Backpack Travel - Travel Insurance Blog

Student Travel Safety and FCO Teacher’s Toolkit

Posted on March 15th, 2010, Jean. Filed under Backpack Travel, Student Travel, Travel News, No Comments

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has announced the launch of a new Classroom Teacher’s Toolkit as part of its excellent ‘Know Before You Go’ campaign. The aim is to help teachers prepare teenagers for safe, independent overseas travel.

According to the FCO report, four out of ten young people travel without insurance, one in ten admits to [...]

Iditarod Race 2010 - Starts Sat 6 March - Alaska

Posted on March 2nd, 2010, Jean. Filed under Backpack Travel, Destinations, Sports, Travel News, No Comments

This weekend brings the first Saturday in March - which means it’s time for the start of the famous Iditarod dog-sled race. They call it ‘The Last Great Race on Earth’ and it’s easy to see why.
The race takes the mushers and their dogs through more than 1150 miles of some of the most challenging, [...]

Chile Earthquake, Google Person Finder, and Twitter

Posted on February 28th, 2010, Jean. Filed under Backpack Travel, Student Travel, Travel News, No Comments

In response to the devastating 8.8 earthquake that hit Chile on Saturday, Google has activated a new app to help friends and relatives find each other. Here is the link: chilepersonfinder.
The format is simple, with the options: ‘I’m looking for someone’ or ‘I have information about someone’ which is available in both Spanish and English. The service has already [...]

Chile - Massive 8.8 Quake - Information Number (UK)

Posted on February 27th, 2010, Jean. Filed under Backpack Travel, Destinations, Travel News, No Comments

It has been one heartbreaking natural catastrophe after another recently. A massive earthquake struck Chile earlier today, causing extensive damage and the loss of 122+ lives (according to the latest news report).
The British Foreign Office (FCO) has advised that it is in touch with the embassy in Santiago but communications are not reliable. The FCO is advising [...]

Rio Carnival - 13-16 Feb 2010

Posted on February 5th, 2010, Jean. Filed under Backpack Travel, Holiday Destinations, Student Travel, Travel News, No Comments

February is Carnival month in many parts of the world – including Nice and Venice. The famous New Orleans Mardi Gras takes place on February 16 (Fat Tuesday).
Perhaps the best known and most famous, however, is the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro – also known as the Carnival Capital of the world. (Portuguese: Carnaval)
The fun in Rio begins [...]

Banged Up Abroad for Drugs - Not Worth It!

Posted on February 3rd, 2010, Jean. Filed under Backpack Travel, Holiday Destinations, Student Travel, Travel News, No Comments

The Foreign Office (FCO) has issued a renewed warning about the hazards of getting involved with drugs overseas.
They report that a large number of Britons being held in prisons abroad are there for drug-related offences.
Of the numbers reported, the largest groups detained were in Spain, the U.S., Thailand, Australia and France. They are mostly males.
The TV series ‘Banged [...]

Chinese New Year - 14 Feb 2010 - Year of the Tiger

Posted on February 1st, 2010, Jean. Filed under Backpack Travel, Holiday Destinations, Student Travel, Travel News, No Comments

Chinese New Year (also known as Spring Festival and Lunar New Year) occurs this year on February 14 in the lunar calendar (coinciding with St. Valentine’s Day).
The date varies each year, depending on the phases of the moon, but always falls between late January and mid-February.
This year signifies the Year of the Tiger in Chinese [...]

Tennis Grand Slam Tournament Dates - 2010

Posted on January 25th, 2010, Jean. Filed under Backpack Travel, Holiday Destinations, Sports, Travel News, No Comments

Just in case you’ve been too busy travelling to notice, the Australian Open tennis in Melbourne is in full swing at the moment. This is the second week so the action is really hotting up.
If you are Down Under and in the Melbourne area before the tournament ends on January 31 it might be worthwhile trying to grab some [...]

Nice Carnival - South of France - 12-28 Feb 2010

Posted on January 23rd, 2010, Jean. Filed under Backpack Travel, Europe, Student Travel, Travel News, No Comments

The Carnaval de Nice is a major event, on a similar scale to Venice Carnival, Mardi Gras, and Rio de Janeiro.
Forget the winter blues for a few minutes as this video transports you to the colour and excitement of last year’s festivities:

The mild climate of the South of France might just provide the tonic you need to [...]

U.S. Visas Now Available for HIV/AIDS Visitors

Posted on January 8th, 2010, Jean. Filed under Backpack Travel, Holiday Destinations, Travel News, No Comments

Just a reminder that, as of 4 January, 2010, HIV infection has been removed from the list of communicable diseases which previously barred entry to the U.S.
Those with the infection who have previously been unable to travel to the U.S. can now do so, provided they are otherwise eligible and obtain the necessary visa or travel [...]