Travelers spend everything they have on experience, the now, the present. Sacrificing stability, possessions, relationships and financial security to invest in living.
– Courtney Runyon
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TROY TRAVEL'S ROUGH GUIDE TO RTW TRAVEL
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Since I have been backpacking solo for more than three continuous year since leaving the United States, I have learned several things that I would love to pass along from my travels and experiences, because after all isn't that what the true essence of backpacking is by providing the most honest and truthful information you can that is absent of any incentives? We are a part of one of the most interesting true global communities there is and I have been on both sides when receiving and providing advice on hostels, must visit locations, people to ask for, and excursions to experience. This page is to assist with those that are curious about planning their own RTW and the small things that I have learned along the way. Please bear with me as THIS IS A CONSTANT WORK IN PROGRESS and if you disagree or have better insight or advice please email me as I always appreciate more information especially since I may be outdated on some things back in the States regarding better gear or pricing.
DIRECTION, GLOBAL REGIONS, WEATHER, BORDER CROSSINGS
DON'T ALWAYS LET WEATHER BE THE DECIDING FACTOR
Weather, low season, high season, airline prices, and general daily costs should all be evaluated closely upon the decision to of your travel route, however I have also had some of the best weather and experiences during the so-called rainy seasons in many places. Sometimes just take the gamble and go because you never know and for many of us our freedom of being able to catch the next bus to another region is our biggest advantage over tourists.
BE MINDFUL OF LOCAL & WELL AS GENERAL HOLIDAYS & THE TYPICAL VACATION SEASON
This can certainly affect local transportation and hostel prices. For example at a hostel I managed in Nicaragua during Christmas, New Years and Semana Santa (Easter Week) all of the hostels double or in our case tripled our prices, and this was the decision of our owner because every year in some areas where low season exists these businesses are practically empty and in order to stay in business throughout the year they rely on the high season and holidays to carry them through this 3 to 4 month period, as it was in the town our hostel was located in.
When I say the typical vacation season, depending on the area you are planning to travel i.e. Central America or Europe since most Americans take vacation and travel in the Summer months of May - July this plays in to the cost of some destinations as well as overcrowded beaches. However, I have noticed that the for many options from flights to negotiating discounts on places to stay the months of August - November is a great time to seek out bargains. After inquiring with many people I've realized that many backpackers are heading back to University or have committed to starting a job in the Fall and therefore you will often see a mass exodus of even the backpacking crowds in these months.
GLOBAL REGIONS TO TRAVEL
When selecting this definitely look in to what the visa restrictions are because this can either be workable for your timeline and budget or cause a lot of headaches both because the restriction of how long you are allowed in a specific country before leaving and re-entering as well as if there is an exit and/or entry fee to the neighboring countries as well as transportation costs to do overland visa runs. I found Central America great because most every country gives you 90 days as a tourist (for US citizens) with the exception of El Salvador adhering the failing C-4 Agreement.
BORDER CROSSINGS
From my experience it is always best to try and cross borders in the morning or at minimum during the day unless you are already familiar with the process and where you need to go. I try to avoid crossing on weekends (local traffic is generally higher) and at night because it can be more dangerous or local transportation may not be available late at night and then you are forced with the decision to pay for a taxi which will be inflated because the taxi drivers realize you do not have the option of local transportation to barter against when it comes to price.
Weather, low season, high season, airline prices, and general daily costs should all be evaluated closely upon the decision to of your travel route, however I have also had some of the best weather and experiences during the so-called rainy seasons in many places. Sometimes just take the gamble and go because you never know and for many of us our freedom of being able to catch the next bus to another region is our biggest advantage over tourists.
BE MINDFUL OF LOCAL & WELL AS GENERAL HOLIDAYS & THE TYPICAL VACATION SEASON
This can certainly affect local transportation and hostel prices. For example at a hostel I managed in Nicaragua during Christmas, New Years and Semana Santa (Easter Week) all of the hostels double or in our case tripled our prices, and this was the decision of our owner because every year in some areas where low season exists these businesses are practically empty and in order to stay in business throughout the year they rely on the high season and holidays to carry them through this 3 to 4 month period, as it was in the town our hostel was located in.
When I say the typical vacation season, depending on the area you are planning to travel i.e. Central America or Europe since most Americans take vacation and travel in the Summer months of May - July this plays in to the cost of some destinations as well as overcrowded beaches. However, I have noticed that the for many options from flights to negotiating discounts on places to stay the months of August - November is a great time to seek out bargains. After inquiring with many people I've realized that many backpackers are heading back to University or have committed to starting a job in the Fall and therefore you will often see a mass exodus of even the backpacking crowds in these months.
GLOBAL REGIONS TO TRAVEL
When selecting this definitely look in to what the visa restrictions are because this can either be workable for your timeline and budget or cause a lot of headaches both because the restriction of how long you are allowed in a specific country before leaving and re-entering as well as if there is an exit and/or entry fee to the neighboring countries as well as transportation costs to do overland visa runs. I found Central America great because most every country gives you 90 days as a tourist (for US citizens) with the exception of El Salvador adhering the failing C-4 Agreement.
BORDER CROSSINGS
From my experience it is always best to try and cross borders in the morning or at minimum during the day unless you are already familiar with the process and where you need to go. I try to avoid crossing on weekends (local traffic is generally higher) and at night because it can be more dangerous or local transportation may not be available late at night and then you are forced with the decision to pay for a taxi which will be inflated because the taxi drivers realize you do not have the option of local transportation to barter against when it comes to price.
CHECKLIST TO DO PRIOR TO LEAVING (3-6 months from leaving)
PASSPORT
Most of you know that entering most countries you need at least 6 months validity on your passport, so I suggest renewing before leaving on a one-way ticket even if you have 3 or 4 years left, especially if you have an older passport without the extended visa pages. When I was managing a hostel in Nicaragua I traveled back and forth to Costa Rica about a dozen times and each time I received an entry and an exit stamp and these begin to take up valuable space quickly. Other areas such as Southeast Asia i.e. Thailand you are only permitted 30 days in the country on a tourist visa if you arrive by air and only 15 if you enter overland. Once again valuable real estate in your passport can begin to seem scarce.
BANKING & ATMs
First, prior to setting out find a good solid bank that will meet ALL of your international banking needs. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen other backpackers from all over the world that have had their ATM debit cards stolen or the number compromised. One of the worst things you can experience while backpacking is having plenty of money in an account but having no way to access these funds.
For me I have seen travelers from all over get their cards compromised either by using a tampered ATM or their card eaten by a machine. So for me what I have learned to do is carry a dummy card which is a prepaid Visa gift card that has no money left on it but because it has a 16 digit card number and magnetic strip I put this in EVERY ATM machine first, clear the machine of any tampering, and then use my actual bank card, and afterwards I clear the machine again either swiping or completely inserting the card into the machine and when it is recognized I select cancel and retrieve the dummy card. I am not sure if this is 100% correct (anyone that is an expert on this I would be grateful to hear from) but I guess I do it for the piece of mind and it seems to have worked for me, or at least I think it has haha.
CREDIT & DEBIT CARDS
Visa is THE way to go and again this is by experience, however using your credit or debit card like you would in the States will cost you. Not only are you dealing with foreign transaction fees but you have a better chance of having your card number compromised because the networks you are using to book hostels might not always be the most secure. Cash is the way to go.
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Depending on your situation this can be another huge cost saving thing to do. For myself I still own a home in Colorado and therefore if I ever wanted to sell, refinance, etc as well as any banking issues i.e. taxes I have a power of attorney paperwork on file with my bank that cost me zero dollars to setup. I also took the time, which I didn't realize was an option, to sign paperwork and keep on file which revokes my power of attorney at any given time. Also take the time to do a simple will, just in case, and have your bank's notary notarize the documents and keep on file at your bank. Again this costs you as a costumer of their bank zero.
MEDICAL
I've debated this can actually be done closer to the less than 3 month prior to leaving, however I've placed it in this category because most health insurances do NOT cover many of the vaccinations you may need (i.e. Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Malaria tablets, etc) and you will be referred to a travel clinic where everything may have to be paid out of pocket. If this is the case and you aren't traveling to Brazil first, where they require proof, get your yellow card from your doctor provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) and get these highly expensive vaccinations in cheaper countries. I know it may sound sketchy to get a shot in say Nicaragua, but believe me it can be fine and items are wrapped and sterile. But again if you feel more safe getting these medical issues done in the States than by all means, just know it can be done much MUCH cheaper.
Most of you know that entering most countries you need at least 6 months validity on your passport, so I suggest renewing before leaving on a one-way ticket even if you have 3 or 4 years left, especially if you have an older passport without the extended visa pages. When I was managing a hostel in Nicaragua I traveled back and forth to Costa Rica about a dozen times and each time I received an entry and an exit stamp and these begin to take up valuable space quickly. Other areas such as Southeast Asia i.e. Thailand you are only permitted 30 days in the country on a tourist visa if you arrive by air and only 15 if you enter overland. Once again valuable real estate in your passport can begin to seem scarce.
BANKING & ATMs
First, prior to setting out find a good solid bank that will meet ALL of your international banking needs. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen other backpackers from all over the world that have had their ATM debit cards stolen or the number compromised. One of the worst things you can experience while backpacking is having plenty of money in an account but having no way to access these funds.
For me I have seen travelers from all over get their cards compromised either by using a tampered ATM or their card eaten by a machine. So for me what I have learned to do is carry a dummy card which is a prepaid Visa gift card that has no money left on it but because it has a 16 digit card number and magnetic strip I put this in EVERY ATM machine first, clear the machine of any tampering, and then use my actual bank card, and afterwards I clear the machine again either swiping or completely inserting the card into the machine and when it is recognized I select cancel and retrieve the dummy card. I am not sure if this is 100% correct (anyone that is an expert on this I would be grateful to hear from) but I guess I do it for the piece of mind and it seems to have worked for me, or at least I think it has haha.
CREDIT & DEBIT CARDS
Visa is THE way to go and again this is by experience, however using your credit or debit card like you would in the States will cost you. Not only are you dealing with foreign transaction fees but you have a better chance of having your card number compromised because the networks you are using to book hostels might not always be the most secure. Cash is the way to go.
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Depending on your situation this can be another huge cost saving thing to do. For myself I still own a home in Colorado and therefore if I ever wanted to sell, refinance, etc as well as any banking issues i.e. taxes I have a power of attorney paperwork on file with my bank that cost me zero dollars to setup. I also took the time, which I didn't realize was an option, to sign paperwork and keep on file which revokes my power of attorney at any given time. Also take the time to do a simple will, just in case, and have your bank's notary notarize the documents and keep on file at your bank. Again this costs you as a costumer of their bank zero.
MEDICAL
I've debated this can actually be done closer to the less than 3 month prior to leaving, however I've placed it in this category because most health insurances do NOT cover many of the vaccinations you may need (i.e. Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Malaria tablets, etc) and you will be referred to a travel clinic where everything may have to be paid out of pocket. If this is the case and you aren't traveling to Brazil first, where they require proof, get your yellow card from your doctor provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) and get these highly expensive vaccinations in cheaper countries. I know it may sound sketchy to get a shot in say Nicaragua, but believe me it can be fine and items are wrapped and sterile. But again if you feel more safe getting these medical issues done in the States than by all means, just know it can be done much MUCH cheaper.
PURCHASING GEAR & DECIDING WHAT TO BRING
DON'T BE CHEAP ON QUALITY CLOTHING
First of all if you are in the United States, REI, has an excellent policy of 100% satisfaction guaranteed. Pay the one-time fee of $25 for a lifetime membership because you will find yourself there almost daily testing out gear and returning and exchanging stuff a lot. When I was first in the planning stages of testing out equipment and clothing I debated going commando to save space in my bag, because people think it's silly but any true backpacker will tell you that shedding ounces in your pack makes a huge difference, but thankfully I was quickly talked out of this idea by an experienced veteran backpacker. The advice I received I continue to pass along to newbies or those considering extended travel, which is when everything you have to wear or use sits on your back spend the extra money for high quality gear and clothing that will last. An example was that back home spending $20 or more on a single pair of socks was unheard of but smart wool socks (and only carrying 3 pairs) has been a lifesaver and continue to hold up very well.
ALL THE SMALL THINGS
Often I have noticed people forget the simple small things to pack such as fingernail clippers, small trimming scissors, ..
TO LAPTOP OR NOT TO LAPTOP
The big question I would ask is where are you going and for how long? Are you just using this rather large bulky piece of technology to surf the web and Facebook or are you an aspiring travel blogger? Do you have some mad skills with IT like graphic design (even basic stuff with Photoshop) or can you do video editing or something that will justify the need for carrying this and making it be useful for you i.e. providing free accommodation for what you can do in exchange for services that can only be done with your computer that has specific software loaded on it.
PHONES
Bringing a smart phone I feel is a great choice. It is what we (as backpackers) often look for. It is compact, lightweight, a communication device, music player, camera (wow I sound like Steve Jobs introducing the first iPhone). Either way I think this has been extremely helpful to carry. Even when I had my small netbook stolen my iPhone was what I used to stay in contact with friends and family, surf the web, book flights, and my escape from loud dorm mates by adding a pair of headphones.
TECHNOLOGY ACCESSORIES
Oh I cannot emphasize enough a good pair of
WIFI STABILITY
This has been a question from many people. I will say that Central America from 2012-2013 while I was there was relatively consistent but I have also experienced weekly power outages and the signal strength can be slightly better than the old school days of dial up so you are able to Skype however not always video chat in these areas. South America was a bit more stable and Asia has not been an issue.
First of all if you are in the United States, REI, has an excellent policy of 100% satisfaction guaranteed. Pay the one-time fee of $25 for a lifetime membership because you will find yourself there almost daily testing out gear and returning and exchanging stuff a lot. When I was first in the planning stages of testing out equipment and clothing I debated going commando to save space in my bag, because people think it's silly but any true backpacker will tell you that shedding ounces in your pack makes a huge difference, but thankfully I was quickly talked out of this idea by an experienced veteran backpacker. The advice I received I continue to pass along to newbies or those considering extended travel, which is when everything you have to wear or use sits on your back spend the extra money for high quality gear and clothing that will last. An example was that back home spending $20 or more on a single pair of socks was unheard of but smart wool socks (and only carrying 3 pairs) has been a lifesaver and continue to hold up very well.
ALL THE SMALL THINGS
Often I have noticed people forget the simple small things to pack such as fingernail clippers, small trimming scissors, ..
TO LAPTOP OR NOT TO LAPTOP
The big question I would ask is where are you going and for how long? Are you just using this rather large bulky piece of technology to surf the web and Facebook or are you an aspiring travel blogger? Do you have some mad skills with IT like graphic design (even basic stuff with Photoshop) or can you do video editing or something that will justify the need for carrying this and making it be useful for you i.e. providing free accommodation for what you can do in exchange for services that can only be done with your computer that has specific software loaded on it.
PHONES
Bringing a smart phone I feel is a great choice. It is what we (as backpackers) often look for. It is compact, lightweight, a communication device, music player, camera (wow I sound like Steve Jobs introducing the first iPhone). Either way I think this has been extremely helpful to carry. Even when I had my small netbook stolen my iPhone was what I used to stay in contact with friends and family, surf the web, book flights, and my escape from loud dorm mates by adding a pair of headphones.
TECHNOLOGY ACCESSORIES
Oh I cannot emphasize enough a good pair of
WIFI STABILITY
This has been a question from many people. I will say that Central America from 2012-2013 while I was there was relatively consistent but I have also experienced weekly power outages and the signal strength can be slightly better than the old school days of dial up so you are able to Skype however not always video chat in these areas. South America was a bit more stable and Asia has not been an issue.
CHECKLIST TO DO PRIOR TO LEAVING (less than 3 months from leaving)
PHOTOCOPIES
Color laminated photocopies of your passport can be very valuable on a few different occasions.
EXTRA PASSPORT SIZE COLOR PHOTOS
Whether you bring them with you or have them as sitting in your email as an attachment ready to print this small step can save you both time and money
Color laminated photocopies of your passport can be very valuable on a few different occasions.
EXTRA PASSPORT SIZE COLOR PHOTOS
Whether you bring them with you or have them as sitting in your email as an attachment ready to print this small step can save you both time and money
WHAT TO EXPERIENCE PRIOR TO LEAVING
TAKE A BREATHER
You will be one busy person trying to spend time with family and friends, test out gear, etctera etcetera etcetera. I will say that making sure to have a few weekends before you leave to relax and not feel so overwhelmed helped me and I appreciated that I didn't have to feel as though if I wasn't doing things before or after work and on weekends that I had this chance to just be a bum or sleep until noon in my own big comfy bed!
You will be one busy person trying to spend time with family and friends, test out gear, etctera etcetera etcetera. I will say that making sure to have a few weekends before you leave to relax and not feel so overwhelmed helped me and I appreciated that I didn't have to feel as though if I wasn't doing things before or after work and on weekends that I had this chance to just be a bum or sleep until noon in my own big comfy bed!
FIRST DAY...WHAT YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING TO EXPERIENCE
Whether you are family halfway around the world or a flight a few hours away. Landing at the airport in a city you have never been to where you may or may not speak the language is unbelievably thrilling and terrifying the first time you experience. One of my most fond memories was in Peru in March of 2013 and we had a group of about 8 of us from all over the world and we took turns of what it was like setting out for the first time backpacking, especially those of us that did it solo. It's certainly a deer in the headlights feeling. But after you get over this small speed bump it becomes the thrill that drives many of us to book one way flights, trains, buses, boats, etc to a place we know nothing about.
HOW TO SAVE MONEY AS A BUDGET TRAVELER
SAFE MONEY AND SANITY BY TRAVELING SLOW
This is by far the best way to save money because you will not feel rushed to make decisions to do things in a specific city or location (i.e. diving, tours, sites, etc) This is the number one rule for those that are not restricted to a specific amount of time they have for their travels.
HOW NOT TO PURCHASE BOTTLED WATER DAILY
Many people don't realize how much they may spend or need to budget for clean drinking water. For myself I chose to travel with a water filtration system that is portable and in the past year and a half I have saved myself hundreds if not in the thousands of dollars by not purchasing bottled water daily.
VOLUNTEER AT HOSTELS FOR ACCOMMODATION
One of the larger daily costs while backpacking can be your accommodation costs. Volunteer opportunities can become available whether you are looking for them or not. If you enjoy the hostel you are staying at inquire about volunteering working reception, bar, tours, maintenance, cleaning, cooking, almost whatever you might have a little or a lot of knowledge about. One site that I have used several times is www.helpx.net which is great and you can browse listings for free but in order to contact hosts or view more information about the place you will need to sign-up and pay $29 for a 2 year membership, and trust me this cost is well worth it if you plan to use it even once.
HELPX SUGGESTIONS & TIPS
Since I have had both good and bad experiences using this site my advice is ask LOTS of questions, even ask for photos of the volunteer accommodations if they are not clearly listed on their Facebook or website. Questions I typically ask are things such as; what exactly does the work entail in exchange for accommodation? Are you located near public transit or walking distance to areas you are interested in visiting? Exactly how many hours of work each week do you require? What are my designated days off? And based upon their response or lack thereof I try to make a decision. Trust me there are plenty of hosts on this site that are just looking for slave-style labor so be careful.
USE YOUR SKILLS
When you travel ANY and EVERY skill you have becomes a commodity. I've said that the biggest hustlers in the world in a sense are backpackers. Most of us do everything we can to save a buck or make a buck. Whether you make hippie bracelets, know a thing or two about construction, or are just willing these are skills that can provide you with opportunities like you would not believe. Everything from climbing aboard a sailing boat for a free ride to a new destination, receiving free meals from restaurant owners for rebuilding their website, painting or artwork for free accommodation at hostels, and so much more. I've also realized those of us that come free native English speaking countries we have one of the biggest advantages when it comes to either earning some cash teaching or giving private lessons or talking with locals that are curious about our culture. When I was in Guatemala I swear that some of the places I found myself in they had never seen an Asian person before and I was the celebrity in town. This helped me to make friends with so many people as well as probably in more photos than I can think back on. Also having a college degree or just being educated in the States also opens doors if you are patiently seeking to stay in an area or these opportunities find you.
This is by far the best way to save money because you will not feel rushed to make decisions to do things in a specific city or location (i.e. diving, tours, sites, etc) This is the number one rule for those that are not restricted to a specific amount of time they have for their travels.
HOW NOT TO PURCHASE BOTTLED WATER DAILY
Many people don't realize how much they may spend or need to budget for clean drinking water. For myself I chose to travel with a water filtration system that is portable and in the past year and a half I have saved myself hundreds if not in the thousands of dollars by not purchasing bottled water daily.
VOLUNTEER AT HOSTELS FOR ACCOMMODATION
One of the larger daily costs while backpacking can be your accommodation costs. Volunteer opportunities can become available whether you are looking for them or not. If you enjoy the hostel you are staying at inquire about volunteering working reception, bar, tours, maintenance, cleaning, cooking, almost whatever you might have a little or a lot of knowledge about. One site that I have used several times is www.helpx.net which is great and you can browse listings for free but in order to contact hosts or view more information about the place you will need to sign-up and pay $29 for a 2 year membership, and trust me this cost is well worth it if you plan to use it even once.
HELPX SUGGESTIONS & TIPS
Since I have had both good and bad experiences using this site my advice is ask LOTS of questions, even ask for photos of the volunteer accommodations if they are not clearly listed on their Facebook or website. Questions I typically ask are things such as; what exactly does the work entail in exchange for accommodation? Are you located near public transit or walking distance to areas you are interested in visiting? Exactly how many hours of work each week do you require? What are my designated days off? And based upon their response or lack thereof I try to make a decision. Trust me there are plenty of hosts on this site that are just looking for slave-style labor so be careful.
USE YOUR SKILLS
When you travel ANY and EVERY skill you have becomes a commodity. I've said that the biggest hustlers in the world in a sense are backpackers. Most of us do everything we can to save a buck or make a buck. Whether you make hippie bracelets, know a thing or two about construction, or are just willing these are skills that can provide you with opportunities like you would not believe. Everything from climbing aboard a sailing boat for a free ride to a new destination, receiving free meals from restaurant owners for rebuilding their website, painting or artwork for free accommodation at hostels, and so much more. I've also realized those of us that come free native English speaking countries we have one of the biggest advantages when it comes to either earning some cash teaching or giving private lessons or talking with locals that are curious about our culture. When I was in Guatemala I swear that some of the places I found myself in they had never seen an Asian person before and I was the celebrity in town. This helped me to make friends with so many people as well as probably in more photos than I can think back on. Also having a college degree or just being educated in the States also opens doors if you are patiently seeking to stay in an area or these opportunities find you.
REALIZATIONS & GIVEN FACTS ON THE ROAD
REALIZE YOU WILL PAY MORE FOR THINGS OFTEN
This includes border entry and exit fees, taxis, local buses, entry into sites and parks just because you are not a national. Whether you call it getting gringo'd or because you are a farang it's just a simple truth so try not to let it get you down or act like an ass because remember you are a guest in their country and for many of us the things where you are traveling are already cheap and the standard of living is alot. That doesn't mean to say welcome the idea of getting ripped off, I'm just saying that I've seen many travelers get in to arguments or yelling matches with locals and once they realize that it was over a few dollars it makes a lot of us feel embarrassed as foreigners.
TIME MANAGEMENT
This can be everything from doing things with new friends you've just met to trying to keep in touch with family and friends back home. I'll tell you what...Facebook, emails, phone calls, Skyping, Instigram, Voxer, Viber, Kakao, Twitter, Trip Advisor, hostel searching, apps I've never heard of...all of this can become too much. Learn to unplug like everything else and realize that you could spend all day every day just trying to keep in touch with people, so again let those back home know you are not ignoring them but trying to live in the moment through experiences and just like anything time gets eaten up quickly when you get into an all night conversation with a group or another person and it's just not always possible to give them a daily rundown through all these forms of communication.
THE LACK OF ROUTINE
For some this has been an issue and they become bored or stuck in a city or town for weeks or even months. My suggestion for this is either move on or find someplace to volunteer your time and have a little bit of a sense of routine in your life. Picking a day that you help out at a school or teaching can be a nice change and allow you to meet more people that are backpacking with voluntourism in mind.
KNOWING WHEN TO TAKE A TIME OUT
While those at home think we are living a constant adventure anyone that has backpacked understands the difficulty of long overcrowded buses, wearing dirty clothes, getting sick, sleep deprivation (whether voluntary or not) and I've realized that just like being back at home working a 9-5 there are going to be days that you just don't feel like getting out of bed or socializing with people. This is OK! After crushing 12, 14, and 19 hour long buses in South America I was back in Bogota and staying at a hostel where I was just completely exhausted and had been averaging about 4 hours of sleep a night for the past four weeks. An American guy that arrived in Colombia from the States a few days before pestered me about laying in bed all morning and as soon as I asked him how long he was traveling for and his answer was 3 weeks I told him come back and talk to me after doing this for a year. Don't try and convince me that you need to live every day to the absolute fullest packing every minute with activities because at some point you will get burned out! This lifestyle is about balance. You balance your time doing things, being social, and getting your rest when you need it.
RESEARCH DAYS
These can be extremely useful and save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars when done with patience. Primarily when booking international flights or even domestic ones, I've found that choosing a day to dedicate to researching things can be very helpful. Also if you are using things like couchsurfing and helpx this gives you a chance to email lots of people and save money on accommodation or even possibly find some type of paid work.
ILLNESS
Just realize that no matter what, at some point you will get sick. Whether that be food poisoning, a parasite, or broken bone. But just take a deep breathe because it WILL be alright. There are plenty of resources and great medical professionals, even in third world countries.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Continue to renew travel insurance in my opinion...
This includes border entry and exit fees, taxis, local buses, entry into sites and parks just because you are not a national. Whether you call it getting gringo'd or because you are a farang it's just a simple truth so try not to let it get you down or act like an ass because remember you are a guest in their country and for many of us the things where you are traveling are already cheap and the standard of living is alot. That doesn't mean to say welcome the idea of getting ripped off, I'm just saying that I've seen many travelers get in to arguments or yelling matches with locals and once they realize that it was over a few dollars it makes a lot of us feel embarrassed as foreigners.
TIME MANAGEMENT
This can be everything from doing things with new friends you've just met to trying to keep in touch with family and friends back home. I'll tell you what...Facebook, emails, phone calls, Skyping, Instigram, Voxer, Viber, Kakao, Twitter, Trip Advisor, hostel searching, apps I've never heard of...all of this can become too much. Learn to unplug like everything else and realize that you could spend all day every day just trying to keep in touch with people, so again let those back home know you are not ignoring them but trying to live in the moment through experiences and just like anything time gets eaten up quickly when you get into an all night conversation with a group or another person and it's just not always possible to give them a daily rundown through all these forms of communication.
THE LACK OF ROUTINE
For some this has been an issue and they become bored or stuck in a city or town for weeks or even months. My suggestion for this is either move on or find someplace to volunteer your time and have a little bit of a sense of routine in your life. Picking a day that you help out at a school or teaching can be a nice change and allow you to meet more people that are backpacking with voluntourism in mind.
KNOWING WHEN TO TAKE A TIME OUT
While those at home think we are living a constant adventure anyone that has backpacked understands the difficulty of long overcrowded buses, wearing dirty clothes, getting sick, sleep deprivation (whether voluntary or not) and I've realized that just like being back at home working a 9-5 there are going to be days that you just don't feel like getting out of bed or socializing with people. This is OK! After crushing 12, 14, and 19 hour long buses in South America I was back in Bogota and staying at a hostel where I was just completely exhausted and had been averaging about 4 hours of sleep a night for the past four weeks. An American guy that arrived in Colombia from the States a few days before pestered me about laying in bed all morning and as soon as I asked him how long he was traveling for and his answer was 3 weeks I told him come back and talk to me after doing this for a year. Don't try and convince me that you need to live every day to the absolute fullest packing every minute with activities because at some point you will get burned out! This lifestyle is about balance. You balance your time doing things, being social, and getting your rest when you need it.
RESEARCH DAYS
These can be extremely useful and save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars when done with patience. Primarily when booking international flights or even domestic ones, I've found that choosing a day to dedicate to researching things can be very helpful. Also if you are using things like couchsurfing and helpx this gives you a chance to email lots of people and save money on accommodation or even possibly find some type of paid work.
ILLNESS
Just realize that no matter what, at some point you will get sick. Whether that be food poisoning, a parasite, or broken bone. But just take a deep breathe because it WILL be alright. There are plenty of resources and great medical professionals, even in third world countries.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Continue to renew travel insurance in my opinion...
BACKPACKERS TIPS & TRICKS
ONWARD TICKETS
If you have a laptop and are somewhat computer savvy even with something simple like Microsoft Paint you can adjust documents when countries require proof of an onward ticket. This is not just limited to airlines but when I would arrive overland in countries like Costa Rica or Panama at the border if you did not have proof of an onward ticket they often forced you to purchase a piece of paper that stated you were leaving on a bus and one time this was an actual bus ticket I used four weeks later and another time it was a $30 piece of paper that was not good for any type of transportation even though it had a bus company name on it that does daily runs from the border to the capital.
COMMUNICATION
I choose to be as much of a frugal budget traveler as I can so I opted to carry my old iPhone 4 (in comparison with all the new ones that continue to invade the consumer market place) and utilize free apps that can be used on Wi-Fi. There is everything from FaceTime, Skype, WhatsApp, Viber, Voxer, Kakao, Google Voice, etc and etc. Sign up for ALL of these prior to leaving the U.S. because often you need either a mobile number to receive a SMS verification code or you need to be in the U.S. to even download the app. I found this out with Google Voice while in Central America.
ACCOMMODATION
Setup your CouchSurfing account and host even a few people before you travel or at the very least go to a weekly meet up and gain some friends to verify you. This will save you hundreds of dollars on accommodation when visiting more expensive countries, but even more so it will allow you to make new friends and be a part of this wonderful community.
MEDICAL
If you have a laptop and are somewhat computer savvy even with something simple like Microsoft Paint you can adjust documents when countries require proof of an onward ticket. This is not just limited to airlines but when I would arrive overland in countries like Costa Rica or Panama at the border if you did not have proof of an onward ticket they often forced you to purchase a piece of paper that stated you were leaving on a bus and one time this was an actual bus ticket I used four weeks later and another time it was a $30 piece of paper that was not good for any type of transportation even though it had a bus company name on it that does daily runs from the border to the capital.
COMMUNICATION
I choose to be as much of a frugal budget traveler as I can so I opted to carry my old iPhone 4 (in comparison with all the new ones that continue to invade the consumer market place) and utilize free apps that can be used on Wi-Fi. There is everything from FaceTime, Skype, WhatsApp, Viber, Voxer, Kakao, Google Voice, etc and etc. Sign up for ALL of these prior to leaving the U.S. because often you need either a mobile number to receive a SMS verification code or you need to be in the U.S. to even download the app. I found this out with Google Voice while in Central America.
ACCOMMODATION
Setup your CouchSurfing account and host even a few people before you travel or at the very least go to a weekly meet up and gain some friends to verify you. This will save you hundreds of dollars on accommodation when visiting more expensive countries, but even more so it will allow you to make new friends and be a part of this wonderful community.
MEDICAL
SKILLS GAINED FROM BACKPACKING
When I first began telling friends of my plans to travel without a time limitation or any real specific direction other than my first destination as you can imagine there were many questions I was asked. One of them was, "well what are you going to do when you come back and need a job?" I told this friend that first of all, I'm not sure when or even if I will come back to the States, but I told him that if I did and found myself in a job interview that even with a gap in my professional resume of a few years or more that I guarantee I would probably be their most memorable candidate. I know that can sound a bit cocky but let me explain. Everyone I spoke with prior to leaving, as soon as I mentioned that I was leaving to travel in the world their entire attention was right there and the questions just began to pour out. When I met with my family physician and dentist they both sat and spoke with me for 30 minutes or more because they were amazed by this. And yes, what many of us are doing or planning to do is living the dream.
I feel that things that can be beneficial for any type of profession that I and other backpackers gain through our unique experiences are skills such as; problem solving, budgeting and finance, self confident, social skills, global networking, navigation, math (calculating currencies), patience, etc.
I feel that things that can be beneficial for any type of profession that I and other backpackers gain through our unique experiences are skills such as; problem solving, budgeting and finance, self confident, social skills, global networking, navigation, math (calculating currencies), patience, etc.
MEETING PEOPLE AND TRAVELING FAMILIES
TRAVELING FAMILIES
I have been fortunate enough to be apart of several excellent traveling families. What do I mean by this term? Meeting people will happen, I feel quite easily, but the traveling families tend to be a group of us usually between 4-6 or more people that have met and tend to travel together for several weeks or months. You gain a nice tight group that still does not keep you from meeting other people but you just naturally form a very tight bond with certain individuals and share some of the most amazing experiences- watching a lightning storm over the ocean on a beach at a hostel where your group is the only guests, renting an apartment for two weeks that is the same cost per night as a hostel ($10) but with your own ocean view, falling asleep on each other's shoulders as you drive through two countries in one day, and just having that familiarity of the close friendships from back home. Because when you travel your family becomes those you meet on the road and we look out for one another the same way. I still keep in touch even after more than a year with many of these great friends.
GET OUT THERE
Again backpacking teaches you to be more social often times by making the first move. If you arrive at a hostel solo and see a group of people sitting there talking and laughing, don't assume they are all traveling together and friends from back home because 9 out of 10 times they just met. Jump in to conversations by approaching these groups by introducing yourself or if you arrive and people are leaving ask where they are going and if they mind if you join them for dinner. Again 99% of the time people will welcome you to the group.
I have been fortunate enough to be apart of several excellent traveling families. What do I mean by this term? Meeting people will happen, I feel quite easily, but the traveling families tend to be a group of us usually between 4-6 or more people that have met and tend to travel together for several weeks or months. You gain a nice tight group that still does not keep you from meeting other people but you just naturally form a very tight bond with certain individuals and share some of the most amazing experiences- watching a lightning storm over the ocean on a beach at a hostel where your group is the only guests, renting an apartment for two weeks that is the same cost per night as a hostel ($10) but with your own ocean view, falling asleep on each other's shoulders as you drive through two countries in one day, and just having that familiarity of the close friendships from back home. Because when you travel your family becomes those you meet on the road and we look out for one another the same way. I still keep in touch even after more than a year with many of these great friends.
GET OUT THERE
Again backpacking teaches you to be more social often times by making the first move. If you arrive at a hostel solo and see a group of people sitting there talking and laughing, don't assume they are all traveling together and friends from back home because 9 out of 10 times they just met. Jump in to conversations by approaching these groups by introducing yourself or if you arrive and people are leaving ask where they are going and if they mind if you join them for dinner. Again 99% of the time people will welcome you to the group.
