If you’ve been dreaming of packing in your nine-to-five, strapping on a backpack and heading for the hills, perhaps it’s time to make your backpacking dreams a reality. And who can blame you! From exploring the wilderness to experiencing different cultures, backpacking offers experiences, unlike anything you can get in your office job. But when it comes to getting started, many people aren’t sure where to begin. With an overwhelming number of options, how do you make your backpacking dreams a reality?
Will Work For Travel
So, you’ve made the decision to travel the world. Congratulations, you have already taken your first step toward your dream! Your next step is to get some money together to fund your experience. That might mean working more hours, finding a second job or cutting out unnecessary expenses. The saving aspect of your plan is often the most painful part of the process, especially if life continues around you as normal. But remember that it is only temporary, and it will all be worth it! Put a budget in place to ensure that all your spare funds go straight into your savings account. That also means cutting back on things you don’t need — like that morning coffee — and think of better ways to spend your cash, such as making your lunches at home.
Planning the Trip
Saving money can take time, so while you’re waiting for your traveling fund to increase, spend some time planning out your journey. That can be everything from determining the places you want to go, to working out how to travel on a budget. You’ll also need to determine what it is that you’ll need to take with you — from the backpack, you’ll take to the types of clothes you’re going to need. It’s a good idea to take multiple layers of clothing with you so that you can deal with changing conditions and varying temperatures, even if you plan on heading somewhere hot. You never know when you might end up on the side of a mountain, and it can get cold up there! If you prefer to make up your route as you go, that’s great, but having a rough idea of the places you’d like to see will give you a better idea of how to prepare for those countries, especially if you need things like visas and vaccinations before you leave. The point is planning is an excellent way to help you stay focused on your savings goals, as you will discover plenty of places that you want to visit that will inspire you to keep going.
Persistence
There may come times when your journey to backpacking freedom could encounter difficulties. Whether it’s missing a night out with your friends or giving up your car in exchange for cheaper bus journeys, you may need to make sacrifices in the short term to achieve your long-term goal. At times like these, it’s a good idea to remember that because many people before have turned a seemingly impossible dream into a reality, so can you. Alexander Misurkin dreamed of becoming an astronaut, so he attended an aero club until he became a pilot and enlisted as a cosmonaut candidate. Ramón Colillas worked super hard as a personal trainer while studying and playing poker on the side before going on to win $5.1 million in the PSPC. So, even if your traveling dreams seem far off right now, remember that hard work, self-belief and persistence will get you there in the end.
Research
Lastly, it’s critical to spend some time researching and understanding the cultures of the place you want to visit. The last thing you want to do is offend people. Knowing the history, culture, dress codes and basic language skills of an area will help you to connect with locals, all of which will improve your experience immeasurably. Also, plan on staying in Airbnb’s for an authentic experience and make it your mission to ask locals where the best places to eat and visit are.
With these tips in mind, backpacking can be one of the most enriching and rewarding experiences of your life. Enjoy the process of achieving your dream!
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BEFORE YOU GO
☑ Book your flight: If your flight isn’t booked yet – check out the flights on Skyscanner or via Google Flights. My top saving tip is flexibility. If you’re flexible, you should be able to find a cheaper flight.
☑ Book your accommodation: I always use Airbnb and Booking.com. If you’d rather stay in a hostel, you should take a look at the options on Hostelworld. If you click on the Airbnb link and you don’t have an account yet – you’ll get a $30 discount on your first booking.
☑ Protect your cute face: Oh, you may want to protect your cute face with a travel medical insurance. I would suggest SafetyWing as they offer the best rates, especially for long-term travelers. Otherwise, you can also take a look at World Nomads.
☑ Pack the essentials: You can consult this list when it’s time to pack your bag! Do not leave without a universal charger, a power bank and your passport!
☑ Do you need a visa? If you aren’t sure if you need a visa, it would be a smart idea to take a quick look before you go. You can use iVisa – it’s super useful and easy to use.
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