A sewing kit!! Sounds random but I’ve done everything from fix shoes to making new clothes out of old ones, all with a cheap little kit from the crazy store…

Take a set of playing cards and learn card games from all the countries you go to. We learned some great games in South America – make sure you write the rules down though, so there are no arguments when you show others how to play the games!

Brazil – try and head to Salvador de Bahia way north of Rio – amazing city! Because Brazil is so big, we took one internal flight from Rio up to Salvador and then made our way down on local buses. If you bus it up and down it will take you a straight week just in travel time alone.

Also, I would buy two or three new books that you’ve been meaning to read – so much of travelling is spent waiting (for buses, planes) or travelling itself, that books are more than worth the space they take up in your backpack. Most of the bigger hostels in SE Asia and South America have book swap systems where you can exchange your books for others that travellers have left. The choice is not always great, but you’re bound to find a couple of gems tucked away…

Wow! What great tips, thanks so much…
Didn’t know about Salvador de Bahia or Bamboo Island (I’m making a note of it – not a fan of dodgy old men!)
I needed to be reminded about bilharzia (thanks!), we do have playing cards and a sewing kit (I just need to remember to pack it!) and it’s a great reminder to take less than I need… especially this week! 3 things a day sounds perfect, too.
Thanks for all the advice!

Lavender & Tea Tree oil – useful for personal perfume, and disinfecting icky looking beds. A small bottle of Savlon for similar bathrooms, though you can buy wherever you go. Big kikoi/scarves of cotton you can use as clothing, bedsheets, blankets, sunshade, scarves, towels. Loads of jewellery and accessories – they’ll become talking points with people, and let you feel pretty in times when you’re bored with your clothes. And you can use them to decorate horrid rooms. Safety pins. Completely agree about the ziplock bags.

What other websites offer free travel tips in South America?:~,

traveladvisor is a great website that offers free travel tips.-~

eveyone always need some form of travel tips to prepare them on what to expect on their destination*`;