Just wondering
I'm thinking of backpacking towards the end of next year (like novemberish), and I was wondering if anyone here is a part of Couchsurfing.com????
I'm looking at it from australia and being a fairly skintish student I'm just thinking it would be useful? I'm more then happy to do (non-sexual) things for hosts like helping with cooking and cleaning etc.

Has anyone here been back packing before (I know it's an obvious question but I wanna know!!) and if you have - any advice for me? I want to plan it all thoroughly!

Also - a question - when you get a working visa - how long does it take to get one of those? I was thinking of using my barista and bartending qualifications (once I get them) to help pay my way.
(Poppet some assembly required., Fri 9 Jan 2009, 5:19, 7 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Morning!
This is from Hitchwiki, for hitch-hikers but applies to you too:

hitchwiki.org/en/Finding_accommodation

There's a fair bit of info on that site about what to pack, etc.

Visas are specific to each country and you'll want to have every visa sorted before you leave. I wouldn't bother with work visas - they're considerably more hassle to get and will cost more - doing casual work such as working in a bar won't usually be paid through official channels anyway.

There's a huge amount of info online about backpacking, and busy wikis are usually very helpful :)

Good luck!
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 9 Jan 2009, 6:16, Reply)

My advice
if you are planning on moving around a lot, is pack what you think you need, then take it all out, then take away half of it, then take away half of what remains, then just pack 2 T-Shirts, 1 pair of jeans, 3 pairs of pants (one for best, two for everyday) and two pairs of socks.

If you are planning on being a barista in the UK, prepare to be dissapointed at how crap the general standard of coffee making is in comparison to everywhere in australia (except that shit cafe on George Street in the rocks that I was in yesterday).

Also, I believe that you can get a general two year casual work visa for the whole of the european union, though I could be wrong on this. It's worth getting that as I think you will find that a lot of agencys and bars these days will pay you through official channels rather han cash in hand, certainly in the UK anyway.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 9 Jan 2009, 6:31, Reply)

Also
having just browsed you profile, i notice you're of the female persuasion. In which case you should pack a couple of bras as well. Unless you either don't like wearing them, or have very small boobies.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 9 Jan 2009, 6:33, Reply)

Couchsurfing
I've recently signed up to this on the advice of one of my friends who's from Australia but now lives in London, as I'm off backpacking again in March.
She highly recommended it and said she's met some great people through there. It's worth a go anyway and there's no pressure to stay at peoples houses/have them stay at yours.

althegeordie's right about what to take with you (including the bras) if you've got any questions feel free to gaz me.
( wanderlust, Fri 9 Jan 2009, 7:58, Reply)

Im not
a member of couchsurfing.

But my friend is, so if you need a couch in trondheim, Norway I know of at least one person there :)
(darras jeg har en grevling i hodet. Grevling, grevlang, Fri 9 Jan 2009, 9:54, Reply)

You can't stay with me
I have plenty of room for guests, but I like to walk around naked and I'd never inflict that on another human being :)

This has been an announcement from the Bureau of TMI.
( Kroney, Fri 9 Jan 2009, 12:29, Reply)

thorough planning is the best practice
I don't know about couchsurfing.com. Sounds like it might be a good deal. Just be careful. If you are female, know that it's really not too difficult to avoid danger on the road. Just keep your eyes open, and trust your instincts about other people.

My global jaunts were always skint backpacking affairs (with a motorbike thrown in one time).
I agree completely that it's important to bring very little with you. You can always acquire necessaries along the way.

Have always found that other travelers help each out - most of the time. Talk to people and they will sort you. I enjoyed an entire week in Berlin with lovely free accommodation because two fellow bikers saw how broke we were and knew we'd be passing through Germany. There was a problem with their roommate, but they passed us onto another friend, an amazing guy who hosted us happily. Another time on a ferry - down to my last travelers check and the dollar was TOTAL shit, so couldn't even cash it until I hit the next country, as the double currency conversion would have wiped out my puny funds... I was without food. Dealt some aspirin to a hungover guy and then he and his wife made sure I ate and even bought me smokes. So other people do get you through.

I have never had to deal with getting a work visa - was on a moshav once, but they sorted all of the paperwork. I'm sure there is good information to be had on the interwebs.

So - read up, map out your route, and then just GO. Traveling is the greatest thing you can do for yourself. If my fellow Yanks had passports, and used them, my country would not be such an incredible fucking mess.

Good luck, and have fun!
( cackers, Mon 12 Jan 2009, 4:01, Reply)