Through personal travels to various cities around the world, we will share the actual price of a day in that city.

This series should assist travelers in planning their next trip to specific places around the world.  Each city will have a realistic example of the cost of one full day, including an evening of lodging.

“The Backpackers Price” is covering is Paris first!

A day in Paris – with lodging in the Latin Quarter

All prices are based upon October mid-season, not the winter low season and not the high season of summer!

• 1 Night private room with double bed at Young & Happy – 56 euro = $77.28
• almonds, raisins, apples & bananas – 6.14 euro = $8.47
• Justin’s 1st baguette in Paris – 1.80 euro = $2.48
• Metro – Arce du Triomphe to Latin Quarter – 2.20 euro = $3.04
• Natalie’s new Parisian orange scarf – 9 euro = $12.42
• 2 pears, brie, 1 red bell pepper – 4.64 euro = $6.40
• another baguette – 1.60 euro = $2.21
• Nutella crepe – 2 euro = $2.76

(two adults) Total – 86.8 euro = $115.06

The total is for Justin and I, two grown adults.  If you are traveling alone you can cut the cost in half.

Solo Total – 43.4 euros = $57.53

In addition, you can save money on lodging and get a bunk in an 8 person dorm for 13 euro a night.  Super cheap!  Don’t buy the Parisian scarf or other souvenirs and save even more money.  This means traveling Paris for $50 a day is easy to do.  In fact, I met an American traveling Paris for $25 USD a day.

How to travel Paris for $25 a day?

1. Self catering – communal meals prepared in hostel kitchens with other travelers you meet – then split the cost of the meal (most are $3 or $4 per person)
2. Sleeping in a multi person bunk room.  You might have to buy ear plugs for when the guy above you starts to snore, but it’s worth the money you save.
3. Don’t spend money on stupid stuff – the key chain of the Eiffel tower, the 5 euro crepe, and avoid all other Parisian impulse buys.
4. Go on the FREE day.  Museums and art galleries tend to have a regular FREE day.  The first Sunday of each month is the FREE museum day in Paris.
5. Walk or bike – Paris even has bikes you can rent and then drop off in a designated bike drop once you arrive at your destination.  These bikes are literally all around the city!
6. Be a smart and travel on the limited budget.  Take out the amount of cash you plan on spending each day.  Pay for your bed in the morning.  Then you have a realistic view of how much money you will want for food, and what you have left over as entertainment and play money.

It’s amazing to know that Paris can be traveled with very little money.  Really cheap if you want!

Whether going away for a week or traveling the world for a few years, it saves precious packing space.

The Tech 2 in 1′s

The Amazon Kindle is by far both Justin and my favorite 2 in 1 item.  The Kindle offers a traveler up to 1,500 books on one easy to use electronic device.  The only negative is that the Kindle must be charged, although it has a great battery life even on a 14 hour flight.  Oh, and in our case, the problem we experience is that their are 2 of us and we own one Kindle.

The universal adaptor is great for a backpacker planning travel to multiple countries.  Different regions of the world have different electric outlets.  Why bring more than one adaptor when you can have them all in one?  It’s really that simple.  Every country in the world is represented by the Universal Adaptor.

The Sporty 2 in 1′s

Pack an Ultimate Frisbee Disc and a dinner plate all in one.  No joke!  We love to play ultimate, and toss around the frisbee whenever we get the chance.  I had no idea we could create so many quick picnic meals through our ultimate frisbee doubling as a plate.  I love the versatility our disc gives us while traveling.

Be logical while packing.

We wanted Insect Repellent for our outdoor adventures.  We also like to have duct tape, just in case.  Instead of bringing a bulky, heavy roll of duct tape, we took about 5 feet of tape and wrapped it around the insect repellant bottle.  Only one customs officer (out of dozens of airport security) along our journeys has second guessed our insect repellant and did a sniff check.  Be creative, their are countless ways to reduce the bulk of what you pack.

The Fashion 2 in 1′s

A new travel craze is the Zip-off Pants.  Why pack both pants and shorts?  Have both at the same time!  Initially, I was against the zip-off pants because the original versions would zip-off at my knee, leaving me with long, impractical shorts.  It wasn’t until I tried on a more recent edition of the zip-off pants by The North Face that I fell in love.  My pants are durable, with great pockets, even one my passport fits securely into.  When I zip off the bottoms, I am left with cute shorts that allow refreshing sunshine kiss my legs.

Who doesn’t love the Classic Bandana?  The bandana is your friend especially when it comes to travel.  It can be anything; your hat, a first aid sling, a dish rag, a flag, the possibilities are endless.  The bandana is a ‘must-pack’ travel item.

Notice my zip-off pants and bandana on St. Patrick’s Day in Sydney.

The Bathroom 2 in 1′s

Speaking of bandana, I have actually used a bandana as a shower towel.  When I first read about doing this it sounded absurd.  I tried it out and realized it works if you are willing to wring out the bandana multiple times while drying off.  Departing from a location in the morning after showering?  Instead of a wet towel, the bandana I dried off with is still wet.  I just tie the bandana to the outside of my backpack and it dries within 15 minutes to an hour depending upon the humidity level.  Once it’s dry, I zip it in my backpack!

Did you know that shampoo makes great laundry soap?  Oh, it’s true.  When washing clothing in the sink, don’t bring extra detergent.  Shampoo is a natural, gentle way to hand wash laundry items before hanging them to dry.  My favorite was a lavender rosemary shampoo that I found in New Zealand.  My clothing had a beautiful fresh scent.

I found this rainbow of clothing hanging in Riomaggiore, Italy.

Washing laundry and hanging it to dry feels natural after a few months.  The simple ways of life on the road are refreshing.  This always surprises me.

Two in one items are a wonderful packing secret, but the best packing advice will always be, don’t bring it.  Go without it and pack less.  Be a much happier traveler with a lighter load.

I do not ride alone.  Each day, as I ride my bike to work, I see dozens of other individuals choosing transportation via pedals. Some are biking to work like me. Others are cycling to class, a friends house, a local coffee shop, the store, an appointment, or they are doing it for the health of it.

Fort Collins, Colorado is an extremely bike friendly community. The parents of my students will often ride to the school with their child or children riding behind them.  You have to admit, that in a vehicle dominated society, this is impressive.  I often experience this new, hard to describe feeling of pride and excitement for living in an area of the country that is as “pro-bicycles” as this area of Colorado.

It’s a feeling of pride because I know our community has a smaller carbon footprint than areas that rely upon motor vehicles for transportation. The air is cleaner. It’s easier to see the mountains in the horizon. If hundreds of people stopped biking to work (and other places) and began driving cars everywhere, I am sure that our local air pollution would increase rapidly.

I also get an energetic rush as I pedal in the bike lane, experiencing the trill of my commute. Alright, it’s not so thrilling when it is raining. But I am not the only cyclist getting wet!

I have lived in several places that have no bike lanes (or even sidewalk), causing extreme difficulty for anyone attempting to bike or walk. These “non-bicycle friendly communities” force individuals to rely solely upon their vehicles.

I enjoy the freedom my bike offers. No oil change, less money spent on gas (petrol) and no speeding tickets.  It is such a cheap method of transportation! If you are serious about travel and adventure, why wouldn’t you live in a community that caters to bike riding and/or offers a reliable form of mass transportation? It’s easy to cut out the cost of owning or leasing, and maintaining a motor vehicle. Then you can save that money for travel, adventures and fun!

Justin and I are currently a one car family. We would like to continue to have only one vehicle to insure and maintain. Living in Fort Collins, Colorado should allow us to continue to practice our “one car family policy” as we utilize bicycles for a majority of our transportation needs.

Our Bikes

Justin just bought a bike this weekend.  Now we are both able to leave the car at home and bike downtown for entertainment or bike to friends house.  I found a great vintage bike about a month ago, at Brave New Wheel, the bike shop behind our house.  Ironically, Justin also bought a vintage cruiser from Brave New Wheel.  It is a great shop that fixes up bikes from the 60′s, 70′s and 80′s, as to be both environmentally friendly (re-use) as well as, allowing classics to cruise the streets again.  

My bike is a dark green mens “ALL PRO” from the 70′s.  It was made in Troy, Michigan, where my brother and his wife live.  However, the bike itself was not the “corvette” of bikes back in the day.  In fact, it has a vintage KMart sticker on it.  But that’s how I roll!  My bike’s name is Green Tea (or in Mandarin Chinese - lǜ chá).  Brave New Wheel is such a fun store, they even gave me the teapot bike bell (with the Chinese character for tea on it) for FREE.

Justin’s bike is also from the 70′s, it’s the classic Schwinn.  His bike was one of the last to be produced in the Rockbrook Chicago factory before Schwinn outsourced their manufacturing needs to Japan (Panasonic) and Taiwan (Giant).   We have installed the bell, the rack and a steal basket.  Now all Justin’s bike needs is a name.  You Choose:  Justin’s bikes name.  Vote in the You Choose Poll now!

How do you find a bike friendly city?  

The League of American Bicyclists is a good place to start.  They have ranked Fort Collins at GOLD, when it comes to Most Bicycle Friendly Communities.  

You don’t even have to spend a cent to get a bike.  In Fort Collins, you can save more money for travel by volunteering 20 hours of community service (with any non-profit organization in Fort Collins) and earn a bike for FREE.  The Fort Collins Bike Co-op is the perfect organization to unite a community to bike together.  

Do you bike to work? Go on bike-cations? Let me know about your biking experiences and adventures. Feel free to email me a picture of you and your bike. I would love to see your Earth-friendly wheels!

Traveling allows more time to read.  It’s a simple fact.  Travel is a reason to love books.

Whether it’s on an 8 hour flight or a few days at the beach.  Traveling will even inspire a non-avid reader to flip through pages endlessly.

Books are great travel companions.  They are lightweight.  If you get tired of what they are saying you can simply close it.  If you loose a book along the way, it could be upsetting if you were at a suspenseful place in the book.  Overall books are inexpensive and easily replaceable.

As you complete a book along your travels you may give the book away, bring it home for your personal book collection or donate it to a local library.

If you want a new book along your journey, there are countless options beyond the airport bookstore.

Get new books as you travel

• A used book store
• A garage sale
• Book exchange shelves at hostels
• Ask the person sitting next to you on the train, bus or plane if they have finished reading their book, you could even offer to buy it from them.
• An Amazon Kindle or other electronic book reader – this will allow you to bring an entire library (100’s of books) along your travels.  Easily the the best item in my backpack.  I would recommend a Kindle to anyone!

As you travel and explore the new places, it is also good to explore new elements of reading.

Mix reading and Traveling

• Read a fictional novel set in the area of the world in which you will travel to in the future.
• Read a new form of literature – ex. Always reading the classics?  Try a modern tale by an unfamiliar author.
• Read a text book – learn a new language
• Read the local newspaper – attend a local activity or sporting event
• Go for a reading walk (works well in urban environments) – read billboards, traffic signs, flyers and other forms of media that have infiltrated the culture.
• Be creative!  Experiment with new forms of travel that play well with literature.

Reading and traveling can be fascinating.  Mixing the two together can often lead to even more enjoyable experiences and adventures.   Some individuals have began to combine Book Crossing in their travel adventures.  This will allow you to leave books behind at a cafe, museum or other fun location for someone else to discover and read.  You will be able to follow the books online and track who else reads them and where the books travel.

Even if you are currently unable to travel, a book can take you there.  Don’t let anything hold you back.  You too can say, ‘been there, read that’.

© nomadbackpackers.com -  All rights reserved 2009

We purchased our 1998 Subaru Legacy at the Backpackers Car Market in Christchurch, New Zealand in November (2008).  It was a gamble. We debated purchasing a campervan instead of the Subi but we calculated the cost of petrol vs. the money we could save by living out of a camper van and opted for the Subi instead.

Arriving in March to sell our car at the Backpackers Car Market in Auckland was not the best idea.  We pulled onto the lot  only to discover it was almost full and another green Subaru Legacy was for sale. (Luckily it was a 1995 automatic so it only made our Subi looked that much more appealing.) I had the foresight to email the Backpacker’s Car Market a few days before arriving so Sam saved us a spot on the lot.  The last spot left was ours.  With the lot full and few backpackers arriving we decided to wait around hoping someone would show up looking to buy a car.

In New Zealand, the summer season runs from mid December until the end of February.  By mid March, everyone is desperate to sell their car/camper van and flea the country.  If you want to buy a cheap camper van/car, arrive in March.  You will be traveling during the winter, but this can be attractive to anyone who is wants to work the ski season.  Once the winter concludes, and numerous backpackers are flooding the country looking for that perfect vehicle to purchase, you can sell your vehicle and make a profit.

We were selling in the wrong season. We knew that with summer coming to an end selling our car could prove difficult.  We didn’t realize how few travelers were arriving, seeking a vehicle to purchase.  Fortunately, within the first few minutes of arriving on the lot, we met Barrie from the UK.  Barrie knows a lot about cars.  He started up the engine, spent about 20 minutes inspecting the car and fondling the engine, and decided to take it for a test drive.  Two days later Barrie returned to buy our green 1998 Subaru Legacy.

November 2008 – we purchased the green 1998 Subaru Legacy for $2800 NZ.

March 2009 – we sold the green 1998 Subaru Legacy for $2100 NZ.

Although we took a loss on the vehicle, we were some of the fortunate few backpackers actually able to sell our car (since the high season is over).  My best advice for buying and selling a car in New Zealand is to “go safe”.  Our Subaru, despite its 275,000 kilometers, was a great car that never gave us any problem. Many of the vehicles at the Backpackers Car Market were old, abused and going for peanuts.  In fact, I would rather have some peanuts (and cashews) instead of purchasing many of the vehicles for sale.  Barrie was able to recognize the old, decrepit vehicles and found confidence in purchasing our vehicle because he knew it would be safe and reliable.

Many backpackers arrive in New Zealand, decide to buy a car and purchase the cheapest vehicle they can find. If you don’t want to spend the money for a good car, buying a car is not the right option. Consider a Magic Bus pass instead.  Or, you could find a travel buddy.  With another backpacker (you are willing to travel with for several months) the cost of a car can be cut in half.  Everything will be 50% off.  The price of gasoline/petrol, tolls, parking meters, camp sites, and any necessary repairs or oil changes.

After calculating our losses, Justin and I realized that we drove and enjoyed a very cheap 4 month car rental.  Renting a car while spending an extended amount of time in a New Zealand is ridiculous.  Unable to justify the cost of renting a car for several months we took a gamble and bought a car.

If you are planning to backpack or travel for a month or more in New Zealand, purchasing a vehicle could be a viable option for you.

Problematically, what the budget travel experts failed to mention is that there is a downside to many synthetic materials (read: polypropylene and polyester). Rather soon after use, they begin to smell. Really Really Bad. (As a disclaimer, I have an excellent grasp of personal hygiene and do not have a tradition of being a smelly person. Except when I am playing soccer.)

The Socks

I have two pairs of polypropylene socks which have kept my feet really warm in cold places (think cold, windy, rainy Irish days.) What I like about my polypropylene socks is that my feet stay dry, even when they start to sweet. What really sucks is that after wearing my shoes and socks for an hour, my feet start to smell like the inside of a high school football team’s locker room. During August Two A Day conditioning. Even on cold days this is an inevitable reality. So my feet smell, my socks smell, and my shoes smell. None of this is a good thing when taking a long haul flight from London to New Zealand. Thinking that I was the problem, I tried the following remedies. All of them were ineffective.

1. Wash socks every night.
2. Soak socks every night before washing.
3. Scrub socks every night both before and after soaking
4. Apply natural deodorizer (read: rose petals) to shoes (this got my shoes smelling much better, but as soon as I put my socks back into the shoes, all progress was quickly reversed.

Solution: I am going to throw away my socks. I believe that the synthetic material moves the sweat away from the skin and, in doing so, absorbs all of the odor kept in the sweat. There is no hope for these socks. I am going to try Merino wool socks which claim to naturally stay dry while not absorbing odor.

The Shirt

I also purchased a polyester shirt from North Face that is designed with a “Vapor Wick” system. This is a fancy way of saying it stays dry while you sweat. I have found this claim to be true and I enjoy hiking in this shirt on hot days. It is relatively breathable and it keeps me dry even when the rest of me is covered with sweat. Problematically, after washing this shirt in a sink for a month, the material started to become extremely “pilly”. At this point, the shirt looks like I have been wearing it for the better part of a year instead of 4 months. To add insult to injury, no matter how much deodorant I apply, this shirt starts to smell about half way through the day. I am not talking about a little smell either. If I put my arms above my head, this smell will jump up and attack you. You may wake up several hours latter in a dumpster without your wallet. I mean, this smell is vicious. Needless to say, a smelly shirt on the trail is not really a problem, but it can be awkward in the local coffee shop. On the up side, my North Face shirt will dry in about 1.5 hours if I put it in the sun after washing.

Almost as an after thought, I also brought with me a cheap $10 black t-shirt from H&M. This 100% cotton shirt dries quickly (overnight or 2-2.5 hours in the sun), is not pilly, and I can wear it around town for 2 days before washing it. Even then, the shirt smells better than my high tech synthetic North Face Shirt.

Solution: Forget about the synthetic fiber, quick dry, vapor wick shirts, and buy light weight cotton shirts instead. They are cheaper, hold up better, and your seat mate on your next long haul flight will stop giving you strange looks.

The Verdict

I am not totally against synthetic materials. My two pairs of North face nylon travel pants dry quickly, breath well, and do not smell. Removing stains is easy and they are comfortable. My Marmot polyester thermal shell is also a winner. It keeps me warm and dries quickly. Also, it takes a much longer time to become smelly. I tend to wear an additional shirt underneath my Marmot top and I believe the thermal fabric not being right against my skin is a large part of the avoid the stench-factor.

Nomadic Buying Advise: If the clothing item will be right next to your skin, find a natural alternative to synthetic materials. They may take a bit more time to dry, but they are more effective over the long haul.

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© nomadbackpackers.com -  All rights reserved 2009

Upon checking my email, I was surprised to see a response from Columbia in less than 24 hours.  Especially with our large time zone difference (as I am 16 hours ahead).

But more than the timeliness of the response, I was extremely impressed by the proposed solution to my problem.  Cathy from Columbia’s Consumer Service Team sent me an email that demonstrates impeccable Customer Service, that all companies should strive for.  I am sure that you will agree:

“Hi Natalie -
Thanks for contacting us and offering us the opportunity to make your trek comfortable again. You’re on an incredible journey!! I’m really disappointed to hear that the second pair of pants you purchased is not laundering as well as your first pair; I’ll send our design team the link to your blog so that they can use the feedback in improving product quality. You may be right about the elastane causing the problem!
Ordinarily, we would suggest returning the defective pants to the retailer for an exchange. Since that’s clearly not possible in your case, we would like to send you a replacement pair of pants so you can continue on your trek without further delay. I did consult with a member of my team who is an expert in global long-distance outdoor activities, including a vast array of climates and adventures. I wanted to be sure we made the best recommendation for you based on your needs.
We’d like to suggest two choices for the replacement pair, with details and link to the product detail pages below:
The Globetrekker II Stretch Pant TL8297:
http://www.columbia.com/product.aspx?p=8657&cat=2&top=2
Although these are only shown in the lighter Fossil color, they are available in Black, Cinder (maroon), and Bark (dark brown). You indicated you would need a size 8. Could you let us know the length you would require as well? They are offered in 30”, 32”, and 34” lengths.
The Explorer Pant TL8296:
http://www.columbia.com/product.aspx?p=9010&cat=2&top=2
It looks like the Bark (dark brown) color would be the best choice for you in this pant.
Please let us know which pant you would prefer after taking a look at them on our website. We will send you a pair to arrive before you leave on the 27th.
Thanks again for contacting us, and we’ll look forward to hearing back from you!
All the best -
Cathy
Columbia Sportswear Company
Consumer Services”

The email clearly demonstrates a simple resolution to my problem.  I have decided to go with black Explorer Pant, as these seem to offer a great flexibility to enable ease of motion.  Which is important as Justin and I do extensive walking and other strenuous physical activities (the type with pants on).

A notable element of Cathy’s response is that the design team will be able to read about my specific experience in order to properly diagnose the issue (possibly with elastane) in attempts to design higher quality products in the future.  This makes me even more enthusiastic to purchase and recommend Columbia products.  I know that the Columbia team is carefully considering individual problems that arise on a case by case basis.   In turn, this reflects Columbia’s initiative towards innovation and furthering the level of quality as they create new products.

Whether you are a backpacker or pursue other forms of outdoor adventure, know that you can place 100% trust in Columbia products and their commitment to you, the one who wears the pants in the relationship.

During our time in New Zealand, both due to the cooler temperatures and because of the rain, Justin and I each bought an additional pair of pants.  It has been great to have a second option, and a dry pair of pants after a rainy hike.

Because I had such a good experience with my brown pants, I ended up purchasing a black pair of TITANIUM women’s pants by Columbia.  They were amazing!  Everything I expected out of Columbia, and during the first few days of wearing them I decided I liked them more than my brown pants!

Sadly, after not only a week of wearing my brand new pants I began to notice the material was not doing well.  The fabric was beginning to look “pilly” and have small pieces of lint clustered up and down the legs, especially around my hips.  Returning the pants was not an option, as they were now considered in “un-wearable” condition.  But I had not done anything abrasive to them.  And hadn’t taken part in any aggressive or strenuous activities that would cause such damage.  I was simply wearing my pants while walking and doing everyday household tasks (ie. the dishes, taking the trash out, etc).  Why have my pants become destroyed?  The fabric that makes up the body of the pants is 94% nylon and 6% elastane.  I am unfamiliar with elastane, but perhaps this has led to my problems?  I read the care tag carefully, and I have done nothing that would inflict damage to the material.  Maybe the rainy Fiordland weather is to blame.  It’s truly a mystery.

In addition, I think I found the black pants I own on the Columbia website. The only difference is the elastane percentage is listed as 7% in the product description online, while my tag reads 6% elastane.  Despite this minor difference I still think they are the same pants.

At this point, I still have a high respect and value for Columbia as a company and brand.  Heck!  Justin and I have been wearing Columbia jackets for years.  Since we were young children trying to stay warm on the playground, on a snowy Michigan day.  Columbia is a trusted brand, and I am not going to let one pair of pants ruin my experience and confidence with their products.  Instead I am going to send an email explaining my situation.  And hopefully, I will get a new pair of Columbia pants that are just as durable as the brown pair I have.  I would like to have a pair of pants that can continue on the journey around the world with us.  A pair of pants that might last a year or two as we backpack to various countries in a variety of weather conditions.

In the mean time, I will keep you posted on Columbia’s response.  But I have no doubt that Columbia values their customer (the product user) more than any other aspect.  Continue to trust that you can purchase quality Columbia products and know you are their number one priority.

Lynette: Do you have to wear a uniform where you work? I’m sure you both look cute in them if you do.

We do wear uniforms at the lodge.  And I think we look rather exceptional.  Especially Justin’s jumpsuit (read: adult onesie) that he wears for maintaining the grounds and other dirty work. (Pictures coming soon)

Justin:  “You should see me try to get that thing off.”

Lynette: I have a few more “weird Auntie” questions, if you don’t mind……

Weird?  No, never.  They are “FUN Auntie questions” and I am thrilled to answer each one.

Lynette: What is the average temperature during the summer?

The temperature in Te Anau fluctuates rapidly.  In fact, the locals say it is normal to experience “four seasons in a day.”  Wake up feeling frosty, but by 2 pm it’s sunny and 80*, then around 4 pm a cloud sweeps over hiding the sun and it’s suddenly a comfortable 60*.  Who knows what the weather will bring?  Every day is an adventure.  It’s fascinating to look at the mountains, as they always look different, depending upon the angle of the sun, the amount of cloud coverage etc.

However, most of New Zealand (like on the north island) experiences an extremely enjoyable summer.  From what I’ve heard it sounds like it would be rather similar to a Michigan summer.

Lynette: How close are you to the beach?

We are about a half hour from the beach.  Though, I must admit, due to our complex weather in Te Anau, I have not taken my chances at the beach yet.  But I am sure as the summer continues I will plan to spend a day off at the beach.

Lynette: How much is gas per gallon there?

It’s $NZ 1.46 per liter.  Upon converting the liters to gallons and the Kiwi dollars to U.S. dollars, it means that gas is about $2.95 per gallon.  From what I’ve heard it’s currently cheaper to buy gas in the States.

Lynette: Do they have McDonalds?

Yes, New Zealand has McDonalds, but only in the larger cities.  Te Anau didn’t make the cut, it’s too small.  Actually, I think a McDonalds would get loads of business from summer tourists.  Business would suffer as winter comes and the bus loads of Japanese or Germans aren’t stopping by for fries.

A classic kiwi bird

Upon arriving to New Zealand I had a few people find out that I was American and some of them asked me about McDonalds in the States.  They wanted to know about the size options.  I joked around and said, “Super Size me!” and that’s when I learned that New Zealand doesn’t roll like us.  All of the proportion sizes are smaller.  I didn’t believe it. McDonalds is the same everywhere, right?  To test it out I bought a medium fry.  Sure enough, it was about the size of a small fry in the States.  Do they still put the small fry in a wax coated paper bag?

The McDonalds here does has a few special items like the Kiwi Burger, but I am not sure how that differs from a regular burger. Being a vegetarian I didn’t try the Kiwi Burger.  Aunt Lynette, I wish you would have been there.  Then you could have told me what the Kiwi Burger really is.  It’s not the kiwi fruit sliced on top.  Although, if someone said, “Have you tried the new kiwi burger?”, I would have initially pictured the bright green fruit freshly sliced onto of a steaming all beef patty.  Here in New Zealand, a Kiwi is a type of bird, but I can’t imagine they would kill thousands of Kiwi birds each year to satisfy McDonald’s customers.

Lynette: Where are most of the tourists from, that visit your hotel, Europeans, US ?

I have met Americans on vacation from San Francisco, Boston, D.C. and Chicago,  to name a few.  I have also met guests on holiday from England, Belgium, Germany, Holland, and Australia.  We even have some of the Belgium Royal Family staying at the Lodge over Christmas.  Tragically, this does mean that Justin and I will be working hard Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I’ll be serving breakfast for 23 the morning after Christmas, but don’t worry, I’ll have one or two of the lodges gourmet chefs to prepare all the bacon and eggs.  I just have to focus on not dropping food in the laps of the royal family.  Overall, if you have to work on Christmas evening, at least share the evening with a royal family,- even if you are the one pouring the wine, instead of sitting by the fire sipping it

Thanks Aunt Lynette!  I hope I have satisfied your questions and have allowed you to understand New Zealand culture a little more.  Enjoy Christmas and being together with everyone as a family.  I would quickly trade the entire Royal Belgium Family to spend Christmas at grandma and grandpa’s.  Have fun!

Gillian wrote:

Hey guys, now that you have been on the road for 1 month and 14 days, I
wonder if you can comment on some of your newly gained knowledge and what you
would have done differently before you left.  For example, what do you
think now of your packing list after lugging it around for 6 weeks?  Are you
traveling according to plan or was all that planning just an exercise in
building excitement? Any tips or tricks so far?
Cheers,
Gillian

My response:

Our new lifestyle has certainly led to some humbling experiences.  Justin and I have made mistakes. Learning to live with undesirable situations one at a time.

One recent example occurred at a hostel in Auckland.  Don’t stay at Queens Street Backpackers!  Everything seemed great until we went to make dinner.  The kitchen had no community food like olive oil, salt, pepper, nothing!  Cooking suddenly became rather challenging with our limited materials.  However, saying that the kitchen was under stocked is an understatement, as the kitchen had no dish soap, or any soap, as well as no towels or any means of drying dishes.  We asked around and the staff informed us that they had ran out of dish soap yesterday.  What!?!

Our second problem was that we were returning to our room to sleep before having to wake up at 5 am to catch the freight ferry to Great Barrier Island, and we discovered that the hostel was directly above a popular Auckland club on Guy Faux Day (popular British holiday also celebrated by the Kiwi’s)!

Through the horror that we have faced at this hostel, we decided it would be beneficial to format a loose checklist to run through at the reception before checking in for a night. In truth, we should have been doing this from the start be we simply got lazy.

The Boyd Family Hostel Check List:

- Location (Club/Bar nearby, etc)

- Prices (per person, specials, etc)

- Is their a lock out?

- Does the kitchen close?  What time?

- Wi fi?  If not, what will you charge me for internet (if available)?

- Kitchen (clean, FREE food zone, available utensils, sharp knives, etc)

- Let me see the room…lighting, carpet, test bed (ask locals about bed bugs), hangers, places to hang stuff, etc

- If dorm…can I secure my pack?

- Is their a bar inside the hostel (this can be a negative and attractive youth binge drinkers)

- Is their a common room without a television?  We like to meet new people and T.V. often distracts discussions.

- any FREE meals (we have seen both breakfast and dinner offered FREE)

- Tradable book library?

- Extra’s to pay (not just leave a deposit on, but pay for):  towels, sheets, secure luggage room or storage

It might sound like overload, but it should prove to be beneficial in avoiding extreme problems in the future.  Staying in a hostel is an adventure. It can be extremely rewarding to share life with others and discuss cultural differences or similarities (like the Simpsons).  Also while engaging in discussions that occur in hostel communities it’s a great resource to learn about where other people have been and the experiences (including mistakes) that they have learned from.  We have even met entire families (mom, dad and the kids) from countries all around the world.  It is not only 20-something’s that stay at hostels but they can be rather intergenerational.  Overall, the hostel experience is one I would recommend to anyone.  Read about our first stay at a hostel.

Now as for what we brought with us…as we left we felt as though we were bringing very little.  But beware!  It’s easy to accumulate things as you go.  Just now (not exaggerating), Louise walked up to me and gave me Guinness dice.  We are at the Irish Pub on Great Barrier Island, in New Zealand, not to be confused with our time in Ireland, although Louise is from Ireland.  She wants me to have the 2 dice, as a gift.  “It’s so small.”  Should I accept this gift from her?  Even little things add up quickly in a backpack.  That’s it!  I will have to give them to a local before leaving the Barrier.”

Overall advice, I offer, is the concept of bringing less.  I have a short article that was published on eurotrip.com titled, “Bring Less Stuff”. If you are a backpacker and you can offer advice to Gillian, please feel free to follow as she plans www.one-giant-step.com

We have lost our cork screw, pocket knife, laundry rope, some of our plastic zip ties, a medal butter knife , and a few other things as a result of airport security.  So, that’s a quick and easy way to lighten your pack too.

To finish answering Gillian’s questions, overall we feel as though we prepared as best as we could.  Our plans of getting 12 month work holiday visas in New Zealand worked.  After having many Kiwi’s tell us that it is really hard for American’s to get them, and others tell us that once you are 25, they basically don’t give them out, we felt all the more blessed to each receive the long term visa.

Justin’s 26, I am going to be 25 in less than 3 months, and we are not going to get any less American.  But it worked!  So, plan, dream and plans are sometimes dependent upon which countries will give you visas, and how long you can stay.