Backpacking Tips
London Eye & Big Ben. London, United Kingdom. Photo by Ryan Harrison
A Beginner’s Guide for Your Next Backpacking Trip!
One of the most rewarding, eye-opening, and incredible experiences of my life was my European Backpacking Trip. I had just graduated college, and after 17 years of education from Kindergarten to Undergrad, my best friend from high school and I decided to treat ourselves.
In 32 days, we traveled through 9 countries, 16 cities, and covered over 14,000 miles through planes, trains, boats and on foot. A lot and I mean A LOT of planning and research went into creating a trip of this magnitude – the transportation, accommodations, activities, and gastronomy. We did this all on our own. From that experience, I wanted to share with you some tips that we learned along the way, what to expect, and things we would do differently next time around!
PACKING
Essentials, essentials, essentials! Pack for 6-8 days and look to wash your clothes towards the end of each week. Packing light is important and cannot be stressed enough! Remember, you will be carrying this bag for the majority of the trip. Be comfortable with holding the weight of your backpack.
Ziploc Air-tight Bags will save space. I personally used 3 – 1 for underwear and socks, 1 for tops, and 1 for bottoms. Once I started wearing outfits, I would put the dirty clothes at the bottom of my backpack. Still provides you a ton of space to work with.
Leave some extra room in your backpack from the start. You may say you will not buy any gifts or souvenirs, but the idea will change once you are there! Always plan for the unexpected.
Pack for the highs & lows of weather. Before departing for your trip, understand the climate & weather across all different destinations you will travel to. Some items to pack: A rain jacket that is compressible, a pair of pants or joggers when colder, flip flops for the beach and lodging, and a pair of shoes that cover all terrain, one in which you will not be upset if they get dirty because they will.
Use a Satchel, purse, or Fanny-pack to hold valuables. This way, your passport, phone & wallet is secured on your body. As a tourist, you have to be aware of your surroundings and potential pick-pocketers. Always keep a part of your arm or hand on your valuables just in case – it will help you mindfully keep tabs on your valuables.
TRIP PLANNING
Start by laying out a calendar. This will keep you organized from the beginning and allow you to keep track of your plans, destinations, flights, etc. It will be something you can refer to at any point on the trip.
Choose the amount of days you want to go. Take into consideration the time it will take to travel, whether it be time-zone changes, transportation to/from airport, train station, etc.
Choose the countries you desire to see & how many days you desire to spend at each destination. If applicable, from there you can choose specific cities if you desire to travel to multiple cities within the same country.
When traveling within the same country, sometimes trains or buses may be more cost/time efficient, sometimes planes may be more cost/time efficient. Weigh your options before booking.
Do not overbook destinations. You want a quality amount of days at each place to take in all that each destination has to offer, instead of country hopping every day or two and not being able to get the best bang for your buck or time!
ACCOMMODATIONS & TRANSPORTATION
Save money by staying at Airbnbs & Hostels. If you are the type that needs a slightly more comfortable living space when travelling, Airbnbs do not cost that much more than Hostels. They are very accommodating and there are many to choose from in hub-cities. Also, owners know the city like no other – they are a great resource for further information on the city.
Red-Eye Flights & Trains can become your best friends. Utilize when necessary to save money as well as time. Also, they provide you a good time to get a nap or catch up on some Zs. On a trip like this, you will lose sleep. But hey, you can always rest when you are back home after the trip!
TAKEAWAYS
Find a balance between money spent & time spent. A constant battle on a trip when you are trying to be cost effective but only have so much time. If you are in a bit of a time crunch and are willing to spend the extra money, flights are not that much more expensive and may save you the time you need at a destination. On the other end, if you can get there with ample time to explore, and a train or bus saves you the equivalent of $100, that is $100 you can use down the road on the trip.
Make the most of it! When you are travelling internationally, remember that once you are in the continent or destination, it is easier and cheaper to travel between countries (such as Europe). You may not have this opportunity again for a while. So, do that extra activity – because that experience will be worth it. Buy that extra scoop of gelato or eat that second dinner - because the food is unreal, and because, well, you can an no one is stopping you! Pull an all-nighter and watch the sunrise – because you can sleep on the plane, or when you get home. Drop that extra cash on impulse – because money will return, the opportunity to travel may not.