Travel Tips
Here are a few things that I have found to be almost indispensable.
Small Notes And Change: Argentinean city buses for example, only accept coins and it is rare to find anyone who has change for the 100 and 200 notes that the ATMs dispense, from cab drivers and market stalls all the way to restaurants, hostels and even the general post office! Every time we spend money, it is a game to try to break the large notes, or to buy things that will give us some change. They are good for times tango dancers pass around a hat and paying small surprise taxes and tips for porters and public toilets.
Cards And Cash: I have had problems in Argentina withdrawing more than a measly 300 pesos a day (about $AU100) from my travel debit card, and all my other cards didn't work in their machines for some reason. I managed there, but had more problems in Bolivia. None of my cards worked when we arrived in Uyuni (we only found one ATM there), so I resorted to exchanging some of the US dollars that my mom gave me for just such an emergency.
Now, I have figured out the ATM system (they ask which one of four accounts you want to withdraw from when I only have one per card, and in this case, choose option 4, not the more logical 1), and have no issues. But for a few weeks, my money problem was a real worry and I had to resort to borrowing cash from Banco De Julie a few times.
During Carnaval in Brazil, banks are closed but ATMs run... some of them. There were long queues for the few ATMs that worked when I was in Salvador, some of which only accepted cards with the new chip and other banks don't take Cirrus or Visa.
Zip Lock Bags: These are really great for keeping damp clothes in for packing when they don't always get a chance to dry between hostels. Also good for protecting things like papers, books, cameras etc from getting dirty or wet in the jungle or mountain bike rides. They are especially handy to store lotion and shampoo bottles for transport so if they leak, it is all contained.
Moisturiser And Lip Balm: In the high altitude and cold places we have been so far, our skin gets very dry, so a big bottle of moisturiser (or small bottle of baby oil) and a dozen Chapsticks get a lot of use. These are easy enough to find and cheap here.
Sleeping Bag: There has been discussion about the necessity of a sleeping bag when traveling, but we have found them to be really very useful. When traveling overland in buses during winter, it can get very cold overnight and blankets are not always provided. A sleeping bag helps make the trip even comfortable enough to get a bit of quality sleep. Also, though all hostels we've been in have provided warm blankets, I think the trip to subzero Salar de Uyuni would've been unbearable without a decent sleeping bag.
Toilet Paper: Not every toilet provides toilet paper and it is always handy to have something to blow your nose in or mop up small spills.
Cable Lock: One that has a fine cable is good to securing your sneakers to the outside of your backpack or your day pack to your bus seat, giving you some peace of mind that your bag won't quietly slip under your feet when dozing on overnight trips. On slow boats through the Amazon, a cable lock around a post keeps your gear onboard when potential thieves can hop on the barge at various river stops.
Duct Tape: When our shoes rub against our heels, we just put a bit of tape on to prevent any loss of skin instead of band-aids. We've also used duct tape to seal gaps in vehicle windows during sandstorms, close holes in bathroom doors and fix power adapters to loose fitting power points.
Wide Scarf: Sometimes a single thin layer is all you need over your knees or shoulders to keep warm on overnight bus rides through high altitude or winter. They are also good to keep the Amazon sun off on hour long river boat rides or the grit out of your nose and mouth during Bolivian sandstorms.
Small Notes And Change: Argentinean city buses for example, only accept coins and it is rare to find anyone who has change for the 100 and 200 notes that the ATMs dispense, from cab drivers and market stalls all the way to restaurants, hostels and even the general post office! Every time we spend money, it is a game to try to break the large notes, or to buy things that will give us some change. They are good for times tango dancers pass around a hat and paying small surprise taxes and tips for porters and public toilets.
Cards And Cash: I have had problems in Argentina withdrawing more than a measly 300 pesos a day (about $AU100) from my travel debit card, and all my other cards didn't work in their machines for some reason. I managed there, but had more problems in Bolivia. None of my cards worked when we arrived in Uyuni (we only found one ATM there), so I resorted to exchanging some of the US dollars that my mom gave me for just such an emergency.
Now, I have figured out the ATM system (they ask which one of four accounts you want to withdraw from when I only have one per card, and in this case, choose option 4, not the more logical 1), and have no issues. But for a few weeks, my money problem was a real worry and I had to resort to borrowing cash from Banco De Julie a few times.
During Carnaval in Brazil, banks are closed but ATMs run... some of them. There were long queues for the few ATMs that worked when I was in Salvador, some of which only accepted cards with the new chip and other banks don't take Cirrus or Visa.
Zip Lock Bags: These are really great for keeping damp clothes in for packing when they don't always get a chance to dry between hostels. Also good for protecting things like papers, books, cameras etc from getting dirty or wet in the jungle or mountain bike rides. They are especially handy to store lotion and shampoo bottles for transport so if they leak, it is all contained.
Moisturiser And Lip Balm: In the high altitude and cold places we have been so far, our skin gets very dry, so a big bottle of moisturiser (or small bottle of baby oil) and a dozen Chapsticks get a lot of use. These are easy enough to find and cheap here.
Sleeping Bag: There has been discussion about the necessity of a sleeping bag when traveling, but we have found them to be really very useful. When traveling overland in buses during winter, it can get very cold overnight and blankets are not always provided. A sleeping bag helps make the trip even comfortable enough to get a bit of quality sleep. Also, though all hostels we've been in have provided warm blankets, I think the trip to subzero Salar de Uyuni would've been unbearable without a decent sleeping bag.
Toilet Paper: Not every toilet provides toilet paper and it is always handy to have something to blow your nose in or mop up small spills.
Cable Lock: One that has a fine cable is good to securing your sneakers to the outside of your backpack or your day pack to your bus seat, giving you some peace of mind that your bag won't quietly slip under your feet when dozing on overnight trips. On slow boats through the Amazon, a cable lock around a post keeps your gear onboard when potential thieves can hop on the barge at various river stops.
Duct Tape: When our shoes rub against our heels, we just put a bit of tape on to prevent any loss of skin instead of band-aids. We've also used duct tape to seal gaps in vehicle windows during sandstorms, close holes in bathroom doors and fix power adapters to loose fitting power points.
Wide Scarf: Sometimes a single thin layer is all you need over your knees or shoulders to keep warm on overnight bus rides through high altitude or winter. They are also good to keep the Amazon sun off on hour long river boat rides or the grit out of your nose and mouth during Bolivian sandstorms.
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