Saturday, 24 January 2009
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How to Plan a Backpacking Trip
by Molly
A backpaking trip is supposed to be somewhat of a spontaneous adventure....but there is some planning that goes into it! When I was preparing for my backpacking trip to South America, there were quite a few aspects of the trip that I wish I would of thought out just a little bit better before heading out:
Research: Doing some preliminary research is key. The popular hostels get booked up quickly, so you will want to of at least made a reservation somewhere. Sometimes its hard to find a place to stay on a whim, and you end up paying way more than you would of.....or staying in a terrible area. It's nice to have something planned, even if you do decide to change those plans at the last minute. Here are some starter sites....but I'm sure you will find your own as your research continues! Also an important part of the research process is to find out about the visa requirements for each country. Sometimes you can purchase entry visas at the airport, but a lot of times you can't get into a country without getting your visa ahead of time. This part could literally ruin your trip, so be sure to look into it!
Packing: Most of the crap you think you are going to wear, you don't. And the thing is that you have to lug this backpack everywhere with you. On buses, planes, trains, boats.....up trails. You don't need those nice clubbing boots or the blazer that you "always wear at home." You just don't need it on a backpacking trip. You need the essentials....at least a weeks worth of underwear, some socks, jeans and a few t-shirts. On the flipside though, most of the things you think you don't need, you probably will at some point. My dad made me get a tick remover, tweezers, a water "bladder," blister kit, plug converters, and a full supply of antibiotics. You know what? He was right! I used that stuff more than any of the crap that I decided to pack. I almost left half of my belongings somewhere in Panama because I got so annoyed of carrying it everywhere!
Plane Tickets: Booking tickets ahead of time can either be a really good or a really bad idea. In Europe, the planes are so cheap (www.ryanair.com) that sometimes it's better to just book when you get there according to whatever deal comes up at the time. In South America, flying isn't that cheap, so its probably better to book your ticket before. On my trip, I booked a 6 leg trip all over South America for $1,500. It took absolutely forever to get this to go through, but in the end, it was worth it.....even if we did change it around. Other places in the world have great public transportation, so sometimes the train or bus is the better way to go.....but that's where the research comes in!
Travel Partner: There was a post about finding a travel buddy earlier on, but I can't stress the importance of this one enough! If you are going to backpack with another person, make sure it's someone you are completely comfortable with. I think the quickest way to get to know both someone's good and bad sides is to travel with them. It brings out a completely different side of people. Sometimes good, sometimes terrible! Just make sure that you are both comfortable giving each other space, and nobody is a drama queen/king!
Entertainment: Backpacking requires a fair bit of travel, and it is important to have a musically stocked i-pod, a good book and a journal to write in. It's nice to be able to document your trip....or just write down random thoughts. Either way, looking back on whatever you wrote is always interesting! Also, if you bring just one book along with you that should do the trick. Most of the hostels have a book exchange, so as long as you leave a book, you are free to take one!
Relax: Be prepared to be in uncomfortable situations where things are just not working out the way you wanted. Just realize that not everything is going to run smoothly.....it's the joy of backpacking......looking back and laughing. You will figure it out, just take a deep breath and deal with it. This is the trip of a lifetime!.....You just have to realize that sometimes you are not going to have all of the comforts of civilization that you are used to.
Have you ever been on a backpacking trip? What would your advice be to someone leaving on a trip like this?
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About the Author
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- From: Molly
- About Me: Age: 23 Hometown: Colorado Favorite Places Traveled To: Peru, New Zealand, Greece, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Portugal and California!! Ideal Vacation: Around the world!! I'd love to take a trip from one end of the globe to the other and then back. That would be ideal. If not that, I want to go to Ghana, South Africa, Thailand, Japan, oh no.....this is turning into quite the trip!
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Comments (11)
Hmm you hit just about everything! When I went backpacking I did the "lay out everything before the trip" then "take half of it"
All that "spare" stuff? Yeah...in a hostel right now hah!
spontanious planning...there has got to be a joke in here. Planning should happen, as it far and away makes life easy so that spontanaity CAN happen- the fun kind- not the I'm sick/hurt/jailed for lack of papers (never has and never hopefully will happen) kind. I do make one important planning thing aside from safety/responsibility planning and that is NEVER to allow Spicy Peanuts along on a camping trip. if it is not packed- there is less chance that someone will purpetrate some evil on my breakfast eggs.
I want to go backpacking so badly.
Thanks for the tips. :]
Great post! I like your first aid kit.
1. A journal - when you can't get to an internet cafe to blog or to catch up on emails.
2. Camera
3. A cheap but interesting paperback book that you can dispose / donate / trade when you're done with it. The wait for buses, trains or airplanes can be mind numbing sometimes.
4. A healthy dose of patience, a sense of adventure, a pinch of caution, an abundance of humor and an understanding of the local culture / customs.
Practicality over convenience is another big tip.
I have never been on a backpacking trip.
great post, molly! this is definitely a good guide. i especially agree with the "relax" part. things always find a way to go wrong. argh. it's best to just work through the problems and laugh about it later.
I'm planning to go backpacking after I finish university, which is seven years from now. These tips are awesome.
Good post, especially the "relax" part. Flexibilty is the key to having a good time. I find that my sister is the ideal travel partner because our shared background makes us enjoy similar food, activities and creature comforts or lack thereof.
One thing I always make room for is my down lap blanket. It weighs almost nothing, wads up into allmost nothing, and keeps you warm like nothing else. I've had people in airports try to buy it from me.
rawrers. cant wait till im grown UP
hey,thx for the tips,im exciting for the summer holiday this year,i hope i can have a backpacking trip to korea with my good friend.