Rolling Stone : What's New for 2012?

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

What's New for 2012?

Kindle Travel

The Kindle electronic book reader from Amazon has opened up several new worlds of travel to be enjoyed by young and old. The present and future travel is enhanced by the ready download of Lonely Planet Guide books of any country desired, for a modest cost of between $10 and $18 per guide book, which is at a discount from the real paper book edition that may require postage for delivery. An e-book saves lugging around heavy books when traveling or backpacking across multiple countries.

Traveling in the past, or armchair travel, is well catered for by Kindle. I have been enjoying many Kindle travel books which are classics, such as Jerome K Jerome's "Three Men in a Boat" which is a funny account of a boating holiday along the River Thames ca 1885. Then if you are a fan of Latin America what could be better than being absorbed by one of the first travel books written by a woman, "Life in Mexico" by Madame Calderon de la Barca, a Scots lady who married the Spanish Minister to the US. The book is a detailed account of her two years traveling through out Mexico in the years 1839-41. If you have ever traveled in Mexico and are familiar with the geography this is a fascinating book. Both these old travel books are free Kindle downloads, but first buy your Kindle from Amazon. Cheers, Allano

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Accommodation in Managua and Granada

Accommodation in Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas is a tourist town with a wide spectrum of accommodation, ranging from five star hotels (5), to large backpackers (2) to numerous small family guest houses, or hospedajes. Hostels can be found from the website Hostel World and provide private rooms for US $20 to $45. Large backpackers, Casa Azul and Compass del Sur are listed with Backpackers Chileand offer economical accommodation ranging from $10 to $20 dorms to shared rooms with a buffet breakfast for $3.50. They are similar to a large South African backpackers and offer tours, excursions, Spanish classes, you name it and they'll provide it.

Most economical are the family guest houses or hospedajes costing $10 to $15 per person, and listed in guide books like Lonely Planet. A family may rent out to travelers a couple of rooms in a large family house. If you are lucky you may get to share their kitchen to cook meals and learn some Spanish for free at the same time. So you learn how a Chilean family operates. In Puerto Varas I have gone back and stayed at the same hospedaje three years in a row. (and with a different companera each time, which confused mama)

Cape Town for backpackers

Backpackers are very well accommodated in Cape Town. There are dozens of exciting backpackers to choose from. A little booklet called "Coast to Coast" lists them all, with details for booking. The same information is on the Internet for Southern Africa, just put in "Cape Town" for the region.

I shall not recommend any backpackers because that would be unfair and half the fun is finding a good one that suits you. Important factors in your choice are that the backpackers should have good Internet facilities, a good kitchen and dining area, a travel bureau office, a swimming pool, and be close to a popular restaurant, plus any more factors? Many backpackers have ALL these facilities and are converted mansions of old. Lucky you!