Top Backpacking Tips
"Learn From Other People's Experiences"
These priceless tips can only be learnt from experience. Learn from others' mistakes and make your trip that much better.
Plan early: This will avoid disappointment as last minute flights can be difficult to find. You will get the greatest choice of accommodation and activities, and it will provide you with an aim and sense of direction once on the road travelling.
Have somewhere to stay when you land: Having a hotel booked when you land can be a life saver especially if it is 2am and freezing cold. It can save you money to book in advance anyway. Print off your booking confirmation and ensure you have the address in case you need to ask for directions, and a telephone number.
Stay at hostels which include breakfast: Some hostels will include breakfast in your price. Although it won't be too substantial, pancakes can usually keep you going until lunchtime. Failing that, buy items for breakfast to avoid paying in cafes everyday.
Only pack essentials: Pack only the necessities as you have to carry everything you take. If you are not sure whether to take something then do not. Chances are you can buy it for next to nothing on a market.
Boys take swimming shorts: They can be used as swim wear, shorts and can be used if you have not got clean underwear. An absolute lifesaver
Eating Cheaply: Eating out can be pricey if done every day especially if you have to leave a tip or add a service charge to the bill. If you do not want to cook at your hostel and fancy a meal out then try and find a food court. They can usually be found in shopping malls but are cheap, offer a lot of variety and you are not obliged to leave a tip. In southeast Asia you will find many stalls with locals selling food very cheaply. This is where you can find the best local cuisine and at a very low price so eat well.
MP3 player: Endless entertainment for long journeys. Try to keep it out of sight to deter thieves especially if it is an expensive iPod. It may be best to swap your white headphones for another pair to hide the fact you have one.
Phone Cards: Use International phone cards instead of paying as you go at phone booths. Calls using phone cards are hugely discounted and stop you having to collect loose change. The majority of pay phones accept phone cards. An even cheaper option is using Skype at an Internet cafe. Most allow skype and only charge standard Internet rate for International calls. Something to look into. See our article on keeping long distance communication cheap.
Buy on sight: Buy things when you see them. There is a good chance that an item at one market will not be at the next one. Do not wait for a cheaper price, haggle to get that cheaper price there and then.
Padlocks and Chains: Security is of great importance when travelling because if your bank cards get stolen you could be stranded and broke in a foreign country. To avoid this always be vigilant. Buy some small padlocks for the zips on your backpack and day bag with combination locks in case you lose the keys. Also take a small bicycle chain with you so you can chain your backpack to the dormitory bunk bed whilst you are out during the day. If you are doing a lot of internal travel in the USA, it would be best to buy pad locks which can be opened by US master keys to prevent them being broken off during random baggage searches at the airport. These can be found at all good travel retailers and can be identified by an American flag on the packaging.
Souvenirs When buying wooden souvenirs be cautious and do not buy anything too pricey. This is because at customs many countries do not allow you to take wood or plant materials onto their soil. They will accept treated wood but just be wary that you may end up with some items being taken from you at customs.
Homeward Shipping If you decide to ship your winter coat home because you have arrived in hot weather or heavy souvenirs you cannot carry, then it can be a lot cheaper to send them by sea freight. This service takes much longer to arrive back home but is substantially cheaper. Always remember to put a return address on the package too so that you can locate it. Preferably put an alternative address where you can pick the parcel up from easily as the return address so that if it does not go to your house it will not get returned to the post office half way across the world, but instead to your grandparents down the road. Better yet pay for parcel tracking.
Photocopy documents Make a copy of your passport, tickets, visas, medical reports etc in case you lose or have them stolen. You should make a copy of these for yourself and also leave a copy with a friend at home so they can be sent onwards. The identification page and first page are the most important in the passport.
