Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
regular one-way and round-trip fares. They have a Discovery Pass, which allows seven, 15,
30 and 60 days unlimited travel. There's the usual 10% discount for ISIC and Euro 26 ID
cardholders (go to
www.discoverypass.com
).
The bus company operates outside America too, with Greyhound Pioneer Australia
(
www.greyhound.com.au
) and for South Africa there's Greyhound Coach Lines Africa
(
www.greyhound.co.za
)
. Check out their websites or contact them for information about
their various ticket options.
See also
www.yha.com.au
(Australia) and
www.norcalhostels.org
(USA).
Greyhound Lines, Inc
PO Box 660691, MS 470, Dallas, TX 75266-0691, USA
Tel: 214-849-8966;
Student gappers could also check out
www.aboutistc.org
(International Student Travel
Confederation) for useful information and advice on special travel deals and discounts -
planes, trains, coaches and ferries. Other useful sources of information are:
Touring
Travelling as part of a tour - usually as part of a group of like-minded gappers, on a coach
especially fitted out for the task - can prove a fun, action-packed adventure. It doesn't have
to mean chugging around the tourist sights, staring at the wonders of the world passing by
your window. A tour can mean anything from full-on adventure trips across the desert to
smaller, more intimate tours along a specific theme, such as vineyards or culinary hotspots.
It's worth knowing that volunteering organisations will often include and organize all your
travel and accommodation with your trip.
Booking a place on a tour can be a great way to meet new people and shouldn't be dis-
missed just because some backpackers see it as 'the easy option'. If you do your research
and book with the right company, you'll find yourself with a small bunch of like-minded
people and a tour leader who should know your destination's history and culture inside out.
A good leader will also have contacts in the local community and can get you into local ho-
tels and restaurants - leaving you to enjoy your travels rather than worrying about finding
a place to sleep the night.
Scout around for long enough and you'll find a tour to suit most tastes, from smaller groups
of travellers who are serious about getting off the beaten track to meet the locals and ex-
periencing their way of life, to younger, noisier groups looking for a fun, sociable way to
explore a country or region.
