When it comes to staying safe, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to tell you whether something is dangerous or not. When it comes to most accidents that take place overseas, it is more likely than not a combination of a) alcohol and/or b) stupidity. The best way to protect your life while on an adventure in Asia, travellers need to use a little common sense, before attempting to drunkenly recreate that scene from Titanic with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslett on the bow of a banana boat. It’s also important to read up on local laws prior to travelling. Police at home may give you a slap over the wrist for a small amount of drugs, but in Asia could see you come face-to-face with a firing squad or spending the rest of your life behind bars. Not a good way to end a holiday, right?

Carrying or using drugs is very, very risky and the laws on both trafficking and the use of illegal narcotics are worlds apart from those at home. While the laws of most Western countries take the ‘harm minimisation’ stance and aim to protect the health of drug users, all countries throughout Asia have the death penalty in place as an option to sentence would-be traffickers. Do what your mother says and stay away from drugs, and do not carry drugs for anyone else! Even if they pay you enough to buy your own Jetski! When you carry drugs for someone else – even if you do not profit out of it – that’s called trafficking, and Asian countries don’t let traffickers off too lightly.

The first thing that will save your life/get you out of trouble/prevent you from losing wads of your well-saved money is – common sense! If things sound dangerous, they generally are. If things sound risky, they generally are. If things sound too good to be true, nine-tenths of the time, they generally are! Scams don’t just happen in Asia, but all over the world. In Asia, scammers generally target tourists as they are often viewed as easy targets. Many scams involve gaining the trust of the potential victim, so if a fairly random person begins to act super nice to you – remember that no one is invulnerable to scammers, especially you.

Always be wary of other people and make sure you do not cause offense. Across all Asian cultures, the concept of ‘face’, ‘saving face’ and ‘losing’ face relates closely to what we refer to as ‘Dignity’. Dignity is of course important to westerners, but not compared to the complete and utter seriousness of the consequences of losing face in Asia. It is important when dealing with authorities, police or anyone to treat them with respect, and do not question their authority, as this could potentially make them feel like they have lost face – ultimately creating a worse set of consequences for you.

If you use common sense and logic while when travelling throughout Asia, the biggest cause for concern should only be minor interruptions, such as having the runs, sunburn, or that splitting headache from drinking too much Tiger Beer!

This is a guest article from Andrew Wang who blogs about saving money.

When to Travel Australia?

Backpacking in Australia is many a young travellers dream, however, many people find themselves overwhelmed with options and potential plans, so much so that they find themselves getting put off making the trip altogether!

When considering going on a backpacking tour of Australia, there are a few things to contemplate: the first of these is exactly when in the year to go. Although Australia is indeed a wonderful destination to visit all year around, there are certain benefits to be had by visiting at different periods; the different times of the year also dictate which are the best parts of Australia to visit (after all, Australia is a rather big country!).

Spring is considered to fall between September and November in Australia; this is an ideal time to check out the country’s national parks and gardens, which are jam-packed with some of the most exciting and varied species in the entire world. It is generally considered to be an off-season as far as tourism is concerned, however, many companies still operate during this time and can, therefore, offer some fantastic deals and savings.

December to February is Australian Summertime and is complete with some of the highest temperatures you could ever hope to encounter. It is the perfect time to hit the beaches and indulge in the famous Australian BBQ on the beach, or catch a few waves surfing. It can be a notorious busy period, so booking is advised well in advance. If you do decide to head down under this year, then get your flights to Australia from Cheapflights.co.uk.

March to May is Autumn season; it is another quieter period – although temperatures are not sweltering, it is consistent and a great time to check out the more cultural aspects that Australia has to offer.

June to August is Winter and the majority of visitors are only interested in what winter resorts and cities can provide – this can be an especially cheap time to check out Australia’s countryside (provided you have no problem coping a slightly colder climate than you would usually expect!).

Guest post by Cheap Flights

Search hotels in your location on your iPhone!

A lot of people feel like they get ripped off when they book a hotel room. There can be a huge difference in the price that is paid for identical rooms in the same hotel. With HotelCalculator.com you can get absolute best market prices and go and enjoy your holidays without any doubts. HotelCalculator.com is one of the first online hotel comparison engine that checks and compares hotel deals available on over 20 travel and hotel websites from all over the world. What is more, service is 100% free!

Take advantage of discount hotel prices, all you need to do is to type in the location, select number of days and guests and then hit the Enter tush. The website will hardly take 15 to 30 seconds before it shows a well organised list of hotel options available for your requested data. This quick, efficient and affordable way of online hotel reservation will make your life much easier.

At HotelCalculator.com you can choose from over 100,000 hotels worldwide, a hotel that meets your expectations. With just a couple quick clicks you can find Paris best hotel deals! You can find hotel that has the amenities that you specifically need, for example you are looking for a hotel with swimming pool or wellness center . The results can be also narrowed down by price, popularity, type and hotel star rating. HotelCalculator.com is an amazing time and money saver!

Another helpful function is the integrated map which will help you quickly find hotels locally, by airport, city center or any city attraction. On the website you can take a look at the photos of objects and get information about services. You can also check which hotel is the most frequently selected in the city.

There is also a new handy innovation, thanks to Hotel Calculator’s iPhone app you can easily book your hotel anywhere you can get a 3G or wireless connection. Booking hotels couldn’t be easier!

Travel Insurance for Peace of Mind

Often overlooked as an essential when travelling, having a good travel insurance policy that meets all your needs will really come into its own if something were to wrong, especially if you consider the relatively cheap cost of a policy compared to what you could be paying out if you don’t have any.

When you come to purchase a travel insurance policy the first decision you’re going to have to make is the type of policy that will best suit your requirements. A single trip policy will be suitable if you’re not a frequent traveller and just need cover for a short one off trip. If you’re lucky enough to be travelling a number of times in a year, then you’ll want to look into an annual multi-trip policy which will usually work out cheaper if you plan on travelling more than 3 times a year.

There are numerous specialist policies that cover everything outside the norm. These policies are aimed at those who don’t fit in with the requirements of a single or annual multi-trip policy. Travellers looking for a more adventurous or active trip can get cover which is very specific to their needs with policies for backpackers or winter sports cover.

Remember that travel insurance is there to give you peace of mind so you can relax on your trip and not have to worry about all the ‘what-ifs’. A specialist policy doesn’t always mean an expensive policy and by shopping around you’ll give yourself the best chance getting the best travel insurance for your needs at a good price. It’s certainly worth spending a few minutes getting to grips with the basics of travel insurance after all there is little point in purchasing a policy if it’s not going to cover you for what you need.

There are many things you can do yourself to minimise any hassle or stress and enjoy your trip. Be sure you declare any pre-existing medical conditions you may have as providers may not pay out if you come to make a claim. It’s a given but don’t do anything illegal as your guaranteed to void your policy. It also may not be a good idea to partake in any dangerous activities you may not be covered for.

If you have to make a claim the process will go a lot smoother if you report and obtain documentation for any losses or thefts to the local authorities as providers are likely to ask for this if your claim is for lost possessions. It’s also a good idea to keep a log of your conversations with your insurance provider noting time, dates and who you’ve spoken with.