Tag Archives: international travel tips

Adventures in German baking

Posted on November 15, 2011 by SWAP

Katie has left the Ottawa Valley to embark on a SWAP Germany adventure. Follow her hilarious blog for tips on job hunting, issues with German baking instruments, and warnings about Google translate.

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How To Turn A Hoodie Into A Backpack

Posted on March 12, 2010 by SWAP

Take a normal hoodie and make yourself a backpack. Survivor man would be proud!

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Why It’s Not Crazy for Working Professionals to Quit Their Jobs and Travel the World

Posted on March 11, 2010 by SWAP

By: Adam Seper Graduate high school Go to college Start your career Get married Buy a house Have children Watch them grow up Send them off to college, then to start their careers Become a grandparent Retire, travel, and enjoy … Continue reading →

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Six Travel Types You Love to Loathe

Posted on March 9, 2010 by SWAP

By: Lucy Corne Travel is all about meeting people: locals, fellow wanderers, enthusiastic tour guides, con men and perhaps even your soul mate. You might set out as a solo traveler, but it’s impossible to stay alone for long. Of … Continue reading →

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The World Wide Wiener: Hot Dogs Around the World

Posted on March 4, 2010 by SWAP

Photo by rosietulips/ Written by Tom Gates The Terimayo (Vancouver) Japa Dog became a fast favorite with this year’s Olympic crowd, with lines routinely stretching around the block. Many have tried to infuse Japanese ingredients with dogs before but none … Continue reading →

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8 Things that Separate Great Hostels from Average Hostels

Posted on March 3, 2010 by SWAP

By: Adam Seper “Hostel.” How can one word evoke so many different pictures in different people’s minds? Depending on how much traveling a person has done, what age that person is, and where their travels have taken them, their idea … Continue reading →

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10 Unusual things you might want to pack and will use abroad

Posted on March 2, 2010 by SWAP

by Teresa Gotay With tons of backpacking lists online giving you recommendations on what to bring, getting ready for your big trip can be overwhelming. You’re trying to pack light, but you also need convenient and helpful things you won’t … Continue reading →

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NEW SWAPPER Video!

Posted on February 25, 2010 by SWAP

Have a video you would like to share? Send the link to swapinfo@swap.ca and we will share it with all of our readers!

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10 WWOOFing Opportunities in Ireland

Posted on February 22, 2010 by SWAP

Exposure to organic farming techniques, harvesting potatoes, fixing farm fences, milking goats, and feeding chickens were WWOOFing experiences we had mentally prepared for. The compost toilet, however, was not. Together we studied the Humanure Compost Toilet Manual. It read, “There are … Continue reading →

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10 Reasons the World Would be a Better Place if Japan Ruled the Earth

Posted on February 19, 2010 by SWAP

By: Tristan Cano Okay, so strictly speaking, Japan’s wartime aim was control of the Pacific and not world domination. However, if by some freak accident they had ended up inheriting the human race, things may not have been that bad. … Continue reading →

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Ancient Voyages (from the director of SWAP)

Posted on February 16, 2010 by SWAP

So, I’m the Director of SWAP and I have been for almost 30 years so I hope you don’t find it odd that we have a youth program here being run by some old fart. When such criticism arises, I … Continue reading →

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10 Secret Places for Travelers to Stash Cash

Posted on February 11, 2010 by SWAP

Photo above by ndanger There’s the old adage about not putting all your eggs in one basket, and when you are on the road, your financial resources are your eggs. Hard won and filled with spending potential, your rupees – … Continue reading →

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How to Travel With Your Partner (& Still Come Home as a Couple)

Posted on February 10, 2010 by SWAP

Solo travel has so many bonuses – you can go where you want, when you want without worrying about asking or even informing anyone else. But it can also be hellishly lonely and while the transient travel companions you meet … Continue reading →

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10 Leading Causes of Travel Deaths (maybe)

Posted on February 9, 2010 by SWAP

There are lies, damn lies and statistics. Take your guess as to what kills the most backpackers each year. The number of ways that you can die are uncountable but not to great that you can’t bring a little imagination … Continue reading →

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TripAdvisor’s 2010 Dirtiest Hostels

Posted on February 5, 2010 by SWAP

1. Grosvenor Hotel, Blackpool, United Kingdom 2. Villaggio Club Porto Ainu, Budoni, Italy 3. Park Hotel, London, United Kingdom 4. Boston Court Hotel, London, United Kingdom 5. Cromwell Crown, London, United Kingdom 6. Dam Hotel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 7. Corbigoe … Continue reading →

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The Overstay – Bangkok’s Whore House Turned Guest House

Posted on February 3, 2010 by SWAP

photo by Greg Goodman A dorm bed at The Overstay in Bangkok currently racks at $0.62 a night on Hostelworld. How bad could it be? “Please Do Overstay!” exclaims the website for one of the cheapest guest houses we’ve seen … Continue reading →

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Top Gadgets To Travel With In 2010

Posted on February 1, 2010 by SWAP

With newer, ultralight, razor-thin, lightning-fast, advanced gadgets being released each month, figuring out which ones are worth traveling with remains a challenge. Travel gear and technology continue to evolve exponentially with vamped-up smartphones, faster digital cameras, enhanced fabric engineering for … Continue reading →

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9 Ways To Customize Your Backpack

Posted on January 28, 2010 by SWAP

Photo above by akeg For slow travelers, it’s very likely that you and your backpack are going to be involved in a long term, intimate relationship so you might as well invest time in customizing your backpack and making it … Continue reading →

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Will Fatties Fit On Air New Zealand’s New ‘SkyCouch?’

Posted on January 27, 2010 by SWAP

So yesterday in the land of the Kiwis, Air New Zealand unveiled their “revolutionary, Kiwi designed lie-flat economy and ground breaking premium economy seats,” and initially we were thrilled at the promise of lie-flat seats in economy…until we saw the … Continue reading →

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7 Things You do Backpacking That You Should Do At Home

Posted on January 19, 2010 by SWAP

Eventually most of us need to settle somewhere for work and make a home for ourselves. Your travels become memories shared with our family and friends about the journey you had. Then comes the full time work, bills, and other … Continue reading →

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