How to React When Woken at 3AM by Drunk Argentinian Backpackers While Staying in a Youth Hostel and Other Lesser Known Travel Tips

Lesser Known Travel Tips #4

by Simon Yeats

Book 4 of the hilarious book series that those in the know will want to read when arriving at Paris airport so they laugh so freaking hard that it will intimidate any suspicious characters looking to abduct them and sell them into the human trafficking game.

Life was not meant to be easy, Simon Yeats’ father used to tell him. Well, it sure as hell was not meant to be this bizarre and witty. Australian ex-pat Yeats, as all he has ever been called since High School, shares his stories of travel misadventures and dubious personal introspection with comedic insights into the unusual and uproarious elements of living his life abroad. All while having a sense of Wanderlust as pervasive as Mongol hordes in the 12th century.

From how to negotiate getting abused in Los Angeles when you will only drive at 5 miles/hr., to what to do when locked out of your hotel room in your underwear, to the emotions of attempting the world’s second highest bungee in South Africa when you have a pathological fear of heights, to how to deal with the trials and tribulations of staying in a youth hostel in South America with travelers who have no respect for the other guests.

Simon Yeats has gone into the world and experienced all the out of the ordinary moments for you to sit back and enjoy the experience without the need to empty your bank account, get squeezed sitting in a middle airline seat on a nine hour flight to Tokyo, or deal with border security at the Ukraine/Russia boundary.

Genres: Travel, Humor, Nonfiction, Self Help, Memoir

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 10, 2024

About the author

Simon Yeats has lived nine lives, and by all estimations, is fast running out of the number he has left. His life of globetrotting the world was not the one he expected to lead. He grew up a quiet, shy boy in Australia teased by other kids on the playgrounds for his red hair. But he developed a keen wit and sense of humor to always see the funnier side of life.

With a maniacal love of travel, a propensity to find trouble where there was none, and passionate advocacy of mental health, Simon’s stories will leave a reader either rolling on the floor in tears of laughter, or breathing deeply with relief that he was willing to state honestly what many will not.

No one has laughed longer or cried with less restraint at the travails of life.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 4 in the travel series and can easily be read as a stand alone but it is worth noting after reading you will want to read the previous 3!

It really is a access all areas memoir and yet at times very personal, the author manages to tell a tale re the time he almost lost his life in a head on collision in a witty yet emotive way that felt 100% genuine and real…..you could then be reading another tale soon after about the time he had what has to be ‘the funniest and most disappointing photo taken ever’, this is what I loved about the book, you never knew what was coming next in the mainly short chapters ( all headed by a saying generally relating to travel )

The authors wit in description was another favourite thing as he compared situations to say world events or life situations we all know

I also loved the comparisons and expectations between his travelling now and 30 years ago, it is amazing how we all change ( wether we think we will/have or not )

Also loved how he randomly meets people he knows in the most unexpected places

It was a really sincere memoir of an extraordinary life travelling experiencing very funny, very scary and very one off things, written in a non pompous easy to read and enjoyably honest way

[S. Bavey · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to React When Woken at 3AM by Drunk Argentinian Backpackers While Staying in a Youth Hostel and Other Lesser Known Travel Tips is the fourth in a series of travel memoirs, but can easily be read as a standalone. It is filled with daredevil escapades that will make you gasp, coincidental meetings with people the author knows, or their relatives, in far flung locations and unfortunate accidents. Australian author Simon Yeats is gifted with the ability to look on the bright side and come up with a tip for fellow travellers, no matter the circumstance. He travels with rugby teams on their international tours and sees many different countries through this unusual method of booking vacations. Travel tales in this book cover Australia, The Bahamas, New Zealand, South Africa and USA among other places. Escapades include bungee jumping, skydiving, caving, glacial exploration and hurricane survival.
It’s an entertaining read with many laugh out loud moments and some jaw-dropping ones as well! It makes you want to read his other books in this series.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "How to React When Woken at 3am by Drunk Argentinian Backpackers," Simon Yeats delivers yet another hilarious installment in his travel memoir series. This time, he invites readers into his riotous adventures as an Australian ex-pat navigating the chaotic world of travel. With a knack for finding himself in the most absurd situations—from dodging verbal abuse in LA to recklessly embracing his fear of heights during a bungee jump—Yeats’s stories are as uproarious as they are relatable. His witty observations and humorous take on hostel life will have you laughing out loud and possibly reevaluating the ethics of sharing a room with rowdy travelers.

This book not only offers side-splitting entertainment, but also an engaging look at the quirks of life on the road. Perfect for anyone looking to add a dose of laughter to their travel plans!

🌟I really loved the positive little quotes at the beginning of every chapter!

[Tammy Horvath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn’t evacuate for a Cat-4 Miami hurricane? Even though there were mandatory evacuations for Category 4 Hurricane Irma, Simon Yeats stayed. But no spoilers here. This book caused laughs and more laughs—do not read this book anywhere where noise needs to be controlled because you will laugh out loud. It’s impossible not to laugh. I laughed so hard my eyes watered. I loved all of Yeats’ fabulous adventures and look forward to his other books since this author is an incredible writer and gifted storyteller.

[Georgina Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read all of these travel help books by Simon and all are different but the same, if that makes sense. Useful tips in each, shared with amusing stories of how the “tip” came about. In this one, my favourites were teaching Joshua to ride, the allergic reaction when finally getting pain killers and Simon’s 50th. There seemed to be a lot of medical emergencies in this one, also told in Simon’s unique way of serious vs humour. Nothing is taken seriously, even when it should be - but I think that’s an Australian thing 😊

Every trip is stuffed full of interesting tips and advice, and things to avoid. If you’ve missed the previous 3 books, they’re worth your time to go find.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

not my normal genre

I received a free ebook of this and was skeptical it’s not my normal genre but I really enjoyed it.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to React When Woken at 3AM by Drunk Argentinian Backpackers While Staying in a Youth Hostel and Other Lesser Known Travel Tips is the 4th book in the Lesser Know Travel Tips series by Simon Yeats. This is the first book of this series I have read and I enjoyed it without having read any of the others. These books are basically travel memoirs, telling stories of his extensive travel and life in various parts of the world. A lot of his travels involved playing on various rugby teams, so there is a lot of drinking, partying and crazy stuff, but there are also stories of Yeats travelling as and older adult (approaching and in his early 50s. There is a lot of humour in this book, but also a lot of things that had my jaw drop. Things are not always rosy, there are some accidents, surgery and hospital stays that were not always funny, but can be laughed about years later. I enjoyed how the camaraderie of rugby players develops and is a lifelong bond. He ran into people he knew everywhere and sometimes not at the most opportune times. They were like brothers and picked up where they left off. Every experience was turned into a travel tip for those reading the book, although not necessarily for me. Give me a nice hotel before I would stay in a hostel, especially at my age. This book has many locations such as Australia, The Bahamas, Brazil, New Zealand, South Africa and USA among other places. Some of his escapades include bungee jumping, skydiving, caving, glacial exploration, ziplining, swing bridges and hurricane survival. I know after reading this one, I will pick up the others, especially as my interest has been piqued by some of the comments referring to incidents in those books. If you enjoy armchair travel, humor and excitement, then I suggest you pick up this book or another in this series.

[Felicity Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

An author I've enjoyed travelling with over the course of several books now, each of them the same chatty style and yet with very different stories, tips and advice; each of them highly amusing; each of them with their own imaginative, unique and, yes, very lengthy title.

This time, amongst other places, I've found myself in Australia, The Bahamas, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA where, just as Mr T does, the author ran into several people already known to him ... not always at the most opportune moments it has to be said but then that is what made it so much fun.

Whilst I can't claim to have back-packed across the globe, embraced my fear of heights, or having been woken at 3am by drunken Argentinians ... and to be honest nor would I relish doing so, as with the previous books, the author kept me engaged from the off in a book that yes, full of what could be described as a 'blokey' humour is also full of heart, to say nothing of a delightful home-spun philosophy.

Book four in a collection of his travels, you might think that by now the escapades and tongue-in-cheek humour might be wearing a bit thin but, rest assured, having previously taken my advice and started on this book after having said book three, How to Avoid Getting Mugged In Rio Janeiro By Singing Songs By The Police And Other Lesser Known Travel Tips was to be the last, I hope the author will do so again and begin book 5 as I'm sure there are lots more destinations and fun anecdotes to be had.

Copyright ... Felicity Grace Terry @ Pen and Paper
Disclaimer ... One of several bloggers participating in the Blog Blitz of this book, agree or disagree with me, all opinions are my own; no financial compensation was asked for nor given; threats of violence towards my favourite teddy bear went unheeded as did promises of chocolate.

[Brendan James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this is quite the read! A hugely entertaining and nicely written travel memoir, filled with all the fun of the fair. On the one hand, it’s a very blokey jokey read, but one that doesn’t shy away from feelings and philosophy. Hilarious and often hair-raising, this is a quirky riot of a read that takes you around the globe and into the author’s life, times and heart, with scrapes galore. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is yet another engaging, lighthearted and adventurous collections of Yeats misadventures and travels. I love reading about his experiences especially as it’s written like your serving him in a pub. I could easily hear him going off on tangents and it makes for such happy and calm reading.
Of the four this one felt more bouncing from one story to another so lack the flow that the others books had but it also allows this one to be read as a standalone more than the others could.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

No plot or cohesive storyline, just a bunch of amusing anecdotes strung together about stuff that happened to the author during his various travels.