live-aboard was nothing short of professional, entertaining and enjoyable. Although a packed schedule, we never felt rushed and the crew definitely made it their mission to be attentive to all the divers and ensure the experience was ‘once in a lifetime’.

The meals were hearty and delicious, the afternoon cake was the best (I have a severe sweet tooth), dive briefings were thorough, and the facilities were great.

The first question that comes to mind on a live aboard is, “Where will I sleep?”. We were not disappointed, and after the first night, adjusting to the rolling of the sea, we were fitter than US Navy sailors.

We rarely went into our rooms unless we were changing into dry clothes or sleeping, and there was plenty of room to spread out and relax.

We met some great people from all over the world and even squeezed in some games of Pictionary and Spoons! We heard all about the cottages in Yorkshire, which we’ll have to check out next time!

How did we know we were going to dive that day? Sure, a schedule was posted, but we loved lulling about until one of the dive staff yelled out, “It’s dive time!”. My days afterward, just don’t feel as good, without that beckoning call. At the notice, we prepared for a briefing and then down the stairs to mount up with our gear.

The only regret about the whole experience is that it ended too soon! Thanks Pro Dive!

Details: $600 per person + $45 reef tax for 11 dives and 3 day / 2 night live-aboard
Address: 116 Spence St, Cairns, Queensland – www.prodive-cairns.com.au

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M & T’s Top 11 of 2011 | Routeburn Track
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Taking Europe by Train :: A Eurail Story

Terry — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:46:18 +0000

We absolutely LOVE train travel in Europe! If you are visiting the continent, you won’t get a true depiction of European lifestyle without taking at least one train journey. A normal part of every European’s routine, train travel doesn’t have the typical stigma that most Americans think of when traveling without a car. We are so dependent on our cars (especially in places like Atlanta where there is limited public transportation) that we neglect to explore other options. Don’t wait – buy your Eurail pass now!

WHICH PASS SHOULD I BUY?

First step would be to plan a rough plan – how many countries will you visit? Are they neighboring countries? How long will I be traveling?

If you are only traveling to one country or going on one long distance journey, it makes more sense to buy individual tickets online or at the railway station. However, a Eurail pass may be a more cost effective solution for large groups or people traveling extensively between countries, especially in a short period of time. Remember that traveling by train is usually faster than some short flights – there are hardly any security check in lines – you just show up 10 minutes before your train leaves and hop on!

Rail Europe has a great ‘travel planner’ tool that will help you decide if the Eurail pass will save you money and can help decide which ticket to buy.

Also, be prepared to pay reservation fees in some countries – although you have a Eurail pass, there is sometimes a supplementary fee to secure your reservation (marked with ‘R’ on train schedules). Trains in Spain all require reservations, regardless of distance, but other countries, like Italy, only require reservations for international travel. You can also find this information on the Rail Europe website as well as on Seat61.com. If you travel overnight, there may be some restrictions, you’ll save on hotel stays - and once you get to your destination, you can always book with the new online accommodation provider Wimdu to get the best bargains!

SO, HOW MUCH MONEY DID WE REALLY SAVE?

For illustrative purposes, we’ve charted our actual train journeys below and costs.

We show Terry buying individual train tickets in each rail station he visits versus Manali who planned ahead and bought a Eurail Global Adult Flexi Pass, 1^st class, 15 days of travel within 2 months for $1052 in April 2010.

Note: Prices are based in US Dollars (as of August 2010) and Manali’s cost of each journey is determined by taking the entire cost of her Eurail Global pass divided by 15 journeys in 2 months; costing her a fixed $70 per journey.

(click for larger image)

We saved approximately $600 per person on our total travel throughout Europe with our Global Eurail pass!

HINTS AND TIPS

Buddy up to buy Saver tickets (discount for 2 people or more) rather than two individual tickets
Traveling international saves more than traveling locally (Manali actually overpaid for her first 3 journeys in Italy)
Traveling in Eastern Eruope is generally cheaper than Western Eruope
For your first day of travel, be sure to get your pass validated at a ticket office and only fill in days of travel once you are sure you will be on board! Mistakes will cost you an entire travel day!
High speed trains are usually more expensive (such as Eurostar Paris to London in 2 hours – wow!); so if you have time, relax and enjoy some slow train travel!
Be sure to buy your train reservations in advance in the summer and periods of high travel or festivals – seats do sell out for popular journeys!
We saved over $600 each with our passes; the only other investment is taking the time to figure out if it works for you – if money is no object, get the pass and save some hassle!

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New Zealand | Explore More Campervan Review

Terry — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:21:59 +0000

We were lucky to have “sampled” travel in various sizes of campervans in Australia for short periods of time before we had to make a decision about where we would “live” for 5 weeks in ‘the land of the long white cloud’. The hi top campervan was a clear cut winner over the smaller minivan style! We absolutely loved our Explore More van and wanted to take it with us for the rest of our journey! We are definitely buying a similar one when we are back in the States and can’t wait to do a proper kick ass road trip through our homelands!

The staff at the Christchurch Explore More office were extremely accommodating and we even got a free upgrade! At one point, we needed to get our bumper flap fixed and it was as simple as calling to get the nearest location to get it fixed for free, waiting ten minutes and signing some paperwork before driving off – how easy!

The rates for long term hire (5 weeks), camping fees and the cost of gasoline together were far cheaper than having two people stay in hostels, so the choice was a no brainer. We loved having the freedom to stop wherever to admire the views, the flexibility of staying some places or not and especially the fact that we only had to unpack and pack up once in 5 weeks! Woohoo! (Note: these are the small things that absolutely make your day after 6 months of travel). Terry did a fabulous job of navigating and driving the two islands and became a seasoned pro at veering through herds of sheep, only hitting a few (mmm lamb chops…just kidding).

Manali loved the facilities to cook in the van since we were severely missing our regulars black bean quesadillas with guac, yum, and burritos and we were able to eat lunch picnic style amidst the gorgeous scenery and backdrop of vast mountain ranges.

Explore More was the way to go and we highly recommend using them as the best way to truly experience the Kiwi lifestyle and all this gorgeous country has to offer!

Website: http://www.exploremore.co.nz/

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Picton to Wellington | New Zealand :: Interislander Ferry Crossing

Terry — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 20:31:30 +0000

Time for the North Island! Hopefully no more curvy, windy, one lane highway roads up steep mountainsides adorned with sheep and cattle?

We loaded up ourselves and our van onto the Interislander Ferry for the 1pm three hour journey across the Cook Strait from Picton to Wellington. We were totally over the breath-taking views, so we indulged in plenty of trashy soap operas and coffee as we cruised smoothly and comfortably into the capital city.

Website: www.interislander.co.nz

Cost: Approximately $50 per adult plus $150 for a campervan before any promos – so make sure you search around for discounts before you buy! If you have a Top 10 Holiday Park card, that will save you 10%

(Insider tip: online prices are cheaper than booking through an agent, also google ‘interislander promo codes’ to get the 25% off codes to enter at the online checkout!)

Times: Various throughout the day, three hour duration at sea, vans to arrive one hour before embarkation

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Melbourne | Australia :: Melbourne Central YHA Review

Manali — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:21:22 +0000

This award winning hostel was one of our favorites. The common rooms, kitchens (a little small, but one on each floor) and bathrooms were spotless and recently renovated, the beds were comfortable and long (enough for Terry’s long legs not to stick out from the covers!), awesome rooftop views equipped with BBQs, and a helpful staff at the 24 hour reception. Located right in the middle of the CBD on Flinders and Spencer, the tram stop is right outside the hostel and grocery store was a short walk away. The hostel also had numerous activities throughout the week and offered cheap beer and eats in the basement restaurant. Overall, highly recommended for anyone visiting Melbourne!

Cost: $35 for a 4 share dorm bed per person, $90 for a double room (high season prices)
Internet: $4 / hour
Cleanliness: A
Location: A
Website: http://www.yha.com.au/hostels/details.cfm?hostelid=253

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Sydney | Australia :: Wake Up! Sydney Hostel Review
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Cairns | Australia :: Globetrotter’s International Hostel Review

Manali — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:10:12 +0000

This ‘apartment’ style hostel offers free wireless internet (certain times throughout the day), a small pool, spacious and well decorated double rooms and kitchens in each dorm room. The owner was extremely helpful and books all sorts of tours, diving and onward travel directly from the hostel. A short walk from The Esplanade (main restaurant / shops area), this hostel is quiet and a great find!

Internet: Free, both a single PC near pool for use, and wireless. Restricted to certain hours.
Cleanliness: A
Location: B, a little bit on the far side from town, but still 10 minutes walking distance.
Price: $24 for a dorm bed, $28 pp for private rooms
Facilities: 24 hour check in, basic kitchen, pool
Website: http://globetrottersinternational.com.au/

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Sydney | Australia :: Wake Up! Sydney Hostel Review

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This mammoth hostel, converted from a 1900 department store, located near Central Station and Railway Square is extremely popular among backpackers and travelers of all ages. Although a little more expensive than the competition, the extra pennies are worth the cleanliness and free activities that the hostel offers. The café downstairs offers the “Meal of the Day” for $6 and the industrial size kitchen is always bustling with aspiring cooks. The City Tours on Mondays and Beach Walks on Wednesdays are a huge hit and the staff offers some colorful commentary along the way. Recommended for first time Sydney visitors!

Internet: $3 per hour in lobby
Cleanliness: A
Location: B, close to railway and subway station, short walk to downtown/grocery/atm.
Price: $35 for a dorm bed, $70 to $100 for private rooms, depends on season
Facilities: 24 hour check in, large kitchen, common area, basement bar

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Ubud | Indonesia :: Puri Garden House Review

Manali — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:41:53 +0000

In Ubud, there are plentiful Balinese homestays where basic accommodation can be found for $10 (fan rooms with shared bathroom) as well as luxurious 5 star hotels with all the amenities, such as the Four Seasons. Harder to find are the mid range but great value hotels such as Puri Garden Hotel. The comfortable and plush rooms are amidst lush tropical plants, the bathrooms are ok and could be updated, the staff are attentive and know your name within minutes and the pool is cleaned constantly,. The beds were the most comfortable since we’ve left home and we took a nap and snuggled up with books each day that we were there, just so we could be in the bed!

Cost: $65 per night for deluxe double room (if you book on their website, the rate is $35)
Facilities: Free breakfast, free wireless internet in lobby and restaurant, clean pool area with lounge chairs, wonderful staff

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Ubud | Indonesia :: Sania’s House Review

Manali — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:41:02 +0000

Tucked away in a small alley off Monkey Forest road, Sania house is an authentic jewel of a homestay. The family that resides in the traditional Balinese compounds couldn’t be any friendlier and cuter with new chubby babies sleeping and little boys putting on plays. The rooms and bathrooms were recently renovated and every morning, the family would bring breakfast to your balcony to enjoy the sunrise and fresh air. The pool area was very popular and the location was great. Overall, a perfect place to spend a few days in Ubud!

Cost: $30 per night for deluxe room, king size double bed
Facilities: Free breakfast, helpful staff, pool, authentic Balinese homestay

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