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! 

Let the adventure begin.

During my university years, the thought of travel became an obsession; I felt that it was something I had to do. Not travel by traditional methods however, but by backpacking. I started to save up my money, and decided that I would backpack after I graduated from University. I began to plan a six week voyage that would take me away from my comfortable, suburban life and send me across the European continent. After what seemed like an eternity of waiting for school to finish, the time finally came and I left to begin my adventure. I should note that I did not travel solo; I went with one of my really good friends. 

Prior to my trip, I knew nothing about backpacking and what to expect. I've traveled many times before, but never like this. I will admit that I was extremely nervous about stepping into the unknown. Backpacking is an adventure, and like any adventure there were ups and downs. But in the end I felt that I had accomplished something more than just a vacation away from home.   

In this blog I will provide tips and advice such as planning a trip, choosing a backpack, and packing. I will also share my stories and debunk various backpacking myths. I’m no travel expert; I’m merely someone who is passionate about traveling, and learned a lot from my own travels. I wish to share my experiences to help out first time backpackers, and inspire those who have not considered backpacking before.

No seats? No problem! Backpacking is all about being able to adapt to any circumstance.