Chick going on OE

[Lteejay]

Sooo envious - man your gonna have fun. Just got back from Europe/UK - spent two months traveling round with my partner. North west coast of Italy is fabulous as is Paris. Imagined traveling the Italian roads on a bike whilst I was there - would have been wonderful. Well, in the countryside anyway, as their f@%*en mad in the cities. Make sure you always try the local food, beer, wine in any country. So many people visit new places and only ever visit McDonald - sinful really.

TRAVEL INSURANCE - GET IT. Thats all there is to say really. Its not an option.

Pack light especially if you are traveling round a bit. Too many bags are a pain in the arse.
There are so many fantastic choices. We loved Turkey even though their top shelf cost a small fortune. Beers not to bad, but man do you pay for anything stronger. Have heard that Greece rocks, but didn't have the time to go. We did head south out of London to the countryside in the west of Sussex - beautiful. But the best countryside I saw was in Germany. Man they have some gorgeous land to travel through - if you like green country.
Paris was probably my pick for the best place. Absolutely loved it. Apartment in St Germain, right in the heart of everything. Restaurants, bars, shops. It has a fantastic buzz to it.

Have fun - make sure you take enough money too. Can't wait to head back myself for longer this time - in a few years

[bert_is_evil]

Here are a few:
- take a head torch
- pack all your stuff in drawstring bags inside your pack, i've seen afew packs with broken zips exploded on the luggage carosel, the last thing you want is your dirty washing circling around for all to see.
- learn how to say sorry, thankyou and toilet in the locals language before you arrive
- don't drink the water
- phone your mum regularly and keep her up to date with your plans, she will be worried and may panic and call interpol/amnestey international if you leave it too long
if you're travelling in asia:
- don't take a money belt, have pockets sewn in the inside of all of your shorts/pants/skirts(?) and carry your passport in it everywhere you go (don't leave it in your bag).
- take powder antiseptic as any cuts you get wont heal well in the humidity
- quick dry clothing, nothing cotton as it gets wet and never dries out which can give you a heat rash ("prickly heat")
- don't take anything with sentimental value and have travel insurance, it's a weight of your shoulders not constantly worrying about your stuff getting nicked

[Swoop]

If you are doing any of the coach tours first... When you get to (presumably) London, go out and buy a bottle of top strength cough medicine. Bugs will circulate in the coach and everyone will catch it!
As mentioned before, don't drink the water or have drinks with ice in them. (OR) drink heaps of water as soon as you arrive and shit yourself stupid for 3 days to get acclimatised!
OR... take puritabs to sterilise the water before drinking.

Finally.
When in a difficult/embarrasing situation, always state loudly "EEEts NOT like thees back in Orrrrstrrrraaaallliiiaaaa!!!!" (at least the ockers cop the blame...)!