Search our site for a specific topic or area of interest:

Didn't find something you want to know more about? Contact us at redwinehelpsyousleepontrains@yahoo.com and we will make sure your question gets answered to ensure you have the best backpacking experience possible.

Tuesday 29 December 2009

Hostel Tour in France



Enjoy this short video tour of a hostel in Tours, France. This is one of very few affordable places to stay in the city center of Tours, a pleasant city located in the heart of the Loire Valley. This town is a great home base for day trips to the surrounding vineyards and chateaus or to take nice walks and bike rides along the Loire River.

Read about the hostel and view more photos at http://www.hostelz.com/hostel/9959-HI---Tours-Hostel

Be aware that this hostel, like some others in Europe, do not offer online reservations, but must instead be contacted by phone or e-mail to make a booking.

Saturday 26 December 2009

Red Wine's Christmas Gift

We often get questions about when our book is going to be published, and we are happy to say that we are one step closer to that goal. The magic of the holiday season must have given us a little luck, because Santa brought Red Wine a book agent! We are currently signing a contract with Writers House Literary Agency in New York City. The search for an interested publisher will begin after the New Year. We will keep you posted on our progress and thank you so much for your support!

You can view information about our agency at http://writershouse.com/.

Wednesday 16 December 2009

Book Update

We have completed the book proposal this week after working on it for two months, and we are looking forward to moving forward with the process of getting the book published. In the meantime, please enjoy the first 20 pages of our recently revised first chapter that we have posted below. We look forward to all comments and questions. Happy reading!

Red Wine-Proposal for Blog

Friday 11 December 2009

Red Wine Is On Facebook!

Red Wine Helps You Sleep on Trains is now on Facebook! Become a fan of the page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Red-Wine-Helps-You-Sleep-on-Trains/188597554874 and become a member of a global community interested in backpacking and travel. Also, remember to subscribe to our blog at http://www.youtube.com/user/redwinehelpsyousleep to receive notifications of our latest videos.

Taking Cell Phones Abroad

When it comes to taking electronic devices like your cell phone, MP3 player, or laptop abroad, we suggest leaving the gadgets at home in order to truly experience Europe. By using call centers and internet cafés located in all major cities, you can contact home cheaply and as often as you feel is necessary. We only suggest taking a cell phone if you are traveling for a long period of time and want to have it with you in case of an emergency, or if you are traveling in a group that plans on splitting up sometimes and want a way to contact each other. However, you will often find that cell phones add unnecessary costs to your trip and eat up money that could be used to pay for hostels or food.

Lisa from Denver, CO, shares her experience about taking a cell phone to Europe:

I really wanted to have a cell phone since I was just going with my one friend and it was both of our first times in Europe. I wasn’t sure what exactly to expect over there, so I wanted to be able to contact my friend. In case we got separated and only had one key to our room (which did happen once), I didn’t want to be stranded (which also happened once). I also wanted a phone in case I ran out of money (which I did) and needed to call my mom to send more (which she did, thankfully).

I ended up meeting a guy in Kilkenny, Ireland, and my friend went home early from the pub. She ended up not answering her phone to let me in. She shut it off - so it ended up not even helping when I actually needed it. I also wasted a ton of money by calling her 10 times trying to wake up her since it charged you a buck every single time you connect to voicemail.

My cell phone company gave me a big rundown on what things will cost, especially with my data plan (internet). I had to turn the data services off manually, and I had to keep my phone off as well because roaming charges were unreal. My phone company also told me I could get a new chip/phone in a European phone store when I got there that could work as a pay-as-you-go phone and plan. I opted not to do that though, mostly because I didn’t want to do all that extra work. I ended up just paying about $100 in extra charges which my mom paid most of as a gift to me because she wanted me to call her a few times to tell her about stuff.

Tuesday 8 December 2009

Hunt for Holiday Sales On Backpacking Gear

If you are planning on backpacking in 2010, Christmas is the perfect time to ask for travel gear like your backpack, travel towel, and toiletry case. If you don’t want to crowd your list to Santa with backpacking gear, you should still try to take advantage of the holiday sales both online and in stores. When it comes to outerwear, we decided to do the work for you. Listed below are some of the best online prices available when it comes to packable jackets and fleece that are ready for you to take advantage of.

Thursday 19 November 2009

How To Protect Your Backpack On Trains



A great way to save some money is by sleeping on trains overnight, but it's hard to sleep when you're constantly thinking someone might walk off with your bag. Keeping your bag in the seat next to you so you can monitor it may seem like the best way to keep your backpack safe, but trains are often crowded to the point where every seat is taken.

Securing your bag to the overhead rack is the next best option, but some are too small so the racks near the doors must be used. This makes it convenient for someone to grab your backpack and run just before the train leaves a station unless your backpack is hard to move from the rack. Therefore, the best method to ward off thieves is to lock your backpack to the luggage rack with a simple bike chain.

The best place to sleep is in the six-person cabs that some trains offer which provides slightly more privacy and safety. However, these are not always available or can seem cramped if you are sitting inside one next to a family of four with a screaming baby. See our video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ3mLwQ-1DU.

These cabs have a sliding door and luggage racks above booth-style seats where backpacks can be secured. Just be aware of your surroundings and never leave valuables in your backpack! You will always be able to finish your trip as long as your money, passport, and camera are in your pockets... you may be slightly smelly, but you will finish nonetheless.

Friday 6 November 2009

Find A Place To Crash.... For FREE!



Become a Couch Surfer!!! And we don’t mean by taking your mother’s sofa into the ocean and seeing if it floats; we mean by visiting www.couchsurfing.org to become a member of one of the coolest ways to sleep around the world.

We’ve heard about couch surfing numerous times from travelers across the world, but never been in one place for long enough to try it myself yet. The idea is to become a member of the site and open your home to strangers who want to crash on your couch while taking advantage of this same arrangement all around the world. There are members in over 230 countries so a couch is never far away. For instance, there are 21,574 couches to choose from in Italy and 96 to crash on in Fiji.

We know the concept of inviting strangers into your home or crashing on the couch of someone you have never met might sound a bit weird and even a little creepy, but the Coach Surfer organization works diligently to check every single member out and monitor all surfers to ensure it is all safe and legit. Becoming a member is free, but you can upgrade to a “verified” member for a small donation to the organization ($25), which means couchsurfing.org keeps closer tabs on members since credit card info must be given. You’ll be able to see which members are verified for perhaps a “safer” meeting although it might be hard to find since only 6% of members are verified.

Members are just like every other poor traveler across the globe looking for a free place to stay for the night while getting from one place to the next. The couch surfing philosophy is more about people making friendships and learning local customs than simply sleeping somewhere for free. If you’re still skeptical, check out the web site and read more than 1,600 comments about this worldwide group that introduces about 150 members every hour.

Monday 2 November 2009

How To Ride The UK Rails

If you plan on spending some time in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) during your travels, you may want to consider purchasing a young person’s rail card for £26 (currently around $40). This card is valid for anyone who is under 25 or can prove that they are a full-time student. The card is valid for one year and allows you to receive major discounts on all train tickets.

To show how you can save in the UK with a young person’s rail card, I randomly priced two journeys for a week in advance:

London to Liverpool:
Without young person’s rail card – £55.50
With young person’s rail card – £36.65
Total savings: £18.85

London to Edinburgh:
Without young person’s rail card - £42.70
With young person’s rail card - £28.20
Total savings: £14.50

As you can see, if you are taking frequent train trips around the UK, you can save some pounds by purchasing the young person’s rail card after the cost of the card is factored in.

When you purchase train tickets online, you do not have to have purchased your young person’s rail card yet. You just need to show the rail card to the conductor who checks your ticket. When you purchase train tickets online, simply make sure you are buying reduced tickets with the ‘RAIL CARD’ option selected.

While you can purchase your young person’s rail card online or at the train station during your first travel, remember that train tickets are cheaper when purchased in advance. When purchasing your card from the station, make sure you have your passport and a passport-style photo.

To check out all young person’s rail card information, visit:
http://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/

To view train times and prices and to buy tickets, visit: www.nationalexpress.com

Sunday 1 November 2009

How To Rent Bikes In Europe

Bikes are a fun, fast, and affordable way to get around towns. After making this video, we looked up prices from other bike rental companies from many cities and the average price per day is close to about $8-$12. A great add-on to the bike is a saddle bag (if the shop offers it) which will likely be about and extra dollar or two. These bags are great for storing plenty of water which you will need when traveling long distances.

Monday 12 October 2009

Paris Hostels

Since Paris is one of the most expensive places to visit, you can save some Euros by staying outside the main part of the city. We recently stayed at St. Christopher’s Hostel, which was located near a Metro (subway) station and took around 45 minutes to one hour to walk to the city center. To save money and time when staying at hostels located on the outskirts in cities like Paris and London that have subway systems, we recommend doing one of two things. You can either take the subway to the furthest point in the city you want to see that day and sightsee your way back to the hostel, or walk into the city and take the subway back to your hostel once you have reached the furthest point you want to see.












There is a hostel in Paris that we’d like to recommend to anyone going to the City of Love. St. Christopher’s is a new and fun hostel in the northeastern side of Paris within easy walking distance of two main train stations and two metro (subway) stops. This is one of the safest and cleanest hostels with the largest rooms we’ve ever seen.

In most other dorm-style rooms, you’re bumping elbows with a dozen others and pushing their drying towels off your bunk just to get in bed. The rooms at St. Christopher’s have beds with curtains that close across the front for a darkened afternoon nap or a night of uninterrupted slumber. Each bed also comes equipped with two plugs for battery charging (this is unheard of as most hostels usually have one per room while others require you to use plugs behind the reception desk) and a light for late-night reading or journaling when you don’t want to annoy others.

The bunks also have massive lockers that slide out underneath the beds; while each person gets one, they are large enough to fit three backpacks. Just remember to bring a lock and try not to disturb others when you open and close your locker in extremely early or late hours, as the loud creaking noise they make isn’t going to win you any fans from sleeping roommates.

The hostel also boasts plenty of features outside the room, including an all-you-can-eat (or carry away with you) breakfast consisting of bread, cereal, coffee, tea, and juice. You can also take advantage of a bar with drink specials, internet café, “chill out room”, sauna, and plenty of flat-screens featuring ESPN playing the latest NFL and MLB games.

There are, of course, some downsides to these new, hotel-like hostels. The main downfall is a huge lack of character. We enjoy staying at “mom and pop”-style hostels where you’re basically renting a spare room and you get to see how locals live and become surrounded by the culture, language, smells, and food of the region. We didn’t come in contact with one French person during our three-night stay at St. Christopher’s, which made it hard for the non-native employees to recommend places off the beaten tourist path.

This hostel is a chain with a few others in London, Paris, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Berlin, Bruges, Brighton, Bath and Newquay. If you stay at one of these hostels, you will receive a 10% discount if you book your next hostel through the reception desk. We’ve never visited any of the St. Christopher’s other than the one in Paris so we can’t really recommend them although we assume the setup would be similar.

St. Christopher’s in Paris is an hour walk to the central area of town near Notre Dame and the Louvre, which isn’t a bad free walk if you want to save 1.60 Euro on the metro that gives you a glimpse of Parisian life outside the tourist areas. We recommend walking around all day and taking the metro home in the evening once your legs have packed it in. Enjoy Paris and remember… red wine helps you sleep on trains… and in hostels.






Saturday 3 October 2009

Our Latest Backpacking Adventure

Our visit to the Lake District and Nottinghamshire in England followed by Tours and Paris in France was a great adventure with 16 straight days of sun. The journey included getting a Robin Hood-style bullseye in the Sherwood Forest, driving along crazy, windy roads, accidentally buying sausage made of stomach but making up for it by making delicious crepes, walking for miles to save money on subway fares, running into pushy Japanese tourists at Versailles, and drinking plenty of cheap red wine. While away, we recorded a video about renting bikes and camping and hiking in the Lake District as well as more shots of hostels and miscellaneous tips along the way. We'll do my best to get these together as soon as possible for everyone.

The photos below are of the Louvre and Eiffel Tower in Paris followed a view of a valley and our campsite in the Lake District.





Sunday 13 September 2009

Red Wine Is Headed To England And France

Red Wine Helps You Sleep on Trains is traveling to the Lake District in northern England this week (http://www.lake-district.gov.uk/) and then down to France to visit Tours (pronounced 'Tour') in the Loire Valley and on to Paris to end the trip. When we return, we'll have a couple more videos to share with you with tips from our adventures.

These will be the last videos to take place in Europe as we are moving back to the United States shortly. However, we will still be focusing on everything we can do to help backpackers and adding our tips and suggestions. We will be focusing first on comparing backpacks and may also compile some interviews with fellow backpackers. If there is anything you would like to see on the site or any questions you need answered, let us know. We are always here to help you have the best journey abroad possible!

Wednesday 19 August 2009

Currency Tips

While most of Europe is on the Euro, not all countries use this currency. The United Kingdom, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, and Sweden are major countries that don't. However, it is simple to get the local currency.

Try to avoid currency exchange booths if you can, especially if they are in the train station or airport because these will charge a higher rate. The best way to get local currencies is by withdrawing money from an ATM using your bank card. All major banks will be up-to-date on currency exchange rates and these normally offer the best deals. The machine should tell you on the screen if will charge you to withdraw money (usually around 2-3 Euros), so look for machines near banks which will be the least likely to charge.

Before you leave the country, tell your bank and credit card company that you will be out of the country or your card won't work! This is a safety precaution your bank takes in case your details get stolen and taken outside North American borders. Also, be sure to ask your bank if there are any fees for using or withdrawing money when in Europe. Our credit card company charges 1 percent every time we use it and our bank card is charged two bucks for each withdrawal. However, it is worth the money to us to have a small amount of money on us at all times instead of carrying large sums of money around.

Here are some useful tips to consider:
- Use cash for smaller purchases like food at the market or tickets to a museum and use a debit or credit card for larger costs like hostels and travel.
- Take around $50-100 worth of local currency when you leave for the country to cover the first meal, bus to the hostel, and any emergencies. (Most banks can get you foreign currencies, but be sure to give them at least two weeks notice.)
- Use http://www.xe.com/ucc/ to get an idea of currency rates.
- 'We buy' currency exchange booths will use terms like 'WE BUY' or 'WE SELL'. If they say, 'We buy United States Dollars (USD) for 1.5' it means they will give you one of the local currency for $1.50. 'We sell USD for .86' means they will give you 86 cents for every one of the local currency.

Wednesday 5 August 2009

The First Few Pages of the Book

Scott Dean Final for Blog Scott Dean Final for Blog redwinehelpsyousleep Travel Guide for Young Backpackers

Passport Security Tips

If you aren't traveling alone, it's a good idea to make a copy of your passport (only the page with photo and information) for each travel buddy. Everyone should get all copies, fold them together, place them in a zip-top bag, and tape the bag shut. Place the copies deep inside your backpack or toiletry case where no one would think to look.

The main reason to take this precaution is because it is much easier to obtain a new passport from an embassy versus having nothing at all if the original gets lost or stolen.

It also doesn't hurt to e-mail yourself a copy of the passport so if all backpacks go missing or something terrible happens, a quick trip to the internet cafe can get you a copy. While you are at it, e-mail credit card cancellation phone numbers and any emergency contact numbers of family or friends to yourself. Your e-mail inbox works as a 'digital safe' to keep some important pieces of information.

Sunday 19 July 2009

The Deal About Sleeping Bags And Sacks



We’ve been doing some research on sleep sacks, which are basically sleeping bags made out of the thin material that sheets are made out of. We’ve never owned one but we have had heard many people recommend them when sleeping in hostels because the sheets aren’t always the cleanest and you might find a musty-smelling blanket or see a stray hair that doesn't belong to you on your pillow. (Although the truth is there is a danger of sleeping anywhere, as proven by Scott's previous travel buddy who got fleas while sleeping on a train in Spain and was forced to wash all her clothes and rinse her backpack out.)

Sleep sacks are mainly made of cotton or silk. Cotton is much cheaper (around $20) but is also larger and heavier than silk, which costs around $50. The sacks provide little warmth, but they can be handy to have in addition to the blankets provided by the hostels.

Many Web sites selling the sacks will warn that many hostels ‘require’ such an item, which is a big lie fabricated in order to get you to buy their product. Some hostels charge a couple of bucks to rent sheets, but they will alert you of this on their Web site before you book. Plenty of hostels don't charge, so there is no reason to pay for linens if you simply take the time to check on their list of amenities.

While there are exceptions to every rule, Europe has some of the cleanest hostels in the world. Therefore, you might be more inclined to invest in a sleeping sack if you are heading out to Asia or South America. Only you can decide what works with your budget and amount of space you have in your backpack. The cheapest method would be to grab an old sheet you already own and have your grandmother sew it into a proper sleeping sack. If you decide you don’t need it along the way you can drop it in the garbage or give it to a bum.

Many people take sleeping bags, which provide warmth in addition to a clean surface. We’ve slept on train station floors, airport sidewalks, benches, parks, and in every form or transport and never once wished we had a sleeping bag. (Well, we may have wished for one but then retracted that fantasy when thinking about how much a sleeping bag weighs.) Some experiences have been colder than others, even during summer months, but we always make it through the night by throwing on some extra layers and grabbing some cardboard to lay on. The bums know best and this method makes the ground seem much more appealing. A piece of advice – smell the cardboard first so you don’t have your face in an old potato or meat box all night.

With as often as your backpack is thrown around, locked up, and put under a plane or bus, it’s much easier not to have stuff attached to the outside. The bottom line: only take a sack or bag if you plan on sleeping on the ground or camping a lot, or if you know you will be traveling during the coldest months of the year.

Tips From Fellow Backpacker Katie

Katie from Morristown, TN, shares some insight about traveling. Katie spent the majority of her time in Europe exploring Germany, but also traveled to various other cities on the continent. Katie states:

Here are some things I wish I had known before my trip…

Packing: This is hard for girls to grasp, but it’s okay if you wear the same clothes every week. This is especially true in Germany. In fact, it is the norm there, and you will fit right in. Also, don't plan to do any clothes shopping abroad. It is much more expensive than the U.S. You will be paying more for the exact items. Exceptions would perhaps be “fashion” capitals like Milan and other Italian cities. Save your money for cooler things.

Budgeting: I personally found it hard to budget ahead of time, especially since I had never been to Europe and had no concept of how much things cost over there, never mind the exchange rates. I will say this: do everything you can ahead of time to save money. There is nothing worse than being in a fabulous city and having to decide between two choices because you can't afford to do both. Also, figure out what you want to splurge on and what you are willing to save money on.

Traveling in general: Plan things out but be willing to be spontaneous. It is good to have a list of a few places you want to see in a particular place, but some of my favorite experiences have been those which were unplanned. Befriend a native speaker if you know you are going to be in a particular city for a while. My friends and I befriended some Germans who were able to tell us about concerts and last-minute discounts on trips that weren’t listed online.

Traveling in groups versus traveling alone: I prefer traveling in groups. I like being able to share experiences with other people, especially people I like. Two of my best friends became my best friends because of the time we spent together. They saw me at my best and worst and likewise. Just keep this in mind: your feelings for someone may change after you spend several weeks with them 24/7. Hopefully you will like them more and not less. Also, if there is something you are dying to see, make it a priority. I went to Amsterdam with a group of friends. I really wanted to visit the Van Gogh Museum, but they were not so interested. At first I felt bad ditching them to go to the museum. They went on a paddle-boat ride instead, so everyone was happy. Win-win situation.

Food and drink: Döners have a lot of fat in them. You should try it once—they are delicious. I also ate a lot of German chocolate and Haribo gummi bears (also very calorie-heavy). You have to know what to splurge on, both money-wise and food-wise. Would I eat all those doner kabobs and chocolates again? Yes!! Oh, and I can’t forget the beer. Another thing I love about Germany: You can go to the train station or any convenience store and pick up a beer or Jaeger and just walk around with it. No big deal.

Small towns versus big cities: I was fortunate to spend time in both. I think it is good to mix up a long trip with small and big cities. Small towns are more relaxing and give you a chance to wind down after a few crazy nights in a big city. Just be mindful that stores and restaurants tend to shut down early in the small towns, so plan accordingly. Another thing you should consider is visiting both “modern” cities and “historic” cities. For example, Berlin has very modern architecture (but with a history) that was totally different from other cities with older architecture.

Monday 13 July 2009

Tips About Car Rental

Rule Number 1: Never rent a car.
Rule Number 2: If you didn't listen to the first rule, buy the extra insurance!

During our recent backpacking adventure around England, we decided to rent a car to make it easier to see Stonehenge, Avebury, and a crop circle in the middle of nowhere. During our 120-mile drive, Scott managed to smack a curb, bend the front rim, and send the back hubcap flying. All of this occurred within a mile of the car rental return location. Luckily, we listened to the second rule and $15 saved us hundreds. Maybe hitchhiking in England is safer than driving.















http://www.cropcircleconnector.com/2009/silburyhill/silburyhill2009.html

Friday 5 June 2009

Packing Tips For The Ladies


Krystin takes you through some simple tips for females on how and what to pack while still looking your best when sleeping on trains, hostels, and carrying your backpack through every country in Europe.

Thursday 7 May 2009

HERE IT IS!!! Well, just a taste.

Scott Dean Final for Blog Scott Dean Final for Blog redwinehelpsyousleep Travel Guide for Young Backpackers

Sunday 3 May 2009

A Travel Quote

"Those who write, travel.
The art of being there is to go there."

Joseph de Maistre

Wednesday 22 April 2009

Tips About Sleeping In Airports

We mention a couple times in the book (and others will vouch for us) that it is sometimes a great idea to save some money and sleep in the airport if you have an early flight. We've found this isn't the most comfortable option when all the benches are taken and you have to sleep on the ground or even the conveyor belt (yes, this actually happened to us at an airport in Belgium). We have also been through the worst-case scenario, which is when the airport closes and you are forced to sleep outside on the sidewalk in the chilly night air.

To us, saving money is worth the little bit of discomfort sleeping in airports causes. It also gives you some great stories to share. Last night, Scott spend the night at Heathrow Airport in London to save some bucks, which ended up being the highest on the discomfort scale we have ever encountered. Nothing could be worse than the construction at terminal 3 with jackhammers and trucks beeping and backing up until 5 am.

But when you're just plain poor, you make an adventure out of it.

Tuesday 21 April 2009

New Videos About Trains and Hostels

There are three new videos on www.youtube.com for you to watch.

1. The benefits of train cabs instead of normal seats.
2. How to find a hostel in a new town.
3. How to read train timetables at the station.

Search the youtube user name 'redwinehelpsyousleep' to view all the Red Wine videos.
Enjoy the videos and more will come shortly.

Monday 20 April 2009

Tips About Getting Around from Backpacker Joe

Joe from Hiram, Ohio, states:

I was always lost, but luckily my travel buddy wasn’t. Actually, he probably was but never really admitted it. I think he figured if we walked around long enough we’d end up somewhere that was on the map. I think it is good advice to: 1) have a good map, and 2) travel with someone with a better sense of direction than yourself.

Thursday 16 April 2009

Scott's Mini Backpacking Excursion to Trieste, Italy

Scott made it back from Trieste, Italy, without a scratch after jumping from a moving train, avoiding being eaten by wild boars, and escaping payment at an internet cafe!

I also realized during this trip how involuntary it is to add an 'o' or 'a' to the end of an English word and say it with the local accent in hopes that the locals will understand what you're saying. For example, 'One ticketo por favore.' This definitely doesn't work, by the way, so it's important to brush up on your common phrases before heading out!

Scott's return also means we'll soon have a few more videos to upload including ones about train cabs and reading a train schedule in the station. Scott has gathered all the photos to finish the book and we look forward to putting the final pieces together.

Saturday 4 April 2009

Budgeting Tips From Backpacker Mike

Mike from Eerie, PA, states:

To save some Euros, take the night train. When you sleep and travel,
you don’t need a hostel. Also, airports are some of the best sleeping
I have found. There are all sorts of hidden nooks and crannies, and if
you tie a bandanna around your eyes, put in ear plugs and stuff your
valuables down your trousers, I have found you can sleep through just
about anything… Anything.

Why pay for a hostel when you can sleep with a local! A few gin and
tonics are a lot cheaper than an overcrowded, dank, bedbug-infested
dorm room. Play your cards right and you might even get a free
breakfast. Alright!

Also, if you are the type that likes to stay up all night, do it! Drop
your bag at the left luggage in the train station and live it up until all
those business types are on their way to work. Have you ever slept
in a park during the day? I have. Not only is it great feeling closer to
nature, it is free – so are the drinking fountains.

Tuesday 31 March 2009

Book Update

Red Wine Helps You Sleep on Trains is nearing completion with over 75 pages designed and about 40 left to finish. The travel chapter and section on free stuff to do in cities in next.

Red Wine co-author Scott Dean will be in Trieste, Italy, for Easter week getting some final images before sending the book to press on the 22nd. Keep your comments coming and please continue adding photos to the flickr page!

Saturday 14 March 2009

Backpacker Rob Shares His Favorite Travel Experiences

Rob from Lincoln, England, states:

Having my passport confiscated by Slovakian ticket inspectors and having to bribe the police to let me out of the country was a pretty memorable moment. As was waking up on an empty Hungarian train to find that the engine had been uncoupled and was heading off down the track without me. But the beauty and drama of northern Norway and the friendliness of the people of Croatia were the two best parts of the trip.

Monday 9 March 2009

Sunday 8 March 2009

Backpacker Victoria Shares Her Favorite Foods

Victoria from Alexandria, VA, states:

I don’t know about favorite food, but you certainly have not lived until you have had cassoulet from a can. Or sausage and sauerkraut in a can. Or dried meats, fresh cheese, and a loaf of bread for dinner. Even as gross as some of these things sound, I would not go back in time and eat anything differently. Each experience was unique and I loved every minute of it.

Monday 2 March 2009

Packing Tips From Backpacker Andre

Andre from Myrtle Beach, SC, states:

I travel light... one small pack is all that I took on the journey. I wish I had brought someone to share the experience with. All I have are my memories and no one that can truly understand what it was that I did. Also, I didn’t take a journal along. I was too young at the time to care for such a thing. So maybe that is what I should have brought with me.

Saturday 28 February 2009

Tips For Ladies From Backpacker Katie

Katie from Long Island, NY, states:

In 2005, I flew by myself and then had to navigate Heathrow Airport and the bus system in the UK to get to Exeter, which is four hours from London, by myself with less than 30 minutes to make my bus and I could not understand what anyone was saying. I relied on my smile, a helpless look, some laughter, and found that people were more than willing to help me.

The best advice that I can give to another woman traveling Europe on her own or with others is to just trust your instincts. You know when a situation doesn't feel right, when you don't get a good vibe from someone - you wouldn't trust a shady person in the States, so don't be swayed by the magical illusion that there are no shady people in Europe.

Most people in this world are good, decent people who are willing to help you, befriend you, even show you a good time, but on occasion you will find those that aren't like that - the tough part is filtering the bad ones out.

So how can you do that? By having some common sense, a trait that seems to be lacking while we are on vacation. Don't flash your money around, don't announce where you're staying or that you're alone and, most importantly, don't indulge in the local "treats" to a point where you are unable to take care of yourself.

But enough of all the bad forewarning - European men are fabulous. They dress sharp, look different, sound amazing, and most seem to love American women, so take it all in and enjoy it!

Thursday 26 February 2009

The Concept of Red Wine Helps You Sleep On Trains

This is not a book to tell you where to stay or where to eat. This will not give you guidance on prices of admission to museums or a detailed list of each historic site to see while in Rome. We will not harp on the importance of culture and art or wine tastings in Tuscany. We won’t shed light on the possibility of renting a car and driving the autobahn and returning safely to Oktoberfest. We will try not to tell too many bland stories of my experiences on the rails of Europe.

We will, however, try our hardest to give advice on blisters, pocket knives, and internet cafes. We will illuminate the upside of knowing how to find north on a compass and tell you how not to get your stuff stolen. We will tell you how and where to pay to poop and show you how to cut stinky cheese and open a bottle of wine with a Swiss army knife. We will teach you how to survive hostel showers and kitchens and the art of catching a midnight train. This is the way of backpacking Europe on less than a budget when you're just plain poor.

Go ahead and buy that overpriced massive 'travel guide' with no photos that gives excessively detailed information about where to eat and admission fees, but remember that it will probably be outdated by the time it’s published. Or we have another suggestion for you. Save your money by doing all your research of cities and sights online and then pick up this book for the rest of the essential information the young American backpacker needs to survive backpacking Europe.

Hot to Use a Swiss Army Knife Can Opener