Packing - backpacking. A cycle trip through Vietnam

Packing is probably the most exciting part of preparing for any trip - but it can sometimes seem the most difficult. Deciding what can take can take hours. While preparing for my cycle trip through Vietnam I had to think long and hard of what I would need, especially as I am heading to a part of the world I have never visited before. What I have chosen maybe wrong, but I won't know until I get there. However based on my backpacking experience and reading into the conditions of Vietnam at this time of year I am pretty prepared. 

Not only have I packed the essentials (you know, the underwear, socks, deodrant, soap, tooth brush, change of shorts and t-shirts) but I have also bought some exciting new accessories. 

However how do you approach packing? This is my little guide:

1. Open all drawers and wardrobes, I have a bag I store all my holiday gear, this makes it quicker and more simple

2. Get your track sac - which luggage is going to be best for your trip?

3. Pull out the neccessities and lay them on a floor or bed, think being back in cubs/scouts for the weekly "Kit inspection"

4. Choose all the clothes you'd like to take

5. Write a list

6. Check your list

7. Double check how much you are taking - do you need that many t-shirts and shorts? OR can you wash some in the sink on the way?

 

8. Packing itself, everything you need immediately should be at the top and that you don't think you need at the bottom, my sac (as pictured) is mixed - I packed some t-shirts, then shorts, then t-shirts then shorts again, saves having to empty the whole back

9. Make sure you have room to buy new things while travelling

10. Check the weight.

ITEMS PACKED FOR MY TRIP: 2 trainers, 1 Havana flip flops, 8 pairs of underwear and ankle socks, 7 t-shirts/vest, 4 shorts, 2 cycle shorts, 1 helmet, 2 sun caps, mosquito sweater, sweater, mosquito net, face mosquito net, cycle top, waterproof, umbrella, 3 long light trousers, first aid kit, 2 shirts, hidden money pouch.

Suppliers: Evans Cycles, Craghopper, Cycle Clothing, Trail Finders, Blacks

The Magic of Voucher Sites for Hotel Bookings

Group-On, Living Social and Deal Monster are just a couple of the businesses now offering exclusive and hard to resist deals. Want lunch for £2? Want a massage for 75% off? Want to go on holiday at a stupid price? These sites offer everything at such a bargain it is hard to believe.

In fact people buy these vouchers purely for the offer presented to them, but did you know that a majority of people fail to cash in their voucher? So these businesses are making Big Bucks.

I've been victim to these vouchers sites, I've bought lunch deals and day trips, I've laughed at the price I was paying - but I can assure you now, when I came to cash in these vouchers I was less than happy.

The problem with these vouchers is there are so many restrictions, so if you are buying a voucher to stay at a hotel or it is a holiday deal CHECK the Terms and Conditions:
- Where is the hotel located? Is it easy to get to?
- When can you book the hotel? Is it limited to seasons and weekdays? Is it a particular type of room and you cannot upgrade?
- What is included in the voucher?
- If a flight is included check what airport and airline you maybe flying with.
- Does the hotel have the right to cancel the booking?
- Can you rearrange?
- How long is the voucher valid for?
- What happens to your rights if your voucher offer is discontinued within the validity period?

One of my travel friends bought a golfing holiday only to be told he could only depart from London Luton with RyanAir and had to fly on specified dates that took weeks to negotiate and confirm by the hotel. The hotel was pretty reluctant. My friend has to book transfers from the airports and the cost of these alone escalated the price of this trip.

Don't get caught out by exclusively amazing can't resist deals - they could end up being a BIG waste of money.

West of LA - Santa Monica, Venice, West Hollywood

By Jon Fairbanks- Gay Travel Team Member and www.gaytravel.com

Santa Monica is known for its laid-back atmosphere, world class hotels and beautiful beaches.

Less than two miles from the central strip of Santa Monica you’ll find the most well-known gay beach in the Los Angeles area, Will Rogers Beach in Pacific Palisades. It’s a small, nondescript area but for soaking up the sun, playing a game of volleyball with some bronzed hotties or taking part in a yoga class it’s a time drifter.

The Santa Monica Pier offers a peaceful and eye-capturing view of the ocean. Once you get past the gaudiness of the amusement park, you’ll find that the Heal the Bay Aquarium is phenomenal and the street performers will give you a little amusement.

Food

Whether you’re looking for a great steakhouse, sushi or amazing Thai, there’s a venue for every taste. Seafood lovers will definitely want to experience The Lobster located next to the iconic Santa Monica Pier. The surf and turf is just as incredible as the view

Nightlife

West Hollywood is the most popular, but expect a small trek to get there. It’s 10 miles away but heavy traffic can make it into an hours journey. A car is an absolute must.

If you’re looking for something more low-key, consider a short trip into neighboring Venice. The city is a haven for artists, surfers and anyone who enjoy the wafting scent of Marijuana on every corner. Abbot Kinney Boulevard is the heart and soul of the Venice community, lined with coffee shops, eclectic boutiques and restaurants serving exotic cuisine. This is also where you’ll find the area’s only gay bar, Rooster Fish.

For more than three decades Rooster Fish has been the only game in town for the gay and lesbian Westside. When you first walk in, you feel like you’re in a straight college bar, not a beach city gay bar. It’s a small venue with two rooms but it’s a popular spot that attracts a wide variety of patrons, straight, gay, male and female.

Rooster Fish offers a great Domestic Bliss Happy Hour all week long with drink specials starting at just $3.50 from 5-7pm. There’s also an outdoor patio BBQ each Sunday from 1-6pm, where burgers and hot dogs are served.

If you’re in the Venice area at the beginning of the Month, check out First Friday. This is an incredible event where a slew of restaurants, galleries and boutiques stay open until 10pm, allowing locals and tourists to meet shop owners in a festive setting.

Santa Monica, Venice and the rest of the communities located on the Westside of Los Angeles offer gay visitors a vibe that can’t be found in any other area. This beachfront area attracts Hollywood celebrities, college students, artists, executives and musicians. Whether you live in Minneapolis or Downtown Los Angeles, you instantly feel like you’re on vacation when you arrive in town.

So what’s the most important thing each and every visitor must do in Santa Monica, gay or straight? Nothing! Whether you’re hanging out on the beach, lounging by a hotel pool or sipping espresso on a café patio, take time to rest, relax and soak up the sun.