· One of the many joys of travel is drinking. It's a great way to meet people and make new friends. All of your best stories will be booze related. It's surprising how few hangovers you get when you don't have to get up for work the next morning. I also believe it is the best way to keep mosquitoes, germs and illness at bay.
· Once you've checked in at your hotel go to the closest 7/11 (Convenience store) and buy a selection of drinks. Get a really big water for cleaning your teeth, swallowing pills and re - hydrating after last night. Get some iced coffee, milk tea, orange juice, lassis or anything else you like when you get up in the morning. Then get a few beers, wine coolers, vodka breezers for guests, drinking on the roof terrace or watching sport on your telly.
· Go back to your hotel fridge, remove all of their drinks and put yours in. If there are plastic and glass water bottles supplied, the plastic ones (usually) on the desk are free and the glass ones inside the fridge are not.
· If you are staying in a 5-star hotel they could have sensors and you won't be able to do this. Another good reason not to stay in expensive hotels.
· If it is okay to drink the local water carry a bottle around. If not bottled water is usually reasonably priced. Beware of brands like Evian which can be many times the price of local stuff. When in doubt - ask.
· I've never worried about not eating salads etc washed in the local water and haven't had any problems. Similarly, if I sit down at a street stall and they pour me a drink of something from an anonymous jug I have no qualms about drinking it.
· On the other hand, I wouldn't touch anything handed to me by someone I didn't know. Especially when out drinking or on a train. Another good tip is to finish your drink before leaving it unattended while you go to the toilet or the dance floor.
· When eating and drinking around the world it pays to have what the locals are good at. You're not going to get a great pizza in the middle of the Amazon jungle. But you will get fantastic coffee in Vietnam, tea in Myanmar, fruit shakes all through S E Asia etc. You will find wonderful old cafe's full of history being run by the same family for generations. Be adventurous and try the local tonics and specialties. What could go wrong? 😜
· Sometimes a nice long boozy lunch enjoying the river breezes is a good way to idle the day away. Adding food to drink often helps to keep you aware of your senses. In the tropics it works really well if you hydrate as you drink too. Get your own bottle and ice bucket and mix the drinks yourself. Plenty of ice and soda water and you'll be amazed at your good health.
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The Mezcal worm on steroids - Done Sao, Laos
· Don't miss the opportunity for a trip to the factory where they make the stuff. Guinness, Jack Daniels, Beer Lao, George Dickel, Jameson, Cointreau, Bacardi, there's plenty of them.
· Another daytime drinking activity is the Booze Cruise or "fishing trip". Remember to not get too much sun (stay hydrated) and don't fall off the boat.
· The best part of the day is Sundowners - watching the sun set (hopefully over some water) with cocktail in hand. Or from a rooftop terrace somewhere, perhaps fifty or more floors up.
· A Pina Colada is best then move on to something like a Mojito and when you're cocktailed out switch back to your normal drink. You can usually find good Happy Hour prices at this time of day and get your evening off to a flying start. A few bar snacks on the table and you're in paradise.
· If you are travelling alone you will need to make more effort to get included. Staying in hostels it will be easier to meet people and go out with them. Or you could join an organised Pub Crawl.
· In Thailand some very expensive looking clubs will let you bring in a bottle and just pay for ice and mixers. In Brazil and the Philippines some places won’t let you leave unless you have your receipt for paying the bill.
· In some countries the bars are open all night and in other places they might have an early curfew so you will need to get an early start. You will also need to find out where to eat and drink after hours. One of the best bars in the world is the 19th hole. So even if you don't like golf, think about taking it up. 🏌️ ⛳
· Beware of homemade booze which still contains methanol. It can give you a pretty bad hangover or worse - blindness and death. Indonesian (think Bali) spirits and Indian Festivals are some of the worst offenders.
· Rice whiskey can be a trap as you normally have to skull a shot glass with each one of your hosts. Which usually means you are drinking about ten times as much as they are.
· Sometimes on public holidays, elections or in Muslim countries you will need to drink out of a teapot or coffee mug.
· If you see a bell in a bar and you ring it be aware that you will probably have to shout a drink for everyone in the bar. Staff included.
· If you go into any sort of bar of a dubious nature, be sure to ask how much anything they put in front of you costs. Don't let anyone open anything until you do and make sure there is no cover charge or other hidden costs. It is a common scam in afterhours bars to charge ridiculous amounts for everyday items and then present a huge bill at the end accompanied by the threat of physical violence. If you get caught try to keep a sense of humour going and negotiate the price down.
· I recommend Jägermeister as the duty-free tipple of choice. It doesn't need refrigeration, or mixers, it cures hangovers, steadies the nerves and most people hate it so you will have it all to yourself.
· When you go out for the night leave your phone in the hotel safe and only take as much money as you are prepared to lose. $50 - 100 should cover most nights out. You probably don't need your credit card either.
· Sometimes you might have to be flexible. In a little out of the way shack the fridge might be full of food and shock, horror all of the beer is warm. Nothing wrong with drinking beer with ice. Just drink quickly before the ice melts but not too quickly where the beer isn't cold yet. Bath water and river water also bring beer to a drinkable temperature. Just be flexible🧘🏻. Red wine is better chilled in the tropics.