12 Aug 2014

If you’re thinking about taking a year off to travel the world, chances are you aren’t going to have a hell of a lot of cash to splash. Most likely, you will fall reluctantly into the role of ‘backpacking’, a smelly, poor, perpetually exhausted traveller. That’s the stereotype anyway.

In truth, backpacking can be an incredible experience. Backpacking is what you make it to be, it’s about embracing both the highs and the lows and knowing that, yeah, it’s going to be taxing at times, but it’s well worth it in the end. Here are some tips for any intrepid travellers out there who are tightening their bag straps in preparation for jumping between cities, countries and continents.

1. Pack light

This seems like an obvious one, but it is essential. When you’re backpacking, you attract a lot of junk along the way–souvenirs, presents for loved ones and, when you inevitably realise your destination is way hotter/colder than you expected, clothes. So keep this in mind when you are packing your bag. Only take the essentials, the best being the clothes you don’t mind throwing away if they tear or get too many beer stains.

No one cares if you repeat outfits when you’re a backpacker, so feel free to wear the same shirts over and over again until they smell like death. Underwear and socks are the only thing you need to have a lot of (and I mean A LOT), so if you do end up going weeks without doing laundry, at least you won’t need to start turning your undies inside out.

2. Showering is overrated

Most hostels will have a shower, but just because there is one doesn’t mean you’re going to want to use it. Whether it be freezing cold water, trickle-like pressure, a mysterious and ungodly odour, permanent occupation or a combination of these, some showers just aren’t worth it. It’s important to stay healthy while you’re overseas, but this doesn’t mean you absolutely have to shower every day.

Just make sure you use deodorant and pack some kind of cleaning wipes and you will be fine to skip a day or two. And if your hair is looking as if you could wring it out and fry chips with all that grease, dry shampoo is an absolute godsend.

3. Always pack the day before you leave for a new destination

This is one rule I had to learn the hard way. Picture yourself waking up to a 6am alarm, bleary eyed and desperately hung-over from the wild hostel party the night before, only to realise you have one hour to get to the airport and most of your shit is strewn across the dorm room floor.

To avoid last minute packing and potentially missing your flight/bus/train (and I’ve seen this happen before), make sure you get your still sensible, sober-self to pack the day before, so you can unleash your inner party animal that night without a care for how you’re going to be feeling the next morning. Probably horrifically tired and so sick you could vomit, but hey, at least your bag is ready to go!

4. Keep an eye on your cash

I mean this both literally and figuratively. It is important while you are overseas to read up about a place before you visit, and make sure you’re aware of any tourist traps before they get to you.

One issue that is common in many countries around the world is pick-pocketing, so make sure you know where all your bags are at all times, and always keep your valuables close to you. It’s also important to know how much money is in your bank account. Making yourself a budget, be it daily, weekly, or monthly, is a great way to cap your spending and ensure you’re not  broke-ass backpacking and going to owe your parents thousands on your return.

5. There is always someone willing to help

If anything goes wrong while you are backpacking, don’t panic. There is always somebody, somewhere who is willing to help, be it at home or in your current destination. I’ve heard stories about injuries and backpacks getting stolen, but none of these people let their bad experience get to them and with help from family, friends, travel insurance and the kindness of strangers, they were able to get back on their feet and continue travelling.

Backpacking is a great lesson in resilience and will teach you how to take every situation, be it good or bad, in your stride. Travelling is all about taking risks, but just make sure these are calculated and that you’re always reachable if something does go wrong. That way, there should always be someone there to lend a helping hand.