2. Do
Pack light. It's hard to know what to take and what to leave behind. One thing's for sure though: carrying too many bags is literally a drag - your back will ache; you'll be a thief-magnet, and you won't have room to pick up souvenirs along the way.
Work out how much you can carry by spending a day walking around your home town with your backpack: you'll soon decide if that third pair of trainers is really necessary.
3. Do
Scan your passport, airline tickets, visas and insurance documents etc... and email them to yourself - that way you can print them off when you need them. Send them to your family too - if you really get yourself in a mess, they can email or fax copies to the nearest embassy.
4. Do
Set a budget ... and stick to it. Getting your money to keep up with your plans is the perennial problem every traveller faces. Setting a daily budget helps you work out what you can and can't afford: like whether you need to live on bread and apples for three days, so you can afford that bungee jump! Some things are cheap for a reason though: like flights - the cheap ones stop everywhere and arrive at your destination in the wee small hours. Whatever time you arrive, go online and book into a hostel with an airport pickup service.
5. Do
Sort your money out.... Prepaid currency cards save you from carrying wads of cash, stop you spending money you don't have, and give consistently competitive exchange rates. Plus, in emergencies your family can top your account up online. It's worth stashing a £100 travellers cheque somewhere for emergencies (American Express or Thomas Cook - bank and building society 'own brands' aren't always accepted), plus carrying $20 in single dollar bills for unexpected departure taxes. Also keep an eye on exchange rates so you know what you should be getting - you can see most currencies on XE Universal Currency Converter ( www.xe.com/ucc/).
6. Do
Decide are you travelling solo or with friends ...? Solo travel means doing what you want, went you want, but stepping out alone takes confidence and can get lonely or boring. If you are unsure which is right for you, or just want to spend time building up your confidence, think about spending the first couple of weeks travelling with a friend or taking an organised tour.
If you are at a major tourist destination there will be lots of local tours available where you can meet people, such as taking a faluca up the Nile, or trekking near Chang Mai in Thailand. Another option is to do the whole trip with a group - good companies include World Expeditions (www.wordwideexpeditions.com) , Journey Latin America (www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk ) and TrekAmerica (www.trekamerica.co.uk).
7. Do
Try voluntary or paid work. Volunteering helps you get to know a country and its people better. It also allows you to put back - making a contribution, and getting a different view of life. Often food and accommodation are thrown in. What you do will depend on where you go. One word of caution - do your research. Try to ensure you are volunteering for a reputable company and that your contribution is really needed. For more information on working holidays www.volunteerabroad.com, www.realgap.co.uk and www.responsibletravel.com.
8. Don't
Forget your common sense.... It's a friendly place the world, and many countries have well-defined backpacker routes with hostels, bars and internet cafes full of travellers just like you. But remember - when bonding over a few beers, stick to the bars near your hostel * don't try to negotiate unfamiliar streets when you've had a skinful * never hitchhike *always say no to drugs (you won't enjoy prison no matter how much the papers pay for your story).
9. Do
Get off the beaten track.... Obviously don't put yourself at risk, but remember it's generally more rewarding to take the road less travelled. Always check transport options first though: getting stranded miles from the sites will end up costing you time and money.
10. Do
Stay in touch.... The internet and mobile phones have made the world a smaller place, but technology is there, so use it. Agree with your parents or friends before you go, how often you'll be in touch. Maybe a text or email a week - enough to avoid causing loved ones unnecessary anguish, and raise the alarm if you need help.
(4) Comments
Steve Phelps » ( posted: 04/09/2008 23:05:44 )
At 58 yrs its 40 yrs since i back packed round Europe! I now fancy a month in India. A big country, but not sleeping on roofs or beaches this time. What month should I go in and where is a suitable area for a fairly hectic but informative trip? Regards
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Pamela Overbury » ( posted: 06/09/2008 10:24:30 )
A really good site. One I would definitely recommend to anyone about to set off on their travels. Indeed, one of our children has been travelling for almost a year and one is about to set off on his travels- they will certainly be given this information, thank you
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Alison Taylor » ( posted: 09/09/2008 09:28:34 )
Steve, I backpacked around India a few years ago - and it was the most amazing thing i've ever done. I think you're "supposed" to go in October, but I was there in June - monsoon season - and it was fine. I spent a month travelling around Rajasthan(Jaipur, Pushka, Udaipur, Jaisalmer)and to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. It's quite a well trodden route - so it's easy to get around - and you can pack it all in to a (pretty hectic) month... have a fantastic time! Next time I'm going to Kerala...
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andrew » ( posted: 25/08/2009 14:27:41 )
My 2c backpacking tip: Use ride sharing services when travelling! For example: http://www.lifttowoopwoop.com or http://online.ride-share.com/ Saves you money and you make great new friends! Also, you can find ride sharing on classifieds sites (e.g. craigs list).
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