Stay safe, avoid pickpockets

This post is not meant to scare or turn anyone away from travelling. It’s meant to inform and help you have an enjoyable, safe trip. I have to be honest, I was terrified about being pick-pocketed before leaving, but I had no issues on my trip.  

Typical sign placed in a tourist spot warning of pickpockets

Unfortunately, pickpockets are a hazard in nearly all tourist destinations. Pickpockets can be anywhere, but here are some higher risk signs for being pick-pocketed:

• People who ask for money
• Crowded areas
• Obviously standing out (check out these tips for blending in)
• Open markets

Pickpockets also use many techniques, with the most common technique being distraction.

The best advice I can offer is to always pay attention to your surroundings, walk with purpose and keep your belongings close to you. Some ways to do this are:

• Use a fake wallet/attach your wallet to a chain
• Wear a money belt
• On public transit, keep your back to a wall and your belongings where you can see them
• Be wary of distractions
• If someone bumps into you, check your pockets immediately
• Spread your money around (e.g. some in pockets, some in wallet), don’t take all of your money with you
• Don’t flash valuables around unnecessarily

I kept my money in my wallet, which was attached to a chain in my front pocket, and I also kept money in an inside pocket in my backpack.

Just remember, exercise caution like you would in any big city, know what scams to look out for, walk with confidence and use common sense. Do you have any pick-pocket experiences or tips? Feel free to share them in the comments! 

Below is a documentary of pickpockets in Naples. It's a little long, but if you have the time, I highly recommend watching it.

Hostels Part II- What to look for when booking

Hopefully I’ve convinced you to stay in hostels for your backpacking trip. Like I said in my last post, I was also apprehensive, and thought staying in hostels would have been like this: 

For those who do not know, the above clip is from the movie Eurotrip, and is meant to be humourous and poke fun at the myths surrounding hostels (which are far from reality). To avoid any bad experiences, here are some things to keep in mind when booking:

• Do your research–read reviews and recommendations, visit the hostel’s website. I would try to book hostels that have a 70-75% rating and above.
• Hostel atmosphere– most are pretty laid back, but some are notorious party hostels. It's good to know what you're getting into, and you can usually get an indication from reviews or guidebooks.
• Location (you most likely will be walking A LOT).
• Book popular hostels/destinations early- I forgot to book early for my Verona stop, and I ended up booking a hostel on a dark street on the outskirts of town. It was a rickety apartment building. The “lobby” was in the stairwell, and the “front desk staff” was a man sitting at a school desk with a laptop. I had no issues at the hostel, but I’m just trying to give you an idea what booking late or settling for the cheapest hostel may get you.
• Security- safe/reputable area, swipe cards, etc. 



Typical hostel lobby

• Free amenities (wifi, breakfast, lockers, etc.).

Booking a bed in a hostel can be done through the hostel’s website if there is one, or through 3^rd party sites like Hostelbookers and Hostelworld. I used these sites for all of my bookings.

Lastly, during your stay, don’t forget your hostel etiquette! 

Hostels- A must for any backpacker

If you’re backpacking, I’m going to assume you’re focused on budget travelling, which means you will be (for the most part) staying in hostels. If you’re apprehensive about this, I’m here to try and convince you otherwise.

Staying in hostels is a great way to save money and meet tons of other like-minded backpackers. I’m not going to lie, I was extremely nervous about staying in them. I’m not a big party person, I’m a neat freak, and I need my own space, so you can see why I would have been nervous. But by the end of my trip I loved staying in hostels, and some of my fondest memories are of meeting new people. I did stay in some small 3 star hotels, but they lacked the social environment of a hostel.  

Common area at a hostel

Hostels are great because they are:

• Cheaper than hotels (most of the time)
• Social
• Targeted to backpackers/ budget travelers

Dormitory style hostel room

Guests are able to rent a bed in a dormitory style room. Common areas and bathrooms are usually shared, and rooms can be mixed or single-sex. However, if this sounds like a nightmare to you, don’t worry. Many hostels do have private rooms, although these are usually more expensive.

Shared rooms can range anywhere from 4-24 or more beds. The majority of my stays were in a 4 to 6 bed dorm, which was ideal.

Next week I will post about looking for a hostel and hostel living.   

*Disclaimer: my experience is based off of hostels in Europe, so I cannot speak to the hostel culture in other parts of the world.  

To travel alone, or not to travel alone,that is the question

When discussing the subject of travelling with a friend, I can’t help but think about the scene from Friends when Joey and Chandler are touring London together:

As you can see in the video, these two are not the most compatible travel partners. Traveling with someone is about compatibility and interests. Even if you are best friends, you may not be the most compatible travel partners. 

Here are some backpacker stats about who backpackers are travelling with :

• 49% of females and 52% of males travel with friends or siblings.
• 28 % of females and 11 % of males travel with a partner.
• 23% females and 37% of males travel alone.

Therefore, the majority of backpackers travel with another person (or several). Travelling with another person is great. You will share so many amazing memories that will last for life. But, travel can be stressful, and the stress and frustration from travel can be taken out on those you are travelling with. If you’re not travelling with the right person, you may not have a positive experience. Some things to keep in mind when considering travel with another person:

• Interests
• Eating styles
• Morning/ night person
• Travel speed styles (leisurely pace vs. seeing as much as possible) 

Additionally, some tips to ease the stress of travel and help everyone get along:

• Take some alone time
• Communicate
• Be flexible and compromise
• Don’t sweat the small stuff

You can also look at these 10 ways to be a less annoying travel companion.

Hopefully by keeping some of these tips in mind your travels will be less awkward and more enjoyable than Chandler and Joey’s. 

Ease the Stress of Packing: Pack Light, Pack Smart

We’ve all been there. You’re a day or two away from departure, and you realize you haven’t started to pack. Even worse: you’re not even sure where to begin or what to pack. Packing personas play a huge role when it’s time to fill up the luggage. I’ll admit it; I’m an over-packer, so packing for this trip was a real challenge.

There is a saying that goes something like this: “pack everything you think you will need, and get rid of half of it.” These are wise words that all should keep in mind when preparing for a trip.

Of course, the time of year you go will determine what you pack, but the length of your trip shouldn't affect how much you pack. As a rule of thumb, pack enough for a week, and wash clothes on the road as needed.

Suggested distribution of weight for a backpack

Some tips:

• Minimize bulk and weight
• Pack the essentials- if you’re questioning an item, chances are you don’t  need it  
• Weigh your backpack – a pack over 22 lbs is probably too heavy
• Roll clothes to fit more into your pack
• Choose dark colours so stains won’t be very visible
• Try to stick to two or three colours so all clothes match
• Put dryer sheets in your luggage- they help keep it smelling fresh 
• Invest in travel accessories like travel towels, packing cubes, backpack locks, collapsible water bottles, and any other accessories that make packing easier

Need a packing list? Click here for one.

What is one item you can't travel without? Feel free to share it in the comments!

Choosing the right backpack

Backpacks that are too big 
can be a burden

The most important tool you will be taking with you while travelling is your backpack. Choosing a backpack can be an overwhelming endeavour.

Some things to keep in mind when purchasing a backpack: 

• Comfortable enough for you to carry 20-30 lbs
• Proportional to your body size
• Shop around: visit stores and try the backpacks on
• Expensive is not always best. $100-$250 is a reasonable price range
• Highly recommended: buy a pack that you won’t have to check-in at the airport
• Backpack capacity is measured in litres. I suggest anything in the 40-55L range. Maybe 60L, but anything over (in my opinion) is just too big

Panel-loading backpack

Features to look for in your backpack:

• Panel loading
• Internal frame
• Padded hip belt
• Padded shoulder straps
• Chest straps (helps bring weight of load forward by connecting the two shoulder straps at your chest)
• Contoured/padded back (key to making it comfortable to carry)
• Detachable day pack (great for touring. Also very effective when worn on your front to distribute the weight. It may look silly, but trust me, it works)

Osprey makes great backpacks. I purchased the OspreyFarpoint 55 and loved it. I’m definitely going to be using it on more of my travels.

Osprey Farpoint 55, with Detachable Day Pack

Next week, I will be focusing on how to pack for a backpacking adventure.  

Lessons from the road

Unsure of how to start planning your trip? Look to other sources for inspiration. Backpacking involves a great deal of planning and research. Of course there are those who wing it, but to save yourself time while traveling I highly suggest doing some preliminary research.  

The Savvy Backpacker offers great itinerary tips and advice for budget backpacking, and I took a lot of this advice with me. But it wouldn't be very original if I re-iterated what they said, so here are some of my lessons from the road:

1. Pack light- you will be carrying your luggage around with you everywhere, so make it easier for yourself.
2. Focus on a smaller area – it is more manageable and you can spend more time touring.
3. Draw/ print out maps for where you will be staying (I found myself lost many times!). 
4. Book big, important sites and attractions early and try to plan around them- popular attractions can be sold out, so book your tickets early, and don’t overlook any “skip the line” passes!
5. Never underestimate the power of breaks- sometimes a short break is all you need to feel rejuvenated and ready to get back to exploring. I found this especially useful when travelling with a friend.
6. Don’t forget about travel time- first time travelers (myself included) forget to consider the travel process, which cuts into your touring time

Do you have any lessons that you learned while traveling? Feel free to share them in the comments!