Moving to a new town on your travels is always full of new and exciting prospects; what new sights you are going to see, new people that you’re going to meet, new cultures to unearth etc.
But you also need to be prepared financially to support this new adventure. So job hunting will probably be a high priority when you first arrive anywhere.
Hopefully these tips may help
In my experience I have always found that you will need a cushion of cash to tide you over, for the first two weeks or so, whilst you look for work. Unfortunately I have found myself, more often than not, having to beg and borrow off friends to keep me afloat until that vital first pay check. So here are a few pointers that may help you avoid the situations I’ve found myself in.
You need to have an impressive CV on hand ready to hand out to any prospective employers. Try a website like www.comoto.com to help you with this.
You also need to figure out a plan of action before you leave for another town as you could end up wasting crucial days figuring out where you are and where the best places to look for work are.
Photo By Bobbi Lee Hitchon
Spend some time researching what’s happening in your chosen town, where the job agencies are, where the cheapest and most convenient places are to live. All this helps in reducing the stress when you arrive.
Deciding what type of employment you are going to go into is also extremely important, for example: if you decide you want office work but move to a resort town then the chances of being employed are dramatically decreased.
Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon
Some jobs pay more than others (obviously), so look into how much certain job sectors pay in your new home town.
Use the internet to find specific job websites for your new chosen area. For myself I mostly used www.gumtree.com.au in Australia, www.trademe.co.nz in New Zealand and www.craigslist.com in the USA. Although you may not always use them to find a job, they are usually a good barometer for what the job situation is like.
Hopefully this will be of some help to you if you are feeling a bit short on ideas.
Entering the world of couples travel can be a bit shocking for those used to doing it solo. Couples must consider compromise with plans, issues with money and general breaks from one another when needed. It’s not an easy switch, but a rewarding one if you find the right person.
Most things couples must find out for themselves, but for some issues, they can look to couples who have already traveled together for advice. Couples like Mike and Luci of 1000 Fights, Laura and Roberto of Travel for Love and Amy and Kieron of Don’t Ever Look Back have logged quite a few miles with each other and still plan to do more. Here they offer some of tips and experiences to first time traveling couples.
Learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses – Don’t Ever Look Back
Our first trip together was to Bali and although it was unsaid, we each had our own roles to fulfil on that trip. For example, Kieron was responsible for the bargaining and negotiating at the markets while Amy took care of our belongings to make sure they were always safe and it worked perfectly! If we both tried to manage our budget, it most likely would have ended in arguments!
Originally from Australia, Amy and Kieron first traveled together in 2007. Their next big trip will start in Hawaii July 2011. Photo provided
Traveling together is always going to force you to work together. You have to figure out where you are and where you are going. How you are going to find each other in a museum. You are going to have to work together to understand those you come in contact with.
Take some time for yourself – Travel for Love
You’ll be doing some compromising when you travel with a partner, so be sure to do some things just for you. It’s your trip too! I really enjoy visiting spas and getting pampered, and it’s not my fiance’s favorite, but I still take the opportunity to visit spas and indulge a little on the road. He gets to do his own thing and we look forward to spending the rest of the day together.
On our last trip to the US, we went to the baseball and wrestling (Kieron’s choices) and to Disneyland and a Las Vegas show (Amy’s choice). While we may not have totally enjoyed each others choices, it was all part of the experience and had a good time nonetheless. Stubbornness has no place in couples travel so agree to disagree and compromise.
One of my favorite parts about travel is watching Luci interact with people of other cultures. We have known each other for nearly all of our lives. Watching her in different situations, makes me love her even more. Take for example, our trip to the Amazon in Peru. The jungle is NOT Luci’s cup of tea.
With that said, she handled the challenge with grace and openness.
Communicate – Travel for Love
Early in a relationship you might not know your partner’s travel style and when you hit the road together you might be surprised to learn some things don’t mesh well with yours. If you communicate your expectations in advance you’ll be able to make plans that suit you both.
Travel is more than just a hobby, but a means of being together for Travel for Love. Laura hails from USA and Roberto from Brazil. This engaged couple meets in places around the world as they await on the US immigration process. Photo provided
You are going to fight. (When you do, please share them on our site.) Fights happen. They are a good thing. They are a clash of ideas held by passionate people. What’s so bad about that. The key is not being mad at each other. Realize that you simply have a difference of opinion. Simply work it out. Give in some times. Stay strong sometimes. It helps if you both take turns. Making up can be fun as well!
Mike and Luci's relationship stretches all the way back to the 2nd grade. They make sure to take time as a couple each year, visiting and fighting in some place. Photo provided
Travelers may not always have the chance to land that perfect hostel. During high season, these cheap accomadations fill up quickly, making it hard for the spur-of-the-moment travelers to land the Pink Palaces or Flying Pigs.
But just because a more well-known hostel is booked doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time somewhere else. Even if you do get the big-name hostel, one traveler’s bad mood or habits can ruin an experience for others. Here are some tips to make the most of your hostel experience, while not intruding on others’ experiences.
Be outgoing: One good thing about traveling is most people you come in contact with are eager to meet new people and see new places. That’s the point, right? All it takes is a simple “hi,” or compliment to spark a conversation. Better yet, ask a person where he or she is coming from. Not only will you learn something about that person, but he or she also might give you ideas for future travels. With good crowd that gets along, any hostel can be great.
Don’t eat others’ food: Staff will post a million signs. People will even leave post-it notes on their items in the fridge. Still, someone’s food always goes missing. Don’t be that person. It’s just mean. Actually, it’s stealing! Plus, travelers really focus on budget and give up a lot to just spend a few more days on the road. Eating just one slice of a person’s pizza could mean one less day that person gets to travel.
Be courteous: This one may seem obvious and applies to life in general, but it’s important to reiterate. Traveling can be stressful. You never know what a fellow traveler went through in the past 24 hours. Did he or she have to sleep on a cold floor? Has that person not had a chance to use a bathroom? Did he or she have a bad encounter? On the road a hostel is home, even if it’s only for a few days. Accordingly, you should treat people in the hostel as you would family. There’s no telling how much “can I help you with your bags,” or even “how are you” means to a person who has not slept in two days.
Don’t snore: This one is a little far-fetched. People obviously can’t help it if they snore. But if you’re is notorious for snoring, maybe try laying on your stomach or side. If you really want to be awesome, invest in nasal strips. But really it’s not that big a deal. Just a tip for light sleepers though; BUY EAR PLUGS.
Keep it tidy: One of the ways hostels keep prices low is by only providing room service after a patron leaves his or her space. On top of that, most hostels bunk at least four, sometimes upwards of 20 people in one room. A traveler should keep his or her things together and in one space close by, whether it be in a locker or under a bed. Don’t feel the need to make your bed every morning, but don’t leave dirty clothing or tissues etc. around shared rooms and common areas. This is especially important in the bathroom and kitchen. As a basic rule, clean up any mess you make as soon as you make it. It’s fair and will prevent tension.
Watch how hard you party: It’s fun to go out with new found friends at hostels and there is almost always something to do at night with hostel friends. Some hostels are known for its party-atmosphere. Others really don’t mention either way. Regardless, be aware of others. Go out and have fun. Party hard till all hours of the night. After all it’s your vacation too. But know your limits in regards to getting sick, out of control and being too loud. It’s one hostel patron’s right to a good night’s sleep and clean, unoccupied toilet, just as much as it’s another hostel patron’s right to go out and party.
Don’t hog the computer: Computer/internet access is the greatest thing in the world for techies, actually anyone traveling far from home. But no matter how long someone has been away from a computer, everyone should be able to enjoy this privilege. If there is no one around, take advantage of the computer. But if someone is lurking behind you or bluntly waiting for the computer, don’t just keep looking at people’s Facebook profiles. Do what is imperative, then share the computer with others. This applies to all shared resources in a hostel.
Don’t blast personal music: Not everyone has the same music taste. Unless people say they don’t mind, it’s best to wear headphones whenever listening to music. (Look below.)
