Newsletter - October 2006

Top Features

Top 10 things you didn't know about Hallowe'en:

Hallowe'en has snuck up on us this year. We decided to get into the spirit of things with a little bit of myth and mystery.

Go snowboarding with Eurostar:

The waiting is over. The countdown is no more. The anticipation is about to be realized. St. Christopher's is now open for business in Berlin.

New Travel Book

We have the launch of a great new travel book this month. A Sarong in my Backpack is a hilarious account of a Ayun Halliday's travels around the world. Journey with her.

Monthly Features

Travel Story

Backpacker's Stories from around the globe.
Travel Book

A chapter from our featured travel book.
Backpacker bites

Backpacker Bites Tips on fitness, diet and exercise while on the road.
Hot Hostels

The best St Christopher's Hostel this month.
Music Mashup

The best St Christopher's Hostel this month.
Backpacker Q&A

Your questions answered here.
Female Backpackers

Your questions answered here.
Beds n' Bars

Find out what's the word at our hostels and bars each month.
Travel Tips

Backpacking is a tough business. We give you the tricks of the trade you need for a smooth journey.

From the Editor

Happy Hallowe'en Everyone!

For those who hail from Halloween-less lands first allow me to extend my condolences, for you have missed out on one of the greatest joys childhood has to offer: cut n' paste crafts for weeks are school, fancy/scary/silly dress-ups, free candy, staying up past bedtime, trading up for the best And next I'd like to direct you to this months 'Top 10 Things You Never Knew You Wanted to Know About Halloween,' so that you can join in the fun this year.

If dressing up as the latest superhero or sex-related object doesn't appeal, October still has a lot to offer the world-wide wanderer. Stop off in London for trip to the Shepherd's Bush Empire and their amazing October line-up, including Salmonella Dub, INXS and Xavier Rudd. Or send abusive e-mails to our sports reporter for his lack of respect for the greatest game on earth and his ignorance of the pending NHL season. Delve into our brand new Travel Book, 'A Sarong in My Backpack' a funny, insightful and quirky look at life on the road. Make your own Advent Calendar to help ease the excitement building for the opening of the new Berlin site.

We've also got the ever-popular Backpacker Bites, our attempt at keeping you healthy, happy little hobos, hiking about our home. We've got our Female Traveller's Tips, news on all your local beds n' bars and just about everything else we could find that was fit to print. Happy reading and we'll see you in November.

QANTAS, Australia's major airline, stands for Queensland and Northern Territory Air Service. Although, it now obviously covers a much greater area then just these two states of Australia.

October sees some fantastic ways to really get into weird and wacky Britain, with rather unusual and very eccentric but very British festivals!

Write around the world: Travel story

Taking a Second Look at Venice

We've got a brand new writer, fresh off the boat; he's out to tackle Europe, on the road with his girlfriend and sending us all the good-time stories along the way. First stop: the watery romance of Venice.

Try your hand at travel writing, send us your submission and if we publish it you get two free nights in a St. Christopher's hostel. E-mail travelwriters@st-christophers.co.uk

Backpacker's Q & A Forum

Pesky grown up stuff

This month we're checking out the ins and outs of travel insurance, visa and health coverage. All those pesky bits you hate to worry about but can't afford not to consider.

There are no stupid questions, except the ones you don't ask. Especially when you're traveling. Try us at submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.

Travel Tips for Women

Fear not, my friends

In today's world safety is foremost in the minds of just about everyone. No matter where you are: at home or abroad, we've been re-programmed to fear every unknown. It really is a shame, especially when it prevents you from fulfilling one of your dreams. This climate of perpetuated fear is particularly pungent for female backpackers. I'm hoping to clear the air a little and get more of you back on the road again.

We've been getting tons of info from Solo-Female travellers and we're loving it! If you've got any questions or comments you'd like to pass our way send them to submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.

In the 11th century the Roman Catholic Church demonized forks, saying that it would be heresy for anything other than hands to touch the food that God created, as God had given them natural forks - their hands.

Backpacking Travel Tips

Eurostar Ski Train

Did you know that the Eurostar connects England to over 100 European destinations? That you can travel with all of your ski and snowboarding equipment at no additional charge and that all winter long you can be dropped off at the top of French Alps? That's right step off the train and hit the slopes, is there anything better?

Got a travelling query? Want us to help plan your trip? Want to know the best tours, countries, pubs, restaurants, hide-away gems? Just ask: submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.

Backpacker Bites

Don't knock napping

Backpacker Q&A: How much do you sleep on average? Are you getting up and going to bed at the same time each night? St. Christopher's Personal Trainer, James, is here to set you straight on regulating your body clock, napping effectively and the body benefits of getting a good nights rest.

If there are any topics on nutrition and fitness you'd like to see addressed in this column then please let us know. James McDonald is a St. Christopher's Manager and fully certified personal trainer, he can be reached at healthy.living@st-christophers.co.uk for any questions on Health and Fitness.

Carry on Tours

Wacky Festivals this October

Well, we've seen our summer here in Britain, and what a glorious summer it was! Now it looks like we are well into the depths of an Indian summer - so as we cling onto the last glimpses of the sun, Carry On Tours are here to ensure that the sun is always shining no matter what, as long as you are on our tours!

Top 10 Things You Never Knew You Wanted to Know About Hallowe'en

Halloween (or Hallowe'en for those of you in-the-know) is way more than scary costumes and trick or treats. Linking back to Pagan days, the celebration has an interesting history.

If you've got a Top 10 to fill us in on, pass it our way, the world is full of travellers looking for the next big adventure. Send your submissions to submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.

Beds & Bars News

We've got some new news and some old news in this month's insider's report on St. Christopher's and Belushi's. All that's fit to print on the ins and outs of our day-to-day business life. Cheap drinks, trips to Egypt, early Autumn BBQ's, it's a tough life but somebody's gotta do it. Find out who that somebody is here.

Got something to say? Don't agree with Dustin? Have your say at submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.

Music Mashup

A little lady called Lily Allen

Music ReportIf you've been in London for more than a minute you'll know who I'm talking about, if you're on your way, you'll want to know this name. This months music mashup is completely dedicated to a spunky Londoner that always makes you smile. Here she is, Miss Lily Allen.

Got a question, comment or smart remark? We're here to listen, so send us an email.

The entire Encyclopedia Britannica is banned in Texas because within the pages of the massive encyclopedia lies a formula for making beer.

Travel Book Extract

A Sarong in my Backpack

Travel Book - A sarong in my backpackVery exciting stuff here people: We're starting a whole new book this month. Very talented and very funny Ayun Halliday is setting out to travel the world. We meet her when she's wide-eyed with innocent youth, criss-crossing the globe and growing up as she meets the man of her dreams and discovers the magic of motherhood. If you can wait a month for the next instalment, you're made of stronger stuff than me, my friend.

Buy This Book

Extracted from A Sarong in my Backpack by Ayun Halliday, published by Summersdale. Published in the US by Seal Press as No Touch Monkey!

Recommend your favourite travel books to submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.

Hot Hostel: The Top Hostel this Month

Shepherd's Bush in West London

People just can't get enough of London these days. Even as the masses pour out of Europe, back to school, back to work, back to life in the real world, London has not slowed down one bit. One of the world's most international cities, where anything is possible. And the best place to do it from is London's Shepherd's Bush location. We visited Shepherd's Bush a few months back, looking at just how dynamic the range of entertainment is within your local Belushi's here. This time we're drawn to it for the entertainment line up at nearby Shepherd's Bush Empire.

Book now

Had a great time at one of our hostels? We want to hear about it. Write to submissions@st-christophers.co.uk to tell us all about your experience with St Christopher's.

Sneak Peek at Next Month

November 01 we officially take over the Circus Rosa-Luxemburg in Berlin; we'll be checking in with our newest hostel, laying out all the specials offers and cheap beds that our Sales Team can spare. (We've already got people banging down our door looking to try out the newest St. Christopher's experience.) We've also put together a survival guide for the Christmas season. Getting gifts home, finding yourself a family to celebrate with, coping mechanisms for the Yule tide sans-beach. And we're going to be checking in with the latest in Ethical Travel. And of course all your old favourites will be there to greet your inbox again. Travel On.

Without travel I would have wound up a little ignorant white Southern female, which was not my idea of a good life.
Lauren Hutton, South Carolina born actress of American Gigolo fame.