New Zealand is a dream location and definitely one of the places where most people in the world would like to go very much. New Zealand is considered an amazing place because of the sharp contrasts that especially its landscape offers. In the southern half the temperature is colder and more alpine, whereas the northern half is almost tropical with volcanoes.

The key to backpacking New Zealand is to take the time to see everything. It really doesn’t matter if you’re not going to have time to see all the things on your list, what matters more is that you take the time to appreciate all the beauty in the things you will be seeing.

New Zealand has a lot to offer for any backpacker, but one of the best places to go is Queenstown. The reason is simple – the landscape is the most iconic of New Zealand. The town is nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, high up in a mountain valley which is considered New Zealand’s premier four season lake and alpine resort.

The four seasons…

All four seasons are busy tourist times for Queenstown. The best time to go skiing is in the spring, which is from September to November in the southern hemisphere. The temperatures range from 48F to 75F and the weather is very sunny and beautiful most of the time. These days are perfect for skiing. Sometimes the season can last well into October as well.

More Queenstown travel tips include the possibility of going in the summer months, from October to February, or even March. The summer opportunities are endless, with mountain biking, golf, hiking and boating and waterskiing on the lake. The rugged terrain all around Queenstown is one you will never forget

There is of course skiing throughout the winter and if the snow comes early then in late fall as well. Fall is the time for barbecues, hiking to see the foliage and other relaxing activities.

Where to eat

Queenstown has over 150 restaurants, bars and cafes. Furthermore, the local vineyards keep these establishments well stocked with the best quality wines. You can even go to many of these wineries as they are mostly fitted out as small private restaurants serving the best local food and drinks conveniently in one place. A great travel tip for tourists is to take home one of these special bottles of wine for a special occasion later, such as a wedding or a baby shower.

Finally, Queenstown also offers luxury spa resorts with natural springs, saunas and other useful natural formations in this volcanic area. Queenstown is also one of the shopping capitals of New Zealand so you should have no trouble finding any souvenir or memento.

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It felt like I had been organising my tour of Asia for years. I had booked the flights and I had an idea of where I would be going and staying….and of course my final destination. With only a week to go before I would be jetting off to Bangkok to start my tour, the only problem I had was packing. I didn’t know how long I would be away so you can imagine how hard it was packing.

I decided to travel with a small rucksack so that I could keep it by my side at all stages of the tour. I flew with British Airways and this air carrier allows 23kg for check in luggage, but my bag was barely 10kg. Even though it was small, I tried to leave some space for souvenirs, which I would buy along the way. I think the size of your bag is one of the most important elements. The advantages of a small bag are that you can fit it in lockers easier, you will be more comfortable and if you pack the right type of clothing, you don’t need to take very much with you.

If you are travelling for a month or less in a hot climate you should pack three quick drying t-shirts, two pairs of trousers, a pair of trainers and sandals for walking/beach etc. You can always wash your t-shirts, trousers, underwear and they will be dry the next day. You should also take a long sleeve top or fleece just in case of cold temperatures. Other essentials may include a sleeping bag, mini umbrella, mosquito net, first aid kit, duffle bag, padlock, toiletries and power adaptors.

Packing a big bag with lots of clothes isn’t a good idea and you probably won’t use half of the things you bring anyway.

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If you’re making the effort to learn a language, traveling to Europe will be a welcome treat and reward. Working to learn a language, even something as difficult as trying to learn German, can be fun when you use an audio CD program, but you still deserve a treat at the end. If you’re a seasoned traveler, or if you’ve never gone abroad before, it’s still important to keep some things in mind before you plan your trip and before you go.

• Double check to make sure that you’ve got your passport and any other documents you need. For most European countries, all you need to travel is a passport if you’re an American citizen. Other travelers from countries outside Europe or the United States, however, may need a visa or additional documentation. Make sure that you have this before you leave for the airport—you don’t want to miss your flight or not be allowed to board because you’re missing an important document. Also make sure that you keep your passport with you when you’re traveling and you don’t lose it. Getting a passport replaced while you’re traveling can be expensive and time consuming.
• Ask a trusted neighbor or friend to check in on your home while you’re gone. Even though this happens at home, and not with you while you’re traveling, having someone check your place is an important step. You don’t want to come home from a lovely vacation to discover that your home has been burglarized. If you don’t have someone to check in for you, consider getting timers for your lights and having your mail put on hold to make it seem as if someone is at home.
• Remember to check museum hours and open days before you go. Many travelers have made the mistake of planning to see a special museum in a city that they will visit just once, and then they discover that on that certain day, the museum is closed. This common problem can be eliminated by checking the museum’s website before you leave, and planning your vacation either around the museum, or deciding not to visit it.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for directions if you’re lost or concerned about where you are. Even though you may be proficient in German, or the language that you learned before traveling, it’s still possible that you’ll get lost, or be worried about the train you’re trying to catch. Rather than get into a sticky situation, ask questions and directions of people in your hotel, police officers, and others who work in service positions.

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Last summer I decided to do a tour of Italy as there were a number of cities I wanted to visit and I had never stepped foot on Italian soil before. I organised the trip well and booked a one-way flight to Milan where I would start the tour. I planned on finishing in Rome. After landing in Milan I took a bus to the city center and checked into my hostel. I was very impressed by the city, its monuments and its shops. However, I was quite surprised at how unorganized and dirty Italy is in general.

From Milan I traveled to Venice – a city which I fell in love with at first sight. Here I was yet again struck by the dirty buildings and unfriendly Italians. However, the city and its classic tourist attractions make up for this. From Venice I took a bus to Sottomarina, a beach town about one hour from the city. It was really nice to spend a few days on the beach and I found eating out and accommodation much cheaper there than in Venice.

I returned to Venice train station where I queued for ages to buy train tickets to Florence – my next destination. I traveled around the country in trains and having had the chance to do this in other European countries, I have come to the conclusion that it is also rather expensive to use public transport in Italy.

I arrived in Florence early in the morning and decided to leave my rucksack in a locker at the train station. It cost me around €8 which was double what I had paid in other cities in Europe. This is something else to watch out for. They say that Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and this is very true and if you love history, art and culture – this is the city for you. From Florence I made my way to Rome, my last destination. Rome is everything I was hoping for and more. In Rome I booked low cost flights to London were I would stay for a few days before returning to the USA. I probably should have booked them before travelling, but I was unsure of how long the trip would take me. I would probably have got cheaper flights if I had estimated my departure date. You live and learn.

My tour of Italy was a wonderful experience and the country really is home to some of the most beautiful cities in the world. Yes, Italians are sometimes unfriendly and everything may seem unorganized……but some people say that this is part of its charm.

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