Princess with a Backpack

by Lauren Resnick

Overview

A fun guide for the adventurous female traveler!
 
With quotes, practical advice, and anecdotes from popular personalities, this travel guide helps princesses who want to leave their castles, see the world, and experience true adventure. Put on that backpack (even if it clashes with your cute outfit) and find out:
 

• How to plan your trip (without freaking out)
• What to wear for both comfort and style
• How to pack—for more than six months of travel time
• How to keep trim and still eat pizza in Rome
• Europe’s best bars, parties, clothing stores, and accommodations—fit for a princess (all tried, tested and approved)—and more!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781600378942
Publisher:	Morgan James Publishing
Publication date:	01/15/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	120
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Lauren Resnick is the author of a new book, Princess With A Backpack, which provides tips and advice for young women looking for adventure while traveling abroad solo. Her book is based on her travels to the Middle East, United States, and Europe. Her journeys include a three-month tour of the Middle East just after completing high school, backpacking through Europe on her own for six months at the age of 24. The just-turned 28-year-old has held several jobs in architecture and design. She also wrote for over a year for the Sydney Morning Herald, with articles about hotel design, retail space, events, and office makeovers.

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

PLANNING AHEAD ...

but not too much

"In retrospect, I would never walk in high heels during th e day."

MIMI ZU, FASHION DESIGNER

So many places, so little time ...

Even if you already think you know where you want to go, do a little beforehand research. If you have enough money and no commitments, just explore and don't be afraid! Last-minute travel decisions are often the best and there will always be other travelers doing the same. Here are some hints for pre-travel planning:

PLAN AN ITINERARY _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

When traveling for several months at a time, I recommend having a rough idea of where you want to go for about the first month. It also helped to have a couple friends with me during that time, so I could get used to being away from home and the European lifestyle. After the first month you'll be a pro!

I spent my first month in Greece and had pre-planned my accommodation for the first three weeks. I realized once I was there that all the pre-planning I had done was unnecessary and soon learned there will always be somewhere to stay, even at the last minute. In Greece, for example, there are people literally waiting for you to get off the ferry to offer you a room for a night or the week.

Read up on your destination before you get there. You don't want to miss out on something worth seeing. It will also make you really excited to get there and the hours spent travelling will all seem worth it. A good place to start is the Lonely Planet Travel Guides; you can also check out some of the websites listed in the I Want More! chapter at the back of this book.

I recommend travelling during the summer months in Europe – it's when everyone is out, you get the best tan and people are up for a fantastic time. It also means that you'll have to carry less in your pack (yes, I said carry), which makes travelling between destinations that much easier. It also, unfortunately, means that accommodations may be harder to find and more expensive, but it will be totally worth it.

At the Airport:

You will need to go through customs, where you will be required to fill in a customs declaration form. This includes details of where you'll be staying and for how long.

Remember to declare all items over a certain quantity or value, e.g. alcohol and cigarettes. Some purchases may require a duty tax.

How Long?

I travelled for around six months. I recommend splitting up one month between two countries and at least two days in one city, otherwise it's too rushed, especially if you have to travel for two to three days just to get there. Have a rough idea but remember that you can always alter your ticket if you change your mind. The length of stay will determine how and what you pack, who you meet up with and what places you want to explore.

Where?

I knew I wanted to be in Europe the entire time, so I picked a handful of "must-see" destinations and the rest was left to fate. Speak to as many people as possible beforehand as well as during your travels to learn about places you may not have considered visiting.

I chose places depending on climate, who and what type of people were going to be there, and events going on at the time. For example, do not arrive at a destination on a public holiday when everything is closed.

My plan before I left was quite different than the outcome of the trip. Before I left home my itinerary looked like this:

GREEK ISLANDS – ITALY – SPAIN – LONDON – PARIS – AMSTERDAM

It ended up looking like this:

GREEK ISLANDS – TURKEY – CROATIA – ITALY (INCLUDING SICILY) – LONDON – SPAIN – PORTUGAL – PRAGUE – VIENNA – SALZBURG – MUNICH – PARIS

"... Have more fun. Last time I was too focused on our schedule."

BESSIE BARDOT, MODEL AND AUTHOR

YOUR TRAVELLING LIFE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Hostel Life

Nothing is more associated with European backpacking than staying in hostels. Similar to a YMCA, a European hostel provides you with a bathroom and a place to sleep. Depending on the hostel, you may have to share a room with others and you'll probably have to share a bathroom with many.

The first time I found out I had to share a bedroom with strangers, I panicked! I got used to it, and you can end up making really good friends this way – or even just someone to hang out with for the day.

You should definitely shell out around $25 to buy a Hostelling International Card (www.hihostels.com). If you plan to only visit big cities, there will be plenty of independent hostels and you won't need it. However, if you decide to go off the beaten track, many smaller cities and towns only have one hostel (usually one that requires you to have an HI card). If you happen to go to a town that only allows HI members, don't stress. You can often buy one there, or you can pay a fee and get a temporary membership for the length of your stay.

You can also consider purchasing a Hostels of Europe card for $16, which includes great deals with more than 250 independent hostels (http://www.isecard.com).

The Europe card is another service which provides discounts on rail and bus travel, travel insurance and discount flights. Do your homework prior to departure and you can save a lot.

It's important to take time out of traveling. Settle in one place for a couple of weeks and then set off again. Travelling can be exhausting!

SO MUCH TO THINK ABOUT _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Other considerations prior to travelling include money, passport, insurance and how you're going to manage squeezing in 12 pairs of Manolos into one teeny-tiny backpack.

Don't panic ... I have it covered ... just read on ...

International Student Identity Card

Now that you've committed yourself to European travel, the next step is to stop by travel agencies that cater to students, for example, STA travel. These people know their stuff.

When you get there, you should first buy an International Student Identity Card (ISIC). An ISIC gets you tons of discounts and offers you plenty of services. While you must be a student to get an ISIC card, there is a $15 card available to anyone under 26 that offers similar (but reduced) benefits. Some of the services an ISIC card can get you include:

* Travel discounts

* General student discounts anywhere they are offered throughout Europe

* An email address

* Voicemail

* Phone card service

* Plane tickets

Now that you've got your card, it's time to purchase your plane ticket! This is where the student travel agencies really help out, as they can sell you flexible return tickets at much lower rates than are offered conventionally. This means you can change your return flight date for as little as $25 if you give proper advanced warning (as opposed to the standard hundreds of dollars) and you can also return home from a different city than you flew into. The cheapest places to fly in and out of are London, Zurich, Frankfurt and Amsterdam. For more info about flying around the world at really cheap fares, check out www.soyouwanna.com.

Alternatively, Student Flights will match ticket prices. Check out a few options before settling on one and you can save more money.

Passport

If you don't have one yet:

* Gather some proof of your citizenship (e.g., a birth certificate)

* Go to your local copy store and get two passport photographs taken

* Got to any post office or state/federal courthouse to apply for your passport

* Pay the passport fee

* The passport will be good for 10 years

Money

* TRAVELER'S CHECKS: These are great because if you lose them, you and your bank will have a record of the amount lost and they can be replaced.

* CASH: Easy to exchange, but if it gets stolen or lost you will not see it again.

* CREDIT CARDS: My friend took two credit cards; she placed one in a secret compartment in her backpack and another in a separate money belt, which she carried at all times. That way if she lost one or a bag was stolen, she would not be stranded without backup. Good thinking!

Travel Insurance

So important! I managed to lose anything and everything of value on my trip. My wallet, mobile phone and camera were all stolen – luckily not my passport. Travel insurance was my savior! I could claim back what I had lost on the mobile phone stolen in Greece and the camera and purse stolen in Italy.

My insurance agency was QBE Travel Insurance, but shop around if necessary for the best deal. This one was recommended to me by my student travel authority. Spend the money – it's

TOP 5 TRAVEL TIPS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

From smartraveller.gov.au

1. CHECK OUT LATEST TRAVEL ADVICE Go to smartraveller.gov.au for all the latest news about your next destination and subscribe to receive emails whenever new advice is released. It's an easy way to know what's going on around the world.

2. NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT TRAVEL NSURANCE. It that simple. Just get it!

3. REGISTER YOUR DETAILS ONLINE. When you're away, register your details online with your local embassy. That way if something goes wrong or you're not contactable for a few days, you can at least know that someone has a clue where you've gone.

4. FINE OUT IF YOU NEED AN ENTRY VISA. Don't risk getting turned away at the airport! Check the entry requirements for countries, such as Turkey, where a visa may be necessary.

5. MAKE COPIES OF ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS. My mum always told me to do this and as annoying as she seemed at the time, she was right. Photocopy your visa, passport, credit cards, traveler's checks, etc. Take one copy with you and keep it in a safe place and give one copy to family or friends back home.

"My most difficult flight, by far, was flying from Cairo to Mykonos. We had just come back from horseback riding through the desert, snorkeling and climbing for four hours up a mountain in the middle of the night, not to mention, a 16-hour bus trip squished in with smelly men with roaming eyes, all with no sleep and while fighting food poisoning.

We were exhausted by the time we finally arrived at the airport, yet could not fall asleep. Maybe it had to do with the constant nausea, the rock hard airport chairs, or our bulky backpacks unsuccessfully serving as pillows. This was all in the name of saving a few bucks on flight prices. We finally fell asleep when the time arrived to board our flight. No one was around.

As our flight wasn't on the screen when we first arrived, we asked the information desk where to wait for our flight, and they directed us to a certain gate. To our dismay, they announced a change of our gate while we were sleeping."

SAFIE, 25

CHAPTER 2

HEY, BIG SPENDER

Okay ... you've stopped going to the hairdresser every weekend (only every second weekend) to save a little for the trip. How much will a six-month trip cost you? I would recommend around AUD $15,000. This, of course, depends on where you go and how much you shop, but that's a rough figure.

So take this as a guide no matter how long you intend to travel.

What will $15K get me? The latest Fendi clutch? Or this once in a lifetime experience? There is plenty of time for bags when you get back.

It will mean, however, taking trains and buses, sleeping in hostels and doing a lot of walking – but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's the only way to experience life in another country to the fullest.

MONEY TIP:

You will get a better exchange rate in the country you are visiting, but ensure you arrive with the right currency and enough of it. You will need some cash, even if it's just to buy a bottle of water or pay for a cab.

Princesses have spent a lifetime on missions for the best clothes, shoes and handbags. It's not going to be easy walking past the birthplace of Prada and resisting a purchase.

The airport is cruel enough with all the duty-free items and the shops are practically begging you to buy while waiting for a plane. So what if you do? That pair of Gucci sunglasses in Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci and London's Heathrow airport blew your budget for the month, right?

This is your get-out-jail-free card girls. Here are a couple of ways to avoid paying as much as possible once you have started your travels.

Food:

* Buy a day or two's supply from the supermarket or street market and store it in the fridge at your hostel. Cafes are very pricey.

* Find hostels that include breakfast in the cost of accommodation.

* Find work in a restaurant, café or hostel – desperate times call for desperate measures. This will allow you to earn money and get free meals. It will give you a chance to really live in a city and become fluent in an exotic language.

* Skip buying water at cafes and restaurants. You will save three Euros by purchasing bottles at a nearby supermarket.

* See more tips under Accommodations.

Alcohol:

* This one isn't too hard. You could score a free drink in Mykonos if you get up on the bar and dance! Don't expect it everywhere but it's worth asking in Mykonos, which is very unique! Let the bartender know you'll dance on the bar for a shot and in no time you'll be up there with a drink in your hand.

* Flirt with a guy. Don't be timid, but don't expect him to do this out of the kindness of his heart. A lot of guys will have ulterior motives so be careful who you ask.

* Buy a bottle of your favorite spirit and mixer and have a couple of drinks before you head out. Drinks at bars are ridiculously pricey (although, if you have a cute smile, you rarely have to buy your own drinks)

MONEY TIP:

Notify your credit card company you'll be away and not to worry if there's been a small purchase from Prada in Milan.

Accommodations:

* Give the manager those puppy dog eyes you've mastered so well, and then sweetly ask for a discounted price.

* Stay a week or longer (or say that you will) so they drop the price for a longer stay.

* Work at the hostel. It doesn't mean you have to clean toilets, but it may involve setting out breakfast or answering phones. Just something simple, and presto! You'll have more money for clothes, shoes, etc.

"To prevent running out of money, completely avoid taxis!"

CHELSIE, 20

CHAPTER 3

AHEAD of the PACK

BACKPACKS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

No one could believe I would wear a backpack. I mean, it totally clashed with my cute outfits, but I did it. Yup, for six months I wore a backpack.

I can not stress enough how grateful I was that I took one. Although at times it feels like you're carrying the world on your shoulders, there is nothing worse than having to drag a suitcase up a flight of stairs. This is the ultimate tool for traveling.

A backpack allows you to be mobile and quick – you will even learn to run with one. Trust me: The train does not wait for you.

Well-packed and lightly loaded, it allows you to move easily from city to city. Women especially benefit since much of the load is efficiently transferred away from the upper body to stronger hips. (Finally, those "womanly" hips have a purpose!)

Here are a few tips to help you find a suitable backpack:

You don't need a big, bulky backpack. You will travel better and more comfortably with less. A light and efficient pack means freedom and flexibility; you'll understand when you hit your first set of stairs.

Types of Backpacks

The three broad categories of backpacks are external frame, internal frame, and frameless. I would recommend buying or borrowing an internal frame pack, as it is (relatively) not bulky, and provide easy access to your belongings so you don't have to rummage through your entire bag.

Internal Frame Backpacks

This is the type I used and I found it to be excellent – your clothes can be packed like in a suitcase and can organize all your belongings with ease. The brand I bought was called "Ambassador" by DMH Australia.

This pack had a smaller backpack attached to the front of the main pack, which I would unzip and use as a day pack. It also helped me balance out the weight when standing with the big pack on my back and small pack on my front. I looked like a bag lady, but you get used to it, and it becomes second nature.

How Much to Spend?

WHICH IS BETTER FOR TRAVEL: a pack that presents itself as not too fancy and is probably filled with t-shirts and panties? Or one that screams "I've got a Fendi Spy bag and Prada sandals inside?"

Spend around $200 to $300 for a new pack and choose a color that is simple and plain (boring, I know), but it'll make you look like you have nothing worth stealing.

Proper Pre-flight Backpack Preparation

A few simple precautions will increase your chances of arriving in London or Bangkok with the backpack in one piece.

1. The preferred method is to have your pack small enough to carry on. Airlines generally allow one carry-on article with total dimensions (height + length + width) 115 centimeters. A 50-liter pack will just meet these requirements. You may be able to get by with a little more.

2. If your pack is too large to be classified as carry-on, remove, tuck away or tie-up all straps, belts and appendages. Do not leave anything dangling that might catch in mechanisms.

3. Lock, tie-up or conceal all zippers on your pack so prying hands can't make a quick snatch.

(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Princess With A Backpack"
by .
Copyright © 2011 Lauren Resnick.
Excerpted by permission of Morgan James Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Planning Ahead ... But Not Too Much,
Hey, Big Spender,
Ahead of the Pack,
I Have Nothing to Wear!,
Life on the Road ... Without My VW?,
Beauty Sleep,
Picture Perfect,
Does My Bum Look Big in This?,
The Best List Starts with an "A",
When in Rome ...,
Horizontal Stripes,
I Want More!,