Does anyone have tips for the best (not too egregiously expensive) backpacks for (potential) round-the-world trips?

If you don't have anything to recommend, did you have any particularly BAD experiences with any backpacks (I would appreciate company name and model name, if you can remember).

Also: does anyone have any recommendations for good travel insurance (covering medical + trip cancellation/interruption) company for a year-long round-the-world trip?

Alternatively, does anyone know of any insurance policies I can get JUST for insuring the loss or theft of my high-value electronic items? (Aside from not bringing them altogether, but I find having a laptop is essential when trying to book hostels, find hosts, get flights, etc.)

Here is a great tool to use for those out of the country.

www.sendoutcards.com/LouisBenabe

With this system you can create a real greeting card and it will printed, placed in an envelope, stamped and mailed for you from the US. Try it for free and send 2 cards on me. If you like it, sign up and spread the word.

Affordable, professional and fun to use.
Over 12K cards to choose from, we have a saying. There is a card for that.

Any questions let me know.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPad.

I've been posting about my travels abroad on my personal journal and I just figured maybe someone out there in livejournal-land might be thinking about either studying abroad or traveling to Costa Rica. I'm studying at the Conversa Institute in Santa Ana (right outside the capital, San Jose). This is my second trip - the first time I stayed for one month, this time I'm taking classes for 2 weeks and traveling for 1 week. But anyway, if you're interested, you can friend my journal or read the below posts. Next weekend I'll probably go to either the national park Manuel Antonio or the Arenal Volcano. And the following week, my sister and I will most likely be staying in various hotels along the pacific coast.