"HOW TO" GUIDES

Round-the-World Travel Guide

This is Marc Brosius' famous RTW (round-the-world) travel guide. It started as a FAQ for rec.travel and grew from there. The site is a comprehensive guide to just about everything related to long-term traveling. The RTW Travel Guide spans topics from pre-trip preparations to the choice of travel companions to immunizations, gear, choice of equipment, life on the road plus links to travel-related resources and mail/email abroad. This site is a personal favourite of mine for detailed "how to" RTW backpacking guides online.

Affiliation: Private individual.
URL: http://PerpetualTravel.com/rtw/

Lonely Planet.com's SubWWWay

This web site claims to have "the planet's best travel-related links." They are not exaggerating - this page is an incredible resource for travel-related links and a "must see" if you are serious about travel backpacking. It is very easy to navigate and loads quickly.

Affiliation: Business.
URL: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/weblinks/

How to See the World on $25 a Day or Less

This web site provides an in-depth look at the Art of Travel Backpacking. Author and veteran budget backpack traveler John Gregory has put all 25 chapters of his book How to See the World The Art of European and World Travel Backpacking On $25 a Day or Less online. Thorough in its coverage, the book details travel backpacking from immunizations to passports, pickpockets to equipment, from what to pack to cultural differences and non-verbal communication issues. The book is an excellent detailed free online resource; however, due to its online book form, navigating the site and finding specific information may take some time.

Affiliation: Business (author).
URL: http://www.artoftravel.com/

Crazy Dog Travel Guide

"Backpacking on a budget? The Crazy Dog Travel Guide provides budget travelers with the information and tools needed to plan a trip and make it as rewarding, safe and affordable as possible." This web site lives up to its plug. It is well organized and easy-to-read and/or navigate. It provides a mid-level resource for all areas of general travel backpacking, from gear to packing, to travel guides and passports.

Affiliation: Private individuals.
URL: http://www.crazydogtravel.com

The Rec.Travel Library

A list of links to travel-related web sites. It provides worldwide travel information sites, general travel tips, reference, transportation information and consular information for the citizens of Australia, Great Britain, Canada, and the United States.

Affiliation: Private individual(s).
URL: http://www.travel-library.com/

Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel Online

Frommer's is one of the oldest names in travel guides and is also one of the best online travel sites to reference for pre-trip planning. This web site goes one step further than most general budget travel web sites. Yes, it covers passports, visas, packing, hotels, etc. But it also includes a reading list and makes special preparation recommendations for those travelers heading to Europe and Asia. If you read nothing else on this web site, read "Preparing Your Mind - the Most Important Step of All." You can buy all the right tickets, stay in all the right places, pack all the right things and use all the right gear, but if you know nothing about the history and culture of the place you are going to, you might as well stay at home and watch the Travel Channel and save yourself the confusion of culture shock.

Affiliation: Business.
URL: http://www.frommers.com/tips/preparations/

Hostelling International - American Youth Hostels

This web site is a section of the American Youth Hostels' online site called "World Travel 101." It provides a good overall but mid-level view of what types of travel preparations (transportation, health, packing, passports, etc.) a budget traveler should take. There are some good links to other resources and practical tips and tricks for backpacking travel.

Affiliation: Non-profit organization.
URL: http://www.hiayh.org/wt101/wtindx.htm

The World Awaits

Paul Otteson's The World Awaits is my own personal favorite for a printed version of how to backpack around the world on a budget. Hostels.com has the online version. Paul Otteson not only addresses the physical essentials of how to travel - i.e., packing, transportation, etc. - but also discusses travel philosophies. That is, how one travels is more important than where you go.

Affiliation: Hostels.com is a business. Paul Otteson is a business (author).
URL: http://www.hostels.com/worldawaits/

REI

REI's "Learn and Share" web site has an adventure travel section with travel tips, gear advice, and a travel clinic. This web site is well-organized and easy to navigate.

Affiliation: Business.
URL: http://www.rei.com/reihtml/LEARN_SHARE/traveltop2.html
?Pes=PHLS_Travel