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More bits from the backpack

© Diane Goldberg under the original topic name

Ms Budget Travel has been wandering the world this week and she's picked up a few tidbits of information for her Gentle Readers as well as making her customary number of mistakes, which you can cleverly avoid.

She suggests that if you are planning a rail trip in Europe for 02 that you dash over to http://www.railsave.com before December 31, 2001. Up until the last day of this year you can purchase passes at 01's prices that you will be able to use anytime during the next six months. Pass prices will increase in 02 so if you know that you'll go during the first half of 02 the time to buy is now. They also advertise that they offer the best free stuff to go along with your pass and you can evaluate their offers at http://www.railconnection.com/railpass/w... and decide if you agree.

A lot of good information on backpacking and budget travel is yours for the clicking at http://www.hobotraveler.com, Andy the hobo has visited over twenty five countries and in addition to his own information the web site offers extensive message boards so you can gather information from other travelers who move on the cheap and leave your own information. Ms Budget Travel is especially fond of this site, particularly as she has lately been wondering what exactly a "travel expert" is . . . she herself, as you Gentle Readers, know is NOT an expert, she makes lots of mistakes, over-spends too often, and lets her lack of Good Sense lead her where angels and wiser travelers fear to tread. Having posted that disclaimer Ms Budget Travel is of the opinion that the best course for all Travelers, budget or not, is seek as much information as we can.

Ms Budget Travel was recently in Madrid. Before her journey she found a few useful sites full of information about the city: http://www.gomadrid.com/ has up-to-date information and lots of links to other sites as well as a good search engine, campsite information as well as a good listing of local numbers for train and air service are at http://tuspain.com/travel/madrid1.htm and a good basic overview of the city is available on line at http://www.aboutmadrid.com/madrid/.

Even with all that lovely information, Ms Budget Travel managed to make a few mistakes, the largest one involving her pig-headed belief that she can always find a better bargain. Ms Budget Travel's Spanish is limited to a few tourist phrases. She asked the nice desk clerk directions to an internet café where she was able to access the virtual world for approximately 1.90 USDs per hour, a great price anywhere in western Europe. But was Ms Budget Travel satisfied? Oh no, she thought she could do better and spotting a sign her next venture into virtual reality was at another café where her limited Spanish seduced her into believing she'd pay .60 USDs per hour to jump on-line. Hah! The price was .60 USDs per fifteen-minute segment. One day Ms Budget Travel will learn to really "rely on the kindness of strangers."