When you’re on the road, it can be hard to find the space to bring much entertainment along for the ride. Luckily, a great night can be had with little more than a deck of cards or a pad of paper and a great group of friends.

Here are a few of our favorite backpacker games with a little international flair, sure to make you the life of the party!

1. STADT, LAND, FLUSS (or City, Country, River)

This German geography game is perfect for the international traveler and is reminiscent of the board game “Scattergories.”

The goal:
To outwit your competitors with your superior knowledge of obscure geography and travel themes.

How many people:
At least 2

What you’ll need:

• A piece of paper for each player

• A pen

Is there drinking involved?
Drinking’s not integral to gameplay… although you’re welcome to imbibe if you feel so inclined!

How to play:

• Begin by choosing 3 categories, such as country, city, landmark, etc.

• Beginning with the letter “A”, everyone writes down their selection for the category. (You may set a time limit if you’d like to keep the game moving quickly.) Example: If the categories are City, Ethnic Food, Landmark and the letter is “C”, then the answers could be “Copenhagen, Crepe, Coliseum.”

• At the end of each round, everyone shares their answers.

Scoring:

Each person is scored per category. If you are the only person to come up with what you have written, you will receive 10 points. If others came up with the same selection, then you get 5 points. If you blank and don’t write anything, you don’t get any points. (So, clearly out of the box selections are the way to go!)

The game ends when you get tired of playing! You can set a winning score if you want to have a definitive end point.

2. MUSHROOM

Mushroom is a really fun card game that I learned while backpacking throughout New Zealand. It’s a lot like Jenga… only instead of a tower of blocks, cards are funneled out while balancing on a small surface (bottle top or cup) until it resembles, well, a mushroom.

The goal:
Keep the mushroom from toppling over… or else, you lose.

How many people:
2+ players (more is definitely better!)

What you’ll need:

• A deck of cards

• A sturdy table (and a lack of wind!)

• An empty bottle or cup (with a smaller opening than the width of a card.)

• Drinks

Is there drinking involved?
Yes (although what you drink is completely up to you.)

Card values:
2-10 2-10, respectively
Face cards 10
Aces 11

How to play:

• Place the empty bottle or cup in the center of the table. (Note: bottles are more challenging.)

• Make a ring of cards (face down) around the glass.

• The first player takes a card from the circle. Before they look at the card they guess whether they think the card is Red or Black.

If they guess the correct color, the value of the card is the number of “sips” the player can distribute… either all to one person or split amongst the other players, however he or she decides. They also choose someone to put the card on the bottle or glass using only 2 fingers.

If they do not guess the correct color, then they drink the value of the card themselves and place the card on top of the glass using only 2 fingers.

• The game continues around the table clockwise. IMPORTANT NOTE: Each new card placed must have 2 corners hanging off from the rest of the cards. This will ensure that the cards expand and the game continues to be challenging.

• The mushroom will continue to grow outwards until cards start to fall.

If only a few cards fall, the person responsible must put the cards back on the mushroom and drink the value of the fallen cards.

If all of the cards fall, the person responsible loses the game and must drink the rest of their drink.

3. 41 (or Empat Satu)

41 is a simple (I swear!) draw and discard card game from Indonesia. This game has the name “41” because it is the highest score you can hope to obtain.

The goal:
To collect four cards of the same suit with as high a point value as possible.

How many people:
2 – 13 players (note: 5-9 players are ideal)

What you need:

• 1 deck of cards

Card values:
2-10 2-10, respectively
Face cards 10
Aces 11

How to play:

• The first dealer is chosen at random and deals four cards to each player, clockwise, one card at a time. Any remaining cards are placed face down in a stack in the center of the table.

• The dealer plays first, and must draw from the stack. Again, the goal is to get as high of a score as possible with 4 cards of the same suit. So decisions what to draw and discard are made based on that goal.

• The following players (moving clockwise) may draw from either the top card of the stack or the card that has just been discarded by the previous player. (It is illegal to draw a card from the discard pile then immediately discard it in the same turn. However, if you pick a card from the stack and don’t want it, you are free to immediately discard it.)

• Play ends when someone has 4 cards of one suit at the start of their turn. (If after drawing and discarding during your turn you find that you have 4 cards of the same suit you must wait until the start of your next turn.) This can occur at the very start of the game, or may not happen at all during the course of the game… it’s different each time.

• If there are no cards left in the stack, and the player whose turn it is does not want the card at the top of the discard pile, the game ends and the hands are scored as follows below.

Scoring:

When the game ends (either because a player has 4 cards of the same suit, or because the stack has run out), all players show their cards and count their scores.

In each hand, the player must select one suit (hopefully there is a dominant suit) as positive points, while all other suits will be considered negative points.

For example, if you have the following cards, your total score would be 7:
- 7 of hearts (worth +7)
- Jack of hearts (worth +10)
- 8 of spades (worth -8)
- 2 of diamonds (worth -2)

If you are unlucky and have no cards of the same suit, then… well, just do your best and pick the highest card as your dominant suit.

In case you were wondering… as mentioned, the perfect score is 41. To get this score, you’d have to have an Ace, King, Queen and Jack all of one suit. Think of this as a royal flush for the game of 41.

If there is a tie, the tied player’s negative cards are used to decide who wins. (The higher the value of the negative cards determine the loser.)

The player with the highest score is the winner, and the one with the lowest score is, obviously, the loser. Normally, no running score tally is kept. Instead, the loser deals and the winner begins the next hand.

Do you have any other great backpacker games to add to our list? If so, let us know, because it may be featured on a follow up post!

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There’s no question that smart phones have revolutionized the way we travel.

Where once we were traveling blind, we now have access to countless apps helping us do everything from trip planning to how to get around once you’ve arrived… all contained in our trusty smart phone!

While the iPhone is the clear leader in terms of sheer volume of apps, more and more you can find the same high-quality apps on other platforms like the Android and Blackberry as well.

So grab your smart phone of choice and check out our top travel apps for all of you Go! Girls… to aid you no matter where your travels may take you.

TO HELP YOU COMMUNICATE: Google Translate

When you’re living the jet setting lifestyle, it can be tough to learn much more than the cursory “hello” and “thank you” in any given language. With the Google Translate app, your vocabulary will be instantly expanded as you type in words or phrases in your native language to have them translated on your phone. (It works the other way, as well.)

With over 58 different languages available for translation (everything from Spanish, to Greek to Yiddish), never again do you need to be lost for words when telling a cabbie where to drop you off or negotiating the price of a souvenir in the local market.

The best part? If you’re unsure how to pronounce your translation, there’s a handy feature that lets you listen to the translations spoken aloud (for 23 languages).

Available on: iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Android

Cost: Free

IF YOU NEED TO REACH THE AUTHORITIES: Help Call

We all know that 911 is our go to emergency phone number in the US, but did you know that when you go abroad, each country has its own set of emergency numbers?

The Help Call app brings together essential international emergency information in a very easy-to-navigate 4 button system (a button each for Police, Fire, Ambulance and a pre-selected Friend) to get you quickly connected in times of need.

The best part? Help Call has up to date information for 126 countries, and the location auto-detect feature automatically uses the correct emergency numbers for your given country location.

Available on: iPhone, iPod touch and iPad

Cost: $0.99

FOR WHEN NATURE CALLS: SitOrSquat

I think that we can all agree that there’s nothing worse than a being in an unfamiliar place and in search of a restroom. Luckily, the SitOrSquat app, sponsored by Charmin, documents nearly 95,000 bathrooms worldwide to help you find a bathroom when you need it.

While there are a couple downsides (such as limited options in smaller cities and abroad) if you’re in a major US city, it’s a super helpful resource to help you search by your location to see bathrooms that are closest to you.

The best part? Users can “rate” their experience and even post photos so you’ll be sure to find a clean spot to do your business.

Available on: iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Android and Blackberry

Cost: Free

TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR WAY AROUND: AllSubway

Don’t spend your precious travel time trying to navigate a confusing new subway system! With the AllSubway app, you’ll have access to the underground maps for over 125 cities worldwide- everywhere from Adelaide to Mumbai to Zurich- to help you plan your trip and figure out the best route from point A to B.

The best part? You don’t need internet access to view the maps and plan your route, which is handy when you’re lost underground!

Available on: iPhone, iPod touch and iPad

Cost: $0.99

TO DOCUMENT YOUR JOURNEY: Instagr.am

Instagr.am is an app that helps you take your ordinary camera phone photos and transform them into digital works of art. While you’re on the go, you can easily use Instagr.am on your phone’s photos to apply a variety of filters to modify the colors, saturation and textures of your photos. It also has a super-cool tilt shift feature to add depth and artistry, especially dramatic on those sweeping landscape shots.

The best part? Once you’re happy with your altered photo, you can then sync up the app to any of your social networks (such as Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Flickr and Foursquare) which makes sharing your creation to friends and followers as simple as pressing a button.

Available on: iPhone, iPod touch and iPad

Cost: Free

TO KEEP YOU ON SCHEDULE: The Pill

Remembering to take your birth control pill is tough enough when you’re home and immersed in your normal schedule. But when you’re on the road, it can be downright impossible to remember to take it at all, let alone take it at the designated time to ensure optimal consistency and efficiency. (A must!)

The Pill app takes away all of the guesswork and lets you schedule a daily reminder at the time of your choice.

The best part? You’ll even get notifications when your phone is in plane mode, working to keep you on schedule even when you’re on the go.

Available on: iPhone, iPod touch and iPad

Cost: $0.99

How would you rate these apps? Which are your favorites?

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In travel, as well as in life, confidence is the key to making you feel comfortable no matter where you are, no matter what the circumstances may be.

However, confidence doesn’t come naturally for everyone, and is easily shaken in times of stress and disappointment. For most, it’s a quality that needs to be nurtured and worked on as part of personal development.

The good news is that boosting your confidence is easy, if you know how to start. (We swear!) Here are 6 tips to get you feeling like the life of the party in no time!

1.) Adjust the way you carry yourself

The most instantly dramatic thing that you can do to appear confident is to make sure your posture and body language is strong and is embodying the persona you want to convey.

For example, there are two ways to walk into a new or uncomfortable situation…. Either you can appear tentative or unsure (by having hunched shoulders, looking down, biting your nails or keeping to the outer edges of the room) or you can walk in looking like you own the place.

Whether you’re walking down the hallway at work or into an unfamiliar place, keep an eye on your posture. Be sure to keep you back up (walk tall!) and your pace relaxed, yet brisk.

Don’t be afraid to make eye contact and smile when you pass someone… chances are they’ll smile back! You’ll instantly look like you belong and people will be drawn in to your happy and confident demeanor.

And, if you have to shake anyone’s hand, always make sure that your grip is firm.

2.) Buy a new outfit

As if you needed another reason to go shopping… If you have a situation where you know that you may be out of your comfort zone (such as a big date, interview or social event) there’s nothing to make you feel more confident than knowing you look good.

Pick one of your favorite features and be sure to emphasize it with your new look.

Shopping is a guaranteed pick-me-up and having a new outfit that you’ve hand-picked to match the event in question will be well worth the splurge. You’ll feel more comfortable and confident instantly!

3.) Learn a new language

When you step off a plane in an unfamiliar place, knowing little more than how to say “hello” and “goodbye” in the native language can be pretty daunting.

If you know you’re off to some exotic locale, why not take the opportunity to learn a new language?

Not only will you feel like you’re fully embracing a new and unfamiliar culture (and feel safer once you arrive because you’ll know what’s going on around you), but those you meet will respond even more positively to you once they realize that they have someone looking to practice some local banter as well.

Before you leave, take a class at the local community college or grab a language instruction book to teach yourself. Then, consider joining a local Meetup group to add a social spin and reinforce what you’ve learned.

4.) Tell yourself you’re beautiful (and believe it)

With so much emphasis in the media about beauty and the joy that people seem to find in picking out the flaws of even the most beautiful people in the world, is it any wonder that so many of us are insecure about the way we look?

Next time you look in the mirror, instead of critiquing yourself and worrying over every blemish, extra pound or grey hair, why not embrace your inner goddess and tell yourself that you’re beautiful.

If you own it, and really believe that you are beautiful (which you obviously are) you will start to radiate confidence from the inside out!

5.) Take charge at work

When it comes to the office, confidence is a crucial quality for anyone looking to move up the ranks and get noticed by the higher-ups.

Whether you are a natural born leader or someone who has to work a little harder to take charge, find an opportunity that lets you shine and be a leader at your office or place of work.

Speak up in meetings when opinions are requested, and volunteer to oversee an initiative that‘s been discussed (but no one has offered to lead.)

Once you begin to take charge, your confidence will be noticed by all that you work with, and will help elevate you to a higher level almost instantly.

6.) Embrace your solo self

So many of us are afraid to venture off and do things alone. That fear is what makes us shy when we walk into a room of strangers, or insecure when we are in an unfamiliar place.

But, once you can truly embrace your solo self and master the solo adventure, the fear of being alone in a new place becomes much less intimidating.

If you want to start gaining your solo confidence, start small by going to the movies alone or eating by yourself at a restaurant you’d like to try. (Bring a book and sit at the bar if you feel nervous.)

Once you master those types of activities, if you’re feeling really brave, head out into the world by yourself. (TIP: London makes for a great first time solo trip.) Once you try it, you’ll be unstoppable!

Our final Go! Girl words of wisdom?

“You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You’re on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”
-Dr. Seuss

What are some of your own confidence-boosting techniques? Any tips to add to our list?

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Every destination has something you just have to see or do.

You’ll read about it in guidebooks as you plan your trip and you’ll hear it when you arrive from the locals. As a tourist, you’re expected to want to go to visit the top tier attractions, walking the path of countless others that came before you and paying a pretty penny for it.

These activities are popular for a reason, but with such high traffic comes a sad but true downside: experiences that are often pricey, crowded and a tad overrated.

Here are some of the world’s most iconic travel experiences with comparable (and cheaper!) alternatives to help you venture a little farther off the beaten path.

A Gondola Ride in Venice

Ah, Venice. This floating city is filled with winding canals and bridges and the top ‘to do’ in this spot is a ride on one of Venice’s famous Gondolas.

I’ll admit that, in theory, there’s something charming about being serenaded by a handsome Italian gondolier as you float magically through the Venice canals. That is, until you realize that you just shelled out a small fortune ($115 for 40 minutes) for this ride through the back alleys of Venice.

Instead of a pricey gondola ride… Why not hitch a lift on a traghetto?

If you want to maintain the experience of getting up close and personal with the canals, do what the locals do: hop on a traghetto, a public transport gondola essentially unadvertised to tourists that takes passengers from one side of the Grand Canal to the other.

With seven stops along the Grand Canal and with fares under a dollar (!) you’ll be able to both bypass the confusing streets and get to say that you’ve taken an authentic Venetian gondola ride.

The best of both worlds! (And, maybe the traghetto’s gondolier will sing if you ask nicely enough…!)

Bungee Jumping or Sky Diving in New Zealand

Adrenaline junkies and adventure enthusiasts alike converge on New Zealand’s pristine landscape, seeking beautiful scenery and action packed activities.

The pilgrimage to hurdle yourself off a bridge or out of a plane is usually at the top of the list for most young travelers. It’s a Kiwi rite of passage and along with your jump you’re sure to be offered robust (and expensive) photo and video packages to capture the whole experience.

Instead of Bungee Jumping or Sky Diving…. Why not try a tramp on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing?

Not for the faint of heart, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is an adrenaline filled day hike on the North Island.

You’ll pass dormant volcanoes, steaming geothermal ground and, honestly, what’s more harrowing than knowing that one wrong step and you could fall off a mountain?! Perilous, yes, but also beautiful and a once in a lifetime opportunity to say you hiked in the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary.

Swim with the Dolphins in Hawaii

For many, swimming with dolphins is the ultimate bucket list item.

There’s something about getting to play, touch and frolic with the lovable creatures that gets many a hearts a flutterin’ and many a wallets a-opening.

Throughout the various islands, there are marine parks where you are given some quality time with a dolphin. These adventures are memorable, but at prices from $100 to $250+ they are often very expensive as well.

Instead of swimming with dolphins… Why not try swimming with turtles?

Rather than going to a commercialized park to see your wildlife, grab your snorkel gear and head out into the crystal clear ocean in search of the graceful green turtles (otherwise known as “honu.”)

There are countless places that are known to have frequent turtle visitors, but the Big Island and Maui’s Kaanapali Black Rock are sure bets. And who knows… you might just run into a dolphin while you’re out there, too!

Harbor Tour in Sydney, Australia

Sydney is known for world-class beaches, tons of green space and beautiful coastal hikes. But this all pales when compared to the picturesque Sydney Harbor, the epicenter and heart of the city.

With the picturesque Opera House and the dramatic and sweeping Sydney Harbor Bridge, it’s expected that tourists will flock to the water on pricey cruises (from $50 to over $125 per person) to get up close to these stunning landmarks for unique views and great photo ops.

Instead of an “official” Sydney Harbor Tour… Why not try a ride on the Manly Ferry?

The Manly Ferry is a great alternative to a formal and expensive “Harbor Cruise.” For under $15 USD, you can have a round trip ticket on the ferry from central Circular Quay to Manly Beach.

Enjoy the 30 minutes ride through the harbor (past all of the top sights) before disembarking at the fabulous Manly Beach for an afternoon of fun in the sun.

TIP: For the best views of the Opera house, be sure to sit on the right side of the ferry going to Manly Beach, and the left side heading back to Sydney.

Do you think these alternatives would satisfy or leave travelers wanting the real thing? Do you have any others to add to our list?

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When you plan a trip, you never expect that you may have to spend time in a place that turns out to be less than mind-blowing.

After all, to travel is to explore, to immerse yourself in another culture and taking the good right alongside the bad. But sometimes, you may find yourself in a locale that just doesn’t jive with your idea of a good time.

In 2009, I took a trip to Torres del Paine, Chile. I traveled alone to the end of the world, in search of a journey filled with adventure, new frontiers and stunning scenery.

I found all of those things (and more!) in the magnificent Torres del Paine National Park, but what I didn’t anticipate was the less-than-exciting transient town of Punta Arenas, where I spent the day before and after my Patagonian adventure.

Now, I can’t quite put my finger on what exactly I found to be at fault with Punta Arenas… maybe it was because I was there in the off season? Or perhaps it had something to do with the region’s bone chilling cold with wind so strong it could blow you right over.

With weather like that, the last thing I wanted to do was wander and explore…

Through that experience I learned a lot about travel, what to do if it doesn’t necessarily live up to expectations and how to make the best of it so you still walk away feeling fulfilled with your trip.

Whether you’re just passing through or there for the long haul, here are some tips for how to make the most of a lackluster destination.

1.) Stay in a hostel

If you find yourself in a quiet town with time on your hands, being alone can compound the feelings of isolation and boredom.

Skip the hotel and try staying in a hostel… you’re sure to meet fellow travelers who are most likely also in the same predicament and looking for something to do.

Organize a group dinner, exchange tales from your recent travels, play a game of cards… if you make some new friends, the down time will fly!

2.) Go on a photo safari

It goes without saying that if you’re feeling unmotivated and generally blah about where you are, the worst thing you can do is just stay put.

Try going out for a walk with the intent of taking photographs or video… Looking at the world through a lens may help you see something special that you may have missed on first glance and give you a better appreciation for the place you’re in.

For me, I decided it would be fun to capture the crazy Patagonian winds on video to show everyone back home. I still look back on this video and laugh, remembering how hard it was to even stand up through the gusty winds.

3.) Send postcards to friends and family back home

In this digital age of Facebook and email, it’s easy to forget the tried and tested vacation communication device… the POSTCARD!

Who doesn’t like opening their mailbox to find a cheery postcard from a loved one who’s out on a journey? No one, I say! Make someone’s day back home by using your downtime to hand write notes to those you left behind.

And the best part is that the whole process of picking out the perfect postcards, finding an appealing little café to write them in and locating the post office (and figuring out postage!) will take you on a well-rounded journey through wherever you are.

4.) Live it up with the locals

It’s so easy to stick to the guidebook and go only to the recommended places. But if you’re looking to kick things up a notch, get off the tourist trail and head someplace only the locals go.

Talk to people on the street, your concierge, the guy behind the counter… ask them where they’d go if they had a free afternoon or if they were going out to dinner.

Don’t settle for the expected- try to get the true scoop. If you’re truly engaged and interested, they’ll be more than happy to open up and share.

I learned this the hard way in Punta Arenas.

For my first night, I went to the number one rated restaurant in town. While the food was good, it also had zero atmosphere and none of the Chilean flavor I was hoping for. (The theme from Titanic was being played… it was that kind of place.)

I realized on my way out that they brought the tourists upstairs and the locals stayed downstairs in a much more lively space. Sad, all the Chilean flavor was kept separate.

On my return trip, I decided to skip the fancy spots and instead headed to this greasy spoon diner that I heard excelled at making steak and egg sandwiches.

It was packed (clearly that’s where all of the town’s residents were) and it was just what I was hoping for.

No one spoke English but while watching the masterful chef single-handedly manage the griddle while making small talk with regulars, I felt like I was getting a glimpse into the community- into real life.

I finally started to get what Punta Arenas was all about, and I liked what I saw.

5.) If all else fails, take a day trip.

If you’ve exhausted all of your options and you really are desperate for a change of scenery, there’s no shame in taking a day trip to pass the time. Sometimes getting out of dodge for a day or two will invigorate you and get you back in the right mindset for travel.

Even the most remote places should have something unique and distinctly local for you to see or experience nearby, and as with everything, the journey is half the fun.

And, at the end of the day, there’s something beautiful and interesting about all destinations. Sometimes you just have to dig a little deeper to uncover it.

Have you ever had a similar experience? What did you do to make the most of your time there?

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